Page 55 of Enchanted Net
None of that prevented Childeric from sending a note, even if making a call was not feasible. Thessaly nodded. “I’m sorry it’s been so awful. Your aunt and uncle intimidate me a bit - like your parents, I mean, I am sensible about their skills and magic, and properly respectful. But I’ve enjoyed talking with both your aunt and uncle when we’ve had the chance. And it must be awful for Garin.”
“There you go, being soft-hearted. Now, I’ve answered your questions. And it’s not as if this particular problem will come up again, will it? You’re not likely to be in mourning again - that’s what made it so tricky to navigate. And of course, I’ll not be challenging twice for the Council.” He sounded so confident and self-assured, and Thessaly couldn’t bear the sound of it.
“Just, please, keep me informed? A note, if you can’t get away. I really do want to back you up. That’s my role now we’re betrothed, and certainly once we’re married. And I can’t do that if I don’t know anything about what’s going on. Please? Can you promise me that?” She did her best to look endearing and gesture at the fact he held all the cards here.
Childeric leaned forward and kissed her cheek, a proper, gentle sort of kiss, but impersonal for all that. “I’ll see what I can do. Sigbert’s not holding up his end, he keeps disappearing while we’ve business to tend to.” It wasn’t any sort of promise at all, and she knew it. He must know it. “Now, Maman and Father would like to invite you to supper at some point, when you feel it’s appropriate. When are you starting up with your apprenticeship again?”
“Just the family, not a larger party?” Thessaly felt she needed to check. It had only been three weeks, not yet a month. “I’m resuming the apprenticeship on Monday, but just going straight there and back.” She glanced up toward the windows. “Mama’s taking Aunt Metaia’s death very badly. I do feel I need to be here to support her.”
“I suppose that’s reasonable enough. Maman thought you might like a little time at Arundel, on your own. Perhaps the Friday and Saturday? You can choose whatever quiet amusements you prefer, have luncheon and supper with us. Father reminded me it’d be best for you to become familiar with the land and the land magic sooner than later, of course. A few walks, a look at the less public parts of the manor?”
The problem, Thessaly realised, was that she could scarcely ask for more information and then turn down the first offer of it. She inclined her head. “I’m - well, I’m not sleeping as well as I’d like, or any of that. But if you’d like me to visit you and your family, I’m sure we can arrange something for a night or two. And Arundel is lovely in the summer.”
“There, see how easy that is? It will give us more time to talk.” He patted her hand again, looking triumphant. “Perhaps we might walk, and I could tell you more about what plans we have for my preparation.”
Thessaly didn’t argue. That took far more energy than she had, and besides it seemed a poor strategy. Instead, she nodded, let him stand, and then accepted his arm as they progressed moderately around the circuit of the garden. There were robe fittings for protective clothing, discussions about which of the family talisman pieces might suit rather than a commission. Childeric had his duelling training, and then a number of other skills. Someone with a bit of planning sense had clearly had a hand in the arrangements. But the events that excited Childeric were mostly not the more sensible end of the scale.
It all seemed decidedly rigid, as if there was a path with no space for her, crowding her off onto the verge. And while it was pleasant to be outside, she found the whole conversation oddly draining. It was as if she’d turned into a shadow of who she preferred to be in the course of the hour they spent together.
Chapter42
JULY 16TH IN TRELLECH
On Tuesday morning, a messenger brought a note around mid-morning. Niobe was sorting the mail, tried to open it, and failed. “This one’s for you. And charmed, as well. Do you need the office?”
Vitus blinked at it and then recognised the handwriting. “I don’t think so? I don’t know?” He pressed his thumb against the wax seal and felt it give way when the magic identified him properly. Of course, she had a note or two from him to use as the anchor for that, enough.
The note from Thessaly was the sort of thing anyone could read without a hint of the overly personal. She was letting him know she’d resumed her apprenticeship. Of course, she still wasn’t making social calls. It also made it clear she’d be available to discuss the question of lapis lazuli illusions at some agreeable time. More to the point gave the hours she’d be at her apprentice mistress’s. It was not quite a formal engraved invitation, but it was the same sort of thing.
“Mind if I finish promptly at half-four today? I can do some more research tonight.” Vitus peered over the letter at Niobe.
“You were going to do more research tonight, whether or not you finished here early. Go on with you when it’s time. You’ll be in tomorrow?” Niobe leaned her elbows on the wood of the counter nearest the hall.
“In a little late - I’m meeting the landlord first thing to walk through and get the keys and get set on the warding. Magister Gordon says he’ll be able to do the workroom next week, he thought Wednesday.” He couldn’t move materials in there until then, but he could figure out the rest of the space. For the moment, he planned to continue living at home. But he’d arranged with the woman in the flats next door for lunches, and for a weekly cleaning.
He had been able to figure out, as soon as he’d talked to her, that she relied on the money, and every bit helped. He’d have a bed in the bedroom, in case he had a late night in Trellech for some reason, a meeting or lecture, but he liked seeing Mama and Papa regularly. And Lucas, when Lucas could get away for the evening.
At half-four, he was packed up and ready to go, and by quarter to five, he was outside Thessaly’s apprentice mistress, waiting on a bench nearby. Vitus didn’t actually have much of a plan from this point, though they could perhaps go find a bench somewhere out of the way. Or Thessaly could tell him when to come back, when her apprentice mistress was around to chaperone.
Five on the dot - as the Temple bells were chiming - Thessaly opened the door and came out. She was wearing mourning, of course, the sombre black, though her veil was pulled back over the back of her head. She glanced around, then before he could approach, caught sight of him and came in his direction. “Vitus. Have you been waiting long?”
“Just a few minutes. I thought catching you might be easier than passing a note back and forth. I would, of course, love your advice on the lapis lazuli question. Would you like to suggest a time, perhaps?”
She hesitated. He felt her fingers shift on her arm. “Perhaps a walk. We’re not far from the parkland.” Then she considered again. “Or if you don’t mind a bit more of a walk, the cemetery?”
The cemetery was a bit more out of the way, and her dress would also not attract any attention there. He suddenly realised that he knew where her aunt was buried, and she might not know he knew. “I know your aunt’s buried at your family estates. Are there others you visit here?”
Thessaly raised an eyebrow, then nodded once. “Shall we?” They set off walking south, curving through the Ministry quarter, to the southeast gate. There were benches just outside the cemetery. Thessaly kept going through, then following one of the twisting paths between tombstones and monuments until they were in one section not yet in use as a burial ground. There, she found a bench, settling onto it with grace. “We should be private enough here, don’t you think?”
Vitus was very curious how she knew to come just here, but he couldn’t figure out how to ask. Instead, he cleared his throat, nervous. “I hope you are doing all right? Is it difficult to be back at the apprenticeship?”
“Yes, and no? Though two days is not a lot of information to go on. Yesterday was exhausting. Today I was glad I was out of the house. Mama won’t notice when I come back, as long as it’s before supper, and Father’s out until at least then.” She added it as if it was information he had any right to, but he supposed she might not want him worrying about that.
“And a bit of fresh air is probably also good for you.” That was a truism, but it made her smile a little and incline her head.
“I do come here sometimes - my nanny is buried here. And I sometimes leave flowers for Magistra Ventry. Gods know not many other people will.”
Vitus blinked. “The Council Member, I assume?” She’d died a few years ago, what, 1883, and she had been widely regarded as a complete terror.
