Disclaimer: Other than the new characters and the plot, I don't own anything.
A/n: Just wanted to apologize for the long wait. You see, I'm in the middle of my senior year exams (read: really important exam) and had to go cram for things like trig, chemistry and the like. I'll be sitting for my physics and chemistry paper next week (in case you're interested) :/ . I also desperately need feedback and ideas on how you guys think this story should go, since writers' block was what stopped me from sitting down at the computer and typing this out nicely. But then again, I never had a proper plot for this story, just a few random, vague ideas, so feedback from you people is really important! And I like reading my reviews! They give me this warm fuzzy feeling and makes me go around the rest of the day with a goofy grin on my face.
Excuse my rambling. I'm typing this at 1 in the morning. Would like to thank Black Jaguar12, Caudex [sorry about the whole forwarded mail thing. Trust me, you'll be seeing A LOT more of Howl and Sophie's family!], Calcifersgrl [Howl has his reasons for turning into a donkey which will be made known in future chapters], ChocolateEclar [I love your Yu-Gi-Oh fic!] and Kaion Vin.
Now on to chapter 5!
Chapter 5: In which Kate has tea with the Countess of Catterack in Kingsbury.
Kate was set up later in Shelby's room. It took quite a lot of tossing and turning before she managed to get accustomed to the bed. It took even longer still for her to sort her thoughts out. Now that she knew there was a strange witch out to get her for her own dark purposes which Kate rather did not think about, Morton Maxwell was looking for her and the look on Morgan's face when he said how uncanny it was for a hedge wizard like Morton to have enough magic to actually cast a speed spell. It made her feel uneasy. The way Morgan and Meryl were whispering mysteriously to each other during dinner did not help as well.
Kate smiled as she thought of Morgan's family. It seemed that the triplets adored her and as mischievous as they were, Kate loved them as well. However, the Wizard Howl and Sophie kept bickering and that was a source of discomfort to Kate, as she had no idea how to speak to them as they kept contradicting everything the other said. It seemed that squabbling was the way the Wizard showed how he cared for Sophie. That was a very peculiar way of doing so, Kate thought, but it wasn't her business, as there was a lot of squabbling going on between Morgan and Shelby as well.
Thoughts on her sisters also surfaced frequently. She hoped that Elsie did not so something stupid like put a frog in her aunt's and uncle's bed or Sally burn the bread on purpose in order to spite them. The two younger Baker sisters were capable of doing that.
She tossed over, and pulled her pillow over her head. As much as she liked them, she didn't want to impose on Morgan's family by staying on too long. Somehow, she had to go back to Periwinkle Hood. The more she thought of the idea, the more relaxed she felt. Kate made up her mind to go to either the Wizard Howl or Morgan and ask them who was she to get home.
With that thought she managed to doze off, despite a faint song about saucepans that drifted from the fireplace . . .
A hearty creak that came from above her jolted her awake. It was followed by two more creaks. Kate sat up warily and looked above her. Creak. Creak. Someone was coming down the stairs. By the sound of the weighty tread, it was either the Wizard or Morgan who was coming down. The creaks were replaced by soft footsteps. Shelby stirred a little but other than that, was very much fast asleep.
Getting up, Kate tiptoed to the door and poked her head around it. The dark, velvety purple sky suggested that it was just before dawn. Morgan was standing in front of the fireplace, conversing softly with Calcifer. He was dressed in a dull grey which made him look a little like a beggar. That roused Kate's suspicion. She slipped out of the room and Morgan whirled around, looking slightly guilty. Calcifer leaned out of the grate and plunged back in again after taking a look at Kate. There was a muffled noise coming from the grate but she ignored it and looked at Morgan.
"Where are you going?" she asked bluntly.
Morgan gave her a guilty look. "Out," he replied. His previously guilty look melted away into a smirk. "You should be in bed. Go back to sleep, and wake up later."
Kate folded her arms and cast Morgan a severe look. "You're dressed like a vagabond and you're sneaking around your own house. Out with the truth. What are you up to?"
The smirk faded. "I'm going to Kingsbury. There's something I want to find out. You said that Morton was just a hedge wizard. Yet, he managed to get to Kingsbury in a short time. I have a hunch that Morton Maxwell has traded something for the ability for him to do magic."
The ability for him to do magic. The thought of Morton being able to conjure clouds and lightning failed to make an impression on Kate. "So what call do you have to be going out dressed like that?"
Morgan mock-bowed elaborately. "Disguise of course. Have you ever noticed that beggars and vagrants are always the first ones to get the wind of anything?"
"I've never noticed," she replied primly. "Since beggars aren't very respectable people."
He shrugged and gave Kate his lopsided grin. "Point taken," he replied. With that he strode to the door and turned it red down. "Got to go. Meryl's waiting for me already."
"Wait!" Kate said. "I'm coming with you." She felt as if Morton was partly her responsibility. Her conscience wouldn't let her be if Morton turned out to be a hugely evil wizard who went around terrorizing the folk of Ingary with hail and sleet. "What?" she demanded, as Morgan seemed to be suppressing a snort of laughter. "What's so funny?"
The smirk reappeared on Morgan's face. "Not in Shelby's nightgown you are."
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Meryl Suliman was obviously on of those sort of girls who looked lovely even though it was before the crack of dawn. She was sitting by the fountain in the market square looking very fresh and well rested. Kate rather envied her for that. She was dressed in a trim blue dress that made her eyes stand out like sparkling pools. Kate had on a frumpish grey dress (Morgan said it used to be Sophie's best dress, but she had trouble believing that. What on earth would Sophie be doing in an old woman's dress?) felt like hiding under a stone at the sight of Meryl. If she hadn't reminded herself that she was supposed to be under a disguise, she would have stayed at the castle.
"We can't have one of the Royal Wizard's daughter running around looking like a servant girl," Morgan had told her. "Almost everyone in Kingsbury knows Meryl."
"Goodness gracious, Morgan, what have you done to Kate?" Meryl demanded as she took in the sight of Kate in the grey dress. Kate wanted to crawl under a stone even more.
"She can't go around the alleys looking like somebody important could she?" Morgan retorted.
"No, you're handing her over to me," Meryl countered. "A girl running around the alleys and gutters! Where has all your sense gone too? No, don't quibble. Kate's coming with me and that's final."
Morgan opened his mouth to argue, but evidently Meryl was even more strong minded that he was and in a few minutes, had left the two girls muttering things about Meryl.
"We're going to visit the Countess of Catterack later," Meryl informed Kate, as they made their way toward a set of grandly looking houses. "No one knows better gossip than the Countess of Catterack. And," she broke off as she gave a critical look at Kate's dress. "We'll have to get you dressed properly. Nothing a visit to the dressmaker and the milliner wouldn't fix."
"All at this time of the morning?" Kate asked, feeling suddenly light headed.
A cheeky smile suddenly broke out on Meryl's face. "I am of course, a Wizard's daughter," she said. "Come on, we're going to shop!"
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Never in her whole life had Kate had such a morning. It began with her visit to Meryl's home. Camelot (as the Wizard Suliman had named it) was the most eye-catching home in the town. The golden domes glowed, the flower gardens bloomed brighter, even the carriage wheels shone! Meryl had summoned a liveried butler and wouldn't budge an inch until Kate had eaten enough bacon, scones and bread to please her.
"You'll be needing it for later, to where we're going," she remarked dryly.
Next, was the even more harrowing trip to the dressmaker and the milliner. "Everyone in Kingsbury comes here for clothes," Meryl told her as almost half a dozen tailors took her measurements and stuck pins here and there on her. Kate was introduced to everyone as Meryl's Strangian friend, which had popped over into Ingary for a visit. The shop owners whispered that she was Royalty and that made Kate uncomfortable. No matter how many time she told Meryl that she was just a commoner, the Royal Wizard's only daughter was unfazed. Kate gave up for the time being, and tried to enjoy the shopping. It wasn't too hard, as Kate finally managed to get caught into the spirit of admiring clothes, trying shoes and choosing hats from a myriad of wildly colorful objects on an enchanted spinning rod. She felt almost like a princess.
The result, as Meryl said much later, was very satisfying. Kate was decked out in a honey-colored dress and matching hat. The Royal Wizard's wife, Lettie Suliman had put an enchantment on Kate's hair to make it pile on top of her head in the latest fashion without any hairpins with a few chestnut tendrils curling down becomingly. The only drawback was, the fashionable high shoes she wore were causing her to wobble precariously as she walked.
Meryl felt bound to explain to Kate about everything. "You see, you'll make a better impression on the people here if you're finely dressed." She sighed. "People here are like that. You have to look fashionable in order to mingle in."
Kate thought that wasn't very sensible of the Kingsbury masses as she hobbled out of the carriage perilously balancing on her high shoes.
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The Countess of Catterack was a tall thin woman who would have looked close to Sophie's age, if it wasn't for her dazzling array of ornaments that hung on her. She had on a resplendent salmon pink gown and masses of gold chains and brooches hung on her. Her queer hairstyle made Kate start. It looked as if she had wound the mass of mouse brown hair around an arrangement of pokers. Instead of backing out of the door and back into the carriage as she was tempted to do, she smiled politely and extended her hand graciously the way Meryl had told her to when she was introduced.
"You came in at exactly the right time," she said, as they were led into the parlor. "Guess who called in on me earlier? Why, it's no other than Miss Lavinia Hedgerow herself. Meryl dear, you know Miss Hedgerow don't you?"
Miss Lavinia Hedgerow was a very distinguished looking lady in a satin purple dress which brought out her violet eyes. Her sun streaked, blonde hair was done up more elaborately than the Countess's own queer hairdo, but was made to look elegant at the same time. She was in the act of raising her teacup when the trio entered the parlor. Kate realized that Miss Hedgerow was obviously a Somebody.
"Meryl and Miss Baker, this is Miss Hedgerow. Miss Hedgerow, this is Meryl Suliman and Kate Baker."
Lavinia Hedgerow's calm purple eyes regarded them. "I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Baker," she said. She looked at Meryl. "I've heard a lot of you Miss Suliman," she said with a smile. "I'm glad to meet you at last."
"And I," Meryl began, but was interrupted by the Countess. "Well now, don't we all make a pretty little party," she gushed.
Meryl crossed her legs gracefully. "So, has anyone heard anything new lately?" she asked sociably. The Countess's eyes gleamed eagerly. Kate had the impression that the Countess could very well be the Town Gossip of Kingsbury.
"Now that you mentioned it, my dear Meryl, I have heard quite a few pieces of gossip that might interest you. That is," she turned to Kate. "You don't mind just listening to a little bit of Ingary chitchat do you?" she asked Kate.
Gossip never interested Kate, but she was hoping to get any news of Morton. "Not at all," she said in what she hoped was a gracious manner. The Countess beamed benevolently and began to speak about whose servant did what, and how the Duchess of Dane broke her best gold plate. 'Simply trod on it my dears, and it broke with a huge crack just like that!'
Kate also found out that the King of Ingary had just gotten a new coach, Prince Justin and Princess Beatrice went hunting for game together, hunting, can you imagine! A Princess shouldn't be doing such things! It made her wonder if all Strangian Royalty were like that.
Kate hurried to assure they were not, although she hadn't got the slightest idea on what the Royal Family of Strangia did.
The countess of Catterack announced that the Zanzib princess, Flower-in-the-Night who was one of the Ambassadors Extraordinary for The Realm of Ingary, was expecting a fourth child, and Abdullah himself was over his head with joy.
"Yes," Meryl swooped in when the Countess stopped to take a breather. "Have you met any newcomers lately?"
"Not really," the Countess admitted. "If anyone new comes here, I'll be the first to know about it."
I'm sure, Kate thought sourly.
Miss Hedgerow who had been listening quietly and sipping tea, put her teacup down with a gentle clatter. "Actually, I have to confess that was my real reason for coming here Jane," she began. "I was having hopes of you knowing a certain person."
The Countess of Catterack leaned forward eagerly. Kate knew she prided herself on knowing anything and everything that went on in Ingary. "Who is it? Do tell me. Maybe I'll know something."
"It's really queer," Miss Hedgerow said. "Maybe I'll tell you everything from the beginning. Yesterday, there was this man, who stopped by at my home and asked if I needed a coachman."
"Yes?" the Countess asked eagerly.
"He was such a man as well. Stout, not too, yong, mind you, and all around too well mannered to be true, if you know what I mean."
"So what did you do?" Meryl asked.
"Well, I told him, honestly speaking, I had no need for a coachman, but he insisted I should hire him. To my surprise, he said that he had some skill in magic and specialized in carriage magic in particular. That caught me by surprise. Later, he cast a spell on my coach, and told me that he would call in later today and inquire if the spell was to my liking.
Kate shot Meryl a meaning glance. Meryl nodded slightly. "So what spell was it?" she asked.
"He said it would make my horses tire less easily and go faster. He told me he left Porthaven a night ago and arrived in Kingsbury yesterday morning. And speaking of coaches, I'll be sending my coach over to your place later Miss Suliman, for one of your father's apprentices to have a look at it and let me know if it's a reliable spell or not. That is, if they aren't too busy."
"It'll be fine," Meryl said hurriedly. Kate leaned forward. "That fellow you were talking about Miss Hedgerow, did he come in an old carriage with a brown horse?"
Miss Hedgerow's violet eyes widened. "That's true. Do you know the fellow? He gave his name as Maxwell. Morton Maxwell.
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A/n 2: not sure if you all noticed this, but the Countess of Catterack is Jane Farrier. Just needed to put one of the original HMC characters in. ;) Needed someone as the town gossip!
A/n 3: bear with this chapter please! The adventures will start to pick up on the next chapters!
A/n 4: of course, don't forget to review!