Netherby Halls

Bianca tried to hide the anger from her eyes as she calmed herself to answer, “Well, actually, I don’t like to speak of it, but I have terrible headaches and find sleep a chore. The doctor was here dropping off a portion of laudanum.”

“Then, please, do not let me keep you from your rest,” Miss Winthrop said as she turned towards the exit. Though the words were polite, Bianca seethed at the impertinence in the chit’s tone.

“Good night, Miss Winthrop. Do take our talk seriously. You would be the better for it.”

She watched the set of the girl’s shoulders and made up her mind. One way or another, Miss Winthrop was going to have to be eliminated!

~ Nine ~

WHEN SASSY’S CLASSES were over, she went looking for Miss Graves. She found her having a cup of tea in the library and approached her tentatively, unsure of the reception she would receive. To date, none of the other teachers had been friendly.

“Sit, Miss Winthrop, and tell me—what is it?” Miss Graves motioned to a chair.

Sassy took up a chair. “I would like to skip lunch and head into town to fetch some fabric to make curtains for my bare window,” she explained.

“Your window …? My goodness, of course, dear.” She frowned and put a finger to her thin lips. “Puts me in mind of something odd. I seem to remember that Miss Saunders, your predecessor, had purchased a length of fabric for that very purpose.” As she sighed heavily and touched her lace-covered gray hair, a sad look came into her faded eyes. “I suppose she took it with her when she left us. Shocking thing … and so very difficult to believe. You see, Miss Saunders was such a nice young woman—oh, not in her first blush but younger than the Tyler sisters and I—and we had become friends, you see. She left without saying good-bye, and that was certainly not like her at all. She was not the sort to run off with a man, and I find it difficult to believe that she would just up and leave like that.”

“Well, perhaps, she didn’t have a choice,” Sassy offered, “and perhaps, just perhaps, she did meet someone?”

“No! I refuse to believe that. She just wasn’t that sort, and also, though not quite unattractive, she was not the girl a man would try and sweep off her feet, if you get my meaning. Not the sort to turn men’s heads—and no dowry.” Miss Graves sighed. “A sad mystery to me.”

“Did she leave a note for the headmistress?”

“Note? No—and that is the other thing. You see, she was terrified of the headmistress, and although she might have found another position, she would have left me a note, if only to set my mind at ease.” Again Miss Graves shrugged and frowned over the situation.

Once again, Sassy had been left to speculate about her predecessor. Every magic nerve in her witch’s body was on edge. Something was off at Netherby—something sinister hung in the air and in the walls. She excused herself and headed for her room to fetch her cloak and

purse.

* * *

Gray was the color of the day, but Sassy didn’t think it would rain as she made her way to the school’s carriage house.

During the week, teachers were asked not to leave school. Being under constant constraints was trying for Sassy, as it was all so new. She had never been so hampered in her life, and it was taking all her patience to deal with all the rules. In addition to the loneliness she was experiencing, she felt a bit of a prisoner. If it weren’t for the deep affection she now felt for most of her students, she would count her days as dreary.

She arrived at the large wood and stone barn and peered inside to find the face of a tall, thin man wearing a dark wool coat and cap. He nodded at her with something of a grin. “I was wondering when ye would be looking for a ride into town.”

“Hallo,” she said with a smile. “I am Miss Winthrop, and you must be Mr. Wilkes, Molly’s father?”

“Aye, though you can call me Gunther, and I know who ye be.” He tipped the peak of his cap to her and gave her an apologetic smile. “I can take ye into town, but I won’t be able to wait on ye to take ye back, Miss Winthrop.”

“Oh, I quite understand and do not mind the walk back. I am told it is only three miles from the center of town, yes?”

“Aye, three miles, maybe a pinch less, and sorry I am that I can’t wait for ye.”

“It doesn’t matter, and the ride into town will be a great help.” Sassy smiled brightly and added, “I have seen you in the rose gardens, and they are simply beautiful. I suppose you have double duty, here and the gardens?”

He glanced over her approvingly. “Aye, though I get help from town with the gardens and sech.” He nodded to her and said authoritatively, “Up wit ye then, for I ’ave no time to spend wasting it jabbering wit ye here.”

Silence reigned as he tooled the pair of chestnut cobs down the driveway. At their back was a large wagon, presently empty but about to be filled with supplies in town, Sassy thought with a smile.

Suddenly, Gunther startled Sassy out of her daydreaming by saying, “I been at Netherby nearly all m’life. It has seen better days, when the school was looked after by ’is lordship.”

“His lordship?” Sassy encouraged him. “Lord Devine?”

“No, no, it was Lord DeWitts, before it was inherited by the Devines’ end of the family branch.” He sighed heavily. “Not saying Lady Devine, well, not saying she doesn’t care, but she isn’t here long enough when she visits to do more than look about. That’s the pity of it, for if she cared a bit more, well, maybe things wouldn’t have gone the way they have.”

“Whatever do you mean, Gunther?” Sassy sensed now, more than ever, that what she suspected was in fact a truth. Things were not what they seemed at Netherby.