A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess Read Free Book Online

Agrippa’s voice.
    I knew that sorcerers had the power to create a shield around themselves to block an attack. But I’d never dreamed of a ward like this.
    “What about the area outside? Can’t you shield them?”
    “No.” Agrippa cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. “The sorcerers’ power forms the ward, and one of our members specifically designs it. Master Palehook assures us that we have stretched our ability to its limit.”
    “Over there,” Magnus called, pointing to the front of a beautiful building, “is the Theatre Royal. I should take you for a show sometime. Have you ever been to the theater, Miss Howel? Do they get much Shakespeare up in Yorkshire?” His smile was full of false innocence.
    “No, but I can spot bad acting when it’s right in front of me,” I said. Magnus laughed so hard I feared he’d fall off his horse.
    —
    W E REACHED A GRIPPA’S HOME IN H YDE Park Corner as the last traces of daylight vanished. Magnus dismounted from his horse, and a servant came to take the reins. A footman in gray livery opened the carriage door. Agrippa climbed down, then helped me out. Rook leaped down beside me, and together we gaped at the magnificent structure.
    We’d passed tall, elegant white town houses on our way through Kensington. I’d assumed Agrippa lived somewhere similar, but this was no small residence. It was several stories of cream-colored stone with a marble portico and fluted columns. Awed, I turned to speak to Rook, but he was walking away, following the footman.
    “Rook! Where are you going?” I said.
    “Below stairs, miss. He’s a servant; he can’t enter through the front door.” The footman wore a pained expression.
    “But…” I couldn’t finish my thought. Hadn’t Agrippa said that he would take Rook into his home
as a servant
? There was just something about the way the footman studied Rook, the formality of the whole thing. Rook, for his part, didn’t seem to care.
    “Don’t worry about me, Nettie.” He disappeared down a flight of stairs near the front of the house. Agrippa came up beside me.
    “He’ll be well treated. I promise.”
    I believed him, but it was more than that. Rook and I had never been so separate before. We were from different classes, yes, but at Brimthorn it hadn’t mattered. We’d played together, spoken to each other, and no one minded. Now Rook and I wouldn’t be allowed to use the same door? Somehow I felt alone, even with Agrippa and Magnus waiting.
    —
    M Y HEELS CLICKED ON THE TILE floor as another footman took my cloak and bonnet. I turned in a circle, unable to contain my astonishment. The hall was a work of art in itself, with a great staircase twisting up several floors. Here in the foyer, oil paintings of beautiful spring countryside hung on every wall, along with exotic collectibles such as elephant tusks, fans from the Orient, and a sword in a lacquered sheath.
    “A girl could spend months simply exploring,” I muttered.
    “I hope you’ll make yourself at home,” Agrippa said. Could I ever really call a place this magnificent my home? The thought made me dizzy. “Now, before I take you to your room, perhaps you’d like to meet the rest of the household?”
    With Magnus behind us, we walked upstairs. Housemaids in starched aprons bustled by, curtsying when they saw us. I curtsied in return, until Agrippa whispered that I didn’t need to. On the second floor, we walked down a long hall and came to a door at the very end. Agrippa tried the handle, but it was locked.
    A voice from within yelled, “Go away! We’re busy.”
    “Open this door,” Agrippa called.
    Silence. The lock turned. We walked inside and found two young gentlemen with their staves pointed toward the ceiling. One of them, a large red-haired boy, put out a hand to stop us. “Careful, Master.”
    Twenty books floated in the air, hovering as if held by a current of strong wind. I watched the balancing act with interest. “All right,”