Mirror Gate

by Jeff Wheeler

  “Miss Cettie would excel wherever she went, I am sure,” Will said with a gallant bow. “When you asked me to wait at the sentinel oak, I hadn’t expected this encounter. Next time I will be more prepared.”

  Cettie had suspected as much. She grinned at Juliana and gave her a knowing look.

  “Tell me, Lieutenant,” Juliana said archly, “how goes the hunt for the intruder?”

  “That information, of course, is not public knowledge,” he said evasively. He looked at both their faces. “But since you are relations of Minister Fitzroy, I shall assume you’re in a position to learn any details you desire?”

  “We expect him back from Lockhaven soon,” Juliana said. “But go ahead and tell us now.” Cettie saw that Juliana was determined to get her way.

  Will looked hesitant a moment, as if he were concerned about displeasing a superior. “The investigation is certainly troubling. I’m not privy to all the latest information, but my captain tells me that the various manifests all checked out. Even the Minister of War’s ship was investigated, and every member of the crew was interrogated in front of Leerings that forbid lying. Lord Welles volunteered to submit to questions, not being above the law himself. The intruder did not come aboard his ship. Or any other that was chartered to arrive in Muirwood.”

  “I suppose he must have come from a private zephyr, then,” Juliana said, arching her brows.

  “It seems likely, ma’am,” he answered soberly. Then he turned to Cettie. “Many of us who haven’t received orders yet were sent here to provide security, but I am leaving soon for Whitehead in the City. I hope to see Miss Fitzempress . . . soon.” He gave Cettie a hopeful look.

  She would do nothing to betray her friend’s feelings. Will Russell was a very handsome young man. But looks and charm could conceal ambition and ill intentions. She thought again on the letter he’d written to Sera. The tone of it had troubled her, and though his every action seemed affable and well-intentioned, she worried about his eagerness.

  “I’m sure you will, Mr. Russell,” Cettie answered, keeping her expression neutral.

  Will gave her a self-deprecating smile. He was hoping for something. But what?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  REVIVED

  After her first encounter with Lieutenant Russell, Cettie did not cross paths with him again for another two days. The seasons were starting to change before her eyes—the rich greens of the hillsides beginning to turn pale brown. The apple trees of the cider orchard were done producing luscious fruit, and fewer bees hovered around the lavender bushes. More and more students were seeking refuge in the shade between classes. They were overdue a spring storm, and Cettie continued to check the storm glass she’d brought to her cabin on the Serpentine. The quicksilver was placid and had not budged.

  The second afternoon after her race with Lieutenant Russell, Cettie made her way back toward her aunt’s tempest after her advanced mathematics class, musing about what Sera would think of the man. He was handsome, agreeable, and seemed destined for great things . . . unless Sera’s father was determined to keep him down. Her thoughts so distracted her she didn’t notice Mr. Skrelling’s approach as he fell in next to her. Finally, he had to cough into his fist to get her attention.

  “Ahem¸ Miss Cettie, how are you?” He cleared his throat noisily.

  Although she was startled by his sudden appearance, she concealed her alarm. “I am well enough, Mr. Skrelling. It’s a pleasant afternoon.”

  “A bit warm for my taste,” he answered, tugging at his high collar and the knotted tie. He was perspiring copiously, but she judged it wasn’t altogether due to the temperature.

  “What class did you have just now?” she asked, trying to be pleasant.

  “Advanced rhetoric,” he answered promptly. “That is a required course for one seeking a profession in Law. I intend to resume my employment at Sloan and Teitelbaum following my studies here, but ultimately, I think it would be more beneficial to open my own practice. I am a man of no small ambition.”

  “I could tell,” Cettie said, keeping her voice neutral.

  “And of course, I would never consider leaving Sloan and Teitelbaum until your case is satisfactorily resolved. I was only suggesting what my plans are for the future. The Law can be quite profitable.” His voice was nervous, his tone slightly agitated. He was working up his courage to tell her something. Cettie dreaded what it might be.

  “I imagine so,” she answered softly. Some other students were smirking at them.

  “Do you, ahem, have plans for after you leave Muirwood? Will you be a governess, perhaps?”

  She gave him a bold look. “How did you know about that?”

  He looked startled by her suspicious tone. “I didn’t know, not exactly. Just a rumor I’d heard. I have a knack for remembering details, which is a good attribute to have in an advocate, I’d remind you.” His tone was defensive. “I confess I employed a trick of the trade, as they say, in getting you to confess. I knew your reaction to the rumor would either confirm or deny it. In this case, it confirms it.”

  “That is rather underhanded, don’t you think, Mr. Skrelling?”

  “Underhanded, ma’am?”

  “Dishonest. Why not just ask me about the rumor directly? And why should it matter to you in the least what I do after leaving Muirwood?”

  “I’m ashamed that you took my intentions in such a way, Miss Cettie,” he said hastily, trying to rectify the situation. “I was practicing a skill that is admired in my field of study. I had no intention of being offensive. I beg your pardon a thousand times. I am truly, truly sorry.”

  His rush to apologize mollified her a little, but she was still on her guard with him. They walked alongside each other in silence. She was hoping he’d excuse himself and go another way, but he seemed determined to be her shadow.

  “As to why I was beseeching such information, Miss Cettie,” he continued after the uncomfortable pause, “I wanted to know how to communicate with you after we part company. There are only a few days left before we take the Test, and the end of the year can be full of commotion.”

  She gave him a wary look. “You already know where I reside, Mr. Skrelling.”

  “Yes, Fog Willows, if that’s what you mean. But if you were, for example, a governess at a certain manor belonging to an ex-student of Mrs. Romrell, it would take much longer for, say, correspondence to pass from me to you. You could be away from Fog Willows for some time, and I wouldn’t want to incur Lord Fitzroy’s displeasure should he find himself needing to pay additional postage fees to forward my communications to you.”

  “Are you saying you wish to write to me after we leave school?” she asked him.

  He coughed into his hand again, looking uncomfortable and excessively hot. “I . . . I would, Miss Cettie.”

  The furtive look he gave her said much about his intentions, but she thought it best to keep everything in the open between them. She wanted no misunderstandings.

  “What are your intentions, Mr. Skrelling?”

  “Intentions? Toward . . . ?”

  “Toward me, naturally. Speak plainly, if you please.”

  A rosy flush came to his cheeks. “I . . . well, I had thought to put it more delicately, in a letter, which I could compose and choose the words . . . you know . . . in a more precise and direct manner.”

  “Does not an advocate need to be extemporaneous at times?”

  “Indeed! Surely!” He looked embarrassed and flustered. “Well, that is entirely true, Miss Cettie. You have great understanding of the profession. Very great. What I am trying to say—what I would have said in my first letter—is that I intend to ask your permission—naturally I would want to seek that first—to begin to . . . court you, following our studies.” He let out a giant sigh of relief.

  “Thank you for speaking plainly, Mr. Skrelling. Permit me the opportunity to do likewise.”

  “Of course!”

  “Mr. Skrelling, I am sixteen years old. My future is
anything but certain. But while that may be true, my feelings are very certain. I would save you needless pain and expense. Before I seek a suitor, which I have no intention of doing anytime soon, I require friendship above all. Your manners toward me, so far, have given me some cause to distrust you. You’ve watched me. You’ve sought information about me without asking for it directly. I’m afraid you’ve conjured some fantasy in your mind that is entirely one-sided.”

  As she spoke, she watched his expression begin to wilt. He listened to her, but the flames in his cheeks grew even brighter. She’d struck the mark in the center with her arrow of truth.

  “Now, Mr. Skrelling,” she continued after a short pause. “Your feelings may change after learning how forthright I can be. I will not begrudge you if they do. If they do not, and you seek to develop a friendship with me, then I will accept your letters on the condition that they remain on those terms. I do not know where I will be after I take the Test. I honestly do not. Mrs. Romrell was so kind as to offer me a position, but nothing has been decided. You may correspond with me, if you wish, at Fog Willows. If my situation changes, I will notify you of where I may be reached. Is that satisfactory?”

  “Yes,” he said in a choking voice. He looked humbled and mortified.

  “I apologize if I’ve embarrassed you, Mr. Skrelling,” she said. “I think it for the best if you depart and compose your feelings.”

  He tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Then he nodded and cleared his throat again. He gave her a piercing look, one of agitation but also appreciation. “Thank you,” he said hoarsely. “For your honesty, miss.” He then bowed his head and veered away from her, head still lowered in shame. There was, nonetheless, determination in his gait.

  The heat of the day was oppressive now. Had she done the right thing in being so direct with Mr. Skrelling? When she looked ahead toward her destination, she saw Anna and Adam approaching her, arm in arm. Seeing the two of them connected like that gave her a visceral reaction. Was Adam just being a gentleman with Anna? But how could he not be charmed by her? Anna’s hair shone like the sun, and her expression was just as light and charming.

  As they approached, Anna gave her a probing look. “We saw you walking with Mr. Skrelling a moment ago,” she said. “I suggested to Adam that we intervene to spare you, but you said something that chased him away. What did you do? Did you scold him?”

  Now it was Cettie’s turn to feel uncomfortable. “No, not really,” she answered, aware of Adam’s eyes on her face. She felt her own cheeks starting to burn.

  “Well, he walked away like a whipped puppy,” Anna said.

  “Was he impertinent to you?” Adam asked with a tone of concern.

  “No,” Cettie replied, shaking her head. “I would rather not talk about it.”

  “Maybe later,” Anna suggested. “Maybe we can have dinner together on board the Serpentine. All of us!” she added suddenly, tugging on Adam’s arm.

  “I was seeking you,” Adam said to Cettie, “but I—”

  “It’s good news,” Anna interrupted. Cettie was grateful because her heart had given a sudden lurch. She’d had enough dark feelings for one day.

  “The Aldermaston has revived,” Adam went on. “He’s eating some broth and little bits of bread. He’s very weak and still lacks the strength to speak, but he’s scribbled some short messages on paper. Today, his strength began to return in earnest. Doctor Redd feels the worst is now behind us, that he will recover from the internal bleeding.”

  Cettie clasped her hands and pressed her knuckles against her lips. “That is good news.”

  “Not many in the school know about it,” Anna said. “But Adam goes there every day and consults with Doctor Redd. He’s been more than useful. I’m sure Doctor Redd thinks so.”

  Adam looked abashed. “We all care about the Aldermaston. I’m just grateful that I was able to help in some small way.”

  Cettie admired his humility, how he deflected Anna’s praise.

  “If you hadn’t been there the night he was shot,” Cettie said, “he probably would have died.”

  Adam shrugged, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

  “Tell her!” Anna said forcefully.

  “Ah yes,” Adam answered, shaking his head. “The reason I was looking for you. The Aldermaston wants to see you, Cettie. Right away.”

  “Me?”

  “Of course!” Adam said. “He wanted to be sure you were well. I went to the Serpentine to find you and found Anna instead. She said she’d help me hunt you down.”

  “Since I wasn’t invited to see the Aldermaston, I’ll wait by the tempest for you,” Anna said.

  Cettie nodded and then felt her throat tighten when Adam offered his arm to her next.

  The Aldermaston was in his bedchamber. The curtains were pulled open, and the chamber smelled of dried lavender, which Cettie saw hanging in clumps from strings. Doctor Redd was washing his hands in a bowl of water when they arrived. His white hair was disheveled, but he had a radiant smile.

  “Ah, the lost lamb,” he said with a twinkle in his eye as Cettie entered. “I thought I might have to go after you myself, but I shouldn’t have worried. Mr. Creigh is ever so diligent. That young man will do great things, mark my words.”

  The Aldermaston was resting on the sofa, wearing a dressing gown covered by a shawl and holding a cane. His cheeks looked gaunt and his skin sallow. He had shrunk since his injury, but it encouraged her to see him out of bed. He watched them but said nothing as he adjusted his spectacles over his nose.

  Doctor Redd stepped in front of her to examine her brow, temporarily blocking her view of the Aldermaston. “Your own injuries have mostly healed. Just a few scabs on your brow. The body is one of the most amazing Mysteries of all! Without any orders, without any command, the different cells in your body went about healing themselves. How is the bruising at your neck?”

  “It has faded,” she answered.

  “Good, good,” Doctor Redd said. “Well, now that Mr. Creigh is here, I can go to the kitchen for a mug of cider. If the cook comes in with a quince pie, send her away immediately. I’m sure the Aldermaston’s appetite is returning with vigor, but we should be sensible and let the repairs continue. It’s good to see you again, Miss Cettie.” He squeezed her arm and then nodded to the two men and departed.

  Adam silently gestured for her to approach the weary man. As Cettie came near, she saw a look of relief bloom in his eyes. He set down the cane and reached out for her hands. Despite the heat in the room, his hands felt cold to the touch. She was so accustomed to people avoiding her bare skin, especially men, that it felt like a gesture of deep trust. Of connection. She trusted and admired the Aldermaston almost as much as she did her father.

  “I’m grateful to see you so much improved,” she said, coming down on her knees before him.

  “And I am grateful to see you here,” he whispered hoarsely. “I feared my summons would come too late.”

  She blinked in surprise. “What do you mean, Aldermaston?”

  He took a deep breath, clearly in great pain. “Your attacker is on the abbey grounds at this moment. In the daylight. No one can see him, but I can sense him and feel his malice. He was waiting for you near the ship just now. I saw a vision of sorts. I saw him smother something over your mouth and then take you into the grove.”

  Adam closed the distance between them, his eyes full of white-hot fury.

  “It was a vision given to me to act upon,” the Aldermaston said. “I feared that it would be too late, but the warning from the Mysteries came to prevent your abduction. I am grateful.” He looked up at Adam. “Thank you, my boy. Thank you for seeking her promptly.”

  “You didn’t say why,” Adam said in a controlled manner.

  “I know. I didn’t want to spread my concern to you. Bring the officer on duty to me at once.”

  Cettie turned to Adam, horrified by a sudden thought. “Anna went back to the sky ship.”

&
nbsp; Adam’s face blanched with worry, and he bolted to the door.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  HUNTING A KILLER

  The officer on duty was summoned, and the Aldermaston gave him orders to hunt down the threat and secure the safety of the students on the grounds. Guards would also be stationed at the manor itself to protect the Aldermaston and Cettie, though very few people knew she was there.

  The knowledge that Adam had rushed ahead into danger made her feelings twist into knots of worry and dread. If anything happened to him or to Anna, or even Aunt Juliana, it would bring her the darkest misery. This was her fault. This attacker had sought her out. He was still seeking her.

  “It is a natural impulse to pace and fret,” the Aldermaston said softly. Cettie stopped midstride and wrung her hands in agitation.

  “What can I do?” she asked. “I don’t want anyone else to be hurt. Not because of me.”

  “Do you suppose that you are any less worth saving because you’re from the Fells? Come and sit down. Brooding only yields bitter fruit. We have done what can be done. We will do what must be done. And we will trust that the warning I was given has served its intended purpose.”

  Cettie bit her lip and hesitated. She didn’t feel like sitting. There was too much frantic energy inside her. But she obeyed and took a seat in a stuffed chair near the Aldermaston’s sofa. She gave him a hesitant look. “Why is it that you cannot see the intruder?”

  He gave her a bemused smile. “I don’t know. Let us reason through it together.”

  His words surprised her. “What could I—”

  He held up his hand to forestall more words. “I shouldn’t need to remind the inventor of the storm glass that she can be of use. Have we not taught you repeatedly at school that when two or more minds are brought together in harmony, they draw on a greater power? This is the Knowing. While this can happen in solitude, it happens most often when individuals counsel together. There is so much we can learn from one another.” He touched his palms together, looking at her intensely. It felt as if he could see right through her. “So there is a man who can shield himself from the gaze of the Leerings. He is at large here on the grounds.”