Netherby Halls

by Claudy Conn

  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.

  “Nuthin’,” he answered. “Said more than I should have already.”

  She pressed by disagreeing. “I haven’t noticed anything—the girls don’t seem neglected, and the food is quite good.”

  “Course the food is good,” he cut in to scoff. “My missus sees to that.”

  “Yes, that’s right, Cook is your wife.”

  “Aye, and Molly and m’wife, well, they both be pretty special. Need this position. Had it for too long to lose it now.”

  “Gunther,” Sassy said hopefully, “I have had a notion since I got here that something, I am not certain what, is not quite right at Netherby.”

  He gave her a sideways glance, and when he spoke, it was conspiratorially. “Lookee ’ere, Miss, as I told ye, I love this place. His lordship even allowed me and the wife to be married on the grounds.” He shook his head. “In fact, we live in the stone cottage near the far end of the stables, and I don’t know where we would go if we got turned off, so what I am telling ye,”—he paused and eyed her grimly—“is not to be repeated.”

  “I would never—”

  “My Molly has been fretting over Miss Saunders, and m’girl is too smart by half. She loved her, ye see. Miss Saunders was teaching her on her own time, everything she taught the other girls.”

  “Oh, how lovely.” Sassy’s hands came together as she smiled. “Someone like that wouldn’t just up and leave.” It sounds like Miss Graves was correct.

  “Right ye be on that. Someone that dear doesn’t run off and leave, now does she?”

  Sassy was chilled for a moment looking at his stern face. “What did the headmistress say about the matter?”

  “I told her that I didn’t think that Miss Saunders ran off, and she told me to mind my work.”

  “Could Miss Saunders have had a beau?”

  “Just a poor lass like that? No, no beau. She never went anywhere, never had anyone call, and spent her spare time with us at the cottage, teaching Molly her lessons.”

  “I see. What do you think happened, Gunther?”

  “Nuthin’ good,” was his answer.

  The rest of the ride into Bristol was spent in thoughtful silence. A strange mystery, indeed.

  She shook her head to herself over the thought that someone at Netherby was up to no good—but what? Just what was going on at Netherby? Faith!

  Finally, just as they were arriving on the outskirts of town, Sassy asked, “Did no one ever come inquiring about Miss Saunders? Was she all alone in the world?”

  “An uncle came by, which is why m’Molly suspects foul play. Her uncle, a colonel, you see, received a letter from her just before she vanished. He wouldn’t tell us what was in it, though we told him we had become close. Upset he was. He came up because she asked him to. Now, that don’t make sense—why ask him to visit her and then leave before he gets here?”

  “Odd. You are right, Gunther. This worries me,” Sassy said, now thoroughly convinced that Miss Saunders had come to harm.

  They had by then arrived in the busier section of Bristol. As he maneuvered over cobbled streets, Sassy had a good look at the port town. Bristol was one of England’s thriving seaports, and many ships were in the harbor.

  Sailors were everywhere, smiling at the ladies in the streets. The town pulsated with life and energy, merchants and servants all going about their business. She saw seamen dressed in well-worn navy wools and merchants with striped waistcoats.

  The abolishment of the slave trade with the United States had been a favorite topic of her father’s and was a heated debate in Parliament. Bristol’s triangular trade—exporting to West Africa, picking up cargoes of black slaves there, and selling them to Americans—had made Bristol a thriving port, and its citizens were loathe to implement this new law. It remained for economic reasons a debate, and slave trading still flourished. Like her father, Sassy found the taking of slaves outrageously evil.

  As they passed harbor streets filled with merchant ships loading their wares and making ready for their voyages to West Africa, Sassy remarked on the beauty of the great sailing ships.

  “Aye, on the outside, but the devil’s tools, the lot of ’em,” Gunther remarked disgustedly.

  He waved his arm at one ship in particular. “See that? They call her the Sea Winds. She carries slaves, she does. They bring her in from Africa, they do, and then ship her out to the colonies. My Molly, she ain’t wrong when she says slavery ain’t right, seeing as we’re all God’s children.”

  “Oh no. I have never seen it firsthand. It is unthinkable what we humans do to one another. Horrible,” Sassy said, much distressed.

  “That’s how this town goes on with such trade, and other things,” he said darkly.

  “What other things?”

  “That is not for your young ears—nor my Molly’s, so don’t be asking her, for she’ll never rest till she knows. Ye both be too danged curious for yer own good.” He halted his horses and said, “If it is some shopping ye need, this is the street to do it on.”

  Sassy picked up her skirts and nimbly made her way off the short steps of the wagon’s seat to the cobblestone. However, she then twisted her ankle slightly as she took her first step.

  She held the carriage a moment as she shook out her foot and smiled up to thank him, but he stayed her. “Hold on, Miss, ’tis a goodly walk back to the school, every bit of an hour’s walk. Best head back well before dark sets in,” he said gruffly. Without waiting for an answer he set his horses back in motion.

  Smiling over the man’s odd manners, Sassy made her way down the avenue to a fabric shop, quickly chose a length of pretty, pale green cotton, had it wrapped in a brown paper bundle, and left the shop.

  The scent of freshly baked pastries took strong hold of her, and before long she had purchased a tiny cake and began the happy process of devouring the delectable as she walked and looked into storefront windows.

  By the time she neared the edge of town and the main road back to Netherby, she was sure her little package had mysteriously gained weight. Her arm ached as she stopped and shifted her package to the other hand.

  The sound of approaching wheels and horses’ hooves brought Sassy’s head around. She was quick to recognize the gentlemen she had encountered on her way to Netherby, and her heart began to race when the coach slowed to a stop near her.

  One of these gentlemen she would, she believed, never forget, for although she had not had that erotic dream since that first time she saw him in person in Sutton Village, she had been thinking of him frequently, especially after their meeting in the road.

  Sitting beside Percy Lutterel was a young, pretty, and fashionable young woman in a haze of pink from top to bottom.

  “Hallo, Miss Winthrop,” Mr. Lutterel said as he jumped nimbly down from the coach. He tipped his hat as he walked towards her.

  The Marquis of Dartmour moved closer to the window, and just at that moment Sassy’s gaze met with his bright blue eyes.

  She nearly gasped at the rush of sensation that flooded her. It felt as though her blood was on fire with a fever. Why did this happen whenever he was near? Apparently I am forever destined to meet him on the road.

  No sooner did this thought enter her mind than she s
aw a look of surprise click into his glittering blue eyes and heard words that never came from his lips as he answered her, And apparently destiny just might be the answer.

  Sassy tried to recoup from this startling event. She had only been able to exchange thoughts with her mother and now and then with her father. Never before had it occurred with anyone else! What was happening to her? Had he answered her? Or had she imagined it? Had she read his thoughts? Was that it?

  Her magic, she knew, had increased with her ‘coming of age’. Her mother had explained that this would happen as soon as she reached her majority, which she’d described as the beginning of a special time of transition when Sassy would have to learn to control some very startling realizations.

  She had asked her mother to explain what this meant, but all she would say was that it was different for each woman blessed with the power of white magic.

  “What …?” she asked, feeling foolish, for she’d heard Mr. Lutterel speaking but had not been able to concentrate on what he said.

  “I asked if it was Miss Winthrop,” Mr. Lutterel repeated. “Do I have that right?”

  “Yes, sir, it is. You have a commendable memory,” Sassy answered, giving the young woman inside the coach a sweeping smile. The pert blonde inside the carriage did not look pleased.

  Mr. Lutterel, it appeared, noted the same circumstance just at that moment and hastened to right his oversight. “Thank you, you know already my friend here, the Marquis of Dartmour, and this is my cousin, once removed, Miss Sophia Delleson.”

  Sassy observed the look on Mr. Lutterel’s face; it appeared to her he worshipped the young lady.

  Miss Delleson regarded Sassy with a cool smile as she took her measure and inclined her head. Sassy could see a calculating look in her glance. When her voice came, it purred. “Percy, however did you find time to make acquaintances in Bristol? I have lived here all my life and have never come across Miss Winthrop, or any of her family—anywhere.”

  “Miss Winthrop has only just arrived in Bristol,” the marquis said smoothly, his face giving away nothing of what he felt. His thoughts were once again cut off from Sassy.

  “Oh well, that would explain why I did not recognize the name. Still, one would think…?”

  Though the marquis’s expression didn’t change, Mr. Lutterel blushed at his beloved’s cattish manners. “The marquis and I were fortunate enough to be on hand when Miss Winthrop’s carriage broke down,” he said, “though I am sorry to state that we were unable to be of any meaningful assistance.”

  “I see,” said Sophy, still cool.

  Sassy did not appreciate Miss Delleson’s superior attitude or the fact that her position on the road forced her to strain her neck to carry on a conversation. She felt her temper on the rise but controlled herself as she said, “Please, Mr. Lutterel, there is no need for such explanations. I believe Miss Delleson has a very good understanding of my situation. Your cousin obviously and quite correctly assumes that she and I have not met because I lack the necessary credentials that would enable me to travel in what she has been taught are the ‘first circles’. And I doubt that the fact that I am a teacher at Netherby Halls will alter her opinion of my status.” She inclined her head. “Good day.” She began to move off, but the marquis jumped from the coach and came to stand in front of her.

  “Surely you don’t think that we would allow you to walk, carrying a package, all the way back to Netherby?”

  “It is of no consequence.” She felt herself blushing in spite of her bravado.

  “It is nearly dark and will be before you reach the school grounds. Please allow us to escort you home.”

  His blue eyes held sincere concern, and she felt such a magnetism pull her towards him that she had to exert extreme control; otherwise, she thought she just might dive into his arms for comfort. She had been feeling very alone in the world, and suddenly something about him made her feel as though …? She shook this notion off and gave him a tepid smile, deciding that rather than look foolish she would accept their offer of a ride. “Thank you, how kind.”

  As Sassy climbed into the coach, Sophy Delleson’s attitude seemed to change and she touched Sassy’s gloved hand with her own. “Do forgive me, Miss Winthrop. I acted quite horribly. You would be quite correct to think poorly of me, and I would not blame you if you did, but I would like to start anew.” She sent a smile at Percy, who beamed proudly.

  Sassy smiled warmly. “Thank you.” Her mind and heart were racing so wildly she couldn’t think clearly. Sitting beside the marquis was beyond titillating, but she managed to say, “I do hope this is not taking you out of your way too much.”

  “Not at all,” the marquis replied. “I have been wanting to visit Netherby and speak with the headmistress in person.”

  Sassy was curious, but he had not left any opening for her to take this any further. However, Miss Delleson sighed and said, “Yes, he and Percy have some notion that they should be school subscribers, to appease Justin’s aunt, but Justin wants to inspect the school first. Such a bore.”

  “Oh, it is my understanding that Miss Sallstone never receives anyone without an appointment,” Sassy said on a slight frown.

  “Oh, she will see us,” said the marquis quietly.

  Sassy looked up as he turned to face her. Their eyes met once again, and she felt, literally felt, the breath sucked out of her lungs in slow, sweet degrees. How could that be? How could losing one’s breath be so very … thrilling?

  Thankfully, neither Miss Delleson or Mr. Lutterel seemed to notice the rise in temperature that Sassy was sure had enveloped the interior of the carriage, and both chatted on in total harmony with one another.

  During the ride, Sassy could not help but notice that Mr. Lutterel’s gaze seemed riveted to Miss Delleson’s elflike features. Ah, she thought, he is smitten.

  They turned onto Netherby Drive, and minutes later pulled up the front steps. The marquis alighted and turned, but instead of giving Sassy his gloved hand he lifted her by her waist and set her on the ground as he whispered, “I liked your hair the way you wore it last.”

  She was still feeling the heat of his hands on her waist when she looked up at that and said, “It would not become a teacher.”

  “Then perhaps teaching is not what you should be doing.”

  She sucked in air and pushed off from him. Was he making an indecent proposition? She felt her cheeks burn, and he said softly, “Steady, don’t misunderstand me.”

  “Thank you,” Sassy offered gratefully. “Thank you all for the ride.” She then hurried up the steps before them, saying over her shoulder, “Molly or one of the other servants will take you to Miss Sallstone.”

  He stalled her. “Miss Winthrop …?”

  She turned, but all at once, all she could see was him standing in that bedroom, his bedroom—totally naked.

  “I-I must go,” she said on a hushed note of desperation.

  “May I call on you tomorrow?” he stuck in as he reached for her arm and held her gently in place.

  “No … no … you must see that it would not do. Please … oh please … I must go.”

  He released her then, and she felt his gaze on her as she skipped hurriedly all the way up the stone steps. In her mind, she could still hear the softness of his voice, tempting her to look back, so she moved faster, as though a dragon were on her heels.

  She ran past Molly, affectionately touching her cheek briefly, and rushed up the staircase and down the hall for the safety of her room. Once there, she leaned her back against the door and tried to find her breath. How could she do that when he had stolen it?

  * * *

  “Percy, why don’t you take a tour of the grounds with Sophy? I am certain she would like that, and I’ll go have a quick chat with the headmistress.” The marquis gave his friend a meaningful ‘look’, and Percy was quick to understand and acquiesce.

  “Yes, you go on,” Percy said and offered his arm to Sophy.

  The marquis watched them
leave and then nearly bent over his knees. He couldn’t breathe. He barely could think. All he could do was ‘feel’.

  All he could see was this damnable chit, lying across his bed! She was naked and exquisite. She taunted him with her eyes and her body, willing him to touch her as though he had touched her before.

  What the bloody hell was wrong with him? He had always had so much control.

  Why did this happen to him nearly every single time he was in her company? She was ravishing, yes, but this time it was more than his manhood dictating to him, so much more than that.. She had spirit and a sense of balance about her that he found intoxicating. She was intoxicating.

  And her scent—never had a woman given off such an alluring scent as she always did, like vanilla and heather, and something else, exotic like that of a rare orchard. Damn but he wanted her so much he couldn’t think.

  Wrong—this was all wrong. He was allowing his dick to lead him around, and he knew better. He was a man of cool, steady nerves. He was, he knew, a dominant male, and in his group—more than that. He liked to be in control of every situation. This was not like him.

  He pulled himself together and went up the stairs. He used the doorknocker and found the door flung wide open by a young serving-girl, who openly gaped at him. Her mouth dropped as she bobbed a curtsey.

  He smiled warmly at her, hoping to set her at ease, and took a card out of his inner pocket. “Would you tell your headmistress that the Marquis of Dartmour would like a moment of her time?”

  “I would, aye, that I would,” the girl said, waving him inside. “Would ye be wanting to follow me?”

  He grinned. “Indeed, I think that might answer.”

  “Aye then,” she said shyly and led the way.

  Only a few moments went by before she returned and opened the inner door wide. “Miss Sallstone says she will see you now.”

  The marquis took out a coin and flipped it to her. “What is your name?”

  She caught the coin, grinned at him brightly, and said, “Molly, sir … er … my lord.”