Blackmeadow abbey, p.7
Blackmeadow Abbey, page 7
A second Administrator stepped forward.
“Three days before the start date, starting positions will be drawn,” he said. “Starting positions are final. Teams are not allowed to switch positions, and if you are late by more than one hour, your turn is forfeited.”
“If you need help assembling a team,” a third Administrator said, “a list will be available here, in the Hall, one month from now. If you need team members, or you need a team, you will be allowed to submit your name or contact anyone or any team on the list. I suggest you not wait too long. Teams must consist of four people. If you have any questions, we will make ourselves available for the next hour.”
“I’m going to try to talk to one of them,” Iona said. “Are you coming?”
Caroline took in the throng of people and stepped back. “You go ahead. I need to report to Mr. Anson.” She scanned the crowd, hoping to find her brother. It would be better if they spoke to Mr. Anson together: she was afraid that in her excitement she might get some of the details wrong.
“Suit yourself,” Iona said. She pushed forward through the crowd and Caroline turned to head back to the stairs.
“You don’t have any questions?”
She looked up to see Harry Townsend watching her.
“I do,” she replied. “But my friend is going to ask one. Besides, if everyone ahead of me tries to reach the Administrators, I fear the hour will be up before I get there.”
“True,” Harry said. “Is your friend your teammate?”
“My brother is my only confirmed teammate,” Caroline said. “We were supposed to compete with our younger sister, but the early call means she missed the age cut-off.”
“I, too, am in a family team,” Harry said. “My sister Ella is downstairs somewhere, and our older brother Cedric lives in town but didn’t want to attend the reception tonight.” He shrugged. “Like your younger sister, Cedric was a year too young to compete in the last Endeavour.”
“Did he ever get over his disappointment and bitterness?” Caroline asked. “I fear my sister never will.”
Harry laughed, although Caroline wasn’t sure what was funny.
“I’m sorry,” Harry said. “But you’ve just explained much of what has confused me about my brother for my entire life. So, I have to say, no, he never got over it and is bitter to this day.”
“I am sorry to hear that.” She sighed. Becca might be miserable for years. It was bad for her sister, but also bad for everyone around her, including her.
“There is no chance for me to get a question in,” Iona said as she rejoined her. “But I saw Sean up at the front.”
“And Jack?” Caroline asked. “Did you see him?”
“Sorry, no.” Iona looked at Harry. “I saw you two talking out front.”
“Yes,” Harry said. “I’ve met Caroline before on this very floor. I’m Harry Townsend.”
“Iona Smith,” Iona said. “What business did you have here when you two met?”
“I was meeting a friend,” Harry said. He turned to Caroline. “How about you?”
“I was waiting while Mrs. Anson took her test to join the Artifact Society,” Caroline said. “She and her husband have been kind enough to host me and my brother Jack.”
“And did she pass her test?” Harry asked.
“She did,” Caroline replied. “As did I the next day, although my test was more about Endeavours than Artifacts.”
“But they are inextricably linked,” Harry said.
“They are, although Jack, my brother, might not agree.”
“What might I not agree with?” Jack said from behind her.
“That artifacts and Endeavours are linked,” Harry said. “Harry Townsend. You must be Caroline’s brother.”
“I am. Jack Morris,” Jack replied. “Caroline, I think one of us should go and find Mr. Anson. Can you do that? I am waiting for Sean.”
“I suppose I could.” She’d expected them to go together, but really, she was as much a competitor as Jack, wasn’t she? “Is there anything you specifically want me to tell him?”
“We all heard the same thing,” Jack replied. “Shall I get you that drink now, Iona?”
“I’ll catch up with you later, then,” Caroline said, but Jack was clearly not paying attention to her. She smiled and nodded to Harry and started making her way through the crowd to the stairs.
She doubted she would come back up here: no doubt it would take some time to find Mr. Anson.
Caroline paused on the lowest stair and scanned the crowd, hoping to spot the Ansons. The large space was packed with people and the din of so many voices made thinking almost impossible. How would she find Mr. Anson?
“I’d try the refreshment table if I were you.”
She turned to find Harry Townsend smiling at her.
“I tried to ask you to wait up but you left too quickly,” he said. “It’s time for me to find my sister and see if she wants to leave. She’s not fond of crowds.”
“I don’t think I am either,” Caroline said. “I’ve never seen so many people in one place before. I think there are three times as many people in this space down here as live in my village.” Even major holidays in Gaynesford didn’t attract this many people.
“I appreciate country life—and the lack of crowds—myself,” Harry said. “Come on. The refreshment table is this way. I am quite sure that at least one of us will be successful in finding our missing companions.”
“I hope so,” Caroline said. “Although in their minds I’m sure we are the missing ones.”
Harry laughed. “I am sure that is the case.”
Harry held onto her arm as they pushed their way through the crowd. “There she is.” He steered them towards the back wall. A young woman, who seemed to be a few years younger than Harry, spotted them and waved.
“Finally,” she said when they reached her. “That was the longest hour of my life. I hope this means you are ready to leave?”
“Soon,” Harry said. “Once I help Miss Morris find her party. Caroline Morris, meet my sister, Ella Townsend.”
“Hello,” Caroline said. “I am very pleased to meet you. And honestly, there is no reason for your brother to delay your exit. I am quite sure I am capable of finding Mr. and Mrs. Anson myself.” Ella Townsend had her brother’s same dark hair and a very infectious smile.
“I wish you luck,” Ella said. “This crowd is impossibly large.”
“I do hope I can find them sooner rather than later,” Caroline replied. “I must update Mr. Anson on the announcement. He’s taken a very keen interest in Jack and my Endeavour experience. And Mrs. Anson will want details on how the announcement was made. Harry, do you think a Builder-enhanced artifact was used?”
“I’m certain there was,” Harry said. He turned to his sister. “Both Mrs. Anson and Caroline are members of the Artifact Society, although Caroline’s main interest is Endeavours.”
“Oh my,” Ella said. “Watch out, Caroline. My brother will bore you for hours with facts about Endeavours.”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t be bored,” Caroline said, and she meant it. She would love nothing more than to talk about Endeavours, especially with Harry, after his comment on Samuel Jones.
“Caroline has just recently read True Stories of Blackmeadow Abbey,” Harry said.
“Did you like it?” Ella asked. “I haven’t read it but Harry can’t seem to make up his mind.”
“I did like it,” Caroline replied. “Oh . . . there’s Mrs. Anson. I am sorry, but I must see if she knows where her husband is.”
“Of course,” Harry said. “I hope we run into each other again.”
“Why don’t we plan to?” Ella asked. “Have you been to the flower exhibit?”
“I have, but there is more than enough to see for another visit,” Caroline replied.
“Then let’s meet there tomorrow at noon,” Ella said. “At the centre of the park.”
“At the statue? I know exactly where that is.” Caroline still had her map in case she got confused.
“Until tomorrow then,” Harry said.
“Yes. Now I must say goodbye. Mrs. Anson is on the move.”
Caroline hurried through the crowd towards Mrs. Anson who, with Mrs. Smith in tow, was heading towards the back wall and away from the stairs.
“Caroline, there you are,” Mrs. Anson said when she finally caught up to her. “Where are the rest of our competitors?”
“They’re still up on the mezzanine,” Caroline said. “There was an announcement and then some of the Administrators were available for questions but there was no chance that all four of us would get close enough for that. I came down to report back to Mr. Anson. Do you know where he is?”
“He went off that way,” Mrs. Anson said, waving a hand towards the back wall. “But don’t bother him right now. He’s hoping to make a connection with an Administrator.”
“You can tell us what was announced,” Mrs. Smith said. “I would very much like to know.”
“Of course.” Caroline knew that whatever Mr. Anson’s instructions, she should not interrupt him in his quest to become an Administrator. Besides, this would give her practice reporting what she’d heard.
She had barely started when Mrs. Anson interrupted with a detail about the Builder-enhanced artifact that allowed the scene to be projected on the ceiling. When her hostess was finished, Caroline continued her report.
“That was it?” Mrs. Smith asked. “That sounds like information everyone already knew.”
“Well, Sean was near the front,” Caroline replied. “We thought it likely he would be able to ask a question or two. Perhaps he will find out more?” Now she worried that she should have waited for Sean’s information before reporting to Mr. Anson.
“That is typical of my son.” Mrs. Smith beamed. “He is very often in the right place at the right time.”
“And there were no other artifacts used?” Mrs. Anson asked. “Just the one that projected the scene?”
“Perhaps a second one amplified the sound?” Caroline couldn’t recognize Builder-enhanced artifacts when they were in use the way Mrs. Anson could.
“Oh, yes, that’s very likely. To my knowledge there are no artifacts, Builder enhanced or otherwise, that both amplify sound and project a scene.”
“Oh look, there’s Sean and Iona now,” Mrs. Smith said. “Along with your Jack.”
When they arrived, Iona linked arms with Caroline.
“Isn’t this all so exciting?” she asked. “That presentation made it all so real.”
“It did,” Caroline agreed. “I have butterflies from the excitement.”
“Did you report to Mr. Anson?” Jack asked her.
She shook her head. “I haven’t had a chance. Mrs. Anson said that he was making a connection and wasn’t to be disturbed.”
“I’ll do it,” Jack said. “Oh, there he is. It looks like he’s free now.”
Before Caroline could object, Jack was halfway to Mr. Anson. She frowned. She was the one who’d left the excitement upstairs in order to report to their host. It wasn’t that she was excited about making the report, but she was determined to be—and be seen as—a fully participating team member.
And yet Jack seemed to be the one in charge. She’d only come downstairs to give the report because he’d told her to, and now she was left behind because he’d decided that he was the one who would inform Mr. Anson.
“Sean was able to speak to two of the Administrators,” Iona said, pulling Caroline’s attention away from her brother’s actions.
“One of them said that my question was good,” Sean said, sidling closer. “I didn’t hear him say that to anyone else.”
“What was this good question?” Caroline asked.
“I asked if he thought people with traces of Natural blood had an advantage.”
“Isn’t that a good question?” Iona said.
“It is,” Caroline agreed, when she really didn’t think it very good at all. She’d read numerous Endeavour accounts that all agreed that a trace of Natural ability helped. The real question was how did one know if they had Natural blood? Naturals rarely married anyone other than a Natural, and on the rare occasions when they did, any children were considered Naturals. People with Natural blood didn’t move to places like Gaynesford or even Norbarrow. No, they stayed on their estates, socializing with each other.
“Can you guess what the answer was?” Iona asked.
Sean crossed his arms, waiting for Caroline to answer.
“Was it yes?” Caroline knew it was yes, but Sean, and Iona especially, seemed to think this was such a huge revelation that she didn’t want to deflate them.
“You are correct,” Sean said. “The Administrator said that he knew first-hand that Natural blood was an advantage. Do you and Jack have Natural blood?” He looked at his sister. “I don’t think we do. At least not any that is known.”
“I don’t think Jack and I do either,” Caroline said, not bothering to add that if any of them did, it would probably be from so long ago that it would be too diluted to matter.
Mr. Anson and Jack joined them.
“It seems that we’ve had a successful night all around,” Mr. Anson said. “Based on Jack’s report and my own chance meeting. But I think it’s time for us to leave. Mrs. Smith, do you and your son and daughter need assistance getting home? No? Then we must say good night. And I thank you for providing tickets to the concert.”
“We thank you and Mrs. Anson for a such lovely dinner,” Mrs. Smith said. “And for ensuring we all attended this wonderful reception.”
Sean and Iona echoed their mother’s thanks.
“My pleasure,” Mr. Anson said, beaming. He took out his watch and checked the time. “My dear, shall we go?”
“Of course.” Mrs. Anson departed with her husband, leaving Caroline and Jack to say hasty goodbyes.
“We didn’t have a chance to make plans with Iona and Sean,” Jack complained when they were outside. “We were supposed to pick a day for the river cruise.”
“I’m sure we’ll see them soon,” Caroline said. She wanted to spend more time with Iona, of course, but tomorrow she had plans to meet Harry and his sister Ella.
She briefly wondered if she should bring Jack with her, if they might make a four-person team, but then she remembered that Harry and Ella already had a third teammate in their older brother. The Smiths seemed the most likely pair to compete alongside, which made her wonder why she’d agreed to meet Harry and Ella.
She sighed. Because her mother had told her to take advantage of her time here and she wanted to do that: to enjoy all kinds of people and experiences. And she liked Harry: he took her love of Endeavour history seriously.
6
I
’m sure the Smiths would welcome a visit,” Mrs. Anson said as Caroline entered the dining room.
Jack was seated beside Mrs. Anson, a plate with rolls and jam in front of him. He glanced up at her as she sat across from him.
“You’ll come with me,” he said.
Caroline raised her eyebrows. When had her brother become so bossy?
“Caroline will be attending the Artifact Society meeting with me this morning,” Mrs. Anson said. “Won’t you, dear?”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Caroline said. Jack might not have any duties, but she had been invited—they both had been invited—because Mrs. Anson needed a companion. She took a roll from the serving plate and spooned some jam from the small pot. “This afternoon I am meeting with Harry Townsend and his sister Ella. We are going to investigate the flower exhibition.”
“What should I tell Sean and Iona?” Jack asked. “I’m sure they will expect both of us.”
“Iona and I had discussed attending another concert,” Caroline said. “Perhaps you can find one we can all attend.” She met Mrs. Anson’s gaze. “I hope you would come with us, as well as Mrs. Smith.”
“That sounds lovely,” Mrs. Anson said. “Jack, if you could arrange that, I would appreciate it.” She frowned. “I’m not sure Mr. Anson will be available. His efforts last night have paid off and he told me that he expects to have quite a few meetings in the next few days.”
“That’s settled then,” Caroline said. “Jack will approach the Smiths with an eye to sorting out the details for another concert.”
Her brother frowned at her, but Caroline ignored him and poured herself a cup of tea. Why should she do Jack’s bidding? Weren’t they equal Endeavour teammates? And really, she was the one with the knowledge of Endeavours: perhaps they weren’t equal because she was in fact the superior one. That made her wonder about Iona and Sean: would she be superior to them as well?
“Caroline, are you ready to go?” Mrs. Anson asked. “We don’t want to be late.”
Caroline took a last sip of tea and put down her half-eaten roll. Jack smirked at her but she ignored him again. The Artifact Society was something she quite enjoyed.
“I’m ready,” she said.
As soon as Mrs. Anson spotted Mrs. Digby, Caroline was left alone. She didn’t mind: she was quite certain that independence was an excellent quality for an Endeavour competitor.
Mr. Hobson waved her over.
“Stanford can’t make it today,” Mr. Hobson said. “But I hear you were at the reception last night. You must tell me all about it.”
“How did you know I was at the reception? Did Mrs. Anson tell you?” She didn’t know how Mrs. Anson would have had time to give that news: they’d only just arrived.
“They posted the sign-in sheets,” Mr. Hobson said. “Miss Foster and I looked this morning. Well, she looked since my eyes aren’t good enough to see that high up.”
“I didn’t realize they were going to post those,” Caroline said.
“They only do that for the formal reception,” Mr. Hobson said. “Now, tell me everything.”
