Chapter 10 #2
Lizzy curtsied before smiling and reply, “Yes, please. No sugar or cream, just lemon.”
Lizzy then sat down beside her aunt and waited.
“I imagine Beechwood kept a running commentary while you were working your power.”
Lizzy chuckled. “He did keep my brownie entertained. I heard some of his opinion about the elves in Europe. None of what I heard was favorable.”
The major chuckled heartily before saying, “Beechwood believes the elves are all lazy and useless. We did not see them except at night after setting up camp. The elves would come around the campfire and move among the soldiers. I saw them repair torn uniforms, damaged boots, and repair and soap saddles while the men were busy eating, talking, or otherwise occupied.”
“That sounds like a useful occupation,” Mrs. Gardiner observed.
“Not according to Beechwood. He thought they should clean up the rubbish around the camp.”
Out of curiosity, Lizzy asked, “How many of your men could see the elves?”
“Very few,” the major replied. “I am curious, so I hope you do not mind my question. How long have you been offering to ward individual brownies.”
“This is the first trip that I have offered the service. I only just completed my experimenting to see if it would work. Only my family’s brownies have been warded up to this point. Consider them my experimental subjects. I watched for side effects and recorded how long the warding lasted.”
“Is it possible you have a little extra time to ward two more brownies?”
“Friends?”
“Yes, my colonel and one of my fellow majors,” he said.
Lizzy looked at her aunt who gave a slight nod. Then Lizzy asked, “How soon could they bring their brownies here?”
“Would tomorrow work for you ladies?”
Lizzy again looked at her aunt, who again nodded.
“Yes, we will be here about the same time tomorrow.”
“I will have both of the brownies here,” the major replied.
“Will the colonel and major also be here? I do not provide any service without the brownies being represented by those they serve.”
“I think I can arrange that. Once they learn their brownie will be protected, they will make the time to be here,” the major assured her.
Lizzy finished the tea in her cup, set it down, stood up, and said, “I believe we should go. I need some time to rest before I spend time tomorrow warding two more brownies.”
Lizzy arrived on time the next morning even though she had an extra stop to make.
Butterbell had been busy during the previous evening and found two more brownies for Lizzy to ward.
One belonged to an older lady who was in town as she prepared for a trip to Wales where her sister’s family lived.
The sister’s estate was one Lizzy had warded a few years earlier.
Daisy, the brownie, was a faithful companion to her lady, and since the death of her Mrs.’s husband, refused to leave her side.
Lizzy arrived soon after the lady had broken her fast and spent the required hour warding the brownie.
Afterwards, Lizzy gracefully refused tea explaining, “I have three more brownies to ward today, and my next appointment is fifteen minutes from now. I always strive to arrive on time, so although I appreciate your gracious offer, I must take my leave.”
“I fully understand,” the lady replied as she escorted Lizzy and her aunt to the front door. “I appreciate you accepting my request to ward Daisy. I now feel secure allowing her to travel with me.”
“I completely understand,” Lizzy replied as she accepted her outwear from the maid in the entry hall. “It is the major reason I undertook the challenge to find a ward for individual brownies.”
Everyone separated being satisfied with the mornings commission.
The coach’s next stop was outside of Ashbourne House.
This time, Lizzy and her aunt were quickly ushered to the same room where Lizzy had warded Beechwood.
Both Joseph, who had accompanied Lizzy on this outing, and Butterbell remained behind in the entry hall.
Lizzy knew Butterbell would attend to the duty of accepting the compensation for Lizzy’s task.
When Lizzy entered, she saw three men rise and bowed to her. Lizzy and her aunt both curtsied in return.
“Miss, may I present Colonel Wellesley and Major Harcord, and their brownies Skylark and Flax. Gentlemen, Miss and her companion.” Major Fitzwilliam made the best introduction possible when certain names would never be shared. “I see your brownie has not accompanied you,” he then observed.
“He is waiting in the entry hall. He will join you gentlemen when you retire to another room,” Lizzy explained.
“My aunt does wish to spend her time in the kitchen area,” she went on the say.
“This is nothing personal, but she feels more comfortable among your uncle’s staff rather than sharing a room with three gentlemen. ”
Major Fitzwilliam nodded in understanding and then ushered her aunt and the two officers out of the room.
Lizzy went directly to work. She warded Flax first while Skylark watched. When she finished with Flax, she addressed Skylark.
“Skylark is an unusual name for a brownie. Everyone I have met is named after a tree, flower, bush, or meadow grasses,” Lizzy curiously noted.
“When very young, I see bird gliding through the air. Beautiful sight. I wished I had wings. I envied the flight of birds. This one my mother call skylark. I liked the name, so I took it. I happily kept the name even though some laughed at it.”
“I find it an exceptional name,” Lizzy said with a smile.
Skylark beamed at her, and she saw him throw out his chest displaying his pride.
Two hours later, Lizzy and the two brownies entered the room where the offices went to wait. Butterbell was sharing the story about the brownie disappearances in Scotland.
When the story finished, Colonel Wellesley declared, “Why has no one stopped this person?”
Lizzy interposed, “Because no one knows who he is. His identity is as closely guarded a secret as mine is.”
Seeing the lady, all three men stood while Butterbell remained seated.
“Why is that?” asked Major Harcord.
“Mine is guarded because the one who walks around destroying the brownies would like nothing better than to destroy me and anyone in my family who might be able to carry on my duty. His overall goal is the eliminate all the brownies from the world, but in order to achieve it, he must stop the warding that protects them.”
“No one knows who he or his family is?” Major Harcord also asked.
“No. At one time, some of my ancestors tried to discover the identity of his family but were unsuccessful. Since then, we have not tried again realizing we could inadvertently reveal our family to him and his.”
“In time of war, using spies is a good strategy, but in your case, spies might need to know who you are,” the colonel offered.
“Exactly. My grandmother said when destiny is ready, the two will meet, but until then it is best left alone,” Lizzy explained.
Major Fitzwilliam motioned to the chairs and tea asking, “Would you care to join us for tea?”
“I would love too, major, but I must take my leave. I have another gentleman waiting for a visit. If I had more time, I would enjoy discussing with the colonel the battles he has been engaged in. I read all the war news in the newspaper when my father has finished with it.”
“Allow me to escort you out, and I will have a servant send your aunt to meet us in the entryway,” Major Fitzwilliam offered.
“I thank you, sir,” Lizzy replied as she looked at Butterbell. He knew it was time to leave, so he leapt from his chair and followed the two out the door.
Lizzy’s last task of the day was to ward the brownie of a landowner who was preparing to journey to one of his satellite estates.
This estate happened to be located just inside the Scottish borders.
Knowing the eliminator had last been active in Scotland, Lizzy was happy to acquiesce to the gentleman’s request.
Lizzy completed her last assignment soon after the noon hour, and as a treat, she and her aunt went to Gunther’s for tea.
Although Gunther’s was famous for its ices, they also served a fine tea.
Lizzy even arranged for Joseph to sit at another table and partake of the nourishing fare.
When finished, Lizzy and her companions returned to Gracechurch Street where Lizzy was able to lie down for a well-deserved afternoon rest. Butterbell spent the time in the nursery entertaining Lizzy’s young cousins.