Page 16 of Claiming the Tower
The phrasing at least got Bess to smile and let out a breath. “That’s a fair enough place to start. So you are— it would not bother you if I admitted a fondness that might be beyond friendship.”
“I would not want to hurt you, or have you wondering what affection might be returned. I honestly. “ She had to take a breath. “It really isn’t something I’ve thought about. May I be as blunt?” Bess nodded, and Hereswith said, “Have you, with another woman? That kind of affection?”
“Once since school. And some hopes twice more. The once was a great-niece of the first woman I was a companion for. She married, and well, of course, that changed everything. She was kind about it, but it hurt. And of course, while we could take a walk in the gardens when her great-aunt was sleeping, we had very little opportunity for anything more private than a quiet conversation. A few explorations, but not as many as either of us wanted. A few things while I was learning from my aunts and extended family, but nothing lasting there.”
Hereswith turned it over in her mind. The thing of it was, she did not know her own mind here, or her heart. She had nothing, no actual experience, to base a feeling on. The thing she knew, already, was that she did not feel repulsion at the idea, or discomfort, or anything like that. She liked Bess, this particular knowledge had changed nothing.
Hereswith particularly liked the gentle, careful truth and honesty, and she felt she could trust that what Bess said was sincere. “If you do not mind that I honestly do not know what I think or feel in the matter, and may not for quite some time, might we go on with that? Other than I like seeing you smile when given pleasant things. Speaking of, there is chocolate waiting.”
As she’d hoped, it made Bess laugh and relax more, then reach for the chocolate pot and pour the delicate cups full of the fragrant brown delight. “As you say. No, that is more than I had hopes of. And I— the Midsummer Faire is a reliable pleasure, but this is new, and even better in company. On the solstice, you said, you don’t have obligations elsewhere?”
“Not on the day itself.” She would be busy the night before, but telling Bess about the Society of the White Horse needed a bit more time and space than they had today. And it was also a tender place in Hereswith’s life, not one she talked about with Papa or Marcus, either. “Solstice is midweek this year, so easy enough to avoid professional obligations in London. You can let me know what time you can get away, a note to home or— well, we can sort that out, what’s easiest for you.”
Bess nodded, lifting her cup of chocolate in a toast. “To a happy day.”
Hereswith echoed it promptly, then both of them were caught up in the pleasure of the taste. When Hereswith had taken several swallows and basked in the pure sensuality of it, she added, “Think about what you’d like most, please. I can always go again on my own, or get Marcus to escort me, if there’s something we don’t see. Your time is far more precious, so you should choose.”
“But what if there’s something you don’t care for?” Bess asked. “You do not know me all that well. Perhaps I want to— oh, I don’t even know what you might dislike!”
“I am curious about many things, and honestly, any of the exhibits will give me fodder for making conversation in London. But even the mechanical ones— not my first interest, generally— are apparently quite good. Some almost up to magical standards. They’ve been going on about the excellent hot water.”
That made Bess snort. “Well. It’s a thing you miss when it’s not available for some reason, certainly. All right. Can you send a guide around? I might be able to pick it up before next Tuesday, if Madam Judson sends me on an errand.”
“I’ll be in London tomorrow, and I’m certain I can find a copy. I think we have one in the house, actually, but I can send one of the servants out for it if not.” That problem had easy solutions. She would not worry about it, simply see it done. “I’ll send it here.” That led, naturally enough, into a conversation about what Hereswith knew about the exhibits so far. From there, there was the question of arranging the village stalls that Bess had been working on. They were so caught up in the conversation that Bess had to dash at the end in order to meet Madam Judson on time.
Still, they both had something to look forward to now. Hereswith wanted, very much, to see what Bess was like with an afternoon to explore her own interests.
Chapter 12
June 22nd in London
Bess was, honestly, more than a little terrified when she arrived in London through the portal just after one. But Hereswith was right there, waiting by the Southwark portal, and knew exactly the easiest route to the train station. Once there, she deftly handled all the details of the tickets and finding a seat in the first-class carriage. The train was not terribly crowded. They found themselves in a compartment with two other women who were also going to the Crystal Palace. Bess kept being distracted by staring out the window as the train wound through the city and further south.
Once the train stopped at their station— an entire station for the Crystal Palace— Hereswith glided through the crowds with a combination of good will and an ability to encourage cooperation that she put on like a cloak. Not that Bess was at all inclined to argue with her for any reason. Once they were climbing the stairs at a measured pace, under a rather bare colonnade, Hereswith finally asked a question of Bess. “Did you have time to eat luncheon, or is that our first stop?”
“Enough to tide me over for a little.” Bess glanced around as they walked. The shade of the colonnade was a help. “Something cooling, in due course, perhaps.” She hesitated. “I ought to be back by seven at the latest. I’m sorry I couldn’t get away until now.” Bess wished she could take more time, and there was just too much risk. She didn’t expect Madam Judson back until at least eight, but her mistress had insisted Bess be back by seven. She’d be able to read, at least.
“Oh, I have some plans about the refreshments, yes.” Hereswith glanced up. “As for the time, we’ll make the most of it. Now, these are supposed to be home to a number of tropical and exotic plants, but apparently not yet.” The stairs went up, a stately progression rather than a steep one, until they came into a refreshment hall. “This is the second class refreshments. See the sign?” Hereswith gestured. “There’s another, upstairs. Now, you were in the mood for impressive sculpture first, working our way toward more details, yes?”
“Yes.” Bess felt that would be best. She felt a tad overawed and she might as well pile all the awe on, like jumping into a cool lake and getting the chill over with. Not that she’d done that since she was a child. Once she got more used to everything around her, then she wanted to see some of the fabrics and paintings where the details, the ability to pay attention to the details, mattered. She was glad Hereswith was much more confident about the plan.
“Do you trust me?” They’d just come up the stairs, and Bess could see vast greenery, and then even more expansive— something, stone, construction— behind the greenery. A massive fountain, stretching out dozens of feet, filled the centre of the hallway. She couldn’t see all the details. Of course, people were moving about in small groups.
“Yes.” It came out of Bess immediately, with no question. “Of course I do.” Then she asked, “Trust you with what?”
“Come this way.” Hereswith took her hand, more like a girl at Schola, intent on some great new joy, than a mature woman, and Bess didn’t want to miss a moment. Instead of going down the centre of the building, Hereswith tugged her along to a smaller corridor. It was open to the outside on the right, though Bess could see various displays through the glazed windows to their left.
“Where are we going?” Bess asked, but didn’t get an answer, until they went through a glazed area on their right, then it opened up again.
“Close your eyes, please.” Hereswith waited, and then took her hands, guiding her for maybe twenty steps. “You can open them now.”
What Bess saw when she opened her eyes was beyond her ability to describe. Great, incandescent glass arches, far above them, the light shining down into a transept. That was the word the guide used, from east to west. It was full of statues, white and pearlescent in the sunlight. All around were the sounds of people— happy people— echoing.
“There. The best first view.” Hereswith sounded delighted with herself, and Bess tore her gaze away from the statues and the hall before her to look at her friend. Hereswith was glowing with pleasure. “Assyrians first or Egyptians?”
“Oh, I’m letting you choose. You’ve obviously mapped out a plan, anyway. A good one, so far. Why would I argue?”
That apparently meant the Assyrian court first. The truly massive building was divided up into a number of smaller areas, shaped by walls that rose into the air but did not block most of the light. Some had trees and other plantings that also served as a divider. And there were many impressively tall statues. Hereswith led them deftly to the far corner, the opposite end from where they’d come into the building, where four great winged bulls guarded the entrance to the Assyrian Court.
