Dearest Kate,
It was perfectly splendid to see you again; my only regret is that our time at Skeynes was necessarily so brief. Next time, you and Thomas must come to Tangleford, though I cannot promise you anything like the stimulating activity we have all had these past few months. (And a good thing, too!)
The children are still quite full of their visit, most especially their unexpected introduction to a royal princess. I am astonished at all the exciting things you left out of your narratives. I also had no notion that the country around Skeynes was infested with poisonous snakes, nor that they commonly grew to such a great size as Arthur and Eleanor assure me they do. (Arthur has taken it into his head to emulate Edward in keeping a menagerie, and seems to feel that I will be more likely to allow livestock in the nursery if he regales me with tales of the much worse things his much younger cousin is permitted to do. Eleanor, of course, supports him loyally, though she is far more interested in the new greyhound pup James procured on the drive home.)
Fortunately, I expect their interest in snakes and frogs to be short-lived. The new magic tutor, whom Mr. Wrexton was kind enough to recommend, arrives next week, which should occupy the twins most thoroughly. (And I am most grateful to Thomas for taking them aside and explaining all the bloodcurdling things that would certainly befall anyone foolish enough to attempt to scry through all the protective spells surrounding the royal family, else I am quite sure we would have found Reggie Winters and his men awaiting us at Tangleford, charges of treason and spying in hand. Arthur is quite incorrigible, and Drina made a profound impression on him. And James trusts far too much in the efficacy of a simple, stern parental prohibition, despite several instances in which a prohibition was of no preventative use whatsoever.)
The Wrextons are still in London, but they return to the north next week. Mr. Wrexton has come up with some ideas for reversing the transformation spell that still afflicts the Webbs, and with their artificial ley line net in disarray, the collection of wizards there should have no difficulty in keeping them restrained. James tells me that Lord Wellington is still pondering whether to charge them officially with treason or whether to turn them over to the Royal College of Wizards for the summary judgment of their peers.
He—Lord Wellington, that is—is also considering setting up some more formal office to handle the apprehension and punishment of magical malefactors. It is all very well, James says, to claim that wizards are the only persons truly capable of dealing with magicians and other wizards, but without a department to investigate suspicious incidents and pursue unusual happenings, it is too often mere chance that brings such persons to justice. Since the heir to the throne was very nearly kidnapped and replaced by Conroy and the rest, and since Parliament has been tampered with all unrecognized these many years, and since both these things were the work of rogue magicians, it seems very likely that the duke will carry his point with both Parliament and the king.
I am not certain, but something James said made me think that Lord Wellington intends to appoint Thomas as the first chief of his wizard catchers. He has, after all, demonstrated a certain ability in that regard, and I believe the position is not intended to require much in the way of tact and diplomacy. I think it best if you do not disclose this to Thomas, as it may be only my imagination; I mention it to you only to give you warning enough to prepare for Thomas’s inevitable reaction, should it come to pass.
The Royal College has made considerable progress in cleaning up the remains of the Webbs’ ley line network. Aunt Elizabeth tells me that there is considerable debate over the advisability of likewise taking down the older network, the ancient one that Cromwell and his wizards made partial use of for their own. She thinks it unlikely that the effort will be made: First, because a magical spell that binds the country together is no bad thing; second, because now that the Royal College is aware of it, the ley lines will be constantly monitored to make certain that no one is tampering with the spell, so it cannot become a new danger; third, because nearly everyone wants to study the network, which they will not be able to do if they destroy it; and fourth and last, because no one has been able to propose a method of dismantling it that is at all likely to work.
The ancient ley line network is, you see, far more intricate and far more stable than anyone had anticipated. Those spell casters knew their work well—Cromwell’s network required constant watching and adjusting to last a mere two hundred years, but the old network has been in place for several thousand years, at least, without requiring any additional attention. Mr. Skelly has become so absorbed by the investigation that he rarely even remembers to make critical remarks about England.
James is off to London next week to make a final report to the duke in person; after that, I look forward to a peaceful and uneventful summer, enlivened perhaps by the occasional frog. Even a new and interesting magical tutor is unlikely to completely deter my twins, after all.
Your contented,
Cecy