Lucky Rabbit

Thaniel was predictably pleased to find out Pandy would officially be joining the school that evening, and spent most of their time together chattering eagerly about what kind of things he wanted to ‘learn’ in Small Group. Then Isidor returned, caught sight of Pandy, and turned right back around and left again, which put an end to the happy atmosphere and Thaniel’s smile.

Now, Pandy raised her hand and knocked at the wide double doors leading into Falconet. A brisk wind had picked up since class ended, and she regretted the fact that she lacked a coat or cloak. For one thing, she’d always wanted a cloak, which gave their wearers such a romantic and dashing air, but also it was going to seem strange that she didn’t have one, especially as winter really set in. She’d have to order something from Saskia when she went to pick up her pants.

The door swung open silently, revealing a smiling young servant woman. She blinked as she took in Pandy’s unconventional appearance, but her polite greeting never faltered. “How may I help you, ma’am?”

In spite of a solid half hour planning this out after realizing that Eurydice Haupe couldn’t just appear inside the school at exactly the right moment, Pandy almost swallowed her own tongue as she said, “I’m Eurydice… Miss Haupe? To see, um, August- the chancellor. Of Falconet. Which you probably know, because I’m here. I mean, not my name, because of course you’ve never-”

“Right this way, Miss Haupe,” the woman said, stepping aside to let Pandy in. As they entered the foyer, Pandy was startled to realize this was the same servant who popped up everywhere she went. She served food at mealtimes, went to find Pandy when Luca delivered her first set of clothes, and apparently also answered the door. Pandy was absolutely certain at least fifteen other people worked within the school itself, aside from the teachers, so why was this one young woman always around?

“They’re already eating, but I’m to have you wait while I let Mr. Blackwood know you’re here,” the servant said, blithely unaware that Pandy was going over every interaction they’d ever had, starting with when she broke ‘Ms. Wellington’s’ nose while pushing open the door between the dining room and the hall leading to the kitchen.

Which reminded Pandy that this was supposed to be Eurydice’s first time in Falconet. Unless she’d snuck in for an interview at some point? But no, the servants would definitely know that, so it was best Pandy look at least a little impressed.

Gazing around, Pandy’s eye caught on the disapproving frown on the face of The Portrait That Watches. It stood out among all of the smiling faces, and Pandy blurted out, “Who’s that?” while pointing at it.

The servant turned and looked, her brows going up as she took in the bewhiskered gent. “I’m not actually certain, ma’am,” she said after a moment, turning back to Pandy. “I just started working here last year, and I haven’t learned all of the previous chancellors and teachers yet.”

“So he used to be a chancellor?” Pandy asked, completely unable to stop now that she’d gotten started.

“I assume so, ma’am,” the woman said, with just the tiniest hint of ‘who cares?’ edging into her tone.

“Oh. That makes sense. I’m sorry for- Who are you?” The question slipped out just as Pandy started to let down her guard, thinking she’d managed to get her mouth under control.

Now the young woman looked distinctly uneasy, glancing around as if realizing she was alone with a complete stranger who might just be a homicidal maniac. This wasn’t an unfamiliar expression to Pandy, so she took a quick step toward the dining room door, hoping it might just look like she was making idle conversation. Of course, she promptly tripped on a carved toy duck abandoned there by some student, tumbling forward so the servant had to lunge for her, pulling her back upright.

Which she did without any sign of strain, in spite of the fact that while they were about the same height, Eurydice Haupe was a good twenty or thirty pounds heavier than the younger woman. Pandy also felt something odd when the servant grasped her hand. Cloth? But a quick check said the woman wasn’t wearing gloves. Frowning, Pandy reached for the retreating hands, but they were quickly yanked away as the servant moved ahead, slipping through the dining room doors without another word.

Absently, Pandy leaned down and picked up the discarded duck, tucking it into her pocket. She’d give it to Augustus later. Still… That was strange, even for an interaction in which Pandy was involved. Worse, it was suspicious, especially given their concerns about spies and Bound. And the woman had only started working at Falconet last year, possibly around the same time it was decided that Eleanor would attend school there? Pandy would definitely have to bring this up to Augustus.

She was so caught up in these thoughts that she didn’t even notice the door starting to swing open again, and barely managed to avoid having the same person break her nose for a second time. The Very Suspicious Servant did look much more apologetic this time than she had when she realized she’d hit Ms. Wellington, so there was that.

“This way, Miss Haupe,” the woman said, her expression settling into bland pleasantry as she gestured toward the small dais on which the head table sat. Everyone in the room stared at Pandy as she walked toward the back – front? – of the room, and it was only Augustus’s encouraging smile and Thaniel’s broad grin that kept her moving. She even managed to forget about the servant, and when she met Augustus at the edge of the stage and turned around, the woman was already gone.

“I’d like to present our new teacher, Miss Haupe,” Augustus said, gesturing to Pandy, who gave an awkward half-nod, half-curtsey, which caused a titter to sweep through the room. Augustus gave the children a quelling look and continued.

“Miss Haupe will be replacing Ms. Wellington,” he said, “covering classes as needed, providing another adult for off-campus outings, and teaching a Small Group. She’s new to Knightmere, and I trust all of you will be polite and welcoming.”

Heads nodded, and one little girl Pandy recognized from Thaniel’s Leadership and Governance class stuck her hand in the air. “Why are you wearing pants, Miss Haupe?”

Augustus sighed. “Thank you, Vanessa.” He gazed around at the students, who all seemed transfixed as they awaited an answer to this brilliant question. “I will note,” he said finally, “that there is nothing in the school dress code prohibiting women or girls from wearing pants, and in fact all of the stablehands do so.”

“But they’re servants,” a boy said, and Augustus pinned him with a chilly glare.

“You’ll be in the stable for chores until midwinter break, Oscar.” The boy let out a groan, slumping in his chair, and the chancellor continued speaking to the rest of the student body. “Again, I hope you’ll give Miss Haupe the same respect your other teachers expect.”

This time everyone nodded, and Augustus relaxed. Turning to Pandy, he said, “Would you care to tell us a bit about yourself, Miss Haupe?” and the sparkle in his eyes said he was very much looking forward to her answer.

But Pandy had already thought about this, as well. After all, even if she didn’t need a background just yet, eventually it would come up in conversation with one of her fellow teachers. With a triumphant look at the chancellor, she smiled around and said, “I recently came into a small inheritance, so I arrived in-”

“How small?”

“Did somebody die?”

“My mother inherited a house in the country! It has seven bedrooms, and-”

“I got my dog after my grandpa died. I was really sad, but I like Pettibone!”

“Don’t you know anybody here?”

“Did you come from another country?”

The barrage of questions seemed unlikely to stop on its own, so Augustus clapped his hands sharply, just once. The children fell silent instantly, and that silence thickened as he said calmly, “I’d like you all to turn in a one-page essay on the meaning of ‘respect’ to your homeroom teachers. They’re due on Monday, which is, coincidentally, also the day Miss Haupe will begin work.”

This time most of the children slumped down, though a few sat up straighter, eyes flashing. Pandy guessed these were the ones who hadn’t been involved in the outburst, and felt it was unfair to punish them alongside their guilty counterparts, but Augustus ignored the looks as he motioned for Pandy to precede him, back in the direction of the main doors.

She went along willingly enough, but rounded on him as soon as the doors closed behind them. “You knew that was going to happen!” she accused Augustus, and he grimaced.

“I did,” he admitted, “but it was better to just go with it, rather than allowing speculation to run rampant. This way they have something to hang their wild theories on. Besides, I’ve been trying to find a way to let the students know the dress code has changed. None of them ever read that part of the handbook, if they read any of it at all, and I doubt their parents have brought it up, even if they bothered to read it. I have no doubt I’ll be hearing from some who want me to change it back, but I have no intention of doing so. There’s no reason to continue requiring girls to wear skirts in this day and age.”

The determined expression on his face almost managed to make Pandy forgive him. Still, he hadn’t needed to use her as an object lesson. He had two perfectly good aunts with perfectly good – well, mostly good – legs who could have done it. Not that she thought Lady Frances would have gone along with it, but it wasn’t inconceivable that Arabelle might have been willing. After all, wearing pants would be a lot less cumbersome, and surely make it easier for the older woman to walk.

“That servant,” she said, blinking in surprise as the words left her mouth. Augustus seemed equally startled, brows lifting above the frame of his glasses. Pandy hurried on. “The one who opened the door for me. Every time I turn around, she’s there. And tonight, she helped me when I stumbled, and I would swear she was wearing gloves, even though she looked bare-handed. I think she might be using an illusion to-”

Augustus let out a soft chuckle and said, “She owes me two gold. She swore up and down that she was blending in perfectly, and no one would ever notice her.”

“She who?” Pandy asked, looking around as if this ‘she’ might suddenly appear from thin air.

With a small shake of his head, Augustus removed a sugar cube from his inner pocket and murmured, “Cieris? Would you call Sir Bailey for me, please?”

The little whirlwind swirled into being next to his fingers, sucked up the sugar, and vanished again. After nearly a minute of silence, Pandy started to say something, but Augustus shook his head at her, eyes twinkling.

Eventually, the door that led to the classrooms opened, revealing a Knight of the Royal Eagle, complete with featureless helmet and shining silver armor. The knight made no sound as they crossed to Pandy and Augustus, then withdrew two gleaming golden coins from within a pouch at their belt and handed them to the chancellor.

“My apologies, sir,” said the hollow voice of Sir Bailey, the knight who always seemed to be around when Augustus needed something.

“I told you she’d figure it out,” he told the knight, then transferred his gaze to Pandy. “Not that you were quite there yet, but I know you, and there was no way you weren’t going to start stalking that servant around.”

“I’m glad we avoided that, at least,” Sir Bailey said, and their tone was definitely tinged with dry amusement.

“Sir Bailey was my liaison with the knights in my previous position,” Augustus said softly. “When I came here, they agreed to come as well, and continue in that capacity. When we realized we had at least one spy in the school, they went undercover as a servant, using a charm much like the one I gave you.”

Pandy stared at the knight, remembering the pleasantly unremarkable servant who always seemed to be underfoot. It all made sense now. But that meant- “You know who I am?” Her voice squeaked, and Augustus’s lips tightened on a smile.

“They do,” he admitted. “There was no avoiding it, I’m afraid. But Bailey is the only member of the Knights who knows everything, and I trust her with my life.” He gave Sir Bailey a warm smile, and the knight bowed her head.

Her! Sir Bailey was a woman. Had always been a woman! A woman who had been around Augustus, probably for years. Certainly long enough that he trusted her so completely that he told her Pandy’s secrets. Or had Sir Bailey seen the evidence for herself? After all, Pandy hadn’t exactly been looking for invisible Royal Knights when she transformed into Ms. Wellington in front of the children. She knew Augustus’s elementals were always watching her, but he’d already known by then, so she hadn’t worried about it, but it had never occurred to her that… She was so bad at being sneaky! So bad!

“Oh,” Pandy managed. “That’s, um, okay then. Nice to meet you, Sir Bailey?” She held out her hand, then snatched it back, remembering it was Sir Bailey who had gone with her to Avington House. They’d already met. Several times, in fact, though maybe never with the same two faces in a row.

As if Sir Bailey could read Pandy’s roiling thoughts – could she? Was telepathy another thing the Royal Knights could do? – the woman said, “Augustus is my cousin, though it’s not something most people are aware of,” and Pandy felt a horrible kind of nausea begin to subside. “I’ve known him since we were both in diapers, and he once cut off all my hair while I was sleeping.”

“That’s only because you spilled the ink and blamed it on me,” Augustus said in the kind of tone that said this was an argument that had been fought so many times all of the sharp edges had worn off.

“Because you pushed me down the hill and stained my dress, and Nanny said I wouldn’t get dessert if I messed up another outfit that day,” the knight said, and Pandy laughed. The two turned to look at her, and she shook her head, holding out her hand again.

“It really is nice to meet you, Sir Bailey,” she said. “Properly, this time.”