Chapter 10
In the distance Constance could make out the lights from the manor burning brightly from the windows. It took longer than she thought to banish her parents into the faerie realm, she knew she was capable of withstanding the aging forces within the realm but the only way to spare Mildred and Drusilla was to place them in a magic induced sleep, although Mildred's coughing had disrupted that transition and made it difficult on her body, Constance was glad that the others were too far away to be drawn in, even though faerie magic was powerful it was also exhausting and having to protect five girls would have been near impossible. Celeste flew beside Drusilla who was capable of flying on her own while Constance had to share Mildred's broomstick with a very sore and sleepy Mildred who was in no condition to fly safely on her own. Mildred shivered and muttered yet another apology and proclaimed it was Ethel's idea from the start. Constance wrapped her cloak tighter around Mildred to block out the cold, she could tell the girl was still not thinking right as she felt Mildred nestle closer to her.
"Is that it there?" Celeste asked, pointing at the building, "Who is that standing waiting?" It wasn't hard for Constance to see who her sister was pointing at, a tall figure holding a staff was standing out in the snow covered yard.
"That is Chief Wizard Helibore, he is staying with his friend who owns the manor." Constance replied.
"The actual real Chief Wizard Helibore?" Celeste asked amazed.
"That is him." Constance said as she concentrated on landing Mildred's wobbly 'banana broom'.
Celeste was the first to touch ground and help Drusilla off her broom, then Constance glided down and hovered near the ground so Mildred could be helped off.
"Look! They're back!" Enid exclaimed as she looked out the window to see three figures descend onto the yard.
"Like I care. It was Hubble Bubble's fault we got into this mess in the first place." Ethel snapped.
"If I recall correctly it was your idea that started it." Enid said as she turned around from the window to glare at Ethel.
"Let's not get into another fight unless we want a thousand more lines to write before HB steps through that door." Maud said not looking up from her list of lines Helibore imposed on them upon their return. Enid sat down across from her friend and started up her lines again, there was no point to have HB even more upset with them then she already was.
"There is no way we will be finished before HB gets inside." Enid said as she rushed through her lines.
"You better write them neater or else she'll give you more and make you rewrite these ones." Maud said as she glanced over at Enid's paper. Enid sighed and began writing as neat as she could while hurrying.
"I finished mine hours ago." Ethel gloated.
"That's outstanding Ethel, would you like a cookie?" Enid said sarcastically.
"How about with some chocolate sprinkles?" Maud added. Ethel glared at the both of them and stormed off out of the library, Maud and Enid looked to each other and giggled as they continued their work.
The door opened and Ethel froze, she wasn't supposed to leave the library. Quickly she looked for a place to hide. Perfect, she thought to herself as she slid under a heavily draped table. The lengths were long enough to hide her as well short enough to know when the coast was clear for her to return to the library, she would casually mention she had to use the loo, that excuse had worked in the past many times. Drusilla was the first to enter, quickly she worked to take her snowy boots off then she rushed into the library and slammed the door just as HB and Helibore entered the foyer.
Constance propped Mildred and Drusilla's broom against the wall then turned around and helped Celeste lead Mildred inside.
"What happened to her? Why is she all out of sorts?" Egbert asked as Mildred stumbled inside. Celeste sat Mildred down on a bench by the door and proceeded to take her boots off.
"Oh she'll be fine she just needs to sleep it off, she will be back to her meddling self in the morning." Constance said as she helped Mildred to her feet.
"She got in the way of a potent spell, she's lucky she's still the same age." Celeste said as she took Mildred's cloak off her then hung it on the wall
"Somehow I don't doubt that one bit." Egbert said as he watched Celeste pull Mildred to her feet.
"Bring her to her room, I'll have to deal with her in the morning." Constance walked up to Celeste and told her which way to go once she got upstairs, Celeste nodded then disappeared only to reappear at the top of the stairs, she smiled at her sister then took the sleepy Mildred to bed.
"How did tonight go otherwise my dear?" Egbert asked once he was sure Celeste was out of earshot.
"Considering the circumstances, quite well." Constance turned and sat on the bench to take her own boots off, "Where is Lily?"
"She is asleep in your room right where you left her this morning." Egbert said as he sat down next to her.
"Did she eat anything?" Constance asked as she twisted her foot to the side to check the bandage.
"The child wouldn't eat a scrap of food. Never thought a beggar could be a chooser." Egbert said clearly annoyed. Constance sat up straight and glared at him.
"Oh come now dear, are you still attached to that girl? She's not a lost puppy you can't take her in as a pet, although she does act like an animal. So tell me Constance,"
"Miss Hardbroom." Constance said through clenched teeth.
"Who was that, that came in here with Mildred?" He asked turning to face her completely, instead of replying she stood up and made her way to the library, before she could get past Egbert, he reached out and caught her arm and held it tight, then standing up to meet her icy gaze he quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
"If you were any other man you would be a pile of dust." Constance threatened and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why must you be that way, my dear?" Egbert asked as he took her hand in his. Constance didn't remove her eyes from him as she pulled her hand free.
"I have five girls I need to deal," Egbert cut her off,
"You needn't do anything, I have everything under control, no need to rush in there, quite yet." Egbert said as he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
"It would be very wise of you to let go." Constance said clenching her teeth together. Egbert looked at her momentarily before deciding it would be best, just as his arm slid from her low back she turned and stormed off into the library slamming the door behind her.
From under the table Ethel watched, all the while holding her breath so not to make a peep and have them discover her. If they had found her, she shuddered at the thought she couldn't begin to imagine what they, especially Miss Hardbroom, would do to her. Ethel waited for Helibore to leave it took him a few minutes to do so, then finally he was gone. Scrambling out from her hiding place Ethel thought she was in the clear, now she would just walk in to the library and claim she was using the loo.
"What was so interesting under that table?" Ethel stopped cold and turned around, a wave of relief washed over her as she realized it wasn't Miss Hardbroom.
"I dropped something earlier and couldn't find it." Ethel lied.
"So you figured it may have rolled under the table and were looking for it?" Celeste asked raising an eyebrow. Ethel nodded.
"Somehow I don't believe that," Ethel opened her mouth to protest, but Celeste raised her hand for silence, "What I do believe is that you will tell me what you were really doing under there or else I will tell Miss Hardbroom what I think you were really doing under that table."
"I was looking for my ring I dropped." Ethel said placing her hands on her hips. Celeste smiled and walked over to Ethel and placed her arm over her shoulders, "That ring there on your hand?" Celeste asked grabbing Ethel's hand.
"Yes, I found it and put it back on." Ethel pulled her hand away.
"Well then I'm sure the time spent under that table looking for your ring, and judging by the silence of my sisters yelling that she didn't see you go under there, so I'm sure it's safe to say that you were under there for a while, and it would be appreciated if you would tell me where I might find my sister." Celeste held in her smile at the girls stunned face. It was a rare time when she could impersonate Constance and get away with it. Just as Ethel opened her mouth to speak, a loud voice boomed from behind her, "Ethel Hallow! You were to remain inside the library unmoving until I returned." Ethel spun around at the sound of Miss Hardbroom's voice, "Let me guess you were using the loo. Strange how that excuse comes forth when I find you in the midst of trouble with Mildred."
"I'm sorry Miss but I," Ethel stuttered.
"Spare me your excuses," Constance narrowed her eyes at the girl, "If you so choose to remain delinquent and refuse to listen I will make it so, then maybe your excuses will hold up when you are found disobeying orders!" Constance stood inches away from Ethel as she yelled. Celeste let her arm drop from around the girl as she saw Constance approaching her, the movement of three heads popping out from the library door caught her attention and she quickly moved to them.
"I have been patient with you Ethel, and your contributing mayhem with Mildred, but I have come to find that you may be the cause of more than half of the problems she causes." Constance grabbed Ethel's arm and started for the stairs.
"Constance wait!" Celeste quickly ran to the base of the stairs and stopped in front of Constance, "Please, please don't do anything drastic she is only a child." Constance pushed her sister aside as she pulled Ethel up the stairs, "Constance!" Celeste rushed to Constance's side, "I know your angry but she's your student,"
"Yes and she need's to learn a few lessons." Constance said as she disappeared with Ethel.
Maud, Enid and Drusilla stood in silence, half in and half out of the library watching the scene before them, neither of the girls knew what would become of Ethel but they knew that HB was furious, they had never seen her so angry before. They watched as Celeste came down the stairs, her face clearly showing worry, as she reached the bottom of the stairs she looked over at the girls and smiled, "Come along kids lets get you put into your nightshirts and off to bed." Neither of the girls moved, "It might be best to be out of harms way for the rest of the night." She gestured with her head to where HB was standing moments before.
"Miss Hardbroom didn't say we could leave." Maud said clutching Enid by the arm.
"I'm saying you can, you all look exhausted." Celeste walked toward them.
"What's going to happen to Ethel?" Drusilla asked holding onto the door frame.
"I know that must have been frightening to see her go off like that, I'm used to that kind of behaviour from her," She sighed, "Ethel will be fine Drusilla, once you three are in bed I'll go and have a talk with her and before you know it Ethel will be back sharing gossip with you." Celeste smiled, I hope, she thought. Celeste watched as the girls slowly crept from behind the wall and cautiously looking from side to side they walked up the stairs to their room.
"I must say that was handled rather well my dear." Celeste turned around to see the Chief Wizard standing behind her.
"I'm used to handling children around my sister, I have two kids of my own who are scared to death when she comes to visit." Celeste smiled at him.
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow.
"My girls are three, the world still frightens them. But if you will excuse me though I do have to see to it that Ethel doesn't become a plant used in a potion."
"Whatever do you mean?" Egbert scoffed.
"Let's just put it this way, I almost married a stalk of wheat." Celeste said chuckling at the memory of her wedding day, "Seriously though I have to find her, would you happen to know where she might have gone too?" Celeste asked.
"I might have an idea or two." Helibore turned and headed through the hall toward the kitchen, "follow me." Celeste rolled her eyes and sighed to herself, Wizards, she thought.
"What do you suppose she's going to do to Ethel?" Maud asked breaking the silence as the three walked toward their room.
"Whatever it is she deserves it." Enid whispered.
"She doesn't deserve it." Drusilla said defending her friend.
"She's right Enid, no one deserves punishment from HB when she's that angry." Maud said agreeing with Drusilla.
"I was her idea in the first place and she is always trying to get Mildred and the rest of us in trouble." Enid said loudly, Maud elbowed her friend in the side to quiet her down lest HB find them.
"If Mildred wasn't such a bother Ethel wouldn't have to do anything." Drusilla argued.
"Ethel has a choice Drusilla, she can leave it alone or toy with it and she usually chooses the later." Enid's voice was getting louder.
"Please could we just get to bed without having a fight?" Maud asked, the others ignored her.
"Whenever you lot get into trouble you always blame Ethel." Drusilla argued.
"It's usually her's and your fault!" Enid yelled. Maud covered her ears in frustration as the two started yelling at each other, she looked around expecting to see HB pop out of thin air and haul them away like she did with Ethel. Maud looked to her friend then to Drusilla she shook her head and dropped her hands to her sides then turning she left the two to argue in the hall, if HB decided to show up Maud wanted to be nowhere near the action.
Quietly she slipped inside and shut the door behind her, she didn't think that the nice lady could turn so mean so fast, Lily learned from past experience with her grandparents that when yelling started punishment would soon follow, and she learned to stay far away or at least confined to her room until tempers had cooled. She was on her way to the kitchen to gather something to eat, Helibore had brought up some foul smelling soup for her earlier, but it tasted worse then it smell and she quickly lost any appetite she might have gained from her long sleep, now she was hungry and there was no way to get to the kitchen, yet. Opening the door slightly she caught the swift movement of a tall figure pulling a struggling one past the open crack then almost instantly it disappeared around a corner. Lily poked her head out to hear past the pleadings of what sounded like Ethel, to the distant silence near the kitchen. As quickly as she could Lily slipped out the door and made her way down the hall, her stomach growled and she brought a hand up to it to some how silence it, she looked around to make sure Helibore wasn't anywhere near to drag her back to her room stating that she'll infect everyone else in the house, Bullocks!, Lily thought. She saw the girls leave early in the morning flying into the trees on brooms, just like her grandmother used to do, there was no way they were going to get sick if they weren't even around, besides the honey tasting potion the nice lady gave to her before helped a lot. Behind the honey though Lily thought she tasted the bitter sting of mugwort, nettle and pine, she scrunched up her face at the thought of the potion her grandmother used to make for her when she was sick, at least this lady used honey to sweeten it. As she descended the stairs the familiar arrogant sound of Helibore stopped her in her tracks, he was talking to someone, Lily sighed impatiently and headed back up the stairs, once reaching the top again she could hear more shouting, Lily rolled her eyes, if Helibore hears that he'll get up here and catch me and stick me back in that room before I have a chance to get anything to eat. She cursed under her breath as she made her way toward the argument.
"That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard it's not true and you know it." Enid shouted.
"I know what I know and where do you get off telling me otherwise?" Drusilla asked challenging Enid.
"'Old up 'ere what's all the fuss about?" Lily asked as she reached the fighting girls.
"Why should we tell you anything." Drusilla asked putting her hands on her hips, "you might just go tell on us"
"I'm surprised you 'avn't given yer self away with all yer bickerin'." Lily replied.
"Yes, Drusilla why don't you shut up." Enid sneered.
"I'm not the one that should shut up, Enid." Drusilla said returning the sneer.
"I know 'ow bout ya both shut it, or bugger off an' fight someplace else." Lily snapped.
"Why don't you go back to your mum's room and stay out of our business." Drusilla said turning her full attention onto Lily, "or else I'll turn you into a toad." Almost as soon as she had said it Drusilla wished she could take it back.
"Drusilla, "Enid cast a glance in Lily's direction, "Miss Hardbroom will be furious when she finds out you said anything." Even in the dark Enid could make out Drusilla's complexion get a few shades lighter, "I didn't mean to, I mean I wasn't thinking, what is she going to do once she finds out?" Drusilla asked her voice obviously shaking in fear.
"For starters," Enid turned around to face Lily, but she was nowhere in sight, "I think it might be best if we just hide for the rest of our lives." Enid's voice trailed off.