Chapter 5 #2
As they walked through the door, Lizzy noticed the décor of the halls.
It was tastefully decorated without being overly ostentatious.
When they approached a tall set of double doors, she expected to be shown to the master’s study.
Although most staff members would not see him, Butterbell followed close on Lizzy’s heals with Mrs. Hanson following close behind.
When a footman opened on of the doors, Lizzy was surprised not to see a study but a library with floor to ceiling bookcases filled to capacity with books.
“This is a lovely room,” Lizzy observed. “You must be an avid reader.”
Lord Morefield chuckled. “My family has been collecting books for the past three hundred years. I believe I have read more of the collections than many of my ancestors. My free time, as little as it is, is spent in this room.”
As the party moved into the room, Mrs. McGilly said, “I be sure the door does not close on ye companion.” She then smiled down at Butterbell.
The mention of seeing the brownie surprised Lizzy for few people saw them and many who did preferred not to mention the fact.
“Me mother were a sensitive,” the housekeeper explained quietly, and then offered, “If your companion wishes, she may come to the kitchen for a cup a tea.”
Mrs. Hanson nodded in response and then followed the housekeeper out the door indicating to the footman to leave the door open.
Lord Morefield then walked over to two chairs and indicated to one for her.
“As to your age,” the gentleman began, “as long as you can reinforce the ward, I have no problem with your age, but, as I mentioned, I do have one other problem.”
“The stranger who was around?” Lizzy offered.
“You heard?” Lord Morefield seemed surprised at her response.
“Yes, my brownie made a visit to the estate and learned about the stranger from your brownies.”
“Aye,” the gentleman said, shaking his head. “He caused the disappearance of one of my brownies. Some have run off and fear to return,” his lordship informed her.
“Are they nearby?” Lizzy knew most would not wander far but would look for a safe place before returning.
“They are hiding in the woods,” his lordship informed Lizzy. “I cannot blame them. Fearful they are,” he added.
“I will begin looking for them after I reinforce the ward around your estate. Have you added any lands or buildings since the area was last warded?” Grandmother often reminded Lizzy of this necessary question.
Most of the time, the owner replied no, but a few times the owner pointed out new buildings and sometimes new lands.
Buildings were more frequent; land very seldom was added to an estate.
“Look for the missing brownies first. We want them home,” his lordship declared.
Lizzy saw his honest concern. “I will be happy to comply. Might any of your house brownies know their hiding place?”
“Bitty,” his lordship called out.
Lizzy watched as a brownie appeared in front of Lord Moorfield, bowed, and asked, “Master called?”
“Yes. This lass is the ward weaver, lead her to where your fellows hide. She will see to their care,” he informed the little figure in front of him.
Bitty turned, saw Lizzy and Butterbell, and bowed to them both. Lizzy knew she was being dismissed.
Lizzy rose from her seat before saying, “We will follow you.”
Bitty then walked toward the door with Butterbell and Lizzy following.
As Lizzy walked deeper into the woods, she reflected on what she knew of brownies.
When something scared them, really scared them, they always retreated to the deepest part of the nearby woods.
Nearby being the key adjective. These brownies, however, had moved further away from the home they served then she expected.
In fact, she wondered just how far they traveled.
“We be there soon, Miss,” Bitty chirped cheerfully. “They be happy to see ye.”
Lizzy only smiled but did not reply. She found it necessary to watch where she stepped because the undergrowth was becoming more twisted and overgrown. She could not afford an injury this deep in the woods.
“Further than expected,” Butterbell muttered. It was the first time he had spoken since they arrived at the estate.
“Yes,” Lizzy replied under her breath.
After what Lizzy thought was fifteen minutes, Bitty finally exclaimed, “We here!”
Lizzy looked around at the area but saw nothing at first. Soon, however, she saw one small head peek around a tree.
“Who there?” the head questioned.
“Me,” Bitty replied. “I bring ward weaver,” she then clarified. Lizzy had quickly identified the brownie as a female when they first met.
At the word ‘ward weaver,’ more heads began to appear. Some from around tree trunks, some from under bushes, and even a few up in the tree branches.
One of the bolder brownies finally stepped out and asked, “You can protect? You weave a ward?”
“Yes,” Lizzy replied, and then went on to explain, “I can ward this area of the forest and the path leading to it if you wish. I can also weave a ward around each of you individually if you chose. Individual wards, however, will take extra time. I can only weave four in a day because of the power needed for them.”
“Individual wards? Never heard before,” the bolder brownie replied.
Even Bitty wore an expression of surprise.
Lizzy explained, “It is a skill I learned two years ago. It does take more power and requires I rest somewhat longer in-between weavings, but an individual ward will allow you to go anywhere. Unfortunately, it will not last as long as the stationary wards around a location.”
After a bit of a pause, the spokesperson finally said, “Do woods and path. I speak to master ‘bout individual.”
“Yes, that might be best,” Lizzy agreed. She then began to concentrate on the area and drew the power to her.
As with all power, she drew if from nature around her and began weaving the ward. She put the first part of the ward around the surrounding trees covering as large an area as possible. Within an hour, she successfully completed the ward around the woods.
Then Lizzy asked, “Is the path we followed the one you always use for coming here?”
Bitty answered quickly, “Yes. Be quickest route but sometimes hardest. Trees grow up around path, but we no care ‘bout trees being in the way. We easily walk through the growth.”
“It also makes it harder for humans to follow you, especially if you do not want them to follow,” Lizzy logically pointed out.
“Yes,” a chorus of brownies replied.
Lizzy smiled knowingly. It only made sense they would look for the hardest route for humans.
Brownies never encountered problems when walking through nature.
It was if nature moved aside and opened an easy path for them.
Of course, when she walked with Butterbell, she sometimes found her path easier as well.
With all the brownies following her, she believed her return trip would be even easier than her first.
It took another hour for Lizzy to weave a ward as she and the brownies traveled back to the manor.
The area was not wide, but it was longer and took more concentration of power.
When she finally arrived at the house, she informed the housekeeper she would return to the inn to rest. She then asked Mrs. McGilly to inform Lord Moorfield that she would come again the following day.
Lizzy also made sure to thank Mrs. McGilly for seeing to the comfort of her companion, who had been invited into the house for tea and a light meal, and for the arrangements she had made for Ben and her coachmen while she had been busy.
Shortly after Lizzy entered the coach, she fell asleep. Sleeping did provide some relief for her exhaustion, but a large meal would also be necessary when she finally arrived at the inn.