The House On Durrow Street Part 40

Ivy blinked, and the air around went from green back to gold. "Yes," she said, and squeezed Mrs. Baydon's hand back. "It's very beautiful."

Mrs. Baydon smiled at her, and they continued walking. Soon they reached the path at the base of Madiger's Wall, and they joined the other parties who strolled along it. The day was growing warm, but a pleasant chill emanated from the wall as if it recalled the touch of night. A longing came over Ivy to reach for the mossy stones, to cool her fingers against them.

Instead, she kept her hands at her sides.

Their party soon became drawn out along the path, as a few rushed along toward some interesting sight, while others lingered to examine a feature of the wall. As a result, Ivy found herself after a little while walking alongside Mr. Rafferdy and at some distance from the others.

Now that she had an opportunity to speak to him with some privacy, Ivy was not certain what to say. She supposed he might have questions about her conversation with his father, which she had described in her letter to him. Yet that was a topic of considerable gravity, and in the brilliant sunlight of a long afternoon, and after such a long time since their last meeting, she could not quite bring herself to broach it.

"I believe I owe you an apology, Lord Rafferdy," she began instead.

He winced at this. "I know that is a t.i.tle I cannot now escape, Lady Quent, but I was wondering if you might do me a kindness and instead address me as Mr. Rafferdy. It would give me great comfort to hear those words from you you. Namely, it would remind me of a simple and happy time!"

She gave him a fond smile. "I have happy memories as well of a time when you bore no other t.i.tle. I will gladly honor your request-but on one condition only. That is, that you refer to me as Mrs. Quent in turn, so I might be similarly reminded."

This arrangement was readily agreed to, much to their mutual satisfaction.

"But I am rather confounded, Mrs. Quent," he said, giving her a quizzing look. "While I can easily think of a hundred things I should apologize for, no matter how hard I think on it, I cannot conceive of anything you ever have done that would require an apology to a quizzing look. "While I can easily think of a hundred things I should apologize for, no matter how hard I think on it, I cannot conceive of anything you ever have done that would require an apology to me me."

"There is in fact something, though perhaps you do not recall it. You see, once when you were walking with my sisters and me, I told you that one can truly know a thing through reading about it in a book."

That elicited a smile. "You did say such a thing when I suggested otherwise. As I recall, you corrected me with some zeal."

"I am sure I did! That is why you are owed an apology, for I know now that I was wrong." She gazed at the rough stones above them. "I have read a great deal about Madiger's Wall-of its history and dimensions and the manner of its construction. I thought I had mastered all there was to know about it. Yet now that I am here, I see how woefully I was mistaken. You see, I did not know how even on a long lumenal one would be able to feel the coolness of night coming off the stones. That was a fact that was never contained in any volume I ever read on the subject. Therefore you were right to tell me one cannot really know something by reading it in a book."

"But I cannot accept your apology!" he said with a laugh.

"What reason could you have to refuse it?"

"Because you were right." He swung his ivory-handled cane as they walked. "Prior to meeting you, Mrs. Quent, I never thought that anything of real worth could be gained from a book. I have come to see how witless and conceited that notion was. Indeed, I have learned that there are some things that can be gained only only through the pages of a book-for there is no other way in which a mind might ever have an opportunity to apprehend them." through the pages of a book-for there is no other way in which a mind might ever have an opportunity to apprehend them."

This speech both delighted and astonished Ivy. She could not recall ever hearing him speak in such a manner. "I can only think, Mr. Rafferdy, that we have had an influence upon each other. For my impression of books has been lessened even as yours has been raised. Yet as ever, I suppose the truth lies somewhere in between the extremes. Even if books cannot reveal all to us, they can impart knowledge and experience-even wisdom, I would go so far as to say." She shook her head, bemused. "Yet from the way you speak, I would almost think you are studying magick again." knowledge and experience-even wisdom, I would go so far as to say." She shook her head, bemused. "Yet from the way you speak, I would almost think you are studying magick again."

He cast a glance over his shoulder, then returned his gaze to Ivy. "I am," he said in a low voice.

Once more there was a seriousness to his expression. When they had first met, Ivy had thought Mr. Rafferdy to be good-looking only when he smiled. Sometime over the last year that had changed. Perhaps it was simply that he was a year older and was coming into his own as a man. Regardless, he looked very good at the moment-even lordly, she might have said; and so solemn was his expression, without any hint of a satirical purpose, that she was forced to concede that he spoke the truth.

"Mr. Rafferdy!" she exclaimed, laying a hand on his arm, and stopping them both in the path. She saw his gaze dart past her; she had spoken loudly. Hastily, she lowered her voice. "This is the most remarkable news. I do confess, I am to a degree surprised to hear it. I had not thought it was your inclination to continue to make a study of the arcane. I am very pleased to discover I was incorrect-I am very pleased."

Now his smile returned, though it was muted compared to before. "I was not certain until I told you just now that I would even impart this knowledge to you. Yet now I have done it, and I suppose I had some idea that you would appreciate hearing it. Lady Crayford says we all owe you a debt. It is certainly true that I owe any interest I have in magick to you."

"If that is the case, if I can claim to have encouraged you in some small way, then I am happy indeed," she said. "But I cannot claim any more due than that. The talent you have for the arcane is entirely your own, and any progress you have made in pursuing it is because of your own diligence. But I am curious, how are you going about studying magick? Have you returned to university, then?"

He shook his head. "I believe one goes to Gauldren's College to learn how to affect the air of a magician rather than how to become one. Rather, I am meeting with a private society. I probably should not have just told you this, as it's all meant to be very secret. Yet I believe you heard Lord Eubrey allude to it earlier, for he and Lord Coulten are also part of the society." should not have just told you this, as it's all meant to be very secret. Yet I believe you heard Lord Eubrey allude to it earlier, for he and Lord Coulten are also part of the society."

"A society of magicians, you mean? That is marvelous!"

"On the contrary, you must not think so much of it. I have in fact seen very little actual magick done in any of our meetings. Further, we gather in the most low and humble sort of environs, a place that could not be more mean. That is, we meet in a room beneath a tavern."

Ivy's fingers tightened around the sleeve of his coat. "You say that you meet in a tavern?" These words were rather breathless, and she could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest.

"Yes, that's what I said. Why do you look at me like that?"

Her head had grown light, and she made herself take in a breath. Then, in as few words as she could manage, she explained to him how she had been looking into the history of the man who had built her father's house, and how she had discovered that Dratham had belonged to a society of magicians who met beneath a tavern on Durrow Street.

"Now I see," he said when she had finished. "That you should have reacted as you did is perfectly understandable, but now I am given the unhappy task of disappointing you. I'm afraid the tavern we meet beneath is not situated on Durrow Street. While it is in the Old City, it is a quarter mile at least from Durrow Street. So I do not think it can be the same establishment where your man Dratham once mingled with magicians."

His expression was filled with real concern, and Ivy at once a.s.sured him that she was in no way disappointed. She had been startled by the coincidence, that was all, and so had leaped to an unwarranted conclusion. Nevertheless, she was very pleased that he was continuing his magickal studies, and she was curious to know more about the matter-how he had found this society, and what sort of things he was learning there.

Even as she asked these things, they heard the sounds of Mrs. Baydon and Captain Branfort behind them. Mr. Rafferdy gave a slight shake of his head, and Ivy understood. Discussions of secret arcane orders were best left to a time when others were not nearby. They continued along the path, and turned their conversation to topics that could be more safely overheard. arcane orders were best left to a time when others were not nearby. They continued along the path, and turned their conversation to topics that could be more safely overheard.

"It really is wonderful to see you, Mr. Rafferdy. I know you have been much occupied, but I fear Lily is convinced you no longer like us." She affected a light tone so he would know she was teasing. "Or perhaps it is simply that we were only amusing to you when our connections were scandalous, and now that we have become respectable you find us necessarily dull."

This elicited a laugh on his part. "What was dull was being required to listen to your cousin expound upon his theory that romance and lawyering were closely akin. Be a.s.sured I will always find you you amusing, Mrs. Quent. Besides, I cannot fault your current society-it is far better than what I keep! If I had not met you last year, then I would never have a hope to do so, as I imagine you soon will be far above me." amusing, Mrs. Quent. Besides, I cannot fault your current society-it is far better than what I keep! If I had not met you last year, then I would never have a hope to do so, as I imagine you soon will be far above me."

These words shocked her. "I will never be any such thing, Mr. Rafferdy! Besides, given the connection between our fathers, I am sure it is impossible that we would not have met. Rather, it is the most expected thing that we are acquainted."

"Of course," he said, but he looked away as he said this, and for a little while they were quiet as they walked.

"How is Mr. Garritt?" she asked at length.

"I have not seen him much of late, though we have traded some notes. I gather he is very busy. He is clerking for the rector at Graychurch these days."

Ivy was glad to hear this news, at least to a degree. "That seems a very respectable sort of occupation. All the same, he is such a kind and thoughtful man. I cannot help wis.h.i.+ng that he could rise higher."

"As do I. I cannot conceive of anyone who would deserve it more. It seems to me that many who deserve to inhabit high positions are ever denied them, while so many who are anything but deserving can claim them by mere circ.u.mstance. It is exceedingly cruel, yet not unexpected. I have come to believe that there is a force in the world, a natural order that constantly labors to keep us all in our places." force in the world, a natural order that constantly labors to keep us all in our places."

"An order, yes, but there is nothing natural about it!" Ivy exclaimed. "Why should one person be elevated above another? There can be no reason, of course, for we are all of us the same."

His brown eyes sparkled. "Why, Mrs. Quent, I wonder if I should call out for the redcrests. You sound like a regular anarchist."

Ivy felt her cheeks grow warm. "I am no such thing! I do no more than repeat the wisdom of the Testament, which tells us we are all of us the same in G.o.d's opinion."

He waggled a finger at her. "You will not so easily convince me of your innocence, Mrs. Quent. That we are all the same is a very insidious notion-one that kings and generals have long fought to stamp out. For why would a man follow a king, or a soldier a general, if he did not believe that other was greater than he? As for G.o.d..." He shrugged. "Well, if all men were identical in His eyes, would they not all enter into Eternum upon departing this world? However, that that is not the case, and I am sure any priest will tell you that a vast number of souls are bound to end up somewhere else." is not the case, and I am sure any priest will tell you that a vast number of souls are bound to end up somewhere else."

He spoke all this merrily, clearly intending to make a jest, yet it did not provoke laughter in Ivy. Instead, his words unsettled her, though she wasn't entirely certain of the reason. Perhaps it was because, even if society were to consider all men to be alike, a woman would still never be like to a man. Only why? If there was a natural order that kept all in their places, why did it make sure that a woman's was always beneath a man's?

A rus.h.i.+ng sound drew her attention upward to the crowns of the trees that rose over the wall. They swayed as they felt the touch of a zephyr, their crooked branches bending this way and that, but unable to reach beyond the stones that encircled them....

"h.e.l.lo there, Rafferdy!" called out a voice. "Come here and tell us what you think of this."

Ivy lowered her gaze and saw Lord Coulten and Lord Eubrey a little way ahead, standing beside the wall. She and Mr. Rafferdy walked in their direction and soon joined them.

"What is it?" Mr. Rafferdy said.

"A very curious thing," Lord Coulten replied. "Look at this stone here. Do you see how it is different than the others in the wall?"

Mr. Rafferdy stroked his chin. "I suppose it is a different color than the other stones."

He was right. The block of stone Lord Coulten had pointed out, which was perhaps a foot on a side, was not gray like the others but rather was a deep, reddish hue. It was a color that Ivy at once found familiar, as it was very like the ruddy stones that formed the outer walls of the old house on Durrow Street.

"Is that the only difference?" Lord Eubrey said with a grin. "You're not looking very closely if that's all you see."

Mr. Rafferdy shook his head, evidently at a loss for words.

"There is no moss on it," Ivy said.

Lord Eubrey raised an eyebrow. "It seems Lady Quent's powers of observation are keener than yours, Rafferdy." He turned his attention to Ivy. "As you say, there is no moss on this this stone, while all the others are covered with it. I believe you possess a methodical mind, Lady Quent-do you have any hypothesis of why that might be so?" stone, while all the others are covered with it. I believe you possess a methodical mind, Lady Quent-do you have any hypothesis of why that might be so?"

Ivy hesitated. Lord Eubrey's initial query had not been directed to her, and she had spoken without meaning to. However, he had now posed her a question, and so she could not ignore it.

"Perhaps the stone, given its different color, has been an object of curiosity among the walkers here. As such, it would have been frequently touched, which would discourage any moss to grow upon it. Or..."

Lord Eubrey tilted his head. "Yes, Lady Quent?"

Ivy took a step nearer to the wall. The red stone was speckled with darker flecks, and it was smoother than the rough blocks that surrounded it. "Perhaps," she said, "the nature of this stone is unique in some way, and its surface does not provide a hospitable place for moss to grow."

Lord Coulten clapped his hands. "I say, well done, Lady Quent! Those are both very plausible notions."

"Yet it's the second that I think the most most plausible," Lord Eubrey plausible," Lord Eubrey said, though he did not give any reason for this conclusion. "Coulten and I are going to see if there are other stones like this one. It will be an amusing pastime as we walk, don't you think? You must come with us, Rafferdy." said, though he did not give any reason for this conclusion. "Coulten and I are going to see if there are other stones like this one. It will be an amusing pastime as we walk, don't you think? You must come with us, Rafferdy."

Ivy would have liked to search for more stones herself, to see if there were others in the wall that looked like the stone from which her father's house had been built. However, she noted that an invitation had not been extended to her.

Rafferdy seemed to perceive this as well, for he gave her a concerned look.

"I should go back to the others," she said before he could speak. "Our maid and driver were setting out a luncheon for us, and I imagine it is ready by now."

In fact, when she glanced back, she saw all of the others in a group, and Captain Branfort waving vigorously in her direction.

Rafferdy gave her a smart bow. "I am certain we will encounter you this afternoon."

"Of course we will see Lady Quent later," Lord Eubrey said. "After we are done with our little exploration."

He gave her a cheerful smile, but once again Ivy had the impression of a certain slyness about his eyes.

"Well, are you two coming along, then?" Lord Coulten called back, for he was already proceeding down the path that went along the wall.

The other two men followed him, and there was nothing for Ivy to do but turn and start back toward her companions.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.

RAFFERDY WATCHED AS Mrs. Quent walked away down the path, her figure as lithe as a willow switch in her gown of pale green.

He gripped the ivory handle of his cane. I am sure it is impossible that we would not have met I am sure it is impossible that we would not have met, she had said as they strolled together. Rather, it is the most expected thing that we are acquainted Rather, it is the most expected thing that we are acquainted....

If only she was aware how in error that statement was! But she could not know how his father had conspired to keep the two of them from meeting. No, it was not at all expected that they were acquainted, but was instead the most unlikely phenomenon. For all Mr. Bennick's villainy, Rafferdy could still be grateful to him for this one thing: that through his machinations, Rafferdy and Ivy had come to know each other.

Yet it should never have had to happen in that fas.h.i.+on. How might things have been altered had the two of them been allowed to meet in the expected expected manner? The Lockwells would not have been so very low then, before her father fell ill, and Rafferdy's family would have lifted hers up by a.s.sociation. She could have been properly introduced to society and allowed to rise on her own ability and merits-just as she had done in the most easy and natural manner now that she had been given the opportunity. Once society had become acquainted and charmed by her, a union between their families might not have been out of the question, and her name would not now be Lady Quent, but rather Lady Rafferdy. manner? The Lockwells would not have been so very low then, before her father fell ill, and Rafferdy's family would have lifted hers up by a.s.sociation. She could have been properly introduced to society and allowed to rise on her own ability and merits-just as she had done in the most easy and natural manner now that she had been given the opportunity. Once society had become acquainted and charmed by her, a union between their families might not have been out of the question, and her name would not now be Lady Quent, but rather Lady Rafferdy.

"Come along, Rafferdy," Lord Eubrey called out. "We'll lose sight of Coulten if we don't hurry after him."

Rafferdy hesitated. A compulsion came over him to go back down the path, to take her arm and walk with her to the carriages. That impulse, though, was at odds with another-to discover just what it was Eubrey was about. He had been exceedingly mysterious on the journey here, and in the carriage he had refused to divulge even the slightest hint as to his reason for wis.h.i.+ng to come to the Evengrove. down the path, to take her arm and walk with her to the carriages. That impulse, though, was at odds with another-to discover just what it was Eubrey was about. He had been exceedingly mysterious on the journey here, and in the carriage he had refused to divulge even the slightest hint as to his reason for wis.h.i.+ng to come to the Evengrove.

If only she she could accompany them! Then both of his desires would have been fulfilled. Besides, he had no doubt that she would very much enjoy seeing magick being done. However, given Eubrey's secrecy about the whole affair, he knew that was not possible. could accompany them! Then both of his desires would have been fulfilled. Besides, he had no doubt that she would very much enjoy seeing magick being done. However, given Eubrey's secrecy about the whole affair, he knew that was not possible.

In the distance, her pale green figure vanished beyond a bend in the wall. Rafferdy sighed; then, cane in hand, he turned and followed after Eubrey. He had to go at a fair jog to catch up.

"Make it lively now, Rafferdy! I don't think it's a good idea for us to let Coulten get too far ahead. I would not want him trying a spell on his own."

"Why is that?"

"Because he doesn't take it seriously. Not like you or I do. To Coulten, it's all an amusing diversion. Yet he has ability-considerable ability, in fact. I would be very dismayed if he attempted something without using the proper preventatives and got himself into a dire circ.u.mstance."

"Attempted what?"

Lord Eubrey grinned at him. "You'll see," he said, and continued walking briskly down the path.

After proceeding only a little way, they encountered a band of several redcrests on patrol. The soldiers showed no sign of breaking their stride, so Rafferdy and Eubrey were obliged to step off the path. As the other men pa.s.sed by in their blue regimental coats, Rafferdy tipped his hat. The redcrests made no reply, their faces stern as they marched at a rapid pace in the direction Rafferdy and Eubrey had come from.

"I say, you're very daring, Rafferdy," Eubrey said after the soldiers had gone.

Rafferdy shook his head. "Daring? How so?"

"Your House ring is in plain sight, that's how."

"I don't see how that matters to a band of soldiers."

Eubrey raised an eyebrow. "Have you forgotten what took place at the Ministry of Printing? Even if you have, I am certain the king's Black Dog has not! He is Lady Shayde's master, so it must have been on his order that she showed herself at a.s.sembly, and you can be certain the king's soldiers have similar orders to keep watch."

"To keep watch over what?"

"Over us, of course! Or rather, over any magicians. You would do well to put on your gloves like the rest of us."

Rafferdy looked down at the ring on his right hand, its blue gem throwing sparks in the sunlight. He recalled the man he had followed from Marble Street that day two months ago. The man had been wearing gloves until one was torn off, revealing the arcane symbol that marked his palm-the same symbol that the White Lady's brutish servant, Moorkirk, had said marked the hands of all the men with gray blood.

Nor can I believe it is chance that it has become popular fas.h.i.+on to wear gloves just when such men have appeared in the city, Moorkirk had said to him that day. Gloves just like you were wearing Gloves just like you were wearing...

Rafferdy lowered his hand and looked up at Eubrey. "No, I don't believe I will put on gloves," he said. "I'm quite done with that fas.h.i.+on-it's become far too popular for my taste."