Netherby Halls by Claudy Conn Page B

appeared, she decided to introduce herself
to the elderly women already seated there.
    “Good morning, ladies. I am Miss Winthrop, the new
tutor.” She turned to the eldest woman and said, “You must be Miss
Graves.”
    “I am,” said the small wiry woman, not getting up
from her seat as she waved her hand towards the other ladies. “This
is Miss Betty Tyler and her sister Wilma Tyler.”
    “I am very pleased to meet you,” Sassy said politely,
noting that none of the three women had yet to offer a smile. Miss
Graves wore her short gray hair bobbed and covered with an ivory
lace cap, and her features were as steely as the shade of her hair.
Her gown of puce was trimmed with the same ivory lace. Her eyes
were a hard shade of gray and held no warmth.
    The Tyler sisters seemed at first glance complete
opposites of one another. Betty, whom Sassy judged to be the elder
of the two, was fair. The woman’s hair was streaked with gray and
was tied in a single braid wound into a bun at the nape of her
neck. She was plump and short, while her sister Wilma was
dark-haired, tall, and bony. All three women were well past their
fiftieth year.
    “She is far too young, Miss Graves,” Miss Betty said
in a high, shrill voice as though Sassy were not standing
there.
    “But sweet, don’t you think?” put in her
sister.
    “Never mind that, ladies. Miss Winthrop is here, and
as she has been appointed by Lady Devine herself, it is not our
place to question her lack of years,” Miss Graves said, her eyes
flickering over Sassy and then looking past her with an obvious
change in her demeanor.
    Sassy looked around to find Miss Sallstone walking
briskly towards them.
    “Up early, isn’t she?” Miss Wilma whispered within
Sassy’s hearing.
    “Hush!” her sister cautioned.
    Miss Sallstone came up short before Sassy and
inclined her head. “Ah, Miss Winthrop, I approve of your hair
today. It is far more in keeping than the cluster of ringlets you
wore yesterday. Perhaps later you might be able to do something
about all those curls around your face?”
    Sassy’s temper tickled a few thoughts off in her
mind, but she didn’t allow herself to voice them. Her immediate
reaction was that her wispy curls were nothing compared to the
low-cut bodice of Miss Sallstone’s lovely green velvet gown.
However, for the moment, she maintained her composure and her
tongue.
    “I see that you have already met your colleagues and
shall detain you only another moment from your breakfast to make
you known to our students.” She lifted her right hand for
attention, stilling the quiet chatter. She then announced the new
addition to the teaching team at Netherby.
    Morning introductions at an end, Sassy was invited to
sit beside Miss Graves, as the headmistress excused herself and
left them to one another.
    An odd feeling came over Sassy whenever Sallstone was
about, and it was very difficult to set aside. Was it just her
nerves? Was it the instant dislike she’d felt when she met the
woman? Just what was it?
    During the meal, the women gave Sassy a thorough
lesson as to location of school supplies, students who could be
what they called ‘mischievous,’ and others who were downright
‘trouble-makers.’
    Miss Graves took over at one point and gave her the
particulars of her job and what was expected of her.
    “Unfortunately, Miss Winthrop,” Miss Graves said,
“the girls that will make up your class—twelve of them, I
think—have been left to themselves since Miss Saunders’s
regrettable departure. They will need some managing.”
    “I see,” Sassy replied, wondering how she was going
to get organized.
    “You have time off to yourself directly after their
morning lessons, an entire hour and a half, while the girls take
lunch and have free time. Saturday is only a half day, and of
course, Sunday is your own,” Miss Graves added with a sigh.
    “Thank you, Miss Graves. You have been most kind,”
Sassy, said thinking the woman had been as