The Prudential Light, page 21
part #1 of Cry Havoc Series
Before we had all stood up, the front door knocker sounded, and Fulton went down to bring up the doctor.
“Come along, Jemima. Edward is in good hands, and you need something to calm your nerves. Perhaps some brandy?”
Jemima nodded, still clinging to me. “I feel very strange, Aunt.”
Concerned by this sudden admission of weakness, I closed my eyes, and in my mind’s eyes she still burned as bright as she did in the machine. However, now her glow was outside of her as well as in, light a thick mist. It was puzzling. Some of the drawn off power still clung to her it seemed. No wonder she felt strange.
“Come with me and we shall see what we can do.” I had no idea how to fix the problem, but I thought perhaps the power those renegade magicians had drained from Jemima remained behind when the machine had been destroyed. Perhaps if she was happy and calm, she might reabsorb it in time. More likely, Edward or Mr White could deal with it.
With Louis’ moved in with Arrabella, we put him down as he was fast asleep. Jemima stuck close to me as we made our way downstairs to the morning room, where she sat on the settee next to me. This passivity was so unlike her, but she had had a massive shock. A renegade magician had dangled her baby son by his feet and threatened his life. Indeed, I still felt the outrage of that man’s actions. I wanted to find the rest of them and rend them limb from limb. How dare they attack a child?
“We have dead bodies and we need a magistrate to deal with them. There is nothing for it,” Fulton said. “I had best fetch Sir Giles.” We were gathered in the morning room, after taking about half an hour to settle babies, night nurses and put some things to rights.
“Oh, I suppose you are right,” I replied. “Are they really all dead?” I was strangely unaffected by their deaths. I did not mean to kill anyone but they were harming those I loved and cared for.
“The two in the bedroom are. Lily knocked out a third one who had been lurking in the hall, and appeared to be attacking you. She broke both his arms as well as denting his skull. He is the one moaning loudly. The doctor is seeing to him now. The one I punched is a bit of a mess so he is beyond saving. It appears Milly spiked the other one in the neck.” Fulton smiled at his wife.
“I thought you missed the action, Milly,” I commented as I rubbed Jemima’s shoulder.
“So did I. It was dark. I thought I had missed and Ambrose got him. I am glad I did even though it is quite shocking that he is injured.”
I shook my head. “It is inconvenient, having to clear away the bodies,” I replied. “You’d think these fellows would have a spell that snatched away their remains once they were terminated.”
“That is very businesslike of you, Aunt. Are you not upset? Do you need your smelling salts?” Fulton asked.
Milly sighed. “Do not tease her, Ambrose. I told you she is more than she seems.”
“More than she seems?” Fulton laughed uproariously, whether in amusement or shock, I could not tell. “That is an understatement.” He flung out his arm, indicating the upper floor. “She just killed two magicians single-handedly.”
I turned in my chair and glared at him. “I was saving the baby and Jemima. What did you expect me to do, hide under my eiderdown?”
“Of course not! You could have yelled for me.” He thumped his chest. “I am the destroyer of evil in this house. I feel superfluous.”
My mouth formed an “oh” of surprise. “Well, yes, I could have if I’d had the presence of mind, Fulton dear. You could have dispatched them quickly and saved me a lot of trouble and bother.”
Fulton relaxed. “Yes, well, I did not mean that to sound so boorish. Of course, I appreciate all you have done. I merely wish I could have helped more.”
“Where is Uncle Ferdy?” Jemima said sleepily at my side.
Come to think of it, it was odd that Mr White had not come, considering he warned of this very attack. He was always listening for Jemima, watching over her like a guardian angel.
With a nod to Jemima, I said, “I will try to reach him.”
“You?” Jemima replied, brow furrowed.
“He is always listening, is he not?”
“Well, yes.” Jemima laid her head against my shoulder as if speaking was too much for her.
I closed my eyes and called to Mr White. Oh, Mr White are you there?
There was no response. Not that I had ever called upon the magician before. However, I was about to open my eyes when suddenly I was somewhere else. Mr White was there, bloody and torn and tied to a chair. “Mr White?” I said, and I could hear the shock in my voice.
He did not speak to me—could not speak to me—but I understood it all in a moment. He had gone to fight them but they had captured and abused him unto death. “Oh, Mr White, I am so sorry.”
A hand gripped my shoulder, and I was back in the morning room. “Aunt Prudence?” It was Fulton. “Are you all right? We seemed to have lost you there for a moment.”
I shook myself. “I am quite well.” I did not know how to convey the news or whether they would believe me.
“You do not look it,” Fulton said. “You look like you have seen a ghost.”
“A drink of brandy will set me to rights.”
I could not tell Jemima about Mr White in her current state. Tomorrow or the day after, perhaps. Not with Edward being tended to by a doctor and her power in disarray.
Fulton handed me and Jemima a snifter of brandy each. I inhaled the fumes and relaxed. “I have sent Harry to fetch Sir Giles. As John is tending us I thought the other footman could be useful, given he was awake. I suggest we touch nothing, except to tend to the wounded. How we will explain all this is troubling me greatly. Sir Giles is such a practical man.”
“Indeed, he is,” I replied. “I suggest the truth.”
Fulton whirled and faced me, his face a study in horror. “How can I tell him that dear old Aunt Prudence killed two men on her own?”
“If it is too much for you, then do not. I can certainly elucidate him.”
Lily stepped forward. “My mother used the Prudential Light. I felt it in my own skin.”
Fulton flashed a small smile at Lily. “I understand what she did, but will the magistrate? I have four dead bodies in my house.”
Milly reached up and touched Fulton’s elbow. “It is all right, my dear. This time, you did not kill all of them.”
Then in the flicker of candlelight I saw Mr White. “Oh hello, Mr White,” I responded without thinking, as though he were actually there. He looked as beaten and torn as when I’d reached out previously. I looked around at the others, and they were gaping at me. “Oh? Forgive me.” They must think me quite strange talking to an empty space.
Jemima sat up and looked around, realisation dawning on her features.
“Tell her I am sorry,” the ghost of Mr White said. “I tried to stop them but there were too strong for me.”
I swallowed and relayed Mr White’s words.”
Jemima clutched at my hand, her eyes still darting here and there, but it seemed she could not see her Uncle Ferdy. “Aunt?”
I pointed to where his ghost stood. “He is over there. I am sorry to tell you, but he has passed away. He has died of the injuries he sustained in trying to stop them coming for you.”
“Goodbye,” Mr White whispered, and slowly faded from view.
Jemima let out a wail. “Uncle Ferdy?”
I embraced her. “If you ever doubted him, now you know that he valued you and tried to stop those who would harm you.”
Jemima began to sob. Milly came over and sat on the other side, patting her on the back.
Milly met my gaze. “Have you always been able to see ghosts?”
I glanced sideways at my beloved Milly. “When I was a child, I had conversations with my brother who died when I was a baby. My parents were scandalised when I told them I was talking to him and they thought I was being disrespectful. Not much between then and now. As I started my memoirs, the gift returned to me, and I recognised it for what it was. It was the ghost of Wilbur that woke me in time to save Jemima.”
Milly’s eyes sparkled. “I am so proud of you, Aunt. You should never hide your talents, but I can see that you needed to for a while at least.”
With tears in my lashes, I replied, “Thank you for understanding.”
Discombe arrived with a tray of brandies. With urging, Jemima took another snifter and I finished mine. I could see I was not going to be able to return to my bed anytime soon. I had to face Sir Giles’ questions.
Lily entered the room, wearing a wrap over her silk sleeping suit. I had not seen her leave. She picked up the snifter of brandy and downed it. I was waiting for her to choke on it, but she calmly put the glass back and took a seat in an armchair. I could tell by the shape of her brow that she had news. “What is it, Lily dear?”
Lily met my gaze. “The man with the neck wound has died of his injuries.”
Milly sucked in a breath and her gaze sought Fulton’s. He immediately went to comfort her. “You were fighting in self-defence,” he said to her.
“But I killed someone,” she replied, as if only half believing it.
Fulton held her close and over his head, I saw his fierce expression.
“Fulton, what is the problem?” I asked.
He flashed me an angry look and I blinked at the ferocity of it. “I am meant to keep my family safe.”
“Oh, Ambrose,” Milly said softly. “You were asleep, and I was awake with baby Arrabella. I had to act immediately.”
“But I should not have been sleeping. I should have been protecting.”
“Protecting what?” Edward said, stumbling through the door. He was clutching his bandaged head with his hand. “My the room is spinning?”
Jemima leaped up, miraculously recovered, it seemed. “Edward! Come and sit down. You have suffered a nasty blow. You should really be in bed.”
Blood stained the collar of Edward’s robe and the curls poking out from the bandage on one side of his head were stiff and black with dried blood. “I recollect intruders.”
“Yes, we were attacked, love. It is over now.”
He sought Fulton’s gaze. “Is that why there are dead magicians in our room?”
“Mmm, yes,” Fulton replied.
Edward turned and faced Jemima, having the wherewithal to check her over. “You are unharmed?”
“Mostly.”
He frowned as if he was trying to pull the memories forward. “And Louis?”
“Safe,” I said. “Asleep in his crib with Arrabella in the nursery being watched over by both nurses.”
“And where was the nurse when the attack occurred?” Fulton asked.
Jemima lifted her chin. “Yes. What a fright she must have got.”
“Tending Louis, apparently. She fainted,” I supplied.
“At least they did not harm her.” Fulton crossed his arms.
“The doctor could not tell what had happened. I thought the worst when he woke me.” Edward leaned over and drew Jemima into an embrace.
By the shake of his shoulders, I saw that he was weeping, and turned my head away. Poor man, I thought to myself. Both husbands were frustrated that they had not saved the day.
I yawned loudly. “I beg your pardon. I fear the night’s events are catching up with me.” I had been burning the midnight oil a lot recently, trying to make sense of my memoir. I feared that I would have to supply a copy to Sir Giles sooner than expected, given what had occurred.
Lily came up to me and knelt by my knee. “Do you wish to return to your bed, Mother?”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “I am afraid we will all have to answer to the magistrate before we can take to our beds.”
Chapter 16
The house began to awaken around us. Footsteps coming from the attic, a low rumble of voices, signalling the servants getting up to prepare for the day. I checked the clock, and it was now four fifteen in the morning.
It was dark outside, and on this day in particular, that made me think of the blackness of men’s hearts. Our attackers had lacked genuine human feeling. They had killed a brother magician, one that had previously been know them. I did not know all the ins and outs of the Societas Magicae, who had become renegade and who had not. However, I did know it was appalling to break into a house and intimidate its inhabitants, threaten a newborn babe and attack a young mother in her bed. Edward was in the way, so they attacked him and could have killed him. All because of a desire for the power that Jemima had drawn from Geneck, when she killed him. Apparently, it was a potent mix of magic, and vampiric lifeforce that had adhered to her own talent. That she was a woman and not welcome among them was not the greatest of their follies. Not all magicians are created equal. Some have power and intelligence, others less of both. My gentleman magician nephew had power and intelligence and the renegades had hounded him, Fulton and Jemima to steal the knowledge of his devices. It seriously eroded my trust in the magical fraternity. No wonder Edward held back from joining them formally. He had better become their leader and reform them all.
I had killed two men with my Prudential Light, a power I could clearly only call up defensively, to protect myself and others who were dear to me. I closed my eyes and considered that this would be important to Sir Giles. However, I knew that this revelation would change how he viewed me, even felt about me, and that made me sad.
A thump on the front door made us all jump. The butler, Discombe, opened the door and soon Sir Giles was ushered in.
Fulton stood and greeted him. “Thank you for coming. I am sorry to have inconvenienced you at this hour.”
Sir Giles swept the room with his gaze and acknowledged us with a nod. “Your man tells me there is death in the house. Death is a great inconvenience to all those concerned. I have yet to summon my deputies. Perhaps you can show me, first.”
“Of course.”
Sir Giles nodded and then turned to us gathered there. “Please remain here until I give you leave to retire.”
“We shall begin upstairs.” Fulton led the way.
While Sir Giles inspected upstairs, I found it difficult to sit still. What was the man going to think of me, killing people and leaving them lying about on the floor in people’s bedrooms? If I was an assassin, I was a poor one. Still, lives had been lost because of my actions.
Jemima still sniffled now and then as she pressed into Edward. The poor young woman had been brought so low by this attack. I closed my eyes, and could still see the aura of her power dispersed around her. Recently, I had detected a vibration from Jemima but it was only after this attack, had her power become visible to me. “Jemima, dear. You are safe now. The baby is safe, and we are all safe,” I tried to reassure her.
Jemima shook her head. “I should have stopped them.”
Edward had regained most of his senses. “You were asleep love. So exhausted. I thought I had taken steps to protect us. I did not expect attackers to climb in through the roof or that they would dangle our newborn sun in front of me before they tried to dash my brains out. It was most unconscionable conduct, completely outside the Societas Magicae’s rules. These attackers were renegades. Had to be.”
“But the machine…what was that?”
Edward met his wife’s gaze. “I believe it is a replica of the extractor they used to drain your father and kill him.”
“How do you know about this machine?” she asked.
“Brother Ferdinand told me of the machine and showed me a drawing. This one was empty of power and the wood was new; there were no magical leftovers from previous extractions.”
“Oh?”
“Is Brother Ferdinand still here?” Edward said to me. “What does he say?”
I hastily looked around. I had thought Mr White’s shade was gone for good, but there he was, still bloodied, disfigured and bruised. Edward could sense him, I was sure, for how could he know to ask me?
“Mr White, were these attackers from the Societas Magicae?”
Mr White lowered his head. “Formerly,” he replied, his voice raspy, as if from too much screaming. “Not all the brotherhood came back into the fold after Geneck’s attack.”
A frown deepened on Edward’s forehead. “Just how many members does this brotherhood have? Geneck killed so many, but they seem to be everywhere, and no longer abiding by their own rules of conduct. It is disgusting. If I was running this brotherhood, I would make them swear binding oaths to do no harm.”
I cast a glance at Mr White’s shade. He nodded as if agreeing. “It is a good idea. Reform the Societas Magicae, if you can.” Then his shade faded once more.
“Mr White agrees that reform is best for this brotherhood, and he asks you to undertake it, if you can. He has left us now,” I said.
Edward met my eye and nodded, understanding.
Just then heavy footsteps announced the arrival of Fulton and Sir Giles. The latter announced to the room, “Mr Fulton has offered his library to me to carry out interviews. If Mrs Huntington is well enough, I would like to start with her.”
Edward whispered to Jemima, who nodded.
“I will speak to you now,” she said.
Sir Giles inclined his head. “If the rest of you would be so good as to return to your rooms and not converse about the matter until after I speak to you, that would be most appreciated. Mrs Wainwright, you may stay here until I call you.”
Lily stood up. “Must she stay alone?” she asked Sir Giles.
He met my gaze. “She will be all right.”
Milly got up and with the assistance of Fulton made her way out of the room, with Lily behind them. Edward stood with arms crossed.
“You may wait in the hall for your wife, Mr Huntington. I will speak to you next. Mr Fulton advises me that a doctor has tended to your injury,” Sir Giles said.
