14 January 1871, Saturday

We saw Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite off to the their train this afternoon. Tattvik went with them having accepted the position of Lady’s Maid to Lady Cowperthwaite. I believe they will suit one another well. I could not hope for a better situation for her and I will still have the opportunity to see her as often as I am with the Cowperthwaites.

My brothers and sister-in-law will leave on the Monday train. I hope to get John and James alone and inform them of certain things I believe they should know before then– especially given the dream that John had prior to coming here.

~Tea~

I am taking tea in my room and recovering from a busy and emotional afternoon. I invited John and James to go riding with me and, as I had hoped, Emily was deterred from inviting herself along by her dislike of horses. She can ride but, given the choice of staying in by the fire on a cold January afternoon and riding out, she chose to stay in.

We rode out well away from the main house. It was very important that we not be overheard. It was difficult to begin the conversation. Though I did find the cold motivating. There is only so long one can stand dithering with the wind coming off the sea from the east.

Before I began, I asked them to keep what I had to say in strict confidence. I told John and James of the abilities that I hold in common with Great Aunt Hethelyn and of the need for the cottage to have the appropriate guardian. James was inclined to treat the entire thing as an elaborate joke. John was much more serious, however, I was concerned that it was primarily for my own mental health rather than due to the seriousness of that which I had revealed to him.

I resorted to showing both of them a little of what I could do. James had a small rent in the cuff of his coat sleeve. I mended it with a small application of power and a minor spell. James accused me of some slight of hand but John sat heavily upon a nearby boulder and had to put his head down for a moment. He spoke quite sharply to James, as he does when he is discommoded. He said he saw the spark of power flow from my hand into James’ jacket. I am glad in retrospect, for his health’s sake, that I did not try for a more dramatic demonstration of magik.

James was still inclined to make light of the situation. John told James that if one word of this was breathed to his friends at school he would find himself engaged to Emily’s cousin Delphine without delay. I added my voice to John’s in asking for discretion.

I wanted them to know the truth about me as I am soon to travel to West Darlson and spend considerable time there. If I take up my Great-Aunt’s role rumours are likely to get back to Emily through her connexion with Major Haywood’s mother. I am very vexed that my cousin has taken up residence at a time when I can finally devote some attention to learning more about that which Great Aunt Hethelyn left in my charge. But if it is to be so, better that John and James both know the truth rather than what ever strange rumours may come their way.

15 January 1871, Sunday

The house is beginning to empty of guests– many left yesterday. Mr Balderstoke, Edward and George started their journey to Scotland. It took an extra luggage cart to carry all of Edward’s project trunks. I took George aside to speak with them before they left. I had hoped to give him some advice on holding firm with Edward but one look at his face convinced me that I should relent. I told him only that I understood he was in a quite difficult situation between the rock of Miss Wilhelmina’s willfulness and the hard place of our expectations for their safety. I do not think that made him feel any better.

I packaged up a box of books on child-rearing that were given to me by various ladies in India. I think they gave me the books in hopes of striking some sort of spark between Captain Forrester and myself. It didn’t work for me. However, since Ruth has already solved the main problem– somewhat to her own surprise I suspect– she may have more use for the books and phamphlets I’ve been hauling around all these years. I certainly have no need of them.

16 January 1871, Monday

All the Whitnells, including myself, departed Goxhill on the train to Hull. There was some nonsense suggested of my need for travelling companions but my description of the modest facilities at my cottage seems to have convinced my sister-in-law to let me go on about my own business.

Mother, Betty and Miss Bertilde return to London. Mother is to continue her work on behalf of the Society, Betty to assist her in the work, and Miss Bertilde to guard them. Mother has not always taken her own safety seriously according to Sir Cosmo. I am certain Miss Bertilde will watch over them carefully– especially given that Mother and Betty are working on a cause near to her heart. John and his Emily return to Cheshire while James must return to Oxford and school.

There was no chance to speak with James alone. I hope that he understands the importance of keeping my confidence. I hope I have made the right decision by deciding to confide in him.

~Afternoon~

I am waiting at the station for the train to Stoke-on-Trent. I have engaged the services of young Bill to take me from the train to my cottage. It will be very pleasant to have some time on my own again.

~Evening~

I sense my sister-in-law’s hand at work. I arrived at the platform at Stoke-on-Trent to find Bill waiting for me. In addition, my cousins, Major Haywood and his sister Mrs Russell, were waiting. I couldn’t very well send Bill back to Darlson after engaging him to pick me up, and I certainly hadn’t told the Major when I would be arriving. He said that John contacted him asking that he meet me at the station. John would not do such a thing without mentioning it to me but Emily would and I suspect did in this case.

I had hoped to put off meeting my new cousins until I had time to settle in to my cottage and the neighbourhood. I have been looking forward to using this extended leave to meet my neighbours and learn what might be expected of me now that I have stepped into my Great-Aunt’s place. In addition, I am dismayed at how closely Major Haywood resembles the spirit of my Great-Aunt’s brother-in-law (the one who killed her husband and was haunting the cottage when I took possession last year). He has the aura of a mage and the fox-like features that reveal the elf-blood that runs in the Haywood family. I wonder if he knows of his power or if it lies dormant as mine did all those years. I mis-like it, none-the-less.

Mrs Russell asked if she could call on me tomorrow. I agreed, what else could I do? She will come by for tea tomorrow afternoon.

~Very Late~

I was awakened by a strange howling a short time ago. It sounded like a wolf, but this has not been wolf country for hundreds of years. I could not see anything amiss in my walled garden. The moon is ten days past full and all was very dark and quiet once the howling subsided. I am a bit chilled from standing outside in my dressing gown. I think I will bed down in the front room next to the fireplace. It is much warmer than my bedroom upstairs and with the house to myself there is no reason I should not sleep where I wish. One of the advantages to the unmarried life.

17 January 1871, Tuesday

~Lunch~

Well the chores are all done, the cottage and myself as clean as I can make them. Now if Mrs Russell would show herself I could get on with my afternoon.

~Evening~

Mrs Russell’s visit was much more pleasant than I expected. She is a widow. Her father moved to Africa and met his wife there. She and Major Haywood were born and raised in the Cape Colony. She has a four-year-old daughter by the name of Eliza who is having some difficulty adjusting to her first Winter in England.

Mrs Russell did not overstay her welcome but pressed an invitation on me to come to dinner Thursday night at the Haywood House.

After all the to-do of Miss Chigwidgeon’s wedding, the last thing I want is to spend time at another formal social occasion, not to mention the fact that my mourning blacks are getting a bit shabby. I will try to press some life back into the flounces tomorrow evening after young Bill comes to take me into Darlson proper so I can stock my larder.

18 January 1871, Wednesday

I slept through the night and have a busy day ahead of me. There is a larder to stock and neighbours to meet.

~Afternoon~

Young Bill took me into West Darlson. On the way he told me that there are rumours of a wild animal roaming the parish. The howling I heard Monday night was Farmer Parkin’s dog– apparently the howling dog had found the body of one of its pack mates and sent up the alarm.

There have been a series of escalating attacks around the parish over the past two weeks. It started when a few people started finding an unusual number of carcasses of smaller animals around. What-Ever-It-Is is now after larger game. A sheep, a goat, and the aforementioned dog have all been killed in the past few days. The goat was taken from its pen near a neighbours house so the What-Ever-It-Is apparently does not fear human habitations.

I wish Mr and Mrs Frazer were here. All I have is a 20 year old field guide with a few unintelligible margin notes in my Great-Aunt’s handwriting. The Frazers could probably take a few deep breaths and tell me not only what animal it is but where to find it.

While I was out shopping I did take a moment to stop by the telegraph office and send notes to John and Graves letting them know that I had arrived safely. It seemed the prudent thing to do given the fuss that Emily and Mother made over my travelling alone.

In several of the shops I overheard people speculating about the new Squire up at the old Haywood place. I must confess to a smidgen of curiosity myself and am now looking forward to the party tomorrow night instead of dreading it. Adding to my interest was a note I found on my door upon returning home. Mrs Russell was kind enough to inform me that there will be eight for dinner, including myself, so it is unlikely that I will be dining alone with my newfound cousins.

~Dusk~

My good evening dress is ironed and hanging on its peg. Normally I wouldn’t have thought to bring it with me but I have all my luggage from the wedding to cart back and forth until I settle again. Sir Cosmo mentioned that Lady Cowperthwaite would be contacting me in February about visiting Edenfield Court sometime this spring. I wonder how our relationships will change now that the Cowperthwaites have joined the Frazers in, what I hope will be, wedded bliss.

However, it does deprive me of my excuse for hanging about the Cowperthwaite household. It might start tongues wagging even more than they do now if I were to continue living in Sir Cosmo’s household now that he is married. I expect I will need to spend more time at my cottage in the future and merely ‘visit’ the Cowperthwaites. How awkward. All the more reason to invest more time in getting to know the people of this parish and find my place in it.

I took out Great-Aunt Hethelyn’s map and a sheet of onion-skin paper and traced, as best I could, the locations of the beast-like attacks. There is a small forest on the Haywood land and it appears that the attacks have all occurred at houses and farms located near the forest boundary.

I think I will set out a cup of tea for the Brown Men and see if they are inclined to visit me this evening. Perhaps they can tell me a bit about what has been going on around the parish while I was gone.

19 January 1871, Thursday

~Breakfast~

Morning came early today and I slept through it.

I was up much later than I intended last night. First, not one but two Brown Men knocked on my door asking me for sugar for their tea. I invited them in and was much entertained by their stories of the Great Frost, the Great Freeze, and the Big Chill. All this came up in the context of my question about a strange animal in the parish. They confirmed that a new animal was living in the forest and then went on to argue with each other about what might make an animal go so near humans. Weather and injury were both cited as a cause, with many examples given. There was a side argument over how long it had been since there were wolves in the parish, with one of the Brown Men claiming his grandfather could remember wolves running wild in our shire and the other reminding him that his grandfather lived a good three hundred years ago.

The other subject they felt like talking about was the new Witch in the big house. They don’t know much about him specifically, but they did mention that Mrs Russell’s little girl has the gift and can see them when they don’t want to be seen. Apparently she’s talked to at least one of them since arriving.

After they had finished their tea and taken their leave I still felt restless and decided to try the borrowing spell to see if I could get a look at the parish and maybe catch a glimpse of this beast. I banked the fire and bundled up well before borrowing an owl to ride around in. Just the sensation of flight was wonderful and more than made up for the two mice we ate on the evening rounds. After some time in the air we saw a cart on the road near the St. Serc’s stone. With the owl’s eyes I could see Major Haywood out by the stone. He appeared to be meditating. A servant with a shuttered lamp waited by the cart. It was very odd.

A moment later Major Haywood turned and looked at the owl and I had a very strong sense that he knew it was occupied. He gestured and a flock of grouse started up right in front of the owl, making it very happy indeed. A grouse flew into its claws and all it had to do was snap the neck to have a feast. It landed and began eating. I was very concerned. I tried to channel my worry into encouraging the owl to be wary. We were in the area where the beast had been roaming and I was very afraid my new cousin was either keen to be rid of me or did not know of the danger.

The grouse was only half devoured when the owl took fright. I saw a very strange beast through its eyes. It reminded me of a barrel-chested dog, but it had a strangely large head and other features that seemed all out of proportion. However, at that point I was relieved that the owl had taken fright and we were well away. I encouraged the owl to return to my house and made it a ball of lard with bacon and anything else I had to hand that my owl-attuned stomach thought sounded good. Hopefully it made up for the lost grouse.

Bill has agreed to be my driver for the evening, so I am not dependent on Major Haywood’s good will for a ride there and back again. After the events of last night I don’t know that he can be trusted.

In the meantime there are many hours yet between now and the Dinner and since I had the good sense to prepare my dress yesterday I am at liberty until the afternoon. I think I will hike out to the Saint’s Stone and see what my cousin was up to last night.

~Late Afternoon~

I cut my return rather close but should have time to update this record before dressing for dinner.

Before setting out I packed a lunch and dressed warmly. The sun was shining, but feebly, so I did not rely on it for warmth. Fortunately, walking, combined with an extra petticoat and chemise, kept me quite snug.

I took my tracing of Great-Aunt’s map on my walk and cast three Seek Beast spells from different locations during my walk. I am reasonably certain that I know where in the wood the Strange Animal has dug its den. Now I just need a way to pass this information on to someone who could either capture or dispatch the animal safely. What I wouldn’t give for Sir Spencer or Lieutenant Wooster and their sure aim. The animal I saw through the owl’s eyes seemed to be very well-muscled and fierce.

My hike took me past St. Serc’s stone. I had packed a bottle of wine and the necessary ritual items and hoped to speak with the Dragon’s spirit. My summoning was successful and the Dragon asked me what dire need caused me to summon him. I was rather embarrassed, since it was not dire need, rather curiosity about what my cousin had been trying to do out at the stone. The foot prints around the stone seemed to match up with what the owl saw last night– which left me the impression that my cousin can see in the dark uncannily well. The Dragon’s stone is a way off the path down by the river and it is not easy terrain to walk in the daylight. Perhaps there is another explanation....

The Dragon did not seem put out that I merely wanted to talk. When I asked him about Major Haywood, the Dragon said that the Major had tried to talk to him but had seemed unable to perceive him. I asked him if he knew anything about the Major’s antecedents. I was answered in the usual cryptic fashion. The dragon said that the Major had received a double portion of the Haywood blood and that two natural born Haywood daughters grew up and one went to the city and one went ‘away.’ He was not able to name names. Perhaps Great-Aunt Hethelyn will be able to give me more direct information.

In all it was a very invigorating and informative hike. Now I must leave this record and get myself ready for the dinner– doing my own hair is likely to be quite the challenge after a day out and about in the wind and weather.

~Late Evening~

It seems I was right not to trust him. Major Haywood has at least one of the fae gifts in full measure. He tried to charm me into staying after the diner party was over, when I most clearly wanted to go home. I could feel the oily sensation of faery charm pulling at me, enticing me to stay, but I refused. Mrs Baker intervened on my behalf when she saw I was determined to take my leave, pointing out– in a very genteel way– that managing a cottage on my own is a lot of work. Which is very true, however, in my case House does much of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping mice and damp out of the house.

But I digress...

The dinner party started off promisingly enough. Mrs Russell had also invited the Reverend and Mrs Baker, Captain and Mrs Radcilffe, and Dr Quarles. The good Reverend and his wife were very pleasant company. I haven’t had occasion to go to church in Darlson since taking possession of the cottage as I have frequently been back in London on Sundays. If I can arrange transportation, I will certainly attend during the weeks that I am here.

Darlson proper is a bit far to walk in my Sunday dress. I wonder if I could commission a clockwork Governess Cart from Edward for the cottage. Power for the winding mechanism might be a limiting factor but the gig itself could be stored in between visits and would make me less dependant on others for my daily transportation needs.

Though the price of such a cart might be well beyond my means. I will have to think on it some more.

Back to the dinner party. We gathered in the South Parlour and saw the Major’s collection of artifacts from Africa. I was rather startled to recognize the head of the strange beast I have been seeking mounted on a mask in a glass cabinet. Captain Radcilffe, who served in the same regiment as my cousin (though not at the same time), explained that the head was that of a brown hyena. I could tell that the object had been used in rituals in the past but could not tell if it was in active use now. Captain Radcliffe went on to rather gleefully explain that the brown hyena could bite through the leg of a full grown zebra if it had a mind to.

On this note we went in to dinner. One of the courses was grouse and my cousin asked me quite pointedly if I enjoyed it. I mentioned that it was unusual to have it this time of year. It was a very odd exchange and I found myself dearly wishing Mrs Frazer or Miss Wilhelmina were here. They are much more intelligent and witty than I and are much more likely to untangle such byzantine hints.

Other than that, dinner passed smoothly. It was getting quite late by the time Mrs Russell and Major Haywood suggested a round of bridge or whist. We had just enough to make 2 fours but I really did not want to stay any later. That is when Major Haywood turned on the charm and I felt compelled to leave before I fell under his power. Bill got me home safely and here I am.
I am quite keyed up and anxious. I will call on Great Aunt Hethelyn and see if she can help me sort out Major Haywood’s parentage.

~Midnight~

I am very tired and the conversation with Great Aunt Hethelyn did not go entirely as planned. I will note down what she told me of the family tree but it is very fragmentary without other references to go on. The two ‘natural-born’ daughters were likely named Mary and Margaret and were the daughters of the gamekeeper’s wife and a Walter Haywood of Great Aunt Hethelyn’s generation. Walter was the son of George. Great Aunt Hethelyn said that it was very embaressing for the parish to pretend that the two girls were the daughters of the gamekeeper when everyone but him seemed to know the truth.

I have no idea how these people relate to my own family tree. Suffice to say that it is possible that Major Haywood’s father married a close cousin without realizing it thus accounting for the concentration of power and odd features in Major Haywood.

Great Aunt Hethelyn also suggested that my primary problem was that I did not know enough about Major Haywood to make good decisions. I agree but am not certain what else I can do other than walk up to his door and ask him if he has any ill intentions towards myself. Something I am not keen to do without someone to back me up.

I am going to get some sleep. Perhaps a night’s rest will help clarify my thoughts.

20 January 1871, Friday

It is just past dawn and I have not yet been to bed.

Things are still in a muddle here but I plan to send for advice and assistance as soon as the telegraph office opens.

In the meantime I must get cleaned up and have some breakfast before young Bill comes to take me to the meeting I requested with his Uncle. I must also figure out what subjects to raise since I now do not wish to draw attention to the strange animal attacks... which was my primary reason for requesting the meeting (though fortunately for me I did not say anything of the sort at the time).

~Later~

I feel much better for a substantial breakfast and a change of clothes. I am ready to go visiting, though I will need to sleep sometime today.

I will take this time to update this record with the events that occurred in the small hours last night.

I had just taken to my makeshift bed near the fireplace in the front room when House woke me to say that someone was at the gate.

I pulled on boots, my hat, and a dressing gown and made to go out into the yard. Realizing just how dark it was out, I also took my lantern.

I could hear a wild hooting coming from outside the gate. The owl flew up from the ground and looked directly into my eyes. I could see Major Haywood’s eyes peering out at me from inside. It was very disturbing. Between House’s presence and my own wards he could not get the owl to come on to the property.

Wary of what he might be up to. I peered over the gate. The owl had scratched an arrow pointing roughly in the direction of the Haywood House in the dirt in the road.

I was deeply curious but also very worried. Leaving my house after midnight to follow ambiguous clues left by someone who strongly reminded me of the man who had murdered my Great-Aunt’s husband did not seem prudent. How much I wished to have Lady Cowperthwaite and Mrs Cuthbert with me at that moment. Lady Cowperthwaite fears nothing and Mrs Cuthbert is friends with everything. Add Mrs Frazer and her trusty pistol and climbing rope to our number and we are truly formidable.

However I did not have their company and evoking their memory was not quite enough to convince me that I should leave the fastness of my house.

I did go back inside and get dressed. If I was not to sleep I could at least try to divine, magikally, what was going on.

I felt someone raising power to the north of me. Not knowing what was going on, I raised power of my own for a defensive spell. Mindful of what had happened the last time I tried to stop a spell someone else was casting mid-way through, and aware that my distrust of Major Haywood did not rest on the soundest of foundations, I waited.

The spell finished and passed me by.

I cast the largest Aura Reading spell I have ever cast. I was trying to get a sense of what was going on in the parish. It was then that I saw what my cousin was trying to do. He had cast his soul into the body of the hyena. I then cast several Seek Beast spells to determine where he and the hyena might be going.

I had not sensed power being used the other nights the hyena had attacked and the spells showed that the hyena was moving toward the Haywood property. I could contain myself no longer. I dressed warmly, put on my steel-toed boots, lit my lantern and set off up the road to the Haywood House, cudgel in hand

It seemed that the hyena was headed for the second barn a ways back from the road and the main house. I found the barn, with the door shut. The hyena came around the corner.
I could do nothing but hope that Major Haywood was in control of the animal and that he had no immediate plans for my death. The hyena watched me but did not attack.

Without taking all of my attention from the hyena, I opened the door to the barn.

My time with the League has served me well. I was only mildly surprised to see my cousin lying unconscious, wearing nothing but a loincloth and multi-hued body paint, in his own spell circle. What really caught my attention was a metal cage along the wall of the barn. It looked large enough to hold the hyena. I told Major Haywood to take the hyena into the cage if he could. I stood as near the door as I could convince myself. The hyena went into the cage. I shut the door and locked it. The hyena leapt at me though the bars and I jumped back.

My heart was pounding so hard that I couldn’t hear much of anything for a few minutes. I regained my composure and cast a spell of sleep on the beast. It is not one of my most reliable spells but I managed. The hyena put his head down and slept.

I took advantage of the quiet to search the building. I found a letter from Major Haywood. It was rather wordy but I was able to glean some information from it.

Apparently while serving in Africa, Major Haywood had been badly wounded. A Wise Man had healed him by binding his spirit to that of a hyena. The binding shared the injury between man and beast and made it possible for the Wise Man to save Major Haywood’s leg. I could see the massive scar in the Major’s leg and had noticed the hyena limping earlier. The Wise Man had said that the tie to the hyena would fade over time.

It did not. This was not a problem while he lived in Africa and he had thought that once he was England the geographical difference would break the binding or at least make it impossible for the hyena to follow.

In his letter he confessed to being baffled as to how the hyena had followed him. Especially given that it had only been two weeks since he had settled in to the family house.

Major Haywood’s instructions were very thorough, if rather melodramatic. He hoped I would be able to detangle the two souls, but if I were not able he asked that I kill the hyena and help his sister arrange his body so that his death would not look quite so outlandish. I considered this to be rather a lot to ask of a cousin one has just met, however I did note that he had left me a fully loaded shotgun. How kind.

I spent some time considering my options. I was fairly certain that I could reverse the effects of the spell he himself had cast and if we were desperate I could try to undo the Wise Man’s binding but I did not know what effect that might have. I was concerned– if I were to wholly separate both souls I might also undo the healing effects of the spell and be left with a very seriously injured man on my hands. My emergency aid skills are decent but I am no doctor and certainly no healer like Mrs Cuthbert.

I decided to start by reversing the spell Major Haywood had cast and put things back the way they were at the start of the evening. I set up my circle and spent a few minutes in meditation before beginning. It helped a great deal that I had, through the aura reading, seen the spell being cast. I successfully removed the spell holding Major Haywood’s spirit in the hyena.

He awoke in his own body and I suggested he put some clothes on before we continue. I told him my concerns and we both wondered how the hyena had managed to get here in the first place. While we were talking I looked more closely at the two of them. I could see the threads of their soul-stuff intermixed. A small amount of each remained in the other. I could also see the fae imprint of my cousin’s soul.

In a flash, it occurred to me how the hyena had traveled here– it had come through the standing stones. It used the fae portion of Major Haywood’s nature to cross from Africa to England via Faerie. I shared my thought with Major Haywood. He immediately seized on it as a possible way to get the hyena back to Africa.

That did seem more humane than either putting it in a zoo or transporting it by boat back to the Cape, however, I don’t think he realizes how dangerous waking the stones can be. Having seen our full-blood cousins up close while we were in Belgium, I am not eager to do so again soon.

As I was considering our options it occurred to me that this was not an emergency yet. But that both Major Haywood and I could make it so by pushing too hard. It is one thing to try an untested spell in the heat of battle when there is no other choice, but we were not in that situation.

The hyena was caged and fed (Major Haywood had made it eat an entire ham while he was in control of the body). We slid a dish of water in its cage while it slept. Major Haywood was back in his body and decently clothed. I thought about all the mystics I knew who where more experienced than I (all of them) in dealing with the Fae and I finally hit upon the solution of sending a telegram to Miss Mitzi asking for her assistance.

I don’t know if she will come– she took time off from her business to come to the wedding last weekend. She would certainly be able to give us good advice on how to untangle this mess.

I convinced Major Haywood to allow me to send for reinforcements. I encouraged him to get some rest while we waited on word from the city. He agreed to hold off on further experimentation. It was very early in the morning, but dawn was still a ways off given the short winter days.

Major Haywood insisted on having his servant drive me home. I resisted until it became clear that the man he intended to send me with was an old family retainer from Africa. I was promised their discretion. By that point I was arguing on principle, as I was really too tired to walk home in the dark. I was certainly glad to be handed up into the carriage.

The carriage brought me to my cottage and I did not dare go to sleep. So now I have used up the time between my arrival home and the time I expect young Bill and his cart. I will have him take me by the telegraph office on my way to meet with Mr Ashby.

~Afternoon~

I’m having a difficult time remembering what day it is. I managed to make it through the meeting with Mr Ashby without falling asleep. I got the telegraph of to Miss Mitzi. I made it plain that her help was needed urgently but that it was not an emergency– at least I hope I made it plain– composing a telegram when one has not slept in 24 hours is a bit tricky.

Now I have rested and feel better for several hours of sleep.

~Evening~

Mr Templeton arrived on the afternoon train. He had taken the precaution of hiring a dog cart and arrived under his own steam before dusk. I had started the water boiling when I sensed his approach, and once he was settled in my guest room we sat down to tea and explanations.

Mr Templeton was surprisingly kind. I had been braced for a more acerbic reaction to dragging him out to the country on a Friday but he was really sweet about it. Once he was briefed we drove up to Haywood House and called on Major Haywood.

He looked rather the worse for wear. I don’t think he had taken my advice to get some rest. He looked rumpled and tired and he had apparently confided in his sister. She might be part of the reason he looked distressed– she was justifiably angry that he did not confide in her last night.

At least there were no awkward secrets between them as we began the final stages of our preparations. Mr Templeton examined the hyena and Major Haywood. I told him all I could from my observations the night before. I also noted that, while the hyena looked male, it’s aura was very definitely female. Mr Templeton mentioned that the more we knew about the original spell the better our chances would be of undoing it successfully. I left him to his examinations and went into the house to ask Mrs Russell for certain supplies I hoped we would not need. Mr Templeton had agreed it was possibility that Major Haywood might revert to his old injury when the spell was undone. I planned to take with me supplies necessary to keep him from bleeding out or from catching his death.

Major Haywood, Mr Templeton and I reconvened in the barn to discuss particulars. Major Haywood was distressed that he would not be able to participate actively in the spell but Mr Templeton was adamant.

We agreed to get a good night’s rest and meet again tomorrow.

I have settled Mr Templeton in the guest room and myself back in my room. It is not as warm as my nest in front of the fire but the bed is more comfortable.

21 February 1871, Saturday

I awoke just after sunrise and put the tea on. The smell brought a yawning Mr Templeton downstairs. I suspect he would have preferred to start in the evening, but this way we will not draw quite as much attention (not to mention risk breaking an ankle on the rough terrain).

We drove up to Haywood House and picked up Major Haywood and the hyena. We then set off for the standing stones. Not wanting to lose a finger, hand or other body part to the hyena, we put it to sleep for the journey.

Mr Templeton asked me some questions about my magik. It turns out that our styles are similar enough that I could help him with the rituals.

First he raised power and wove a complex spell around the standing stones. It looked like a very specialized ward– meant to keep the things in faerie inside the stones. We then put the hyena and its cage and Major Haywood in the center of a large circle. Being so near the standing stones made it much simpler to raise enough power to loose the binding on their souls. It was a complex spell– really two spells cast simultaneously both meant to drive out the intruding souls in each body.

I had taken the precaution of taking my hairpins out and leaving them with the cart. If I had not there would metal pins scattered over much of the area around the stones. Mr Templeton completed the first spell and it was clear that it had succeeded. Each soul was now whole and in the correct body.

We began chanting immediately. Mr Templeton had not told me exactly what was coming next, however, I put my trust in him and kept going. The power swirled around us. Mr Templeton took off his cape and draped it over the cage. The power coalesced, pulsed and burst away leaving the cage empty.

A strange wailing started from the stones. The hair stood up on the back of my neck. Mr Templeton focussed all of his attention on the stones power rising up from the ground around him. For just a moment he looked every inch the Elf. I heard the sound of a door slamming and the world returned to normal.

The hyena was well and gone. Mr Templeton apologized to me for not telling me his plan to send the hyena home to Africa through Faerie. He was concerned that I would think it too risky. It would have been to risky for me certainly, but I was glad he could do it.

Major Haywood was wholly himself again but he was unconscious. His old wound was inflamed and he felt feverish to my hand.

Mr Templeton and I carried him to the cart and bundled him up well against the cold. I was very glad I had brought spare blankets. Once back at Haywood House, Mrs Russell and I tucked him into bed. While she called Dr Quarles, I cast my soothe charm on him. It is not as helpful as the healing that Mrs Cuthbert can do, but it does relieve pain and help the patient heal.

Mr Templeton and I took our leave after the Doctor arrived. I did take Mrs Russell aside and let her know the outcome of our work– at least as much of it as she wanted to know. She made no objection when I said I would call again tomorrow.

Once back at my cottage Mr Templeton and I took tea. I made lunch for the two of us. It was hard to believe that so much had happened in one morning. I thanked Mr Templeton for his assistance. He assured me that I would have figured something out on my own. I’m sure I would have but it was very nice to be able to call in an expert and have things go smoothly. He reassured me again that I could have handled it.

He declined my offer of train fare and decided to try to catch the afternoon train to London. I will have to think of a suitable gift to give him. Perhaps the Marquis can help me with that next I see him. He has unerring taste and an amazing ability to find just the right thing.

22 January 1871, Sunday

Major Haywood was feeling enough better that Mrs Russell felt it was safe for her and Eliza to attend church. She stopped by the cottage on the way and asked if I would like to ride in to Darlson with them and then come to lunch afterward. I took her up on the kind offer and had a nice time. I met several more of my neighbours and had a pleasant lunch with Mrs Russell and Eliza.

24 January 1871, Tuesday

I went to visit Major Haywood today. He is still a touch feverish, but was sitting up in bed. I was my usual tounge-tied self for a while. I am terrible at visiting the sick. I finally asked him why he had taken such a round-about way to try to attract my attention on the night of the hyena. He said he had hoped I would stay late after the dinner party so he could explain things to me but when I decided to go home early he could think of no socially appropriate way to get my attention.

I suggested next time he just slip me a note.

I then went on to explain how his strong resemblance to the brother-in-law of my Great-Aunt had led me to be suspicious of him. I apologised for mis-judging him but reinterated the simple utility of the note– which could have been slipped to me while handing me my coat, for example.

I tried not to belabour the point and we talked a bit more about our shared heritage. His mother had always told him the power came from the Viking gods– which is much more romantic than the explanation Great-Aunt Hethelyn and Mr Ramsey have given me. And who knows– maybe in his case it partly true.

I have seen at least two of the old gods walk among us– though I have not told him that– even with all we hold in common there is much I cannot say.

26 January 1871, Saturday

I have been at the Haywood’s frequently this week. Major Haywood is making a rapid recovery from his ‘relapse.’ He offered to show me a healing spell that he learned in Africa. It required his using his body painting technique (as that seems to be integral to this type of magik) but after he showed me the mechanism I was able to translate it to my own way of doing things and my version seems to work quite well. It is a very nice little spell. It draws the life force out of the disease while at the same time shoring up the life of the patient. In some ways it is very similar to my Soothe spell.

1 February 1871, Friday

I received a letter from Miss Chigwidgeon Lady Cowperthwaite inviting me to Edenfield Court on 18 February. I will talk to Bill and make my travel arrangements.

It is none too soon. I’m terribly afraid that Major Haywood has become taken with me. He is showing some of the early signs that I missed in Inspector MacGregor. He is a much nicer man than I ever imagined– however his magik is incompatible with mine and I am wary of marring a man to closely related to me. In the normal course of things his relationship to me is far enough distant to be unexceptional– however his double dose of Haywood blood combined with my own is worrying.

I will try to nip such thoughts in the bud the next time I see him.

Besides, there is only one man I want. I don’t know if I can have him but there is no use leaving other perfectly good men hostage to my own love’s fortunes.

Proceed to I had been set up

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