Chapter 6
Netherfield Park
Elizabeth stepped into the dusty, cobwebbed upstairs bedchamber and opened the window as wide as it would go. Indifferent to the cold, she took a deep gulp of the familiar country air. Ahead of her was the rounded pudding-bowl of Oakham Mount, with the ruins of Oakham Tower perched on the top like a great bird surveying the landscape. The pale thread of the path was a chalk line meandering up the hill, as Elizabeth had done so many times with her sisters. Hedgerows and tree groves broke up the winter fields into a quilt of greens and yellows and browns.
This was the world she had grown up in.
She still could hardly believe that it was her suggestion that had brought the Royal Mages here. She knew Netherfield Park, with its stuffy old furniture and dusty velvet curtains. Mr. Prescott had been a friend of Mr. Bennet’s, even if he was much older, and she had spent time here, playing with a set of toy soldiers while the gentlemen discussed soil drainage and crop rotation. Later, she had made use of the library. Mr. Prescott had no Talent, but some of his ancestors did. There were several old tomes on magic that she had read with fascination.
The first thing she had done when she arrived was to locate those books. No one else knew they existed. She did not have a room of her own yet, so she brought them to the makeshift sleeping space set up for the ladies in the Grand Ballroom. She leafed through the books now with new eyes, looking for references to the type of magic she practiced. Perhaps with these old books, she might be able to justify herself, or better still, discover a way to heal Mr. Bingley. It had been more than five days, and he still gave no indication of improvement. The prospects were decreasing by the hour.
Her reading was interrupted by the sound of a gong, a signal that Lord Matlock, as Head of the Council, was going to make a formal announcement. Two footmen brought in a small dais and set it up at the front of the ballroom. Lord Matlock strode in and climbed the wooden steps, facing the ladies that were already gathered there. A troupe of male apprentice mages followed, walking in a straight line. They sat on the ground, cross-legged, and immediately filled the hall with the noise of chattering. Next in were the Council members and other Royal Mages, with footmen hurrying after them with chairs. Darcy also came in and stood by the door, leaning his shoulder against the wall, arms crossed. His eyes sought hers, and when he found them, he nodded and smiled. A warm feeling spread inside her. He looked tired, but handsome as ever, his tall figure projecting vitality and power.
Lord Matlock cast a Projection spell to enable his words to be carried to the back of the ballroom then looked around with a smile.
“Thank you all for your patience during these unsettled times. I know the last few days have been very trying. The attack at Founder’s Hall was frightening for all of you, but you have been strong, and we have survived it. I would like to thank each and every one of you for doing what was required under difficult circumstances. I know it has not been easy for you to be forced to leave your home and travel so unexpectedly. And I know this house that is full of dust and cobwebs does not seem very welcoming. But I have been assured there are no ghosts, headless or otherwise. If you do encounter one, please report it, so we can deal with it using magic.”
There was a smattering of laughter. The apprentices in front made snide comments then started to boast to each other, and Lord Matlock had to order them to be silent.
Elizabeth watched the boys with amusement. Their high spirits were a strong contrast to the grave faces of the Tutors, who looked as if they had been eating sour lemons.
“It will not be long before we can make it our home. I think Netherfield Park will work well for us, once we have set everything up, and we all have beds rather than mattresses to sleep on. I hope you will all be considerate about keeping quiet at night to allow others to sleep. I do not want to waste my time dealing with complaints. There are far more crucial matters I need to deal with.”
“I will not keep you for long, but I have a few points I would like to address. We will be arranging Netherfield Park in much the same way as Founder’s Hall. Our priority is to complete the Maidens’ Hall so our young ladies will be appropriately chaperoned. Meanwhile, the same rules of propriety apply as anywhere else in the Academy. I hope you will not make the mistake of assuming that the disorder of moving means the rules are in any way relaxed.”
He gave the older boys a severe look from under his thick brows.
“Anyone caught breaking the rules will be sent home in disgrace. I want to hear it from all our apprentices. Is that understood?”
A chorus of young voices rose up.
“Yes, Lord Matlock.”
The cheery voices made Elizabeth smile. She would enjoy teaching them, she decided. Most of them were around Lydia’s age. It would be a welcome change to deal with mages younger than herself. She missed her sisters.
“The second issue— and this one is even more important—is the issue of secrecy. As far as the inhabitants of Meryton and the rest of the neighborhood are concerned, Netherfield Park has been rented by a gentleman called Murray. His purpose is to set up a home for officers who have been incapacitated by the war. Please make sure you remember his name in case you are questioned for some reason. We must all tell the same story.”
Elizabeth tried to imagine how Mama and the neighbours would react to that. It would certainly arouse a great deal of curiosity. The wordofficerswould be seized upon and discussed for days. The mysterious Mr. Murray would have to make sure that the word ‘incapacitated’ was firmly associated with Netherfield, otherwise they would quickly be overrun with mamas and matrons.
“Mr. Murray will not be receiving or returning social calls. He has brought his own servants and Healers, so he will not be hiring local help. Hopefully, any resentment about that should be mollified by our constant demand for services. We will be requiring food and household supplies, and the labor of carpenters and blacksmiths. We will, of course, transport everything ourselves. There is nothing unusual in this. That was the case at Founder’s Hall. I am saying this for the benefit of our younger mages who may not know it.”
The Royal Mages knew what they were doing. In return for the increase in employment, the villagers would be willing to overlook the secrecy surrounding the estate.
“My point is that no word of our existence must reach a single person outside these walls. If word escapes, we will have to move at once. I cannot emphasize this enough. Needless to say, anyone discovered breaking this rule will be severely punished.”
No one could doubt the seriousness of the offence. It was written all over Lord Matlock’s face. It was certainly a warning to anyone with a loose tongue.
“And now onto some lighter concerns. We cannot set up a Great Hall for dining until all the ladies have been moved out to their quarters. Until then, we will have cold meats, pies and cakes set up on tables along the hallway. The ladies may bring their food in here, and the gentlemen will eat elsewhere. Members of the Council and Tutors will take their meals in the breakfast room.”
So the members of the Council would not have to sacrifice their comfort.
“And lastly, we are already setting up classes and training sessions for our young apprentices, so you will not remain idle for long. However, in the meantime, I have divided everyone into teams, headed by one of our Tutors. You are all expected to assist in any way you are told. This will very probably involve physical activity. I do not want to hear of anyone shirking their tasks.”
A series of groans and protests followed. She could not tell if they were objecting to the lessons or the tasks. Probably both.
“If we all work together, we will be able to put the discomfort of the move behind us and resume our normal lives. I am counting on you all to pull your weight. I want to hear it from all our apprentices. We are the Royal Mages, and we will not be defeated!”
“We will not be defeated!”
