Page 15 of Elemental Truth (Mysterious Fields #3)

15

DECEMBER 5TH IN ESSEX

T o be honest, Thessaly rather lost track of the next days. The next fortnight. She spent them poring over the papers Aunt Metaia had left, reading through them in detail. She’d stay up until all hours, deep in the night, fall asleep, and go right back to it as soon as she woke. Had anyone actually seen her, they would have thought all the gossip entirely accurate.

She paused for food, of course, and to bathe, but she didn’t bother getting dressed beyond a wrapper, her hair in a long braid hanging down her back. Part of it was that there were a lot of papers, piles of them. Once she’d figured out the trick of how they were hidden, she found two other sets, one in Aunt Metaia’s study, another in the library, one with an earring, one with a brooch of the same style of garnets. It made her wonder, yet again, about why Aunt Metaia had insisted on the gift on solstice night. She’d thought, at the time, that it was solely about Childeric. But the earrings made her sure that Aunt Metaia had been taking precautions in half a dozen directions.

Many of them were simply private notes, but the stacks also held specific projects, bounded by a length of folded cardstock. And the one that she’d been working on in June, in May, the months right before her death, those were scattered over five or six folders and bundles. Thessaly had thought about taking all of it to Cousin Owain and Magistra Hereswith, but everything was tumbled together. They certainly didn’t have time to work through all of it, and Thessaly had nothing but time.

Besides, some of it was about the house, and some about Aunt Metaia’s investments. There were two ships likely returning soon that she had also invested in, carrying rather arcane materia. It would be interesting to see what happened with that, but that was something to come back to early in the new year, when they’d arrived.

She also remembered to write a note or three to Vitus, but figuring out when to see him baffled her. He wrote back, and he seemed to accept her explanations, as confusing as they probably were. Thessaly promised herself, and then him, in writing, that once she got things sorted, she would figure out more time with him, without having to rush.

Finally, though, she decided. She wrote on the third, asking if Laudine might be at home for the visit she’d mentioned some time earlier, and got a rather prompt reply, offering the fifth. That meant giving over the afternoon and evening of the fourth to Collins and her ministrations. Her hair was tamed, various cosmetic charms, enchantments, and lotions applied, all the details she’d been neglecting for the fortnight beyond the barest basics.

On Thursday afternoon, she found herself walking through the portal into an estate she did not know. It was a Tudor manor, all brick and stonework, the house clearly added to at various points over the years. One of the maids met her at the portal, escorting her through the entrance hall, then right, into what turned out to be a drawing room looking out on a lawn and trees.

Laudine stood. “Thessaly, so glad you felt you could accept our invitation. Please, sit. Shall I pour?” Tea was already set out, and a porcelain tea set. One could tell a great deal about someone by their tea sets, Thessaly had always thought. Here, she had expected something involving profuse flowers and perhaps bright colours. Or perhaps something with stronger colours that evoked the alchemical work Dagobert favoured.

Instead, she found a set of striking blue jasperware, deeper than the classic Wedgewood blue. She recognised the shade immediately as being from the Athelstan potteries. He’d trained with Wedgewood back around the turn of the century, before expanding and developing magical processes. The blue fairly glowed, picking up the golds of the panelling in the drawing room and the soft charmlights above and the winter sunlight outside. She managed to nod before taking her own place at the table.

The business of pouring the tea and being offered the biscuits and other treats took a few moments. Thessaly wondered if Laudine found that as soothing, the rhythm and structure of it. Once everything was sorted, Laudine fell silent just the right amount of time. “I understand from Maylis that she hopes you will make arrangements with Sigbert. May I ask how you feel about that, and whether I might offer any information to help in your decision?”

Laudine had, in all honesty, made an offer of assistance before. At least twice, though it depended on how one counted. Thessaly wasn’t foolish enough to assume any conversation would be in confidence, but she had come because she hoped Laudine might share something more. “I hoped for that, yes. I am conflicted, I suppose is the best way to put it, by several things. As well as not wishing to rush a decision.” Thessaly was, of course, in proper black, as was Laudine. That was perhaps what was making the other shades and colours in the room stand out to the eye. “May I ask first how you are doing? And Dagobert and Garin, of course.”

“You are always so kind, to ask after him. Few do.” Laudine gave her a warm smile. “If, perhaps in January, when it’s been three months, you’d be willing to come show Garin a bit more in our duelling salle, I am sure he would be delighted. As a favour, of course. None of us here could give you a proper match. It is not one of my gifts, and I believe even Dagobert was not really to your standard, before.” She went on almost immediately, “He is continuing to recover. He is in London on a matter of business through supper tonight. And I am doing well enough, though I fear I am not one of those women who glows while enceinte.”

Thessaly considered that information, picking up her cup and contemplating the design. It was only then that she realised the scenes were not the ordinary sort of thing, the Neoclassical myths and tales that were common on such cups. Instead, these had what were obviously tales from French lore, what Thessaly thought might be from the trouvère songs, or perhaps the Lais of Marie de France. One certainly seemed to be Bisclavret, a wolf among a pack of hunting dogs. Then the king and his court were bending to investigate the gentle wolf. “The set was my grandmother’s. I thought you’d appreciate the shading and the designs, but it’s also the one I prefer when with friends.” Laudine sounded amused, and looked it, when Thessaly glanced up.

“It’s lovely.” Thessaly sorted through her possible approaches. What she had found in Aunt Metaia’s papers had a lot to do with the Fortiers, but it was not actual evidence. She did not expect that Laudine would confess to whatever the matter was, for all sorts of reasons. For one, it was likely there were magical oaths in play about that information. But she wondered if she could get a little more. “The questions I have are delicate, but you had indicated....”

“I will not be telling Maylis what we discuss. Nor Clovis nor Chrodechildis. I may discuss it with Dagobert. We rarely keep secrets from each other.” That was also far more blunt than Thessaly had expected. “I do not promise to answer all your questions, of course. But I know what it’s like to marry into the family, and the, what shall we call it, the thorns that can present.”

Thessaly nodded, then took a breath. “Would I be correct in understanding that there is more distance between you and your husband and the rest of the family? I’ve seen a little of it myself, but I am trying to understand the scope and the implications.” Then, she took the risk and added, “Around the time of your husband’s misfortune.”

Laudine did not move for a second. Her control was excellent. Then she cleared her throat. “As all families like ours tend to, the Fortiers have particular projects and secrets.”

“That is no surprise, of course. I presumed they existed, though, well, Childeric did not communicate well about even those things he might reasonably have shared. But I could see some of the shadows of them, even if they made no sense.”

“Just so.” Her tone was prim and precise, but Laudine offered a half-smile, clarifying that whatever disapproval she felt, it was not about Thessaly. “My husband disagreed with certain actions, and was cursed for his disagreement. By two people at the same time, hence the lingering impact, or so our Healer thinks. An unanticipated combination.”

Thessaly forgot to breathe for several long moments. “Oh.” Time for another risk, then. “By others in the family.”

“Yes. Though I won’t name who.” Laudine considered. “I knew nothing of the plan at the time, and I do not know most of the details now, just the outline. But when Dagobert began to recover, to talk about any of it - he is hedged round with oaths, of course, which makes talking about details complex - we made our decisions. I am committed to the wellbeing of my husband and sons.” That plural made Thessaly’s eyebrows go up. Laudine smiled more broadly this time. “We’re fairly certain. I had my midwife’s visit yesterday. We won’t be telling the family for another few weeks, just to be sure.”

“They would have different opinions about a son than a daughter, yes,” Thessaly said. That made her consider. “Bradamante wasn’t involved in whatever it was, was she? The way Yves has been making more of his own pursuits.”

“Ah, you spotted that, of course. They have not been as subtle as they might be, for those paying attention. No, she was not, though I believe she has some general understanding of the project.” Laudine shrugged slightly.

It made Thessaly confront the next question. “Childeric and Sigbert?”

Laudine gave a very slight nod, the sort of thing an observer had to be focused on to notice. Which meant Thessaly could not usefully press the point. “And others on the estate? Magistra Landry has been— erm, especially pointed about a few things?”

“With us, as well. May I ask if there was a direction to her advice?”

“She...” Thessaly did not want to get Magistra Landry in difficulty, for several reasons, starting with Thessaly’s desire for her own wellbeing. “She bid me be cautious of Sigbert.” It was perhaps time to admit to something. “Childeric was increasingly difficult, in private. He did not bother to tell me things that I should have been told. Childeric was acting against the scope of the betrothal and marriage agreements. He almost struck me at one point. Sigbert has promised he would not do that, but I do not know how far I might actually trust him.”

“Ah.” Laudine stood then, to go look out the windows on the lawn. “I wish I could say that my nephews - those nephews - are the sort of men I wish they were. Let me say that I am not surprised either by Childeric’s actions or by Sigbert swearing he will not do the same. I do think Sigbert wishes to be different, but I do not know if he will manage it. I think Maylis is pressuring him in ways that cannot end well, for one thing. Not for him, and not for you, if you agree to marry him.”

“And your sister-in-law, and her husband, are very present. As is the Dowager Lady Chrodechildis.” Thessaly could spell that out without further trouble.

“Just so. And so, I cannot advise you on what decisions to make. You have a better sense of the landscape, of the pressures you face. And I am aware, even if Maylis is not giving credence to it, that you certainly have other options, depending on your preferences and priorities.” There, she turned around. “Dagobert has enjoyed his conversations with Vitus Deschamps quite a lot. So has my father, who is perhaps the more challenging to win over. You need not protest your innocence, you are not promised to anyone right now, you have standing in your own right. I, myself, would welcome you to the family if you married Sigbert, but you should not decide on that account, certainly. And my enjoyment of your company is not predicated on a family connection.”

It was, all in all, a frank assessment. “I shall take more time to consider my options then. And perhaps visit, again? This is certainly a beautiful estate. A much larger home than Bryn Glas. of course.”

“I would be delighted to take you through, if you like. The gardens aren’t much, it is December, but the house itself is rather lovely. A bit big for just the three of us and the staff, but plenty of space for Dagobert’s lab and a library and such. He’s considering acquiring an apprentice or assistant in the new year, as well. I shan’t rush your tea, of course.”

From there, the conversation went along to the history of the house - early Tudor, as Thessaly had guessed. Laudine was clearly fond of the house and its history. She shared little details of additions and enhancements, making it clear she found many of the older features charming. Even the ones that were distinctly unfashionable.