Garth Nix - Newt’s Emerald

Lady Badgery shook her head.

“I fear not,” she said. “That dismal cloud was very strong and pressed hard upon the house. It took all my strength to turn it back outside. I dare not attempt a divination or other sorcery until I have rested. But surely you have diviners in government service?”

“It would take too long to fetch one here, where the signatures are fresh,” said Harnett. “It seems I must rely on my men keeping the hackney in sight . . .”

He did not sound very confident.

“And I must go and and change my dress,” said Truthful. Without thinking, she touched her upper lip where her moustache would be affixed. Once more disguised as the chevalier, she could go forth in search of Stephen.

“Change your dress?” asked Lady Badgery. She clearly knew what Truthful was intending, and drew the young woman closer to her with a bony, heavily ringed hand. “No, dear. I am going to lie down and you will read to me, until it is time to prepare for Lady Mournbeck’s ball.”

“Aunt!” protested Truthful. “We can’t go to the ball with Stephen kidnapped!”

“Yes we can,” said Lady Badgery. “In fact we must. It is of the first importance that we appear to be unruffled by any such happening. If you are asked of it, which I doubt, you will smile and say ‘boys will be boys’ or words to that effect. We must take care that your reputation is not any more . . . that is, we must be careful.”

“If I might beg a few words with you first, Lady Truthful,” said Harnett. “There really is a most important fact that you need to be apprised—”

“Now, now, Major Harnett,” said Lady Badgery. “We have all had quite a shock, and I must lie down. By the way, is your first name Charles or James?”

“Charles,” said Harnett automatically. He frowned and turned his attention away from Truthful to Lady Badgery. “That is, I can explain, Lady Badgery. If you would allow me—”

“Oh, why aren’t you out searching for Stephen!” cried out Truthful. “If I was a man I wouldn’t be prosing on forever here when someone is in so much danger!”

“I am sure my men will find him,” retorted Harnett. “And the Emerald! And I do not need to be told my duty, or rather my several duties, which I am attempting to do if only you would let me get a word in edgeways!”

“You are unbearable!” gasped Truthful. Wrenching herself from her great-aunt’s grip, she ran up the stairs.

Harnett took a deep breath and turned once more to Lady Badgery, who inclined her head and gave him an encouraging smile.

“Lady Badgery, the truth is that acting under information received and in the haste of the moment, I was forced to assume—”

“Sir! Sir! Roach is here! Them kidnappers overturned their hack on Seymour Street!”

Ruggins was calling excitedly through the open doorway. Out on the street behind him, a plainly-dressed man on horseback with the tough look of former military service and a small golden crown in the button-hole of his blue coat waved to Harnett.

“We got one of ’em, sir! Culpepper and some locals ’ave took him to the roundhouse!”

“And the kidnapped young man?” asked Harnett quickly.

“Him too, he’s a right game one, he did summat sorcerous-like to the horses,” said Roach. “Made ’em bolt on the corner, so they clipped the gutter and went all arsy-versy.”

“I must go,” snapped Harnett to Lady Badgery. “Your servant, ma’am!”

He was down the steps in only two paces, but at the street he paused and called back.

“Keep Lady Truthful safe! I will detach men to guard the house!”

It took the news that Stephen was rescued, in addition to all of Lady Badgery’s persuasive powers and the authority of being in loco parentis to make sure Truthful did not immediately don her disguise and issue forth to Seymour Street to see exactly what was happening. Fortunately she did not have to wait very long before one of Harnett’s men arrived bearing a message from the Major that both relieved and infuriated Truthful.

“Stephen appears to be entirely unscathed,” she said to Lady Badgery, who was lying on her bed, well-supported by a vast pile of silken pillows. “Harnett says he is in high grig and is now assisting in the search for the would-be abductor that escaped in the hope he will lead them to Lady Plathenden and the Emerald!”

“I am relieved he is unhurt,” said Lady Badgery. “And of course he would want to take part in bringing the criminals to justice.”

“While I must wait here,” complained Truthful. “And go to a tiresome ball tonight, even though it is my Emerald!”

“You did not think the prospect of so grand a ball as Lady Mournbeck’s tiresome a scant few days ago,” said Lady Badgery. “I recollect you said to me you had never in your life attended so grand an affair and you were most excited!”

“Well, I own that I was then,” said Truthful. She frowned. “But I hadn’t seen Lady Plathenden with my Emerald, or been tied up in a barrel with . . . it all makes such things as balls seem less . . . less consequential.”

“They can be of great consequence,” said Lady Badgery. “It was at just such a ball that your father first set eyes upon your mother, and indeed, I first clasped hands with my poor departed Badgery. You might well chance upon your own future husband at the ball this evening, Truthful.”

“I very much doubt that,” said Truthful, blushing and avoiding her great-aunt’s rather too-searching gaze. “I think . . . I think I may never marry. I shall look after Father, and remain in the country.”

“Humph,” said Lady Badgery. Truthful was unsure what this sound actually meant, though it did seem the old lady was either expressing doubt or amusement at Truthful’s rather high-blown pronouncement. Or perhaps something of both. “You can read to me now, and then I shall sleep until supper.”

As Parkins helped her dress that evening Truthful did recapture a little of her previous excitement about the prospect of going to her first grand London ball. The ivory silk ball gown with its delicate gold tracery was the most beautiful dress she had ever worn, and was perfectly complemented by a Norwich shawl of the highest quality; new and vastly elegant elbow-length gloves; and a fan of peacock-pattern silk between ivory sticks. As became a young lady who had not yet been presented but was in the process of coming out, her only jewellery was a very plain necklace of slim gold beads, and her hair was dressed with an elegant simplicity, Truthful being amazed at how Parkins could make it so fashionable despite the cut that had made it possible for her to look the gentleman.

When Parkins adjudged her completely ready Truthful went down to join Lady Badgery, who was opening a missive that had just been delivered. The dowager, resplendent in a dress of yesteryear that combined panels of purple and green silk over a voluminous petticoat possibly supported by some sort of underwiring, brandished the letter at Truthful triumphantly, almost upsetting the enormous feathered turban that was pinned to her head.

“Cecilie has come through,” she said.

“Cecilie?” asked Truthful.

“Lady Mournbeck,” said her great-aunt. “I had asked her to send a card for her ball to your Major Harnett, and though she initially declined, it seems that upon investigation she is familiar with the major’s aunt, Mrs Gough, who was a Tavilland before her marriage and so is a cousin of some sort to Mournbeck himself. So she has done as I asked, and he will be there.”

“He is not my Major Harnett,” said Truthful mulishly. “And I do not know why you should wish to have him invited. Besides, surely he is too busy finding the Emerald, or at least he should be.”

“I liked the young man,” said Lady Badgery roguishly. “I want to see how he behaves among company.”

Truthful did not answer, her feelings about the ball once more confused. She had managed to regain some of her previous simple excitement, the feeling of looking forward to an unalloyed pleasure. Now it was complicated again, not least because she was not sure how she felt. She both wanted to see Harnett again and never see him again. For the moment, the “never seeing again” feeling was stronger. She grimaced, holding back a tear as she remembered his admission that he didn’t want to marry anyone and his most reluctant offer of marriage, that he only made due to social convention. He didn’t care for her, so she must make sure she did not entertain any feelings for him.

These lowering thoughts were interrupted by Dworkin’s cough. The butler approached Truthful with a small package wrapped in bright paper and a blue ribbon on his silver tray.

“A present for Lady Truthful,” he announced.

“For me?” asked Truthful, surprised. She reached out for it, only to be surprised as the Dowager Countess suddenly grabbed her elbow.

“Who is it from, Dworkin?” asked Lady Badgery. “Have our temporary guardians seen it?”

“It was brought by Sergeant Ruggins,” said Dworkin calmly. “It is from Major Harnett and I believe is of some importance in the protection of Lady Truthful.”

“I don’t want it,” snapped Truthful.

“Don’t be silly, my dear,” said Lady Badgery. “At least see what it is before you refuse it. It may be in the nature of an official present rather than a personal one, and judging from what happened to your cousin Stephen, we had best be prepared for the worst.”

“Very well,” sighed Truthful. She took the package and unwrapped it, revealing a folded note and a very old box covered in faded pearly shagreen. Truthful set the box aside on the arm of her chair, and read the note.

Dear Lady Truthful,

I regret that due to the continuing investigation into the whereabouts of Lady Plathenden and the Newington Emerald I am unable to call upon you in person, as I would wish, in order to impart to you an important matter and further a discussion I believe to be of paramount importance. I must also warn you that we have not yet ascertained the full extent of Lady Plathenden’s scheming, beyond the fact that she has a considerable criminal force in her employ. It is believed that she may still attempt to take your person captive by force or trickery in order to wrest control of the Emerald, so I have taken the liberty of increasing the guard under Sergeant Ruggins. In addition, I am sending you a charmed bracelet that I request you wear for your own protection until such time as Lady Plathenden is arrested and the Emerald is recovered. Please excuse my penmanship, written in haste upon the road.

Yours etc

“He couldn’t even be bothered to sign it,” said Truthful, handing the note to Lady Badgery and picking up the box. Her fingers tingled as she lifted the hook and opened it to reveal a slim and remarkably plain bracelet made of many gold and silver wires twisted together. Truthful slid it over her wrist. It felt a little loose at first, but when she turned it around, she saw that it would not easily come off. Lady Badgery lowered the note and said, “Show me, Truthful!”

Truthful held out her arm. Lady Badgery took her wrist and turned it so she could examine the bracelet from every angle, being careful not to touch it herself. After several minutes, she gently lowered Truthful’s arm and sat back.

“That is an ancient and very powerful charm,” she pronounced. “A spell-breaker of the first order. You must be careful not to touch others with it, lest it dissolve any sorcery upon their person. I wonder if your Major Harnett . . . or Ned Leye . . . borrowed it from the Museum . . . it certainly belongs there, if not the Tower.”

“I suppose I had better wear it, but I trust it will not be needed,” said Truthful. She sighed and added, “I hope that Lady Plathenden is soon arrested and I can go home!”

“I was not aware you disliked staying with an old lady so much,” sniffed Lady Badgery.

“Oh no!” exclaimed Truthful. She clasped her great-aunt’s hand. “It is just that . . . life at home is . . . easier, I suppose. And I want to show Father the Emerald and make him better.”

“We all wish your father better,” said Lady Badgery. “However, may I point out that an easier life is not necessarily to be preferred? In any case, it is almost ten o’clock and so we must go. Put your worries behind you now, Truthful, and attempt to enjoy Lady Mournbeck’s ball. Or at least successfully pretend to do so.”

“I will try, Great-aunt,” said Truthful. She forced a smile, maintaining it for several seconds before it slipped away.