by Guy Antibes
“I wouldn’t bow to any of them,” Willa said. “Once they found out my former position with Lord Worthy, they wanted obeisance. Not from me. Not from the Assistant Dean.”
“Well it’s over, isn’t it?” Sara said. “And I for one am glad to have you back. I’m of a mind to leave the College anyway.”
Lily looked shocked. “Why would you do that?”
“Have you gone to any of the classes?”
“A few,” Lily said. It was clear that she knew Sara’s position about the low academic level.
“Right. I can’t learn anything there. And if they hold me in some kind of underserved awe for being a Countess, then I won’t fit in as a teacher,” Sara said. The new information only confirmed Sara’s misgivings over taking a teaching post at the College. If no future existed at the College, then what kept her in Parth? Even the Duke had never pursued a more intimate relationship; indeed, he had only dined with her the once after he had returned. She had tasted disappointment, but realized that the Duke’s life revolved around Parthy and not her.
~~~
Chapter Seven
Called to Serve
Two weeks later, Sara had gone for a run with Meldey through the chilling rain with Meldey and returned out of breath. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she let down the hood of her jacket onto the message that Willa shoved in her hand.
“From the Duke.”
The Duke summoned her to his chambers. She was due in an hour. Sara shook out her hair and ran up the stairs. “I have a meeting with the Duke. Summon a carriage. I have to take a bath.” How could she get ready in time?
Willa worked on the tangled mess that was her hair as she dressed. She jumped into a carriage and hurried up the endless steps to the Duke’s apartments in the palace. Belonnia? The time had finally come for the Duke to claim his part of the bargain.
The Duke came around from his desk as Sara entered his study. He took her hands and squeezed them. She squeezed back.
“Meldey’s been working you hard,” he said.
“Since I withdrew from the Women’s College, I have more time on my hands than I desire.”
“Of course, of course,” He waved his hand as he led her to the seats by his fireplace. “There’s to be a delegation of University and College students to Belonnia—a student exchange, of sorts. I’ve worked on it for some time and it’s supposed to take place before Winter’s Rise, but I imagine it will last a bit longer.”
Sara had the sinking feeling that her promise to Klark would be broken. However, if anyone had an appreciation for the Duke’s mercurial ways, he did. The thought didn’t brighten her spirits.
“I’ve asked Yanna to join us for a bite to eat—an early dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, I don’t.”
He pulled on cord and Yanna entered. “Yanna, you remember Sara Featherwood?”
She bowed to Sara, “Countess.”
Sara felt like she should be the person doing all the bowing. Yanna still intimidated her, even though Meldey had told her a number of ‘Yanna’ stories.
“We would like you to enter into Belonnian society and keep your eyes and ears open. Lily Evertrue and Meldey will be accompanying you to Belonnia as fellow students of the Women’s College along with a number of men from the University. None of them will be other than students. There should be little to no chance for any danger.”
“When will we leave?”
“There is a reception at the King’s court room in three weeks time with the men. You will attend an orientation just before.”
“May I take Willa as a maid for the three of us?”
Yanna looked at the Duke, who raised his eyebrows.
“I have no objection,” Yanna said.
“Another set of eyes and from a servant’s point of view. Good thinking Sara. Belonnian aristocracy may cry out for equality, but those in power certainly have no compunction about keeping servants.”
“I’m assuming Lily won’t object.”
“She won’t,” Yanna said. “Meldey is having a conversation with her as we speak. Miss Streams is a very effective persuader.”
Yanna couldn’t be more correct, but Willa would be the one pleading to go along. “No secret mission for Meldey?” Sara looked at both of them and could tell that there was.
“Nothing that will concern you, Sara,” the Duke said. “The less you know the better.”
“Ah. I can plead my innocence, then, before a Belonnian magistrate.” The prospects of the trip began to excite her.
“Precisely,” Yanna said, giving the Duke a worried look.
The innocent trip of keeping her eyes open had evaporated. They were a diversion for Meldey, just as Sara had suspected when the Duke first proposed his bargain. Sara didn’t care. Her training with Meldey might be put to use, after all. Winter’s Rise in Stonebridge aside, Sara’s current life achieved no purpose and she wanted one.
On the way back to her house, Sara thought about making their story stronger. Lily and Sara would have to return to their classes. They would need proper clothes for the trip. Willa could work on that.
Meldey for all of her physical skills wouldn’t be able to pass herself off as a College student. Sara bit her lip and thought for a bit. Physical training would have to be curtailed. Perhaps they could all work on board the ship to Belonnia. Once at the Belonnian port, there would be three or four days of riding to the Belonnian capital of Okalla. A coach wouldn’t give them any further ability to prepare.
Coach. Sara clutched the carriage necklace. She’d have to write to Klark and explain. He couldn’t plan on her return by Winter’s Rise. Klark would understand. His employment with the Duke still persisted, even during his indenture to his father. She promised and Sara felt badly that Winter’s Rise would see them apart. A bit of her let out a sigh of relief—at least she wouldn’t have to worry about facing a marriage proposal.
She entered the house and called for Willa. Lily and Meldey remained in the sitting room. When all four women were assembled, Sara pulled the doors shut.
“Don’t tell me what your assignment is,” Sara said, holding her upraised hand towards Meldey. Lily and I will have two maids accompany us to Belonnia, Willa is my maid and Meldey will be Lily’s.”
Meldey stood up. “That’s not the plan.”
“It’s my plan. I’m a Countess and Lily has noble blood. With your being a servant, you’ll have more freedom to remove yourself from us if something goes wrong. If you need cover, you can say that Lily’s maid couldn’t make the trip.”
“I can go along with that,” Meldey said. “I’ll have to notify Yanna.”
Sara didn’t care. “Go ahead. Why would she object? I imagine you’re going to disappear at some point.”
“What about my College duties?” Willa said.
“You’ve already said they are about over. I want you by my side, Willa. We’ve been through this kind of thing before.”
Willa took on a grave look and nodded.
“And my role?” Lily said.
“We have the same one, Lily. We observe the way Lisha Temple taught us.” Sara smiled. “It will be an adventure. However, it’s back to school for appearance’s sake. We will get some kind of orientation and then a reception with the King.” Sara turned to Lily. “Do you know anything about what would be fashionable in Belonnia?”
“Pish!” Lily said. “We are women of Parth. Our clothing will reflect our city, with a few modifications of course. We’ll be needed to move freely, I suppose.”
“You suppose correctly. Willa can you supervise a wardrobe for Lily and I that will appear as fitted as most Parth fashions, but allow some movement?”
The older woman nodded. “New clothes for all of us. Meldey and I can work that out.”
“Then in the evenings, we will go over the maps to the country and review our route and perhaps Obed Handy has a folio or two on those who run the country and those who are most likely to interface with our group.
” Sara’s mind expanded as she began to think of what she needed to do. She had to admit that this was so much more fun than attending Women’s College.
~
Flora Evertrue stood when she recognized Lily and Sara entering a tearoom in a middle class neighborhood of Parth. The choice of such a place intrigued Sara and it spoke of a penchant for secrecy. Lily just laughed the woman off, but seemed eager to see her again.
“Aunt Flora,” Lily kissed the air just by her aunt’s face. “You must forgive me for not visiting you since I’ve been in Parth.”
Flora just raised her eyebrow and gave her niece—once removed—half of a smile. “Just less fighting between us, dear. But thank you for condescending enough to meet with me. Sit, the both of you. Despite the environs, this place serves the best lunches in Parth.”
They all ordered and then Sara sat back. “You have some reason for inviting us to this place?” She looked at the surroundings. It reminded her of Natti’s tearoom in Belting Hollow.
“You need to know that Millis has convinced the Dean at the University to include a strange young man. I don’t know his name, but he has dark hair and a dark complexion. He’s not a University student and all I know is that he isn’t who he seems to be and has received some very special treatment.”
“Is that all, auntie?” Lily said it in such a way that her question even irked Sara.
“Millis is playing a dangerous game along with her circle. I’ve heard of her boasting about how Parth will change once she’s the queen.”
“Idle boasting by a wicked woman?” Lily said with emphasis on the ‘wicked’. “You detest her, don’t you, Flora?”
“I do, Lily, and thank you for dropping the auntie nonsense. All I’d like you two to do is be very wary of this student. We think it’s something very big, but we know for sure it has to do with you, Sara, going to Belonnia,” Flora said. Sara couldn’t help but believe the woman’s sincerity, even though, through her posture and facial expression, Lily doubted her words. The warning sent shivers through Sara, but she had already committed to go and they were more than prepared in any event.
“We are ready for just about anything and are treating our journey as a foray into enemy territory.” Lily said with a feigned smile.
Flora sat back with a relieved look on her face. “Good, then. I suppose you wouldn’t have been able to back out now, anyway. The Duke is not a man who takes kindly to a change of mind.”
The women didn’t talk as the server put their food on the table.
“You know about the Duke?”
“Doesn’t everybody? He’s installed the both of you in this group and set you on this training mission to Belonnia.”
A training mission, so the Duke had a cover story for their cover story. Wheels within wheels so that everyone knew the reason why they were on the student exchange, but no one knew of Meldey’s mission. Sara shook her head at the convoluted purpose of their visit.
“All the more reason to be on our guard, Flora,” Sara said. “Now that we’ve been suitably warned, I’m sure Lily would like a rundown on the juicy gossip at court.”
That got Lily’s eyes brightening as she rubbed her hands. “Yes, Auntie, what wonders have you recently picked up that poor little provincials like us would be shocked to learn?”
~
The orientation didn’t interest Sara. The research that the women had assembled in the last few weeks turned out to be much superior to what the Practical Politics professor at the University presented. He even had mis-identified some of the important Belonnians.
Lily and Sara were relegated to the back row. None of the other eighteen men sat near them. The slight didn’t surprise the two women. In fact, there would be an advantage to being isolated.
Duke Northcross entered the room and spoke for just a few minutes about keeping eyes and ears open and that he would be pleased with any information they might informally pick up. He winked at Sara on his way out. The Duke wasn’t very good at it, but Sara felt lifted up by the gesture, but then she wondered if he did it so the other students might notice and add that to the rumors that so closely matched their mission.
The orientation ended with more poor information. Sara gave Lily a sour look. She pitied her fellow students, but the errors were innocuous. One of the students walked up to her.
“Hello, let me introduce myself. I’m Handson Dairyman from Southarm.” Southarm was a large market city that rivaled Stonebridge in size and traded with the kingdom of Halliam on the southern edge of Parthy. He was somewhat short of stature, but exuded a self-confidence that the other students lacked. Perhaps he was a bit older. He had similar coloring to Meldey, with dark hair and olive skin. Could this be Millis’s friend? He had to be since the other students ignored her.
“You are far from home. Sara Featherwood from Shattuk Downs,” Sara introduced herself. “This is Lily Evertrue from Stonebridge, Shattuk Downs. We’ll be with your group.”
Handson laughed. “Not my group. I am tutored by a former University professor and he thought that this trip would round out my worldview. Like you, I’m along for the ride.”
“I would hardly call it along for the ride, Master Dairyman,” Lily said. “We have as much or more to contribute to the exchange as those boys.” She lifted her chin towards the clusters of University students.
“Do you have a title, Mr. Dairyman?” Lily said.
“Not one that would impress any Parthian,” he said, assuming a smug smile. “But I know of your title, Countess. I am thrilled to meet you. I hope we can have some time to talk on the way to Okalla.”
“You speak Belonnian, Master Dairyman?” Sara said. “Few non-natives pronounce Okalla as Belonnians do.” Who was this person? Did the Duke know of him?
He colored and put his finger in his collar. “My tutor lived in Belonnia for some time. He insists on using Belonnian pronunciations for everything.” He smiled. “I must go. I will see you at the reception?”
“You will.” Sara gave him a slight smile. They gave each other small bows and he left.
“What impertinence!” Lily said. “A commoner introducing himself to a noble.”
“It happens all the time in Shattuk Downs, outside of Stonebridge, Lily,” Sara said. “He lives even farther from the court than we do.” Sara really didn’t know where she lived. “Perhaps Obed might know of him. He didn’t say he was a commoner. He said he didn’t have a title that would impress us, but if he’s Millis’ man, who knows who he really is?”
Lily pursed her lips. “Perhaps you’re right. He is a very nice looking man, but a little darkish for my taste.”
“His coloring is much like Meldey’s. He looks more like one of the Duke’s creatures than one owned by Millis” She looked at the disapproving side-glances as the students began to leave the room. A few glares were hostile. “We might be able to pull more information from him than he can from us.”
That made Lily smile.
~~~
Chapter Eight
Bad News From Shattuk Downs
The next morning, as Sara prepared for the afternoon reception in the King’s court, Willa brought up two letters to her room.
She opened the one from Stonebridge first.
Dear Sara,
I can’t describe to you my disappointment that you won’t be sharing Winter’s Rise with me in Stonebridge. I didn’t think you’d cast away your promise to be with me so casually. I spoke with Lily’s parents and they confirmed your trip to Belonnia.
It appears that our relationship will remain forever interrupted by one of us or the other. I was going to tell you that I no longer entertain a desire to study at the University and, well, you know that I intended on proposing marriage. I love you and I always will, but I sensed a wall between us in my recent visit to Parth.
Perhaps that wall can never be scaled. I don’t want to burden your mission with a relationship that might be failing. All that I ask is that you send back the carriage whistle. It�
��s a treasured family heirloom and my father has requested that it be returned.
I’ll always value our relationship and treasure the time we have spent together.
Forever yours,
Klark
A tear stained Klark’s name as Sara finished. How could Klark do such a thing? Her hand went to the necklace. She undid the clasp and laid it on the top of her dresser. He didn’t own her, but she knew he loved her and Sara had never met anyone she felt more attracted to. They had shared so much together. Now he had run back to his father and had decided to be a craftsman for the rest of his life.
What dreams did he really harbor? Were they just dreams, to be forgotten when he finally woke up to the realities of life? It seemed so. Sara didn’t have the time or the will to go on moping about Klark with her mission to Belonnia starting in a few days.
No matter what Klark said, she wasn’t about to close the door on their relationship. Had someone applied undue influence on him? She just couldn’t believe that he would throw it all away if she missed Winter’s Rise while on a mission for the government. If he did the same to her, Sara would understand. She knew she would.
The letter came too late for her to do anything about it. She’d send him the necklace, but only for safekeeping. She wouldn’t give it up yet. There might be danger in Belonnia since there wasn’t a formal truce, just a cessation of hostilities. Who knows, she might become a hostage. She shook her head in denial. She didn’t think her father, the Duke, wouldn’t put her into that kind of danger. The first thing she’d do after her return would be a trip to Shattuk Downs to retrieve the necklace. She sought any excuse to see Klark again.
She wiped away her tears and opened the other letter. She recognized Nona’s handwriting. More bad news?