Fledgling by Molly Harper

Author:Molly Harper [Harper, Molly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-64197-101-0
Publisher: NYLA

9

A Reception Both Chilly and Chilling

“I don’t like this,” Mrs. Winter informed me as Jenny snapped the last valise shut and carried it out of my suite. “You’ll be far away, and I won’t be there to guide you if you run into trouble.”

“I will simply endeavor not to get into trouble,” I told her, shrugging into a violet pelisse that matched my traveling gown.

Mrs. Winter lifted an eyebrow and settled in my fireside chair. I pursed my lips and added, “I will try my best.”

The school term was coming to an end. My marks had been acceptable, with the exception of ritual dance where Madame Rousseau had stated that I needed improvement. Apparently, Madame was still holding a grudge about the hollowhorn incident. Spring Interviews had taken place, and the invitations to research guilds had been arriving every day. In some cases, they weren’t, which made the agitated nerves of Sweetheart’s Day look like a Sunday picnic. We spent our entire healing classes that week helping Nurse Waxwing mix soothing teas.

Jenny and I had established a more comfortable routine now that she’d agreed to return to my service. Unfortunately, that routine depended on mutual silence. I didn’t mention her magic, and she didn’t mention mine. The Mother Book didn’t respond to her any further, at least not while I was around, but it wasn’t ignoring me any longer, so I was pleased.

Like most parents, Mrs. Winter had arrived on our final day of the term to help me pack. But I wasn’t packing to return home for the summer. Mrs. McCray’s begrudging invitation began immediately after school started, so Ivy and I would be taken to the McCray’s right away to begin our trek to Scotland. And while Mrs. Winter had given her permission for me to travel with the McCrays almost immediately, she seemed to regret that decision more the closer we came to our departure.

“I’m very proud of your efforts in the last year, Sarah, but it’s difficult to trust that you understand what’s at stake if you make an error. You could reveal your secret with the slightest slip of the tongue, the tiniest breach of etiquette. Adelaide McCray is looking for a reason to dislike you.”

“I’ve become adept at hiding my origins over the past year. No one at school believes I’m anything but what I say I am, even after Mary’s outburst at the masquerade. If I think Mrs. McCray suspects something, I will pretend to be unwell and scry message you, so you can advise me.”

“I suppose that will do,” she said, frowning. “Is there a reason that you have insisted on my hiring your chamber maid away from Headmistress Lockwood, so you might take her along on this venture?”

“I trust Jenny, something that isn’t easy given my situation, and it makes more sense to take a trusted servant with me than to be followed by one of Mrs. McCray’s servants at my every step,” I said.

“That is sensible, I suppose,” Mrs. Winter admitted.

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