Free Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer Page A

of black in the dressing room fireplace.
    The first chance he had, Frederick showed Mr. Kimball the soot.
    â€œLooks like soot, you’re right about that,” said Mr. Kimball. “No chance anyone used that fireplace without you noticing?”
    â€œNo chance at all. You don’t suppose it has something to do with the curse, do you?” Frederick asked.
    Mr. Kimball looked offended. “I do not! Nothing of the sort. Obviously there’s something nesting up there somewhere, a bird or a squirrel, something the sweep just didn’t notice.”
    The next night that he slept in Lord Schofield’s dressing room, Frederick woke in the dark. His eyes told him nothing, but he distinctly heard the sound of dry leaves rustling. At first Frederick, still half dreaming, took it for granted. When he could, he always slept with a window open. After a few moments, however, he woke up enough to remember that the little window in the dressing room didn’t open. Whatever the sound was, it didn’t come from outdoors.
    Frederick pushed up on one elbow, staring around despite the darkness. He strained his ears, grateful he heard no squeaking of any kind.
    No squeaking, but just beside him, a soft deep voice murmured, “Warn his nibs, young Frederick. There’s something in the chimney, something I can’t catch. It won’t hurt me, but if it can, it might hurt you. For certain sure, it will try to hurt his lordship.”
    â€œBilly Bly?” Frederick reached out toward the voice, feeling nothing but air. “You’re here ?”
    â€œYou noticed. I was starting to think you never would.” The deep voice came from the far end of the bed as Billy Bly tugged at Frederick’s blanket to wrap it more snugly around Frederick’s feet. “Of course I’m here. Who else would it be?”
    With all his heart, Frederick wished for a light. “You’re really here!”
    â€œAye. You were flitting, so I flitted too.”
    â€œBut Lord Schofield banished you.”
    â€œFrom his house, as he had every right to do,” Billy Bly agreed. “Not from every house. His nibs never mentioned this place.”
    â€œYou know what he meant,” Frederick said.
    â€œDid I? I know what he said .” Billy Bly chuckled, a dry sound like leaves rustling. “At best, magic only does what you say. No guarantee it ever does what you want. What his nibs meant doesn’t enter into it, not unless he said it just exactly so.”
    â€œWhen did you come? How long have you been here?”
    â€œAs long as you have.” The voice in the dark sounded cross. “You’re not half thick, lad. You didn’t notice my message? I had a job finding dried beans and dried peas at this time of year, I can tell you.”
    Frederick felt foolish for missing the significance of the peas and beans. “I thought one of the other servants did that just to be a nuisance.”
    â€œI did it so you would know I was watching out for you. I don’t fancy letting any of the other servants see me.” Under his breath, Billy Bly added, “Rubies to radishes they would tattle to that butler about me.”
    Frederick let the familiar sense of companionship he associated with Billy Bly’s presence wash over him. It felt like a good meal when he was hungry. It felt like the warmth of a well-laid fire on a cold wet night. It felt like coming home. Frederick couldn’t keep the words back. “I missed you. I don’t want Lord Schofield to banish you again.”
    Billy Bly sounded somewhat embarrassed. “And I missed you too, lad. But there’s no help for it this time. You must warn his nibs-ship not to come here. The wizard is too proud of his family home to stay away, but all the while he is here, he’s in deadly peril.”
    â€œIs it the curse?” Frederick asked. “Is that what you found in the chimney?”
    â€œI found