Lessons After Dark Read Online Free PDF Page A

female teacher?” Fairley again, sounding even younger in contrast to Waite’s typical attempt at playing worldly. “As if we were in the nursery?”
    Gareth, getting to his feet, glanced quickly out the window. It was a clear day so far, with perhaps a wisp or two of cloud floating in the blue. Nothing outside would be terribly susceptible to Fairley’s moods. All the same, it was good to be certain.
    Through the window, he glimpsed a figure in blue and recognized after a second it was Mrs. Grenville, walking toward the stables with her husband beside her. She’d finished showing the Brightmore woman about the place, then. Gareth had seen them going out earlier but thankfully had been too far away to speak. Since then, he’d been conducting preliminary examinations on the students and administering vaccinations to those who needed it, which had kept him quite nicely in his office.
    Eventually, he would have to talk with Mrs. Brightmore. Eventually, he would have to die. Gareth saw no point thinking about either longer than was strictly necessary.
    Outside, Waite chuckled knowingly, or what he thought was knowingly: a seventeen-year-old boy trying to act like a thirty-year-old model of dissipation. At any rate, their temperaments were normal, whatever their knowledge might end up being. Gareth smiled, even as his throat tightened. Memory was really the damnedest thing that way.
    â€œOh, cheer up, old man. There’s quite a bit you can learn from a woman, you know. Especially a woman like that.” Waite let out a low whistle.
    The smile died on Gareth’s face.
    â€œReally?” Fitzpatrick speaking again, his voice dropping. “You think—?”
    â€œWell, she’s probably here for the conventional things, you know. Shakespeare and geometry and that. Perhaps a little bit of contacting the spirit world. Women are good at that sort of thing, you know. Think how impressed she’ll be when she hears what we already know, or when Fairley here shows what he can do.”
    â€œShe did get Lizzie down,” Fairley began.
    â€œAny half-bright sort of a girl can talk a child like Lizzie into behaving sensibly. I don’t think there’s much in her but—”
    The opening door cut off Waite’s speech. It almost hit him in the side, as well. Gareth hadn’t been intending the second effect, but he didn’t think he’d lose a great deal of sleep over it. “Gentlemen,” he said, slipping back into his orderly-commanding tone, “I believe we were supposed to begin ten minutes ago.”
    Fairley ducked his head and looked at his shoes, and Waite had the sense to stay quiet. The door had evidently made an impression. Fitzpatrick, though, spoke up. “We didn’t know you were in, sir.”
    â€œYou could see the door,” said Gareth. “You have hands. Next time, I suggest you use them. Since you were suffering from so much suspense, however, we can begin with you.”
    Fitzpatrick winced but stepped forward.
    â€œBy the way,” Gareth added, looking between all three boys. “I would suggest not underestimating the ability of any teacher at this establishment. Mrs. Brightmore is both intelligent and knowledgeable…and if the Grenvilles appointed her as your instructor, magical or otherwise, I would imagine it’s because they think highly of her fitness for the task.”
    He paused.
    â€œIt is not one I envy her.”
    In his old life, he’d not had much cause to take such a tone, not even to issue many corrections. Most of the orderlies—most of the men—had known their job, tried their hardest, and not made much trouble, or not much that had been Gareth’s responsibility. Now it had been twice in two days. Not a good sign. In any case, he hadn’t lost the skill of it. Except for blushing, all three boys were studiously blank faced and still.
    Too still, in fact, for a mere dressing