03 May 1870, Tuesday
We are home again. I have unpacked my trunks and settled in for the evening. As usual, I slept for much of the ride, the motion of trains is very soothing to me and the luxury of Sir Cosmo’s private cars only encourages this habit.
I did stay awake long enough to make arrangements with Mr Ramsey to meet with him for Mystic Instruction tomorrow evening. Also, Mrs Cuthbert, Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Sinclair, Mr Salmalin and I have formed an informal study group to teach Miss Sinclair and Mrs Cuthbert Hindi (and to give the rest of us and opportunity to maintain our skills).
Mr Salmalin has set aside time each morning for our instruction so that we may learn to better to defend ourselves against the dangerous people we seem to encounter on a regular basis. I will join the classes tomorrow morning leaving the rest of the day free for other pursuits.
04 May 1870, Wednesday
I don’t quite know what to write this evening. Usually, even in the strangest circumstance, I can find words to put on paper.
I will start with that rare commodity, the Usual.
Today was a quiet day around the house. We had our classes. Miss Sinclair took Edward and his piles of flowers off to their schoolroom and I helped Miss Chigwidgeon with the positive deluge of invitations she received while we were out of town. I did receive a short note of thanks from my sister Anne but no further letters have come for me.
I had a very productive appointment with Mr Ramsey. I feel that
my instruction has finally begun in earnest. That combined with
the positive experience I had assisting Mrs Cuthbert with the
Seance has encouraged me to feel that I may someday have something
more substantial to contribute to the League. At our meeting
I gave Mr Ramsey an overview of the book, tools and herbs that
Great-Aunt Hethalyn left in my care. He taught me how to apply
basic wards the house so that I may know if another person is
trying to invade our security through the use of the Mystic Arts.
I first to the precaution of asking Graves if our experiments
would interfere with any existing security. He indicated that
they would not, so we proceeded. My first wards will only last
a few more hours but the process was interesting to learn. Mr
Ramsey has asked me to practice over the next week so that I may
become proficient in applying the wards. It did not occur to
me to ask wether I could set a ward around Edward that would alert
me or Miss Sinclair should he leave the house at night. I do
not believe that he has learned his lesson from the affair with
Moriarty and his gang and I worry that he might leave the grounds
unescorted and without notifying anyone else.
Early in the evening, Sir Cosmo went out on an appointment. When he returned we could all see that he was very low in spirit. All four of the ladies of the household took steps to provide him with tea. I happened to be in the room with Sir Cosmo, Miss Chigwidgeon, and Edward when Sir Cosmo asked to speak with us privately. I believe I was only privy to the following events as chaperone to Miss Chigwidgeon and Edward ensuring that Sir Cosmo could meet with both of them in the privacy of his office and not feel compelled to leave the door open on what is most assuredly personal business. I am honoured by the confidence placed on me. It also occurs to me that I am also to serve as witness, so that there should be one more person aware of Sir Cosmo’s wishes should the unthinkable happen.
Sir Cosmo has, in effect, made both Miss Chigwidgeon and Edward his wards and has altered his will to provide both of them with an income should he become unable to care for them himself.
Moved to tears by this gesture, Miss Chigwidgeon was unable to speak for quite a few minutes. Sir Cosmo noticed her distress and hurried to assure us that he is in good health and he only took the precaution of making a will because he knows how difficult and dangerous the work of the League can be. Apparently his adventures on behalf of Our Employer in the past had caused him to become the target of an assassination attempt, one of the reasons the house is as well guarded as it is. That, combined with the failing health of his Grandfather has reminded him that we are all mortal and that plans should be made against the day when they might be needed.
My admiration for this man grows every day, and I hope that, unlike my own father, Sir Cosmo may live a long and healthy life surrounded buy those of us who love him.
Edward took this moment to confess a secret of his own. Assuming a demeanour and method of speech quite unlike what I am used to, Edward confessed that he, in fact Miss Wilhelmina Brody. She had hidden herself as a boy in order to escape her mother’s plan and her grandfather’s reach. Sir Cosmo showed no surprise at the Revelation. Miss Chigwidgeon took this shock well, though she may still have been stunned by Sir Cosmo’s revelations. I know I was stunned. I had suspected a connexion between Edward and Wilhelmina but this went far beyond anything I had imagined.
By confirming his plans for the two young ladies, Sir Cosmo has acted to make Edward’s rumour of princesses hiding in plain sight come true. We have not one, but two fairy princesses in our midst.
Edward has asked that the secret not go beyond the four of us at this time. I do not think he had meant to confess such a secret to me. It seemed as if he had forgotten that I was in the room when he made his confession. I will abide by her wishes but I do hope he informs Miss Sinclair in due course. There is much that Miss Wilhelmina should learn in order to move gracefully in this world of ours. If anyone can help Edward become Wilhelmina while retaining all that is precious about Edward it is Miss Sinclair. Never before I have met a governess that had such a clear conception of how the rules work in our society and a clear understanding of when to break those rules. I do hope Miss Wilhelmina confides in Miss Sinclair soon.
05 May 1870, Thursday
We have a lovely day planned. Mrs Cuthbert,
Miss Sinclair, Miss Chigwidgeon and I are taking the day to deal
with several domestic matters. Sir Cosmo has need of Edward today
so we will use the Cuthbert’s more conventional carriage
for our transport. We have already met with Salmalin for our
exercise class and language practice so we are now readying ourselves
for our day out.
Proceed to 2. A Puzzling Conclusion
Return to Miss Whitnell's Diary Index
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