Changeling (Sorcery and Society Book 1)(24)

I nodded and cleared my throat. “Speaking of symbols, the celestial ceiling, in the library, there’s a strange sort of smudged mark in the glass. What happened there?”

Mrs. Winter sniffed, “Oh, that. It was during my second year here at Castwells. We woke up one morning to a terrible fuss in the library. The faculty wouldn’t let us in for two days. None of the girls knew what had been done to the ceiling, only that Headmistress Chawton was highly displeased that one of her girls had vandalized a very expensive gift from the alumni. They spent hours questioning us, but never managed to find out who did it. They just hushed it up. I may have mentioned to Headmistress Chawton that as a descendant of House Benisse, Dora Lockwood would be more inclined to such a prideful display, attempting to add the Lockwood peacock feather quill sigil to the ceiling. While Headmistress Chawton assured me that the feather quill wasn’t the image added to the glass, Dora did not appreciate my pointing a finger in her direction. She may or may not have hexed my bed curtains to come to life in the night and slap me across the face whenever I was about to drift off to sleep.”



Bernisse House Sigil



“Headmistress Lockwood is related to House Benisse?” I gasped, remembering the headmistress’s severe, unflattering clothes and greying hair. The Benisse family was known for their ability to produce beauty glamours and love spells so convincing that the recipients swore they’d enjoyed a whirlwind romance in a single night.

“I’m afraid Dora took my comments about her pride in her appearance a little too personally,” Mrs. Winter sighed.

“So, you’re leaving me at a school where you have a lifelong feud with the headmistress?”

“Oh, there’s no reason to worry, Dora couldn’t possibly interfere with you. You’re the Translator.”

“Has someone told Headmistress Lockwood that?” I asked.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Miss Morton entered with my trunks levitating at shoulder level behind her. The luggage floated across the room and settled at the foot of my bed.

Mrs. Winter seemed to be waiting for Miss Morton to leave, but Miss Morton smiled serenely, folded her hands at her waist and stared at Mrs. Winter. Mrs. Winter pursed her lips. “Well, I suppose I will be going, right after I have a word with the Headmistress about her faculty’s inability to pick up on social subtleties.”

“I could come with you to see you off,” I offered, strangely reluctant to have Mrs. Winter leave me in this place. Sure, I’d been cut off from my family at Raven’s Rest, but at least I’d known they were there. At Miss Castwell’s, I had no one.

Mrs. Winter glanced at my singed dress and shook her head slightly. “Not in that condition, dear. I believe you have caused enough of a stir for one day.” Her expression softened and she took my hands in hers. “You will do very well here, Cassandra. Now, settle in. And I will send a special treat for you on mail day.” I was shocked when Mrs. Winter pressed a kiss to my cheeks. “Good luck. Bring honor to your family.”

I dropped a curtsy. “Yes, Auntie Aneira.”

Mrs. Winter gave Miss Morton one last stern look and swept from the room. I rubbed my hands up my arms, peering out the window as the Winter carriage pulled in front of the school entrance, waiting for its mistress.

Miss Morton clucked her tongue, placing a hesitant hand on my shoulder. “Do not fret, Miss Reed. This can be a wonderful place. Excellence can be a lonely lot in life. It doesn’t necessarily lead to the things we think we should want – marriage, family, wealth. But what you lack in gold, you can gain in accomplishments. In the pride of knowing that you can do what others cannot, and that you can teach their children to do the same. I’m quite sure that you will find your place at Miss Castwell’s in no time at all.”

I gave Miss Morton a tremulous smile, the pity I’d reserved for myself leeching out for her. While Miss Morton seemed at ease with her place at the school, I had to wonder what life was like for her? What was it like to live her whole life alone, within these walls? Mrs. Winter clearly had some plans for my future, but who knew whether she would choose a path I could live with? What if I ended up a spinster teacher, hidden away at this school, teaching the ungrateful daughters of Guardian families?

I felt a rush of guilt for pitying Miss Morton. Who was I to judge her life? Just a scant few weeks before, I’d been up to my elbows in dishwater, unsure of why I was so miserable.

Another knock at the door revealed a Snipe maid in a slate grey uniform dress, carrying a domed tray. She placed it on my desk and walked out without saying a word or making eye contact. More guilt crept into that empty space in my chest, filling me with shame. How could I stand here feeling sorry for myself when I’d been given such an opportunity? If I couldn’t make my best effort on my own behalf or Mrs. Winter’s, I could do it for Snipe girls like that nameless maid, who didn’t think she had the right to look at us directly. I would find a way to make this work.

“Now, eat your dinner, change your clothes and hop into bed and you’ll be right as rain,” Miss Morton told me. She pointed to a small cordial glass brimming with blue liquid. “The medicine on that tray is important, but a good night’s rest is better magic than anything the faculty can teach you.”

“How lovely.” I nodded, sitting on my bed with a thump as Miss Morton glided from the room. The rolling of my stomach wouldn’t allow me to even glance at the tray. And I had a feeling I was going to be suspicious of medicines from well-meaning middle-aged ladies for a while. From the hallway, I could hear the faint patter of slippered feet and hushed conversation as the girls moved down the stairs to the dining hall. And the little bird tapped his beak against my window pane as if he was late for dinner, too.