Jess’s spoon paused halfway to her mouth. She exchanged a questioning glance with Mike, only to be met with a shrug.

The knock at the door repeated. Three firm but polite raps on the hard wood.

“I ain't expecting company,” Mike informed Jess, returning to his porridge, but she was already rising from her seat and hurriedly dabbing at her mouth with a clean handkerchief. She hurried down the stairs and straightened her skirts before opening the door.

“Good morning, can I help you?” she asked with a smile.

Outside the door stood a petite woman, perhaps the same age as Jess but with considerably more worry lines around her eyes. Her rich chocolatey brunette hair was tied in a bun as neatly as her hands that were clasped in front of her skirts. Her eyes widened slightly at Jess’s question and a polite small smile stuttered to life upon her face.

“G-good afternoon, ma’am,” the stranger replied and curtsied. “My name is Lady Belweather. I’m sorry to intrude. I came to inquire about the new school.”

“Of course! Please come in. I can grab-“ started Jess as she half turned away but she stopped when she glanced at the panic on Lady Belweather’s face.

“My apologies, I have little time to spare at the moment,” Lady Belweather explained. “You are Miss Harper that intends to open the school, aren’t you?”

With a nod, Jess agreed, and Lady Belweather’s relief was palpable.

“And are you still accepting new students?” Lady Belweather asked, eyes wide and pleading.

“I am,” answered Jess cautiously. She still wasn’t sure what was going on. The waves of anxiety emanating from Lady Belweather seemed to be contagious.

“If possible, might I request that you visit us at our home?” Lady Belweather asked. “We’d be happy to compensate you for your time.”

“Well… I…” Jess mumbled but was cut short by the earnest Lady Belweather.

“We have tried to get young Terrance into the other schools, but they refuse due to his… condition. It is difficult you see. It would perhaps be better if you were able to meet him before making a decision?”

Jess gave a warm smile and nodded. “I understand perfectly, Lady Belweather. I’d be delighted to meet Terrance.”

Lady Belweather’s shoulders loosened a little as she thanked Jess.

“Will noon be a suitable time for you, Miss Harper? I shall send a carriage. It’s quite a journey to the house on foot.”

“That sounds lovely, thank you,” said Jess and she meant it. An interview would require her new dress and good boots. Not to mention the fact that it would make it easier if she didn’t need a guide to find the house.

“Until this afternoon then, Miss Harper,” said the Lady Belweather as she gave a small curtsey. Jess did the same, though she wasn’t quite sure whether she was meant to. It felt like the appropriate thing to do. It seemed to satisfy Lady Belweather as she retreated away down the lane towards the main street.

Jess closed the door and returned upstairs to her unfinished porridge. Hers was the only bowl still on the table, but Mike was seated with a pot of tea and a half-filled cup. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“How much do you know about Lady Belweather?” Jess asked, pulling back the stool so that she could sit down.

Mike’s second eyebrow shot up to meet the first, each seeming to compete to see which could get closer to his hairline.

“Lady Belweather as in, wife of Lord Belweather?” he asked, agape.

“I’m… assuming so?” Jess replied.

“Lord of Fine Taste?” Mike asked. His cup remained on the table, forgotten.

“Uhh…” Jess stumbled, “I was following before, but now you’ve lost me.”

“Lord Belweather has a stranglehold on the spices that come through Steelvale. Imported and homegrown. He hosts banquets for the other nobles. Fancy events. Expensive events,” Mike explained. Jess couldn’t help but notice the way that his eyes roamed to the meagre pots of spices near the stove top. There were fennel seeds, a little mustard and a handful of dried bay leaves, but anything more exotic like a curry mix would be out of the question.

“Have you heard anything weird about his kid?” Jess asked. Even if the kid is bedbound, surely someone as loaded as that would be able to pay for a home tutor?

With a shake of the head, Mike dispelled some of her worries, but not all of them. The only way to find out for sure would be to wait until noon.

When the rap on the door sounded, Jess was startled. A young gent with short brown hair stood in the doorway waiting politely.

“The carriage is waiting for Miss Harper,” he politely said, clenching his cloth flatcap to his chest.

“That’ll be me!” she said, jumping up from her stool behind the counter. With a friendly wave towards Mike as she strode through the doorway, she followed the coachman (or boy – the lad looked barely seventeen) back to where a whitewashed, enclosed carriage sat in the street. The driver sat up in front, similar in age to the one that Jess followed, but this one was sporting curled blonde dander on his cheeks that he was no doubt calling a ‘beard’.

The first of the coachmen opened the door for Jess and offered a hand to support her. It was unnecessary as the carriage had a wooden step that was an easy height for stepping on, but Jess appreciated the sentiment.

The plush seats inside were comfortable with padded leather. The windows held no glass but did have dark velvet curtains that could be drawn across for shade or privacy. Jess chose to leave them open as they began to glide through the city. It was only a short ride to the home of Lady Belweather, but she was glad to be making it in style. They clip-clopped through the Eastern gate out of the city, but instead of heading North towards the mountains and wilderness, they continued onwards towards the green fields and farmland that Mike had described as ‘Grasscroft’.

They passed field after field of crops until they came to a split in the road, marked by blossoming trees. Pink confetti swirled around them as the carriage continued and they were soon passing by gardens filled with roses, tulips and all manner of brightly coloured delights.

The home that Lady Belweather had invited Jess to was no sprawling manor, but was still impressive and reminded Jess of Normandy-style stately homes. Dark oaken supporting beams were paired with white-washed bricks. The red-tiled roof boasted two wide chimneys at either end of the pointed roof.

An elderly woman in pale green stood at the double doors that marked the main entrance to the house. She stood patiently as the carriage came to a slow halt in front of the house and then walked down to meet Jess as she was being kindly aided out of the carriage by the coach boy.

“Good afternoon, Miss Harper,” she said. “Lady Belweather is awaiting your presence in the gardens.”

The gardens were sprawling and fragrant. Hedgerows of rosemary, speckled with pastel blue flowers, framed the sandy paths that wound gracefully to a seating area beneath a dainty pergola adorned with flowering clematis. The Lady Belweather was seated but stood at their approach.

“Miss Harper. I am so glad that you have arrived safely. I trust that the ride was comfortable?”

Jess smiled and curtsied. “Lady Belweather. It was, thank you.” She was really regretting the fact that she hadn’t watched more period drama when she had the chance.

“Please. Take a seat,” said Lady Belweather, motioning to one of the cushioned chairs.

With a nod, Jess sat and nervously tapped her fingers on her knees. Should I ask or do I wait to be asked?

“Now, Miss Harper, the schooling that you are offering. Word on the grapevine is that it will be open to all students, including those of the Woodfolk?” Lady Belweather had not yet sat. Instead, her attention was on a small ceramic teapot with matching dainty cups. “Tea?”

Jess noticed that Lady Belweather’s hands were trembling slightly as she poured her tea. “Yes please,” she answered. “And yes. The goal is to make education more accessible to all students.”

“A very noble venture,” said Lady Belweather, handing Jess a cup and taking her seat with her own in hand. “But not all students have family that are able to afford an education.”

Jess sipped her tea. It was good. “No,” she agreed. “Not with coins.”

Lady Belweather said nothing but continued to watch Jess over the rim of her own cup. Under her penetrating gaze, Jess felt implored to give further detail. With a bit of luck, she might even sponsor some of the other students.

“Without the support of the other schools, it’ll be important to find extra help. The students will need feeding. The building will need upkeep. The grounds too. People are resourceful and many hands make light work.”

Lady Belweather smiled. “Goodwill won’t pay the rent, Miss Harper,” she said, but not unkindly.

Jess gave a light laugh. “At least that’s one bill that I don’t have to worry about. Farmer Hewitt has granted me the use of his land in exchange for the education of his granddaughters.”

“Then I concede that perhaps I was wrong,” said Lady Belweather with a broader smile. “It would seem that goodwill may indeed pay the bills. I underestimated your resourcefulness.”

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” The quote was one of Jess’s favourites and was used liberally with her students.

“Commendable. You clearly take a great deal of pride in your work,” Lady Belweather said.

Jess inclined her head in thanks. Pride tickled in her chest.

“I do believe,” Lady Belweather said, “that you may be exactly the kind of tutor that we have been hoping for. Would you like to meet Terrance?”

“Of course,” answered Jess brightly. After all, it seemed to be the reason that she was here. She moved to stand but paused when Lady Belweather waved a ‘stop’ motion with her free hand.

“Please, there is no need to stand, Miss Harper. It would perhaps be better for all of us if you remained seated.” Lady Belweather reached to place her cup safely on the table before clasping her hands upon her knee. “I would advise placing down your cup as well, Miss Harper.”

Jess frowned but did as she was asked. The nervous tightness in her stomach intensified.

Lady Belweather glanced around, both to the right and the left of them, with a tight smile. “Terrance, dearest.”

“Yes, Mother,” said a young boy’s voice from directly in front of Jess. She jumped, eyes going wide as she grasped the firm arms of the chair she sat in. Slack-jawed, she stared at Lady Belweather unable to comprehend what was happening.

“Would you please introduce yourself to Miss Harper?” Lady Belweather said. She was looking directly at Jess, and yet at the same time, she wasn’t. Her eyes were unfocused, almost as though she were daydreaming.

The disembodied voice spoke once more. Again, it came from between Jess and Lady Belweather. “Good afternoon, Miss Harper. My name is Master Terrance Belweather. I am honoured to make your acquaintance.”