A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1)(34)

She pulls a pocket watch from her canvas bag of art supplies. I’ve never seen a woman carry a man’s watch before, and it only deepens the mystery that is Miss Moore. “It’s almost time to go back,” she says, closing the watch with a decisive snap. “Now, how did we end up wandering about with ancient goddesses when we came to admire art? I want to do a bit of sketching near the mouth of the cave. You may join me when you’ve gathered your things.”

Tucking the bag under her arm, she strides confidently toward the mouth, leaving us alone in the semidarkness. My fingers are trembling so badly that I can barely bundle my supplies together. I’m vaguely aware of the other girls. Their gossipy whispers fill the cave like the buzzing of flies.

“Well, this was certainly a waste of our time,” Cecily mutters. “I’ll wager Mrs. Nightwing would be interested to know all about what Miss Moore is teaching us.”

“She’s a curious creature,” Elizabeth agrees. “Strange.”

“I found it all very interesting,” Felicity says.

“My future husband won’t,” Cecily grouses. “He’ll want to know that I can draw something pleasant to impress our guests. Not ruin his dinner with talk about bloodthirsty witches.”

“At least it got us out of that dreary old school for the afternoon,” Felicity reminds them.

Ann’s pencils slip from her hands and fall to the ground, the noise of their fall echoing loudly. She drops clumsily to her knees, trying to gather them all.

“That face of Ann’s must be a talisman against all men,” Elizabeth whispers just loudly enough to be heard. The others laugh in the way girls do when they can’t believe someone has been cruel enough to say what they really feel. Ann doesn’t even look up.

Felicity loops her arm through mine, whispers low. “Don’t look so grim. They’re harmless, really.”

I shake my arm free. “They are the hounds of hell. Could you call them off, please?”

Cecily giggles. “Careful, Felicity, she might use her evil eye against us.”

Even Felicity can’t keep from sputtering with laughter. I wish I could use my evil eye. Or at least my evil boot right smack against Cecily’s backside.

Miss Moore leads us back into the daylight and through the woods by a different path, which takes us to a small dirt road. Across the low stone wall that borders the road, I can see a Gypsy caravan nestled in the trees beyond. Felicity is suddenly by my side, using the advantage of my height to hide her from view, in case Ithal is near.

“Ann, I think Miss Moore wants you,” she says. Ann obeys, huffing in her ungainly way toward our teacher. “Gemma, please don’t be cross.” Felicity peeks her head out, searching. “Do you see him?”

There’s nothing out there but three wagons and a few horses. “No,” I answer in a surly tone.

“Thank the gods.” She links her arm through mine, oblivious to my bad temper. “That would have been awkward. Can you imagine?” She’s trying to win me over with her charm. It is working. I smile in spite of myself and she shares one of those rare, ripe grins that seem to make the world a fun, inviting place.

“Listen, I’ve got a capital idea. Why don’t we form our own order?”

I stop cold. “And do what?”

“Live.”

Relieved, I start walking again. “We’re already living.”

“No. We’re playing their predetermined little game. But what if we had a place where we played by no one’s rules but our own?”

“And where, pray tell, would we do that?”

Felicity looks around. “Why not meet here at the caves?”

“You’re joking,” I say. “You are joking, aren’t you?”

She shakes her head. “Just think of it: We’d make our own plans, wield our own influence, have a bit of fun while we can. We would own Spence.”

“We’d be expelled, that’s what.”

“We’re not going to get caught. We’re far cleverer than that.”

Up ahead, Cecily is prattling on to Elizabeth, who seems very distressed that her boots are getting muddy. I throw Felicity a look.

“They’re not so bad once you get to know them.”

“I’m sure the piranha fish is nice to its family, too, but I don’t want to get too close to it.”

Ann looks back at me, slack-jawed. She’s just discovered that Miss Moore didn’t want her after all. No one does. That’s the trouble. But perhaps there is a way to change that. “All right,” I say. “I’m game, with one provision.”

“Name it.”

“You have to invite Ann.”

Felicity can’t decide whether to laugh or spit venom at me. “You can’t be serious.” When I don’t answer, she says, “I won’t do it.”

“As I recall, you owe me a debt.”

She gives me a smirk meant to dismiss the whole idea. “The other girls won’t allow it. You know that, don’t you?”

“That shall be your dilemma,” I can’t help adding with a smile. “Don’t look so grim. They’re harmless. Really.”

Felicity narrows her eyes and marches off to catch Pippa, Elizabeth, and Cecily. In a moment, they’re arguing, with Elizabeth and Cecily shaking their heads and Felicity huffing her displeasure. For her part, Pippa just seems glad to have Felicity’s attention. In a moment, Felicity is back by my side, fuming.