Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
London Bridge is Not Falling Down
Lizzy’s time in London was brief. She had one day of rest and time to visit with her aunt and young cousins.
Her meeting was Major Fitzwilliam was easily arranged, and since he had no permanent lodgings, and it was not appropriate for her to meet a single gentleman in his home, they arranged to meet at Ashbourne House.
Aunt Gardiner agreed to accompany Lizzy allowing Mrs. Hanson to visit her daughter for the day.
On Lizzy’s second day in London, she, her aunt, and Butterbell, along with Ben as her escort, took the coach to Ashbourne House located in the most highly sought after section of town – Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, in London’s West End.
As the coach approached the street, Lizzy gasped at the beauty of the houses that lined it.
Here, she knew, lived the most exalted of London’s upper class.
When the coach stopped in front of Ashbourne House, Lizzy decided it appeared just as magnificent as the other houses, if maybe not a little more so because she knew the earl personally.
Although, she wondered how many of the other homeowners she knew on a more personal basis because of her invaluable, sought-after ability.
As soon as the coach stopped, Ben appeared at the door to help her and her aunt deboard the coach. Butterbell leapt out just behind them.
“Big,” the brownie declared as he looked up at the lofty edifice of the house. “Many people live here,” he added.
“Mostly servants,” Mrs. Gardiner added.
“Oh,” Butterbell uttered still in awe of such a structure in a big town.
Ben preceded the ladies up the stairs and knocked on the door.
This too was normal for any professional visit.
Ben and Joseph declared their presence showed anyone within that Lizzy was not unprotected.
In fact, whichever of her bodyguards, for such was how the two men saw their jobs during such trips and visits, was in attendance always entered the house with her.
Ben had once counselled her to shout out if anything, even a little thing, appeared threatening or dangerous.
It would be a sign she needed their protection.
The situation only occurred once, but at the time, Lizzy was thankful for the intervention.
That circumstance also became a warning to Lizzy to never enter any room where the owner was alone.
In that situation, the owner was visibly inebriated.
Although that alone should have been warning enough, Lizzy was only fourteen at the time, and it had been her first warding trip without her grandmother.
When the front door opened, it revealed a stern looking man, who Lizzy took as the butler. Ben quickly handed the man a card notifying him of Lizzy’s role as warder, and then said, “Miss is here to see Major Fitzwilliam at his father’s request.”
The man opened the door wider saying, “Sir is expecting the young Miss.”
The butler allowed all four into the house, instructed a maid to take their wraps, gloves, bonnets, and hat, and then said, “If you will follow me.”
“I will remain here,” Ben said, sitting down in a chair he noticed in the entry hall.
“As you will,” the butler replied.
“I go along,” Butterbell whispered and quickly followed the ladies.
When they reached a decorative door on the first floor, the butler opened saying, “The young lady you are expecting is here, sir.”
Lizzy noticed a gentleman stand, who then bowed to her and her aunt. The two ladies curtsied in response.
Butterbell, being used to another form of introduction, walked up to the brownie standing beside the Major and said, “I be with Miss.” Butterbell, under normal circumstances would have shared his name, but during service trips, he knew not to because of protecting Lizzy.
The other brownie replied, “Beechwood.”
“I am pleased to welcome you to my father’s home, Miss,” the major said.
“Thank you, sir. I will not introduce my companion since names are not used for safety reason,” Lizzy replied.
She then went on to say, “Your father tells me Beechwood has risked his life many times to follow you overseas. He says you would wish to have him protected now that it is possible to ward individual brownies.”
“My father did explain the option in a letter he sent express. I believe he already covered the cost of the ward while you were warding his house and his brownie.”
“Yes. I recorded the transaction.”
“So, what do I need to do?” The major inquired.
“If you would have my companion shown to the kitchen where she might obtain a cup of tea, and then leave me alone with Beechwood, I will begin.” Seeing the major nod in agreement, Lizzy continued, “I must inform you this will take at least an hour because it is a new warding rather than the renewing and strengthening of a ward already in place,” Lizzy explained.
The major smiled and approached Lizzy’s aunt. “If it would be acceptable, I will show you to another drawing room and share a cup of tea with you. I wish to offer you all the hospitality at my disposal.”
Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece for approval. “Is this acceptable?”
“Yes, just remember the rules,” Lizzy affirmed.
“If you will allow me,” the major held out an arm for Lizzy’s aunt who smiled as she placed her hand on his arm, and then the two walked toward the door.
“I stay here,” Butterbell declared.
“I welcome you,” Beechwood replied.
As soon as the door closed behind the major and her aunt, Lizzy said, “You may sit if you wish, but I will take a seat in this chair,” she indicated one that had a companion right beside it.
“I stand. I used to standing long time,” Beechwood declared.
From his stance and with his chest thrown out slightly, Lizzy knew he was proud of such an achievement.
“Then, please stand in front of me, and I will begin.”
Lizzy performed her weaving without speaking, but Beechwood seemed inclined to talk. Since he could tell the lady was deep in concentration, he spoke exclusively to Butterbell.
“Following Major is much an adventure. Been over the water many times. It be different on the other side of the water. No brownies unless one comes with another soldier. But those places do not have brownies watching over the natural places or the homes.” Beechwood scoffed.
Then he frowned as he said, “No, they have elves. Of all creatures to have, they have them. They very rude. They have not manners or respect for the people around them. They do not protect nature or homes or people. They just wander around getting in the way.”
Lizzy heard Butterbell laugh which caused her to pause a moment in the weaving of her ward. So she would not make a mistake, she forced her focus back on her task and tried to close her hearing to Beechwood’s impressions of France and the other European countries the major had fought in.
Butterbell, however, was more than happy to listen to Beechwood’s tale of his time on the other side of the water.
“Many times, my Master Thomas faced death. They shoot at him, attacked with swords by the bad men in those bad lands. The trees, the poor trees. They hurt many times by the shots fired. Not just the small shots, but big shots. Loud. Balls larger too. Many trees hurt. Many fields and meadows trampled by men and horse. Many big wagons cut deep groves in the ground. Many areas left with waste from the men who stayed on the land.”
“Did shooting hurt you?” Butterbell had no concept of what war would look like. As for shooting, he only knew of men who shot at animals. He had never seen any man shoot at another man.
“I no seen. No one could shoot at me, but being near Master Thomas, sometimes it were close, but I no leave him. No. I stay protect him.”
“Bad power around?” Butterbell had encountered bad power before, so he wondered if those other people could also use the power.
“Only few knew about power. Many not close to nature. Nature has power, but many know not how to use. Most power good. Very little bad. No bad like he who make us stop being. None over there.”
“That is good. Miss has no worries from him if he comes here.”
“Has he been seen?”
Butterbell did not need to ask who he was. A number of other brownies had asked him the same question, and some had heard about the disappearances in the north.
“Yes. Miss expanded a protected area in north. He made some disappear. He scared others who hide deep in woods. I no see him. I no want to see him,” Butterbell declared.
“I neither,” Beechwood agreed.
While Lizzy continued weaving the new ward, Butterbell and Beechwood shared stories of the life and agreed to continue their communication through other brownies.
Butterbell even told Beechwood he could request Miss’s help should his Master Thomas ever be hurt because Miss had a sister who could heal most any wound.
Although Lizzy kept her concentration on weaving the ward, underneath, in her subconscious, she felt the bonding taking place between Butterbell and Beechwood. When she finally finished and looked at both brownies, she saw them smiling and laughing together.
“I hope you have not shared too many tales about me with your new friend,” Lizzy said to Butterbell.
“Not many. Some ‘bout Grandma but not reveal you. I no mention names or places.”
“From stories, I never learn name of you or family. We share funnies stories about people we serve,” Beechwood vehemently assured her.
“Major had many adventures; not just when older. Major shared adventures with the Master Darcy when younger. Beechwood knows Rowan and Featherleaf. He glad they too protected.”
“I think it is time we rejoin the major and my companion,” Lizzy said as she stood and stretched. Even at her age, she felt some stiffness if she sat too long in one position.
The threesome made their way to the room where the Major and her aunt retired with Beechwood leading the way.
As they entered the room, the Major rose, bowed, and then asked, “Would you care for a cup of tea?”