A Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer

Author:Caroline Stevermer
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2012-04-02T16:00:00+00:00

The sun was coming up when Lambert reached the Brailsford house. The late summer sunrise changed color moment by moment as the world turned toward the light. By the time Lambert rang the bell, the sun had edged clear of the horizon and the gaudy colors of cloud and sky had faded. A fine summer day had begun, the first day of his life after Glasscastle. Lambert had precisely one minute to contemplate that milestone before the door opened.

“You’re late.” Jane joined him on the doorstep. “Let’s go.” She was wearing a plain linen motoring coat over a gray dress, driving gloves like gauntlets almost to her elbows, and the largest hat he’d seen yet. Its broad brim strained against the gauzy motoring veil she had stretched over it and knotted beneath her chin.

“You look like you’re ready for a hard day’s bee-keeping.” Lambert winced the moment the words slipped out, but it was too late to take them back.

“How kind of you to say so,” Jane replied tartly. “You look as if you didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

Behind them, the door opened and Amy peered out. She wore something white and graceful. With her hair loose down her back, she looked like Lucia di Lammermoor, about to run elegantly mad. Lambert had no trouble keeping that thought to himself, for before he could speak, Amy hushed them both.

“You said you’d leave at dawn,” Amy reminded Jane. “Go. Find Robert for me!”

“We’re going, we’re going.” Jane replied. Lambert waved farewell to Amy and followed Jane back to the carriage house where the motor car waited. Something bulky filled the boot and rear seat, but Lambert couldn’t tell what it was, as canvas had been tied down over it to protect the cargo. “What’s all that?”

“Just my luggage,” said Jane, sliding into the driver’s seat and donning her goggles. “Give it a twirl, please?”

With private gratitude that he hadn’t brought more than one small satchel, Lambert wedged his valise into the Minotaur and went around front. Lambert cranked up the motor and took the place beside Jane. She reversed smoothly out into the street and headed out of the town as the sun climbed the sky to their right.

Lambert decided he was either more comfortable sitting in the front seat than the back, or Jane’s driving style was more conservative this morning. She took her time leaving the confines of the town. Lambert, intent on savoring what might be his last drive through the place, was glad he had a clear view from the passenger’s seat. He wanted to appreciate the look of things in the early light, not watch it go past in a blur. Gray stone walls seemed to glimmer silver. Greenery still damp with last night’s dew set off the brilliance of blossoms opening to the sun.

At that hour, the streets were nearly deserted. Down a side road, Lambert thought he glimpsed his drayman on morning rounds. Here and there a cat was tucked up waiting on a doorstep.

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