Page 14 of Claiming the Tower (Council Mysteries #1)

That afternoon

H ereswith looked up, after admitting how relaxing she found Bess.

It was true, but it wasn’t the sort of thing she was used to saying to other people.

Oh, she and Marcus did, from time to time, but that was about the dance or duet of their work.

The truth of it was that she wasn’t willing to settle for anything less than that in a marriage, and thus far, no one had matched up to that standard.

Though Marcus was the low bar, a minimum.

They worked well together. But she knew enough of his habits, and he knew enough of hers, that they were clear even if they’d been mutually interested, they would have made exceptionally bad spouses.

The few times they had to travel together— as cousins, with separate bedrooms— had been bad enough.

She fell into managing him in a way she did not like in herself.

She liked even less how he assumed she would.

Now she waited to see what Bess said. Bess met her eyes, tilted her head, and took a breath, obviously considering her answer. Or another question. When she spoke, it wasn’t what Hereswith had expected, not entirely. “Have another bit of sandwich. Did you actually eat lunch today?”

“Not what you’d really call a meal, no.” There had been the last-minute arrangements, and three people with other questions.

She’d spilled one of her cups of tea and had to spend ten minutes cleaning it up properly and making sure none of her papers had been damaged or stained.

She reached for another half sandwich, and Bess went on.

“And you’re frustrated by things. Not this meeting in specific, but something about the— is landscape the right word?”

“Frustrated certainly is the right word. Also landscape.” Hereswith considered that, because when it came down to it, that was a lot of how she thought of the world.

What could be seen looking across the land.

She suspected it was the influence of the Society of the White Horse.

It was something specific in her that made her look at the larger arrangement, not individual details.

Then she took a breath and went on. “You’re right, this particular meeting was fine, if we consider a terribly badly run war to be fine.

Part of the frustration is that everyone else apparently considers this ordinary and not worth bothering to improve.

Does Madam Judson take the Times as well as the Moon? ”

The quick apparent change of topic made Bess blink, but she followed it.

“Yes, mostly so she can complain about it. That opinion piece, last week, quite. About how this is because we know more about what’s going on, all wars are this badly run.

” Bess shook her head. “That bothered me too. And I suppose a meeting about it would be more so.”

“Yes. It’s not as if the army listens to us directly.

There are certainly people who can direct information through the proper channels.

But we can’t offer soldiers in significant number, or Healers willing to go that far, or anything like that.

Even if the Pact didn’t apply there, and it doesn’t, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have consequences for people here.

” Hereswith shook her head. “So a lot of talk about that, as you might imagine, and not a great deal of practical progress.”

She took the last two bites of her sandwich— a pleasant cream cheese and cucumber, entirely delightful for the summer— and then swallowed. “I’ve been more frustrated recently, and I haven’t been able to figure out why.”

“May I speak freely?” Bess glanced up again, then she looked down, as she must in her role as companion, if she dared be quite that forward.

“With me, always, please. I like your opinions.” Whatever else was true, Hereswith was sure of that, from the conversations already.

Bess might have a sharp tongue tucked away, avoided commenting on other people’s foibles, but she was careful how she used it, and thus far, every time had been about improving something or enduring it better.

Or it had been entirely accurate, about a couple of their professors at Schola.

“It seems to me that you are identifying genuine problems. Though obviously, I’m working from limited information.

But it also appears that you are also being held responsible not just for solving them, but for, how to put this?

Making people feel like they can be solved, and by people in the room.

Which seems rather unfair on all sides, honestly. ”

Hereswith blinked at her, and then she started laughing, the sort of hollow sharp sound that made people mutter about hysteria.

She nodded before she could manage to say anything.

When she’d caught her breath, she got out, “Yes. Like that. And either would be fine, but the combination is— it’s wearing. ”

“Do you get any time off? For the Midsummer Faire?” Bess asked it as if it were the logical question.

Hereswith wrinkled her nose. “I enjoy going to the Faire, but I have to have my public face on. Dress right, not lose track of who’s around me, or who might see what I enjoy. You? Or do you not get time for that?”

“Madam Judson, being exceedingly traditional, gives the staff the day for it if she is invited to the Council Rites. Which she is this year. I’ll have six, maybe eight hours to enjoy it, depending on the timing.

I look forward to it every year. I—” Bess shrugged.

“I suppose I was wondering if you’d be there. ”

Hereswith looked at Bess now, carefully. Her voice was suddenly deliberately neutral, a glimpse of her self at work, not putting a thumb on the scale. “Would you consider another option for your day out, or is your heart set on the Faire?”

“I— I hadn’t? What other option is there?” Bess wasn’t saying no, though.

“The Crystal Palace has just reopened in London. Non-magical, of course, but that makes it actually a holiday for me. There’s a slight chance of diplomatic families enjoying it, but I suspect not on solstice proper.

And I wasn’t actually intending to do anything scandalous in public.

Just— well. Enjoy myself. Art and whatever exhibits and refreshments. ”

Bess was quiet for rather a long time. More than a minute.

Hereswith did her best to stay still and calm, only reaching for one of the little cakes.

After this, she’d suggest the chocolate, whatever Bess’s answer was.

Finally, there was another question, or rather three.

“How long does it take to get there from one of the portals? And what sort of— I don’t have any of their money handy or even know what to wear. Have you been there?”

Hereswith took the questions in reverse order.

“I went to the original site several times, but I gather the setting of this one is rather splendid, and the palace itself rather larger. I can bring a guide, next week, so you’d have time to think about what you might like to see.

I don’t wish to venture a guess of whether you’d prefer the Assyrian exhibit or the saurian sculptures on the grounds.

As to the dress, anything that’s not obviously magical is fine, though you might want something with cooling charms against the heat.

As to the practical, it’s about a ten-minute train ride, maybe fifteen, from near the Southwark portal.

Perhaps allow half an hour on either end for that.

The trains run at least every quarter hour during the week.

The train ticket covers the entrance. I am glad to pay for both first-class tickets, of course, so we won’t be crushed.

Along with whatever refreshments seem enticing. ”

“Oh, that close?” Bess swallowed. “Would you— wait?” She held up her fingers. “May I be blunt?”

“Freely and blunt go together,” Hereswith said, firmly. “Please. I would much rather that with you.”

Bess nodded, then took a breath. A complicated thing to say, or Bess wouldn’t have checked first. “I don’t feel I could say yes, without telling you that— that as good as friendship is, I keep wondering about what something more would be like.

With you. And you’ve said you’re not interested that way. ”

It was not what Hereswith expected. Of course, all her diplomatic training was more about how to dissuade men if she would not use bedding to hear indiscretions that might be useful. No one had ever talked about the question of women. On the other hand, Hereswith was well-read.

“I think that would— it is.” She fumbled over the words.

“It’s not a question I’ve given much thought to, honestly.

When it comes to the personal. And I think I’d, I’d need to hear more about what you mean by that.

There was all that gossip about the Ladies of Llangollen, for example, when we were younger.

I could never decide if there was anything to be titillated about or whether they were two sensible women.

Women who simply refused to play by men’s rules and made a good lives for themselves, but not.

..” Hereswith certainly didn’t have the language for this she wanted.

“Not intimately entwined in every aspect?”

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.