She opened her mouth to say something that would probably get her in more trouble, then closed it before she could say a word. Emily made friends, friends who helped her when she needed it. Nanette knew she lacked the talent — Penny wouldn’t be anything like as friendly if Nanette hadn’t been manipulating her magically — but… who knew? Perhaps she could turn the whole affair to her advantage. It always worked out for Emily.
“Yes, My Lady,” Nanette said.
Lady Damia let go of her ear. “Go.”
“Thank you.” Lillian was staring at her, worshipfully. “I… thank you.”
Nanette felt… she wasn’t sure how she felt. She’d broken the rules. She’d done something that, in the long run, might have done a great deal of harm. A younger student couldn’t get into the habit of looking to an older one for protection, or she’d be helpless and alone when that student graduated. And yet, the way Lillian was looking at her gave birth to a funny feeling in her stomach. She’d done something good. It felt wonderful.
And you can’t let yourself get too close to anyone, she thought, as Lady Damia started to lecture the younger girls. It looked like they were in trouble too. You’re not going to be here much longer.
She forced herself to wander down to the gym mistress’s office, dawdling as much as she dared. Mountaintop had taught her to take her punishments stoically, but Nadine had never been punished in her entire life. No one had so much as said no to her… Nanette felt a flicker of cold contempt, tinged with amusement. The goldfish girl was in for a shock when she married and found herself subordinate to a husband. She’d move from being her father’s property to her husband’s.
Unless she masters enough magic to protect herself, Nanette thought. And that won’t be easy if she doesn’t buckle down and work at it.
She felt her heart start to race as she reached the office and peered inside. The gym mistress was sitting at her desk, talking to a pair of younger girls who looked like mice caught by a cat’s steady gaze. She was insanely muscular, so muscular Nanette was tempted to believe the whispered rumour the teacher really was a man. But she had no visible Adam’s apple in her throat, nothing to suggest she was anything but female. It was just another cruel lie dreamt up by girls who had no other way to fight back.
Mistress Greenstone looked up. “Yes?”
Nanette tried hard to sound scared. “Lady Damia sent me here…”
“Then stand in the corner and wait.” Mistress Greenstone turned back to the other girls, as if Nanette was not worthy of her time. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.”
Your guests will make sure everyone knows what happened, Nanette thought, as she did as she was told. And everyone will be making fun of me afterwards.
She put the thought aside. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was fitting in long enough to devise a plan, put it into action and vanish before something went wrong. She couldn’t afford to delay. The longer she waited, the greater the chance of something going wrong. If the staff realised she was an imposter, they’d grab her even if they didn’t know who she was or why she was there. She doubted she could talk her way out of trouble.
“I’ll see you both later,” Mistress Greenstone said. “Dismissed.”
Nanette tensed as the two girls left the room. Their pitying looks boded ill. This was not going to be fun.
Just pretend it hurts worse than it does, Nanette told herself, as the gym mistress picked up a cane and ordered her to bend over. It would be easy, she thought. And believable. Let her think she’s really hurting you.
Chapter 7
“I heard you disgraced yourself,” Penny said, an hour later. “The whole school heard your yowls.”
Nanette glared at her. The gym mistress wasn’t the nastiest person she’d met — she’d met quite a few outright sadists, during her career as student and gofer — but she was determined to make each punishment memorable. Nanette had channelled Nadine and screamed the place down, yet the gym mistress hadn’t seemed to care. She probably thought anyone sent for punishment before dinner really deserved it. Nanette had limped back to her bedroom, closed the door and thrown herself on the bed. She wouldn’t be sleeping comfortably for days.
“And banned from watching the flying display,” Penny added, as she sat on her bed and started to rustle through her drawers. “What did you do?”
“I can’t fly,” Nanette reminded her. “What does it matter?”
Penny gave her a sharp look. “Do you know who comes to the displays? The Elder Sisters, all the graduates who might take us as apprentices or give our careers a boost or even give us a helping hand when we need it. Every year, we have the chance to form relationships that might save our lives later on. It’s not just about flying. It’s about the opportunity to make friends with people who might help us.”
Nanette frowned. Put that way, it was almost reasonable. Magical society lived and died by patronage, from apprentices finding the right masters to newborn magicians marrying into ancient lineages or working for an older magician on the understanding you’d inherit the business when your master died. She remembered how older girls and younger ones seemed to be on almost friendly terms and nodded. The chance to meet graduates — and form relationships with them — was more important than it seemed. Who knew what someone’s patronage could do for you?
“I see your point,” she said. “But there’s no going back now.”
“You might be able to help me,” Penny said. She pulled a small jar out of her drawer and held it out. “But here’s something for you first.”
Nanette took the jar. “What’s this?”
“Soothing potion,” Penny said. “I made it myself.”
“Really?” Nanette was genuinely touched. Penny was taking a considerable risk in even admitting to owning the jar, let alone giving it to her. “I… thank you.”
Penny shrugged. “Least I could do,” she said. “But you do realise why you’re in trouble, don’t you?”
“I turned three girls into frogs.” Nanette breathed a sigh of relief as she applied the potion to her rear. “Right?”
“Not quite.” Penny looked pensive, just for a moment. “You stripped them naked. That’s a serious crime here.”
Well, of course, Nanette thought, darkly.
“I know we’re not supposed to care,” Penny added. It took Nanette a moment to realise she meant aristocrats. “But here… the rules are different.”
Nanette nodded. “I quite understand,” she said. “And I won’t do it again.”
“Very good.” Penny smiled as she took back the jar. “Now, I have to give you a cluster of detentions. You can work in the library for the next few weekends.”
“A fate worse than a fate worse than death,” Nanette said, dryly. It was, for a student at boarding school. She wouldn’t be allowed to leave the school on the weekends, even to visit Pendle. She’d be too busy in the library. And Nadine would absolutely hate it. Everyone knew she couldn’t read properly. “You’re a terrible sadist.”
“It could be worse,” Penny said. “Believe me, it could be worse.”