The Queen 'neath the Hedge: The Umbra Series Book 1 by J. L. Dawn

The Queen 'neath the Hedge: The Umbra Series Book 1 by J. L. Dawn

Author:J. L. Dawn [Dawn, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Interact Publishing Ltd
Published: 2023-07-20T23:00:00+00:00


26 – The Grey Brethren

Larkenfen

The artist’s whistling intruded into her contemplation. He was awake early, walking outside and the whistle, though unmelodic, was fat with satisfaction.

She heard Naomi say her name and discovered her sister in the schoolroom.

‘Look at what Mr Tenebris has done,’ said Naomi. ‘He must have been working since before first light.’

The large canvas roughed out for all the Gracegirdle girls, which had numbered just three when Amorrie’s hunting gaze had driven her out of the room last night, now had a fourth completing the composition. Cassie gawped at her likeness, beyond astonishment.

‘It is not finished,’ said Naomi. ‘He says we must choose you an emblem to add to the picture, like my ruby darter, or Livvi’s fen-hawk. Perhaps, also, something for you to hold.’

‘How is this possible? He has never seen me? He cannot see me.’

‘You came to him in a dream he says.’

‘I did no such thing.’

‘But then he changed his thought and said it was Amorrie’s dream?’

‘It makes no sense. I have not learned that trick yet. Would that I could. If it were possible, I would visit you always in your dreams, Naomi.’

‘You do already, Cassie. Most every night.’

‘Like this?’ Cassie held up her pigtails and stared down at her fraying garments.

‘I don’t know, I never notice how your hair is done or what fashions you wear.’

‘What then?’

‘I memorise your smile and hold fast to your eyes and feel your clear thinking and sense your breath, and…’ Naomi’s voice had slipped into a well of emotion.

‘Would you dream of me still, if I did not visit you here?’

‘Most certainly.’ Naomi grew concerned, ‘why?’

‘It is good to know. That is all.’

Naomi studied her sister closely.

‘He has made my clothes new again.’ Cassie took up the pictured pose and tried out the smile. ‘Is it a good likeness, do you think?’

‘It is a miracle,’ said Naomi. ‘The painting is raw yet, but already it is manifestly you.’

‘What will Mother and Papa make of it?’

‘Mother will cry for a day,’ said a voice behind them, ‘and we will get nothing out of Papa for at least a week.’ It was Lavinia. The tear had already fallen from her chin and was now soaking into her sleeve, but its track on her cheek bore testimony to it. ‘And then his first words will still choke him.’

A movement behind her and Nouhou entered the room with Tabitha. The former page-boy stared at the painting, first in bewilderment before slipping into understanding and finally, wonder.

‘It’s Cassie, Nouhou,’ Tabitha’s words fought for air in her throat before she took a sobbing breath. ‘Our dearest sister. Your Mr Tenebris has somehow captured her likeness.’

‘Mr Tenebris started his assault on Larkenfen in cowardly retreat, but with this he will conquer us all,’ said Naomi.

‘I have made a decision about Mr Tenebris,’ said Lavinia.

‘What?’

‘We cannot allow Pikestaff to have him.’

≈

‘Are they there?’ Tabitha sat in the small flat-bottomed boat, tied to the jetty at the end of the boardwalk. She looked out across the lazing sun-stroked river to the far bank.



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