Despite last night’s adventures, we rose early this morning. We wanted to have the advantage of surprise when we went after the vampires that had murdered Mr Matthew Sinclair. The first flush of dawn had not quite faded, and the vampire’s flat was a hive of activity. Police activity in the form of Mr Frazer and Turgenov; Watcher activity in the form of Mr Ramsey, Mr Robson, and Mr Travers; and League activity in the form of, well, us.

The vampires had fled, leaving most of the contents of the flat in place. I was disappointed and, at the same time, secretly relieved. We had quite a busy day yesterday and I would like to have a bit more time to practice with sword and stake before taking on vampires, especially ones reputed to be as strong and dangerous as Count Severin and his companions. Mr Ramsey found some evidence that the vampires have fled to France and he will alert his colleagues abroad to keep watch for the three undead men.

Miss Sinclair will be returning home for the funeral of her cousin. She has been pacing the halls trying to construct some way to warn her family against Peter Sinclair without sounding like a complete lunatic. I face a similar difficulty, in that, I am concerned my activities on behalf of the League might bring trouble to my family. I may not have the best of relations with parts of my family, but that is no reason not to take precautions. I just remembered that, in all the excitement, I have not heard back from Our Employer regarding how much I can, or should, tell my mother about the murder of my father. Perhaps another note is in order.

I sent off my report to Mr. Weasley on the events surrounding the ‘song-and-dance’ demon and sent a copy to Mrs Godwin at the Order of St. Jerome for her records.

We returned home with plenty of time to resume our normal schedule of lessons. I noticed that Salmalin was moving rather stiffly during our physical education routine. I thought of offering to help him using one of the spells from my Great-Aunt Hethelyn’s book but could not bring my self to. A week ago I would have mentioned it with no embarrassment or awkwardness. Now I find myself auditing my own actions, trying to determine if what I want to say to do is actually relevant or if it is just an excuse to linger...

Miss Sinclair came to my room and asked me to do what I could to verify that the vampires have left London and gone abroad. I spent a few moments researching my spell books and after a bit, concluded that my history spell would be most likely to give useful information. I had a bit of difficulty concentrating at first. This was the first time in a long while that I had cast a spell without the assistance of either Mrs Cuthbert or Mr Ramsey. I did not get as much detail as I might have had I cast the spell at the flat the vampires had occupied but I did feel able to confirm Mr Ramsey’s supposition that they had fled to France. Of course I have no idea how long they intend to stay abroad.

On a lighter note, I have invited Miss Chigwidgeon to accompany me to my cottage in West Darlson. I plan to leave next Monday for a week, barring any sudden outbreaks of flamenco demons, relative vampires, evil sorcerers, or traitorous spies.

~Afternoon~

My week is suddenly full. I had completely forgotten that Mr Weasley had mentioned that I might be called to testify before the tribunal that will judge Baron Blackhall’s case. I received my summons from the tribunal. The trial starts on Thursday. An attached note from Mr Weasley indicated that trials of this type rarely last more than two days. Mr Poppins will be handling the prosecution’s case. Even, without using Mrs Cuthbert’s mirror, I foresee a lot of sitting and waiting my turn to testify. A summons also arrived for Dr Wilson and Mrs Cuthbert. Wilson is grumbling about having to take time out from his rockets ‘just as things were starting to settle down.’

~Tea time~

I have been pacing the floor of my room for the past half-hour. I have received another summons to testify before the Lord High Warlock, this time in relation to the apparently irreversible damage done to Lady Miranda by the bewildering spell I cast. Baron Blackhall is attempting to have me brought up on charges of Criminally Harming Lady Miranda. Mr Poppins has refused to lay charges but the Lord High Warlock has issued a summons for me to come before the court so he can take down my testimony and allow the tribunal to decide whether or not charges should be laid.

The worst part is that I do feel some measure of responsibility for her condition. What will I say when I am examined by Baron Blackhall’s barrister? How can I defend myself? Especially since part of my defence is my own ignorance or incompetence. I had no idea that the spell I was using could cause permanent damage. One of the reasons I used that particular incantation was because I had hopped it would disorient Lady Miranda long enough to put a stop to the spell she was casting without causing wild magic to rage though London as it did during the encounter with Madame Zephyrine and without doing any permanent damage to Lady Miranda.

I do not know if I should bring up the help that the shade of Jerrold Moriarty provided during that fight. The fact that Lady Miranda was undone by her own magic provides me with some consolation, even if I was the one to use it against her.

I refuse to worry about it any longer and should return to the parlour to keep Miss Chigwidgeon company.

8 June 1870, Wednesday

A quiet day at last. I spent the morning on our usual exercises and Hindi class. I am trying to get Miss Bertilde interested in brushing up on her French or learning a little Hindi. She is an excellent body guard but the world is not solely about weapons. Perhaps if I approach it as another defensive skill, after all, knowing what people are saying around you can be very helpful, and once she learns a language she could still pretend to be ignorant of it in her role as body guard. Regardless, I wrote down all of the weapons words I could think of in both Hindi and french and gave her the list. She may study it or not as she chooses.

After much debating with myself, I approached Salmalin about encouraging Miss Bertilde’s education in languages– perhaps he can think of a way to motivate her to study something other than weapons work. I tried to keep my end of the conversation brief and to the point.

In the afternoon I went to the dressmakers. Now that a date has been set for the engagement party that the Earl of Greyminster is giving for Sir Cosmo and Miss Chigwidgeon, I needed to see about getting an appropriate dress made; one that includes some of the innovations that Miss Bertilde, Miss Sinclair, Mrs Cuthbert and I have come to utilize and rely upon.

Miss Chigwidgeon approached me with a concern about Sir Cosmo’s new private secretary, Mr Augustus Chadwick. I personally don’t find him objectionable, however, both he and Miss Bertilde seem to have elevated shyness to an art. I did hear him commenting favorabily upon Mrs Cuthbert, so I believe she has added another admirer to her train.

I reminded Miss Chigwidgeon that Mr Chadwick has been recommended my Miss Pinker and vetted by Our Employer. I’m not sure what else can be done to address her worries. I suggested that she ask Our Employer for permission to read the man’s file. I hope she will find answers to her questions and will not end up depriving Sir Cosmo of his new secretary. There is too much day-to-day work that needs to be handled now that Lord Greyminster is trying to pass on some of the Baronial duties to his grandson. I would rather have Sir Cosmo available to help us out during our adventures than at home answering the mail.

After dinner I plan to take this record downstairs and review it for any information about Baron Blackhall and his actions towards the League to prepare for my time in the witness box.

~Evening~

Inspector MacGregor stopped by in the early evening, in advance of Mr Frazer’s planned visit (he and Ruth are working on her German). His timing was fortuitous, if he had come later I would have been engaged with Ruth since she has asked me to sit in on her lessons. Though really I cannot thing of two people less in need of a chaperone. They are both so reserved and proper. Regardless, it allows me to practice German, a language I haven’t had the opportunity to learn yet, so I shall not complain.

The Inspector and I had a quiet conversation. I don’t really know that we talked of much of significance, a nice change from conversations about demons and death and the like. There were a few awkward pauses in the conversation but Ruth came to my rescue as did my own training. It was lovely to have a civilized conversation about nothing in particular.

9 June 1870, Thursday

I tried meditating before going to bed last night, however I still spent a restless night tossing and turning, waking at every little noise the house made as it settled for the night. I am only grateful that I do not have Ruth’s sensitive hearing. Fortunately a note arrived from Mr Poppins saying that the earliest they would need me would be after their break for lunch this afternoon. I took advantage of this delay to join the other ladies in exercise and conversation in Hindi. I did take time to dress for going out after our exercise, as I did not know precisely when I would be called out.

A happy result of the delay was that I had time to say a proper goodbye to Ruth as she left to visit her family in Somersetshire. I did take the time with Miss Sinclair to apologize for any part my attack on Peter Sinclair may have had in his and the other vampires murder of her cousin, Matthew. I do regret not pursuing the vampires while we had the chance.

On the other hand, I am deeply concerned that the only way to stop vampires seems to be in close combat and they are reputed to be very fast, very strong, and resistant to magik. I know that others of our League think me foolish to be frightened of them after all we have faced together so far, but there is something about how near we must allow them to approach that frightens me. I do not want to lose any of my associates to this dangerous work we do. Therefor I have resolved to practice my swordsmanship and eastern arts with more diligence. I do not know if I would have the strength to drive a stake through a vampire’s ribs and into the heart– I think I stand a better chance of removing the head from the body. Even cutting the head off of a chicken is hard work and difficult to do without practice. It is not like I have any handy necks to practise on– that and any vampire I do face is likely to be fighting to keep it’s head attached and its heart unstaked. I did suggest to Ruth, since she has mentioned taking up archery again, that extra practise while she is a away in the country might give her a way to attack vampires from a fair distance away.

Sir Cosmo came out to review a lesson-plans with her as David loaded her bags in the barouche, so I doubt that Wilhelmina will have quite the vacation from education that she may think her tutor’s departure would allow. After Ruth and I said our goodbye’s Sir Cosmo told me his plan to encourage Wilhelmina to work on her French. He is working on a critique of her sinkable boat design and will be providing it to her in French and requiring a response in the same language. I volunteered to help should either of them need my assistance, as French is one of the languages I excelled at in school.

Learning Hindi has reminded me how much I enjoy the feeling I get when I can switch effortlessly from one language to another. I have enjoyed sitting in on the German lessons Mr Frazer is providing to Miss Sinclair.

The conversation with Sir Cosmo helped passed the time before I had to leave for the tribunal. I had asked Graves to arrange transportation for me and so I arrived without mishap and on time at the Tower. I was escorted to a small waiting room and spent most of the afternoon reading a shilling shocker that Miss Namaste leant me. I doubt I could have concentrated on anything more serious.

It was rather amusing, in light of our own adventures, to read the fantasies of others. I tried not to be nervous while waiting. However, I spent time in a court of law only last year, when I was trying to complete my divorce from William Forrester on the grounds of abandonment and adultery. Thinking back on that experience did not help settle my nerves.

My turn to testify came rather late in the day. The tribunal was composed of Baron Fermor, Baron Addleton, and Margaret Duchess Horley. Mr Poppins was leading for the prosecution and he completed his questions before time to adjourn for the day. He was very matter-of-fact and it was very easy to answer him without going off into side issues. When his time was done the defence was asked if they wanted to cross-examine me. Sir George Langton, Baron Blackhall’s defence council asked to defer questioning me until tomorrow morning.

I am afraid that I am in for another sleepless night. Mr Poppins indicated that, if the trial wraps up on schedule, the inquest into Lady Miranda’s condition will be held tomorrow afternoon.

I learned from Tattvick that Edward and Miss Bertilde have been summoned to testify at an inquest. I had heard that they, along with Lieutenant Pellew, had witnessed something that allowed the police to pursue Mr Xanthus (he unfortunately escaped), but I had not realized they were involved in something quite so serious. I am glad for Ruth’s sake that she has already left town and won’t be fretting from afar about her charges court appearance. They are not due in court until Monday. I should talk to Sir Cosmo and ask if he would like me to post-pone my planned trip out of the city.

Graves has just come by. Sir Cosmo has asked Miss Chigwidgeon out for an evening stroll and I am wanted in my guise as chaperone. The walk will do all three of us good.

10 June 1870, Friday

I have a treat to look forward to tomorrow night. If that is, I do not find myself in chains after the inquest this afternoon. Sir Cosmo has offered to take those of us willing to go to the Royal Gallery of Illustration on Saturday night to see the new operetta by Gilbert and Reed. It is a comedy. We can only hope that no demons will make an appearance.

~Evening~

I have returned from the trial and inquest. I never want to do that again. However, if I remain with the League it is likely that such situations will arise and I will have to deal with them. Perhaps a week in the country will restore my nerves. I have asked Graves to make travel arrangements for Monday, next week. That gives me the weekend to pack and try to talk Miss Chigwidgeon in to accompanying me rather than lurking about giving Cosmo’s new secretary fits.

The trial concluded on schedule and Baron Blackhall was found guilty of the murder of the balloon operator and the attempted murder of Dr Wilson and Henri-Robert Tabatier, the Marquis de Montmerial de Dragagulan, and criminal interference with Dr Wilson’s assistant. Regardless of his new status as a convict, he was allowed to be present during the inquest in to the loss of Lady Miranda’s mind and his counsel, Sir George Langton, cross-examined me after I gave my answers to Mr Poppins and to the Lord High Warlock.

I was genuinely sad to hear the evidence presented that Lady Miranda would, most likely, never regain the use of her faculties, though a small part of me couldn’t help but be satisfied that my friends were now safe from her diabolical scheme to kill them and raise Jerrold Moriarty from the dead.

I was asked how long I had been a practitioner of magic and what spells I knew. I was asked why I chose the spell I did and how I gauged how much power would be needed to ensure it’s effectiveness. I tried very hard just to answer the questions as put to me and not digress into a diatribe regarding the imprecise nature of magic or other topics better saved for another day.

Sir George tried to bait me into answering foolishly for much of his cross-examination. I kept my temper (sometimes only by counting to ten in all six of the languages I know). It was worse my time in front of the colonial court in that Sir George is much more clever than my former husband’s barrister. However, the breathing exercises Salmalin had given me also helped a great deal, and of course the fact that Baron Blackhall had just been convicted of murder did rather gave me the moral high ground.

Pasty has been sent to fetch me. Sir Cosmo and Miss Chigwidgeon are preparing to set forth on another stroll. Perhaps I will have some opportunity to ask Cosmo how his French strategy is working on Wilhelmina. Though, of course, I will leave most of the time available for my two charges to speak or not as they choose. One of the secrets of being a good gooseberry is providing unobtrusive propriety. I’ve found that I can drop back a few paces and let Cosmo and Namaste be absorbed into their own world.

It is a beautiful evening, even more so now that both the trial and inquest are over. It has been four days since the dancing demon invaded London, I hope the quiet holds for a spell. I am quite looking forward to some time to practice my new skills in peace.

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