01 Sorcery and Cecelia Read online

  Saturday morning I was still just as tired as I had been the previous day. Having so recently recovered from a bad cold yourself, Kate, you will understand why I was determined not to spend another day staring at the same four walls. It was not as if I were truly ill, for I promise you I was not—I did not even have the headache. I was only tired. And as there have been mornings in the past when I was very tired (the day after Aunt Elizabeth found us in the Twelve-Acre Field at one in the morning, struggling with the goat, for instance), and as I had previously been able to continue my ordinary activities in spite of my tiredness, I decided to do the same that day.

  My resolution did not carry me very far. To be precise, I managed to dress and make my way down to the sofa in the library. I was quite put out, though I must admit that it was a great relief not to be in my bedchamber any longer. Papa came to find me a little later, looking worried, so I pretended to be absorbed in a novel and did my utmost to appear just as usual. He seemed somewhat reassured when he left, and I collapsed gratefully back onto the sofa. It is a great strain to have to reassure people that one is perfectly well when all one really wishes is to be left alone to sleep.

  I was not, however, left alone for long. A few minutes after Papa left, Danvers tapped at the library door to inform me that James Tarleton had called. "He asked for you expressly, Miss," Danvers said, and there was a note of disapproval in his voice. I am told that butlers do not generally approve of occurrences that are out of the ordinary, and Danvers has always been the most correct of butlers.

  "Show him in here," I said, struggling to a sitting position. "And have someone bring in a tea tray. Oh, and I believe Aunt Elizabeth has gone down to inspect the herb garden; send someone to inform her of Mr. Tarleton's arrival." I was very pleased with myself for thinking of this last, for the longer it was before Aunt Elizabeth learned that James had called, the more time I would have to speak with him alone. The herb garden was the farthest place I could think of that also sounded entirely reasonable.

  Danvers unbent a little at this evidence that things were not going to be completely irregular, and a moment later he brought Mr. Tarleton into the library. James looked a trifle pale and very worried indeed. I felt a stab of guilt. I really ought to have made more of a push to let him know about the chocolate pot, so that he would not have kept fretting over Thomas. As the door closed behind him, he came swiftly across the room toward me. "Cecelia! What is the matter with you?"

  "There is nothing whatever the matter with me, Mr. Tarleton," I said. "I am a little tired, that is all."

  He pulled a chair up beside the sofa and sat down. His eyes never left my face, which made me feel very odd. "Gammon," he said bluntly. "You're pale as a ghost. I was afraid there was something wrong when you missed your ride three days running."

  "I tell you, I am quite all right!" I said. "And if you must inquire about my health, do so later. Aunt Elizabeth will be here at any moment, and I must tell you about Thomas before she arrives."

  "Devil take Thomas!" James said vehemently. "I should never have dragged you into his affairs."

  "You did no such thing," I said. "If anyone did, it was Kate." This did not appear to mollify him, so I hurried on. "I have had a letter from her. Thomas has sent you a nonsensical message that he can manage things perfectly well alone, and you are not to trouble yourself. Kate says he was looking very tired and unwell, and she thinks he is a gudgeon to tell you such a thing, but he did say it. But it is quite all right because—"

  Aunt Elizabeth and the tea tray arrived simultaneously at just that moment. I sighed in frustration as James rose to greet her, for I had wished very much to discuss matters openly with him. However, there was nothing I could do about it, so I set myself to make polite conversation, and to work in bits of important information as best I could.

  Fortunately, Aunt Elizabeth began by asking what we had been discussing when she arrived. "We were talking about Kate," I said quickly. "Do you know that Mr. Tarleton is a friend of her fiance, the Marquis of Schofield?"

  "I was not aware of that, Mr. Tarleton," Aunt Elizabeth said. "The Marquis spends so little time at his estates here that it had not occurred to me that he had any local acquaintance."

  "We served together in Spain," Mr. Tarleton said. "We were both staff officers. The Duke of Wellington found our abilities complementary, so we shared a number of assignments and became very well acquainted."

  "Have you ever met the Marquis's Mama, Lady Sylvia?" I said. "Kate writes that she has come to London quite unexpectedly."

  James gave me a sidelong look that told me he understood. Aunt Elizabeth sniffed. "Kate is the only one who would find it unexpected," she said. "Of course Lady Sylvia wishes to inspect her future daughter-in-law."

  We chatted for a few moments about the various balls and events that you have attended during the Season, and the people you have met. James appears to know a great many of them, and was able to answer most of Aunt Elizabeth's questions concerning their appearance, manners, and respectability. (She is not, apparently, completely satisfied with Aunt Charlotte's account, and needless to say I have not shown her your letters.)

  Finally I saw an opportunity, and I said in a cross tone, "And I do wish you had let me go to London with Kate, Aunt Elizabeth."

  "You know quite well why you were not allowed to have a Season this year, Cecy," Aunt Elizabeth said. "And after the way you have behaved this week, I cannot be sorry for that decision."

  "Surely you are being rather severe, Ma'am," Mr. Tarleton said. I could see a little frown line between his eyebrows, but his tone was perfectly civil.

  "It was an accident," I said mendaciously. "I did not mean to break Sir Hilary's chocolate pot."

  James stiffened. Aunt Elizabeth did not notice; she was too busy being relieved that I was not going to bring up the subject of my magic lessons. "It was extremely careless of you, Cecy," she said repressively.

  "I am afraid I do not understand," James said cautiously. "Miss Rushton broke Sir Hilary's chocolate pot?"

  "Into a million pieces," I said. "It was so unfortunate! Aunt Elizabeth and I had called on Sir Hilary on Tuesday, you see, and I was pouring myself a cup of chocolate when I thought I heard something. I am afraid I jumped and dropped the chocolate pot. Sir Hilary was most annoyed, and I cannot say I blame him. It was such a lovely blue, even if it did not match the rest of Sir Hilary's tea things."

  James stared at me, aghast. I smiled reassuringly, wishing again that Aunt Elizabeth had waited even a few minutes longer to arrive. For I could see that he was angry with me for what I had done, and with Aunt Elizabeth present there was no way that I could explain to James why breaking Thomas's chocolate pot was necessary. A wave of tiredness swept over me and I swayed, spilling a little of my tea into my saucer.

  Aunt Elizabeth, of course, noticed at once. "Cecy, dear, do take care," she said reprovingly.

  "I am sorry, Aunt Elizabeth," I said. "I am afraid I have the headache."

  "Then you must go upstairs and lie down," Aunt Elizabeth said. "I am sure Mr. Tarleton will excuse you."

  I rose a little shakily. James was still frowning at me, but I tried to smile. "I am very sorry to run off like this, Mr. Tarleton," I said. "Do forgive me."

  He said nothing, and my heart sank. I took a firm hold on the arm of the sofa and dropped a curtsey. "If you see Mr. Wrexton," I said, "would you be so kind as to tell him I am not feeling quite the thing? I was engaged to go driving with him this afternoon, and I would not like him to make the trip for nothing."

  Aunt Elizabeth stiffened at the impropriety of this request, but I was watching James. All the expression washed out of his face when I mentioned Mr. Wrexton's name. "I will be happy to do you the favor," he said in a toneless voice. "Your servant, Miss Rushton."

  I nodded and left the room as quickly as I was able. Upstairs, I went to my bedroom and indulged in a hearty bout of tears, which I can only put down to my extreme tiredness, for you know I am not usually a
watering pot, Kate. But it seems most unfair for me to have gone to such trouble to extract Thomas from his difficulties with the chocolate pot and then have James scowl disapprovingly at me because of it. I comfort myself with the thought that he is not a wizard and does not see the necessity of what I have done, but it is still very melancholy.

  I was quite exhausted after the encounter with James, and I slept for the remainder of the day. Mary told me, when she brought up my dinner tray, that Mr. Wrexton had called in the afternoon, so James must not have seen him. Fortunately, Papa came through the hall just as Danvers was conveying my regrets to Mr. Wrexton, and the two of them went off to Papa's study for a comfortable cose about the ancient Sumerians, or the Babylonian Empire, or whatever Papa is currently eager to talk about with anyone who comes by. So I need not feel guilty that Mr. Wrexton drove out to Rushton Manor for nothing.

  Aunt Elizabeth allowed me to sleep all day Sunday, but she came to my room very early Monday morning and fussed over me until I was driven nearly to distraction. She did not stop after I got downstairs, but kept on giving me tea and tucking up my lap robe. Finally I said something very cross, but Aunt Elizabeth did not scold me as she usually does. She did go quite stiff for a moment, but then she reached into her sewing basket and pulled out a charm-bag with my initial on it!

  "I made this for you, Cecelia," she said, and I could tell she was quite uncomfortable. "And I must apologize for ruining the one you made yourself." She held out the bag and a pair of scissors.

  I took them from her in silence and clipped off a lock of my hair for the charm-bag. As I closed it up, I studied the bag closely, and suddenly I gasped. "The charm-bag in Oliver's room!" I said. "You made it!"

  "It was the only way of protecting him from that Griscomb girl's spell," Aunt Elizabeth said stiffly.

  "Oh, Aunt Elizabeth, I am sorry! I opened it the day we went on the picnic with Dorothea, because I did not know what sort of charm-bag it was and I was afraid it would do something horrid," I said. "But I made another for him right away."

  "It was an understandable mistake," Aunt Elizabeth said. "How are you feeling now, Cecy?"

  "I am not so tired as I was," I said, "but I still do not feel much like riding. I think—"

  There was a rap at the sitting room door. "Mr. Wrexton," Danvers announced.

  Aunt Elizabeth paled slightly and sat up very straight. "Do join us, Mr. Wrexton," she said. "Will you have tea?"

  "Thank you, Miss Rushton, I will," Mr. Wrexton replied. He took his teacup and sat down between Aunt Elizabeth and me. "I've come to see Cecelia; I believe you know why."

  "Magic lessons," Aunt Elizabeth sniffed. "Arthur told me."

  "Your brother is wise enough not to wish to stifle talent," Mr. Wrexton said gently. "I know you cannot like it, but I hope you will understand."

  Aunt Elizabeth did not reply, and Mr. Wrexton gave a little sigh. Then he turned to me. "I understand you have not been feeling well, Cecelia. What's that you have?"

  "I have been rather tired," I said. I fingered the charm-bag and glanced at Aunt Elizabeth. When she did not say anything, I held it up for Mr. Wrexton to see. "Aunt Elizabeth made it for me," I told him.

  "I see." Mr. Wrexton's voice was noncommittal, but he threw Aunt Elizabeth a speculative look. "May I examine it?"

  I looked at Aunt Elizabeth again, but she made no sign, so I handed it to him. He studied it in silence a moment, then nodded. "Excellent work. Unfortunately, I do not believe it is quite enough for what is troubling the young lady."

  Aunt Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. "You have some other suggestion?"

  "I do, indeed," Mr. Wrexton said. He drew a small jeweler's box from his pocket and handed it to me. "Put that on, Cecy, if you would."

  I opened the box and gasped. It was the little gold locket and chain that Mama left me. "Mama's necklace! But how did you get it?"

  "Your father gave it to me when we discussed the matter on Saturday," Mr. Wrexton said. "He felt it would be better for me to place the protective spells on something that you were accustomed to wearing. Please, put it on."

  I did so, and the moment I had the chain fastened around my neck I felt positively energetic. It was as if I had been wrapped up in cotton wool for several days, and it had all just dropped away. I gave a gasp of surprise and sat up very straight.

  "Excellent," Mr. Wrexton said with some satisfaction.

  "Just what is going on here, Mr. Wrexton?" Aunt Elizabeth said in freezing tones.

  Mr. Wrexton hesitated. "Nothing you need worry about any further, I assure you," he said carefully.

  I was thinking furiously, for it seemed that the cotton wool had dropped away from my brains as well as my muscles. Suddenly it was quite obvious that Sir Hilary had set some kind of spell to make me feel so very tired. I wondered for a moment whether it was the same kind of thing that he had been doing to Thomas, but I was forced to abandon this theory. For one thing, I had not had even a ghost of a fever; for another, Sir Hilary and I have not got a joint focus he could use to torment me. (And you may be quite sure I shall make certain he never gets one!) It is quite possible that he was simply trying to keep me out of the way for a while for there seemed to be no ill effects whatever now that Mr. Wrexton had given me the locket. I am not certain of this, however, as I am not knowledgeable enough to be aware of all the various things Sir Hilary might have been attempting to do.

  While I was thinking, Mr. Wrexton gave Aunt Elizabeth some tale that did not at all satisfy her. She was extremely cool toward him for the remainder of his visit, though she warmed a little toward the end when it became obvious that I was my old self.

  And so, Kate, I am wearing Mama's—and Mr. Wrexton's—locket everywhere, and I feel perfectly well. I even went riding this morning after your letter arrived, but James was not in the woods. So I have not had the opportunity to tell him why I broke the chocolate pot, nor that it worked just as I had hoped and Thomas is on the mend. If he is not there tomorrow, I will have to find some other way to let him know that Thomas is feeling better, for even if he is angry with me, I think he would want to be told.

  I have made no effort to visit Bedrick Hall; there seems no need whatever, now that the chocolate pot has been taken care of. I hope that this has occurred to James, and that he has ceased lurking in Sir Hilary's bushes. And you may be very sure I shall be on my best behavior at Sir Hilary's party Saturday evening. I shall not leave Aunt Elizabeth's side for a minute. So you see, I am being extremely sensible, just as you would like. I only wish Thomas and James would do the same; then perhaps this entire business would be quickly concluded.

  Your, Cecy

  6 July 1817

  11 Berkeley Square, London

  Dear Cecy,

  Robert Penwood is here in London at last. He ran Mr. Griscomb to earth in Leeds and accompanied him to London where they were both putting up at Mr. Griscomb's club. Given Miranda's short temper, I suppose it is understandable that Mr. Griscomb stays at White's while Miranda and Dorothea lease a very desirable Mayfair residence.

  I learned all this last Tuesday when Robert came to call. He stayed barely a quarter of an hour and questioned me about Dorothea almost the entire time. I was able to persuade him to accept an invitation to take tea on Thursday, but he was far more interested in learning everything he could about the attentions shown to Dorothea by the Duke of Hexham. All I could tell him was what everyone in London knows: The Duke is wellborn, well-known, well-to-do, and well over sixty. Much cast down, Robert left scowling.

  On Wednesday I was asked to tea at Schofield House, where I expected to see Thomas. I did not. Instead, Lady Sylvia received me in the most formal drawing room I have ever seen. I had scarcely taken my place when Lady Sylvia fixed me with a searching look and asked in a very serious tone whether I preferred milk or lemon.

  "Milk," I said, tugging off my gloves and crumpling them in my lap.

  As she poured, Lady Sylvia continued to scrutinize me. A little discomfited by
the intensity of her regard, I took a bite of my biscuit and asked, "When did you first discover Thomas's talent for magic? I expect he must have been very young at the time."

  Lady Sylvia said nothing but went on gazing at me as though she wished to peer through me like a window. Unnerved, I inhaled a biscuit crumb and went off in a coughing fit. When I blinked my vision clear, she was still regarding me with the same expression of stern interest.

  "Is something the matter, Lady Sylvia?" I asked.

  "You seem a nice girl," Lady Sylvia replied, "and I know Thomas well enough to guess the sort of tricks he is likely to get up to. You needn't be afraid to tell me the entire truth, you know."

  I spilt half my tea in my lap. It was still quite hot and the gloves did not soak up enough to make much difference. I dabbed ineffectually with my napkin as I tried to think of something to say that would relieve my feelings without giving Lady Sylvia the idea that I was badly brought up. "My goodness," I said finally. It wasn't very satisfactory. "Drat!" I said. That was better. "I don't know what you mean," I said to Lady Sylvia.

  "I mean that Thomas might have made you think there was some reason for you to pretend to be betrothed, for his protection perhaps." Lady Sylvia's dark gaze had not altered. "You might feel very awkward about ending the betrothal before you were quite sure he was safe."

  Cecy, you know I can tell falsehoods. No matter who looks at me, for how long, I can tell bouncers so enormous even Aunt Charlotte does not think to question them. I know I can. Only, sitting in that perfect room of ivory and gold, dripping tea on the Axminster carpet, I just couldn't tell a lie to Lady Sylvia. So I took refuge in silence. For several minutes (it seemed like several years), I gazed into the cloudy remainder of my tea and tried to think why I felt so miserable at the chance to rid myself of the burden of betrothal to Thomas. In a way I thought it would be better than jilting him, for I felt quite certain his Mother would disapprove strongly of his sham offer of marriage.