Chapter 8 #2
“I convinced him to come home with me and then asked Blossom, my mother’s favorite, to feed him and tend to his needs.
I knew I could not offer him food. Another brownie truth my mother shared.
Brownies will not eat anything we give them unless they trust us.
Although I could do nothing for him, I stayed near to make sure he was well cared for.
After three days, he started looking better and shared his name, Hawthorne.
” The earl paused and reflected, then began again.
“Blossom told me Hawthorne liked me and wanted to follow me around. As a young lad, I felt pleased and honored. None of our other brownies paid me much attention unless I became overly messy with my belongings. As the years passed, Hawthorne and I became more attached. When my father died, and I had to take his place in Parliament, I convinced Hawthorne to accompany me to London and the sessions. All went well until that day Hawthorne felt some evil in the room. I had noticed there were many gathered in the gallery. I could not help but wonder if the feeling of evil came from one of the visitors. Thereafter, Hawthorne remained in our townhouse until I could travel back to the country. The incident kept him from London.”
Lizzy was impressed the Hawthorne had originally agreed to travel with the earl.
Most brownies do not travel outside of their protective wards.
The fact that her grandmother’s brownie and Butterbell traveled with them was not unusual because of their skill, but Butterbell was now freer to move around the different areas by himself because of his special warding.
“Hawthorne proved brave, but not foolish. He knew when evil threatened and removed himself from the threat posed to him,” Lizzy commented.
“Yes, but I still miss his companionship when I am away from home,” the earl replied.
“Did he accompany you to school?” It was the first time Mr. Darcy joined the conversation.
“No,” the earl said. “He had only attached himself to me two years before I was shipped off to school. I saw him only on my school holidays. I would share stories with him about my time away, but he did not feel comfortable accompanying me when I would return to school.” The earl chuckled as he recalled an incident.
“He did once accompany my father and his brownie. When I asked Hawthorne why he had come, he said he felt I needed him, and that Beecher, my father’s brownie, promised to watch out for him. ”
“Did you need him?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“Yes. I had an exam which I was dreading. I did not think I would pass it, but Hawthorne knew something of the topic and helped me study.”
“Let me guess,” Lizzy offered. “It was a test over England’s ancient history.”
The earl laughed again before saying, “Yes.”
“I am not surprised,” Lizzy replied.
“Anyway, I am glad you will be able to provide protection for Hawthorne. I would like to have him travel with me again. I know my son will also appreciate the protection for his brownie.”
“I am surprised to hear a brownie would travel with a gentleman in the military. Soldiers never know where they will be sent next, and this could prove even more dangerous to a brownie.”
“Their relationship is extremely unusual, but that is my son’s story.” The earl smiled. “I will return to the house and inform Hawthorne that he should meet you in the kitchen. I will explain to him the reason for the meeting.” The earl then bowed and said, “Good day, Miss.”
Lizzy curtsied to his bow. Mr. Darcy then bowed and followed his uncle into the house leaving Lizzy to complete her task.
After finishing the rest of her warding duties, Lizzy adjourned to the kitchen and performed the warding on Hawthorne.
His displayed his pleasure through his broad smile and cheerful attitude.
Because Lizzy needed a quiet place to perform the weaving, she requested such a room of the housekeeper; she ushered them into her office where they were assured of quiet and privacy.
One hour later, Lizzy informed Mrs. Hanson and Butterbell she was ready to return to the inn, and Joseph brought the coach around to the front of the house.
The earl and Mr. Darcy were gathered there to bid her farewell, and the earl handed her a piece of paper with his son’s London address.
To Mr. Darcy she said, “I will be three days in Matlock before traveling to Pemberley. I should arrive by the end of the week.”
“I would be pleased to offer you a room while at Pemberley,” Darcy said.
“No, sir. I never reside at anyone’s residence while I am traveling.
I must keep a respectable distance between myself and those I serve.
I will find a room at the inn in Lambton.
” She knew the town but refrained from sharing her family’s history with Lambton.
No inkling of who she really was could come to light for it would endanger her, her family, and those who counted on her ability.
“As you wish,” Mr. Darcy said before handing her into her coach.
Lizzy knew she would see the gentleman soon and felt somewhat pleased by the idea.
Chapter Nine
Determined Little Brownies All in a Row
The first day after completing Ashbourne manor, Lizzy performed a warding around the inn and its outbuildings as requested by the owner.
She also fulfilled requests from three other innkeeper around the town.
Matlock was large enough, and on the main throughfare, that each inn did a thriving business.
Then, the following three days Lizzy spent in a private parlor at the Crown and Staff performing individual wardings.
Tiddle remained with Lizzy, while Butterbell made sure those seeking the service appeared with their brownie.
Money was never openly mentioned, but Butterbell remained outside the parlor and performed the role of cashier.
Butterbell knew more about money than any other brownie Lizzy had ever met.
When he made his first trip with Lizzy and her grandmother, he became fascinated at the coins and bills that changed hands.
He requested Lizzy explain everything to him about the coins.
Lizzy even explained how some of the landowners paid using a bank draft.
Butterbell found the written paper payment less interesting.
Butterbell had taken an interest in all things written when Lizzy was young, so she had taught him to read and write when she was ten years old.
Since then, all bookkeeping and warding records, after Lizzy undertook her grandmother’s duties, were recorded by Butterbell and examined by Lizzy once they returned home.
On Lizzy’s last day, the arrival of four brownies accompanied by a middle-aged lady intrigued her.
As the group entered the private parlor, the four brownies stood in a row looking like staunch guardians since they planted themselves in front of the lady who accompanied them.
Then, one of the brownies stepped forward.
Lizzy knew he would be the spokesperson for this particular party.
“I be Willow,” he said with a bow. “These be Tall-Birch, Meadoweed, and Silver.” Willow used his hand to indicate each of his fellow brownies as they stepped forward and bowed to her. He then smiled broadly, indicated the lady behind him and his companions, and added, “This be Miss Merriweather.”
Lizzy remembered the lady but as Lady Catherine Merriweather, the widow of the knight who owned the largest house on the edge of town.
Lizzy also smiled at the title Willow gave the lady, for she knew all brownies used the titles of ‘Miss’ or ‘Master’ when introducing or speaking about the owners of the homes they lived in.
The titles derived from the titles given to the children of the home.
As a child, her father had been addressed as Master Robert, while she and her sister had all been addressed as Miss.
Lizzy’s grandmother could never explain this manner of address to Lizzy when she was younger, and when she was older, Lizzy asked Butterbell the same question.
Butterbell could any answer, ‘That be the way it always been.’
“Yer grandmother,” Willow continued, “warded Miss Merriweather’s house last time she visited. We hear you can ward us. We want warding.”
“I remember the visit. It was the last time my grandmother was able to travel to this area.” That particular visit included the warding of two estates, not including Matlock, and two countries homes.
“We ‘member you. Sense power in you,” Willow declared. “We knew you become great like yer grandmother.”
Lizzy scrutinized each of the brownies standing before her before asking, “Why would you want or need individual wards if your home is already warded?” It was a question Lizzy asked each brownie before she agreed to weave the special ward.
She felt each brownie should offer justification for the extra protection.
“Miss Merriweather visit children, gran’children, but we,” he indicated himself and his brethren, “fear travel; want no leave unprotected. One goes; we stay. Dangerous going unprotected. There be evil.”
Lizzy understood Willow’s meaning. Grandmother once told her all supernatural power was meant for good, but bad people twisted the power using it for evil.
Evil use of power was feared by humans and brownies alike, but there was little anyone could do about it.
Lizzy often wondered if there was a weaving method which might bind the evil to the person casting the power.
She had experimented with some ideas, but to date had found nothing that might work.
Willow continued, “You help, we all go. Better to protect.”
Each brownie wore a determined look. They were counting on her to make their desire possible. At the same time, Lizzy noticed the lady’s tender look at Willow and appreciative smile. Lizzy knew these four were unfailingly loyal to the lady making her willing to perform the ward for each of them.