In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

When he started to follow Rebecca into the alcove, Sarsee Jinks cried out in protest, throwing an arm up across the entry.

"It’s alright, Sarsee Jinks," Rebecca intervened. "I’m not so poor a caster that I will allow it to affect anyone else. Come, stand beside me and watch Andre."

Under Andre's fascinated gaze, she placed both hands flat on the surface of the pedestal. For a moment, nothing happened as Rebecca tuned herself into the energy of the house. There were several loud knells like the sound of massive bells ringing, and flashes of eldritch blue light splashed everywhere. Out in the courtyard, the junction of the overhead Ley Lines snapped into view, flashing fire as they adjusted themselves to Rebecca's Magi Talents. Gradually the peals quieted and a contented hum filled the house, until it too slowly subsided to a mere murmur.

"I will examine the wards in more detail later to see if any changes need to be made, Sarsee Jinks," Rebecca told her. Sarsee Jinks frowned but said nothing. Plainly, she was not in favor of changes to the wards.

"Let’s go and see where they’ve put us, shall we?" she said to Andre as they exited the alcove.

After dinner, the girls took advantage of the luxurious bathing facilities allotted the family.

"It even has a tub and a hot pool," Catrin exclaimed. "We can take a real bath!" Raised as travelers, the girls had seldom been able to enjoy a bath in a tub. The Trade Stations only had showers.

After Selene had gone up to bed, Catrin, who was sunk up to her neck in the hot pool, looked over at Rebecca.

"Now that we're here, what are you going to do about Andre?" she asked directly.

"Do about him? What do you mean?"

Catrin flicked water in her sister's face. "The engagement, goose. Are you going to tell him it was a fake? That seems kind of a dirty trick."

Rebecca sighed, and sank down further into the water. "Yes, it does. Besides—"

"Besides you aren't sure you want it ended, are you?"

"No, I'm not," Rebecca admitted. "He's so like Papa was. He's an honorable man. Do you think he would marry a liar who comes from a family of liars?"

"Maybe. If he wants you badly enough. I think you better make a decision soon, big sister."

The Defender of Ironlyn

THE NEXT MORNING, WHILE Lewys, Owen and Andre, followed by Jerlyn Tobias who was taking notes, inspected the Cottages, barns and dairy, Rebecca, Catrin and Selene were being shown over the house by Sarsee Jinks. They were trailed by the three white-maned cats, who after the fashion of cats were curious about their new environment.

The housekeeper eyed the felines warily. "These are pets?" she questioned.

"Yes," Rebecca answered. "This is Mongo, Mysty, and Mela; they are to have free run of the house and grounds. I think you will find them an asset in keeping the rodent population down."

"As you say, Draconi," Jinks answered, watching in dismay as one cat leaped to the top of a table sitting in front of the front windows. The cat slid a little over its smooth surface. A vase of flowers on the table wavered when the cat's body brushed it. The maid who was cleaning the window caught the precariously rocking vase before it crashed to the floor.

"Cats like to lie in the sun," Catrin told the housekeeper apologetically. "Perhaps it might be better for vases like this to be kept to a minimum until they decide what their favorite spots are."

Jinks frowned, but nodded obediently. "Take the flowers into the hall, Marta."

The house was enormous; bigger inside than it appeared outside if that were possible. On the ground floor, were the public rooms, dining rooms, and a large library. The family all had bedrooms on the second floor. It was plain the house had been built to hold many more people than now occupied it, because there were at least ten extra unoccupied bedrooms. Rooms at the back on the lower level for bathing and storage had been built into the cliff face itself.

"We have an underground water aquafer, so we never run out of water," Sarsee Jinks explained.

The kitchen, infirmary and storage cellars for food and other necessities were on a second lower level, also running into the cliffs.

"Where do those go?" Rebecca inquired, nodding to several passageways leading off from the infirmary.

Sarsee Jinks shrugged. "I think they are simply extra rooms for shelter and storage, Draconi. They haven't been used in my lifetime."

She turned to a split half door leading from the lower levels out to a private garden with flowering trees and bushes.

"This was Draya Caramel's pride and joy," Jinks told them. "She said it was for refreshment of the soul, not to serve any useful purpose. She tended these plants herself."

Catrin was delighted to find a fully equipped laboratory in the rear rooms for creating medicines, potions and preparing the spices used in the kitchen. There was also a large herb garden adjacent to plant drying sheds. They immediately lost Catrin as she settled down to explore the area.

"Draya Catrin is a healer and herbal specialist," Rebecca explained to Jinks. "She will oversee the gardens."

Selene was simply fascinated by everything. When they re-entered the house, Sarsee Jinks led them back to a large library lined with floor to ceiling books, and Selene gasped in delight. "These are ours?"

"Yes," Rebecca told her smiling. "Would you like to explore in here while Sarsee Jinks and I settle a few things?"

"Could I?"

Rebecca laughed. "When I come back perhaps you will be able tell me what types of books we have."

Eagerly, Selene turned and pulled books out to look at them. Smiling indulgently, Rebecca gestured to the housekeeper and they moved on.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Jinks said uneasily, "Your pardon, Draconi, but some of the books may not be suitable—"

"I doubt Selene will be interested in anything but novels, Sarsee Jinks. She is an avid reader. Is there a written history of