MoorefieldManor
From IMiA
Moorefield is four to five days out of Amber City, on horseback. A good rider can make it in three, and a great rider on a great horse with almost no rest could make it in 17 hours at top speed. [Im presuming horses in Amber have a bit more stamina and speed than the average earth horse.]
There is a path from the road up to the house, but unlike many fashionable estates in Amber, there is no lawn. The grasses around the house have all been allowed to grow to their natural height, and here and there are patches of wildflowers.
House Moorefield is a small manor home set on a small hill surrounded by meadows. None of the meadows around the house are planted with crops, and the house itself only has a kitchen garden.
The home is constructed entirely of cut wood, almost all of which has aged to a gray color. The decorative elements on the eaves and along the windows are newer than the wood of the house itself, although its clear pieces have only been replaced as required, instead of a full renovation taking place.
It has three stories, and from the front the top story appears to have no windows. A veranda has been added to the front of the house some time ago, by the look of the wood, but does not match the original construction. The stable is located to the right rear of the house, and is only big enough for 10 horses. Its lower half is made of stone, clearly pulled locally.
From the stable you can see that on the third floor windows have been added (they are large and dont match the rest of the windows in the house) to the back of the house, in profusion. They seem to have been added so that the only wall left up there is support beam.
The village of Moorefield is a good 10 miles to the east of the house. The nearest residences to the house (beside the cabin the family owns) begin three miles out heading toward the village, and belong to local farmers. Thus, the house is fairly isolated.
Arryl would have run vierfuessig through part of the night. Found herself a nice spot where she had a view of the round. Caught a few zzzz's. And then up again for the dawn run.
At the place where the path leaves the main road, the Weir stops and carefully grooms her coat, paws, ruff and tail. The flickering morning light plays for a moment in grey and rose, and the tall uniformed figure of a zweihaendig Weir stands up from among the wild grasses.
Carefully adjusting the jaunty angle of her hat, the Leutnant strides up the lane, a cheerful smile on her face, whistling in the fresh morning air. She wears her signature battered leather great coat and incongruous aviator's glasses around her neck. But underneath is the polished boots and creased lines of the Gottswache uniform.
As she approaches the House, Arryl removes her hands from her pockets and adopts a more somber mien.
As you're riding up an elderly [I can call an 800 year old who is deteriorating elderly, right GM?] gentleman comes out onto the veranda. He's in what would typically pass for a butler's uniform. He very slowly starts heading down the stairs toward Arryl. It looks like he probably has an arthritic condition of some sort, beside just being old.
When she gets close enough, he'll clear his throat. "Madam. We've been waiting for someone to come. I'm Mikus Lamby; I'm the house steward. I found the Viscount." He clears his throat again. "If you'd come in, I'll see you refreshed. You must have had a long trip."
He looks at her as if he's expecting her to explain who the hell she is, and despite what he just said, his posture is blocking the way to the house, rather than inviting.
"Danke, Master Lamby." Arryl nods politely as she climbs up the stairs to save the man climbing down any further than he has. "I am Leutnant Arryl der Gottswache. I bring der Prinz Erik's condolences dat your House has been struck mit such a tragedy." Her voice is low and sympathetic.
His face wrinkles up as he concentrates on making out what she's saying. "Did you say Prince Eric?" he says half in disbelief. He shakes his head and mutters under his breath, "well, I'll be damned."
He scratches his head, gives Arryl a critical look, and shrugs. "Well, er, come on in. None of the family has made it in yet. We're hoping Lady Newell will make it in over the next week, but we haven't heard. We've got all the guestrooms done up if you'd stay?" He offers her his arm (very old fashioned) to lead her inside.
Arryl gently places her hand on his arm. "Vielen dank, Master Lamby. It has been a long trip. Und I am very grateful for your kind offer auf hospitality. D'ough I don't want to put you to too much trouble at dis time auf sorrow."
Arryl steps in such a way to match Lamby and follows politely where he leads.
The steward will lead her into the front hall. It's rather dark, coming in from outside. Overhead is a candlelit chandelier. The hall is about 10 feet wide by about 35 feet long, and about halfway down there is another chandelier. It has been wallpapered in dark blue fabric. The floor in the hall is hard wood, well polished. About 10 feet along the right wall is a dark wood door, and 10 feet past that, another. On the left there is only one door, about 17 feet in. At the end of the hall is an arch leading into what appears to be a small ballroom. There is some natural sunlight filtering in from there, but not much.
As soon as Arryl enters the house, she removes her cap in respect and tucks it under her free arm.
There are no paintings or other decoration on the walls in the hall, although slight discolorations here and there lead you to believe there may have been at some point. He'll lead you toward the first door on your right, saying, "I'll put you in the library, and have Gabby bring you some refreshment, unless you want to sit in the big dining room. Most young ladies seem to like the library better. More things to look at and all."
If you don't protest, he'll put you in there and offer to take your coat, and bag, so they can get you a room ready.
"Danke, Master Lamby. Das Library ist fine. Und don't worry yourself about der gear," Arryl says, laughing, as she slides the backpack off her back and allows it to drop to the floor with a heavy sounding *thump* clank. "I haf carried it all dis way. I can certainly escort it to wherever would be most convenient for you."
With a smile, the Leutnant slides out of her greatcoat and rests it over the bag with an equally heavy sliiish *thump.*
He nods with a shrug. You can almost hear him thinking, "...women!"
"Master Lamby? I am hoping dat I can schedule a moment to talk to you in private. When your duties allow, auf course."
He nods. "Just let me give the cook some instructions, Madame, and I will come sit with you." He says, with a little bow and a grin. He departs, leaving the door open to the hall.
The Library is not much more well lit than the hall was. There is one small window, overlooking the South side of the house, and the meadow beyond. In the center of the left wall, as you enter, is a stone fireplace, which looks (and smells) as if it hasn't been lit for a week, although it is clean. Aside from where the fireplace sits, the walls surrounding the room are covered entirely in books. There are even bookcases built in over the window. And the bookcases are cram full of books.
In the center of the room there is a couch, which looks old and comfortable, and three nice leather chairs, facing the couch in a semicircle, their backs to the fireplace. It's tight in there, probably just enough room that the heat doesn't effect the leather. Between the couch and the chairs there is a coffee table, which has a two foot high pile of thick, large, colorful books in the center. To the left of the couch is a small square rotating bookshelf, and there is another freestanding shelf, about four feet tall and eight feet long between the seating arrangement and the window.
((Since you're weir, I suppose I should mention how this room smells. Most of the books are very old, so there is that mustyness to it, but it's been well used. It seems as if it might be the gathering room in the house. Someone has been eating in here regularly, as well as smoking. [The GM can add more to this if he wants to.] Lamby will be gone for a good twenty minutes, if you want to look around.))
The Leutnant nods pleasantly as Lamby excuses himself, and then spends a few minutes perusing the books. Before giving up with a rueful laugh. Never much of a reader, this level of... pack-rattedness is a mystery to Arryl. And her eyes hold laughing confusion at the thought of anyone actually spending time with all of these books -- when the meadow is just outside.
Ah, well. Different strokes for different folks. Arryl spends her time pacing off the room, examining the shelf construction, how the fireplace is put together, window joists, and the view outside.
Arryl finds all the woodwork in the house is very well constructed, balanced and supported, and for the most part very old. The fireplace in the library, while it's holding up, could use some work.
When Lamby returns, he is preceeded into the room by a young woman. She's medium built (everything about her is just about average, really, except for her nose. She's got a really cute button nose.) with brown hair. She's dressed in a full green country skirt, which is half-covered by her apron, and a matching blouse with a floral print. She's carrying a large tray, from which she lays out on the coffee table two plates, a serving plate piled up with steaming ham, a basket of biscuits, a bowl of gravy, a full tea service, and a larger basket filled with utensils, cloth napkins, and condiments.
She turns to Arryl and bobs a quick curtsy. "Nice to meet you ma'am. I'm Gabrielle. Anything you want, if Mr. Lamby can't find it, I'll know where it is. We're real informal in the kitchen, so don't be afraid to stick your head in and ask for anything you want." She grins, glances at Lamby, who has situated himself so he is standing near the couch, and back. "Would you like some juice, or something else? I've got some apple juice made up." She looks the weir over while she says all this, clearly fascinated by the uniform.
"Danke, Gabrielle." Arryl bows slightly in the girl's direction with a big grin for someone who brings food -- and so much good smelling food -- with them. "Und I am Leutnant der Gottswache. Arryl if it will get me extra helpings." She winks friendlily.
Gabrielle's grin gets a little bigger.
"Ja. Apple chuice sounds wunderbar. I would certainly enjoy some. Vielen dank." Arryl is very comfortable under Gabrielle's gaze and chuckles. "If I stay long, d'ough, you might come to regret dat open kitchen invitation."
Gabrielle laughs. "No, Leutnant, everyone comes right into the kitchen. And you can have always have more food. I restock in the mornings. I'll bring that juice." She says, sobering up some, and bobbing another curtsy before she goes.
Lamby motions toward the seat across from where he's standing. "If you'd like to eat." he says, and bends down to take one of the plates. He avoids the ham, but splits a biscuit and covers it with gravy. "Gabby is my great grand niece. We don't have any military women around here. I hope you'll forgive her staring. She started working in the kitchen last year after the last girl got married, so she doesn't have a lot of experience, but she's picking it up fast, eh?" he asks with pride.
"She ist a charming girl und a good provider. You haf every right to be proud." Arryl states firmly and smiles as she moves to and sits down in the seat Lamby indicated. Arryl picks up the teapot and raises it to Lamby -- asking with a raised eyebrow if he would like her to serve.
He holds up a hand. "I don't drink that nasty stuff. You go ahead."
Arryl nods with an understanding smile and pours herself a cup of the nasty stuff without milk or sugar. "Und don't worry yourself about a girl's curious gaze, Master Lamby. I like to t'ink dat I cut a fine enough figure to get die stares wherever I go." Arryl laughs with sparkling eyes and tosses her head in a mocking imitation of a flirt. And then settles down to a friendly chuckle.
Lamby chuckles. "Oh, you cut a figure. You'll get lots of stares around here, I'll betcha." He looks at her for a moment and shakes his head. "So what can I help you with?"
"Well," the Leutnant pauses for a moment while she serves herself a large helping of the ham, with one biscuit and a slight bit of gravy to the side. Politely, she takes a bite of the breakfast and washes it down with the tea. A raised eyebrow and a sparkle of her eye indicate that Gabby does indeed do a fine job in the kitchen.
Arryl then wipes her mouth with the napkin and reluctantly puts the breakfast aside... for the moment.
"First, sir. Please let me extend my personal condolences. To lose a master... dat ist a hard t'ing. Perhaps der hardest. If dere ist anyt'ing I can do to make die coming days easier, please let me know." The Leutnant's voice is low and sincere, her eyes holding only sympathy. And perhaps the memory of the people that she herself has lost over the centuries.
He nods. "Well, and we should have seen it coming, but he'd been depressed before, and had come out of it fine. He was a moody man, the Viscount." He shrugs. "Retrospect. But perhaps it was his time. No one can say really. I do thank you for your sympathies. I can't see as we'll need much help with anything. Pretty straight-forward, but for what will happen with the house. Who knows? The King will decide."
There is a light knock on the door, and it opens slowly. Gabrielle peeks her head in, sees that you're both sitting, and brings in two glasses with a big picture of juice. She silently fills you each a glass, bends in a quick curtsy, and leaves, shutting the door behind her.
Arryl smiles at the girl and nods her thanks for the juice and the service, but waits to speak again until after Gabrielle has left. The Weir turns her grey eyes (and other senses) to Lamby once more. Another sympathetic smile lines her lips. "Den - I do apologize - but I must ask you, what happened?" Arryl leans back and sips her tea, prepared to listen to whatever Lamby has to say.
He shrugs again. "I wish I really knew. I sent Gabby home for the night, and I'd looked into his studio, to see if he needed anything before I retired. He said he didn't. I went to bed. He didn't come down for breakfast, but that wasn't an unusual occurrence. Many times he was up all night, when he was in a 'creative' period. And these normally would coincide with his depressive periods.
It was my opinion that this is what got him through these hard times. When he didn't come down for lunch, I went to check the master suite. It didn't seem like he'd been in there all night. He was a gifted artist, and like most I've read about, seemed a bit haunted at times. If he was in the middle of something, he often would lay right down in his studio floor and nap, until he had the energy to work again.
I presumed that he'd done that again, so I had Gabby make up a tray, and I took it up, hoping I could get him to eat. He was hard to feed, if he was working. I opened up his studio, and that's where I found him."
He's going to stop and eat a minute, as if he's bracing himself for the rest.
Arryl nods sympathetically and gives Lamby all the time and room he needs. She sneaks in a few bites of Gabrielle's wonderful ham while she's at it. But is prepared to stop the minute it seems like Lamby is ready to speak again.
Lamby sips some of the juice, and sighs. "He'd hung himself, I think sometime after I'd checked on him the night before. He was long gone. I've seen men hung before, and you can tell. He didn't leave a note. I went out and got Harvey from the stable, and we got him down. I didn't want to alarm Gabby, so I sent her to the village to send up the doctor, and stay there until morning."
"We laid him out in the master suite. Our doc knew what had happened when he saw him, and agreed it'd been hours since he died. The doc, Harvey and I sat down and wrote up the note for the Crown, what with there being no heir and all, and one for the Viscount's mother." He stops and shakes his head.
"That's the hard one, the thing that brings it home to you, when you've got to tell the man's mother he's dead. I didn't write to her that he'd killed himself. The lady Newell is sweet as sugar, just a great lady, and I just couldn't send her that news like that, with her all alone."
The Weir nods sympathetically. She's had to write those kind of letters herself. Another reason, the Leutnant avoids command positions.
"I understand. Dat ist always... hard. Und perhaps a way can be found to ease both die blow und her sorrow." Arryl's eyes look into her cup as she thinks.
Then the Weir stirs. "Has anyone been in das studio since der Lord's demise?"
He shakes his head. "No. I've locked it until Lady Newell arrives."
"Gut." Arryl nods in understanding. "Den, mit your kind permission und at your convenience, I would like to pay my final respects to Der Lord. Und den perhaps, chust wander around a little... unless dere is anyt'ing I can do to help?" The Leutnant raises an eyebrow as she gets in another bite of ham.
Ah, well, let me finish eating, and Ill take you to see him. We laid him out in the ballroom. He says, and focuses his attention back on breakfast.
"Auf course. I really haf no intention of rushing you Master Lamby." The Leutnant nods sympathetically before returning to her own breakfast, giving Gabby's creation the hearty appetite it deserves.
After he's finished (and he's a bit slow, so unless you're pacing yourself off him, you'll finish first) he slowly leads the Leutnant down to the ballroom. It's a rather small ballroom, compared to some I'm sure Arryl has seen. It's about 35' from the doorway to the back wall, and the room is slightly less than twice that long. This ballroom takes up the back half of the ground floor. There are three windows along the back wall, two on the right wall, as well as a door leading out on the right.
Immediately to her right once inside the door is a rather large, 8' wide by 24' long staircase. The center of the room is open to the floor above, with a large chandelier, unlit, dead center above the dance floor. It looks like the second level may have balconies overlooking the ballroom. The entire place is decorated in shades of red with black and gold.
The casket is against the left wall. The smell of death is in the room (whatever that is. I really don't want to try to describe it. The doctor has done whatever would have been done to have him lay down and not pop up. He's been dead days, so for you I imagine that's really bad.). There's a good amount of light in the room, but the casket is in the dimmest area.
Gavin was a middle aged, pale guy, of average height. He's looking quite thin, as if he had not been eating well leading up to his death. They've put him in a suit with a high collar. Even with that, she can see the bruising, poorly concealed by cosmetics, up at the top of the neck, under the jaw.
Lamby hangs back. He's close enough that she could ask him questions, but out of the way.
The Leutnant approaches the casket with an appropriately somber mein, the typical sparkle missing from her eye. The click of her bootsteps seems to echo loudly through the empty ballroom, for all that the Weir's pacing is steady and decorous. At the correct distance, Arryl stops from the casket and bows.
Then she approaches and looks at that dead man solemnly. "Skaol, Your Grace. Drink one for me. I'll be joining you shortly." She murmurs quietly. There's something reverent and ritualized about Arryl's statement - a Weir's well-wishes translated roughly into Thari.
Then she turns back to Lamby, and with a sad nod, indicates that she's done.
Lamby nods toward the stairs. "I'll show you your room then?"
"Danke, Master Lamby. But bitte, let me fetch my coat und pack." A quiet chuckle ripples through the Weir. "I wouldn't want to subject anyone else to der weight."
He shakes his head with a grin, and motions back toward the library. Gabrielle can do it, Madam. Shes a very strong girl. He offers.
"Weeeelll," Arryl considers, "if you're sure she can handle it..." A bark of laughter erupts from the Weir. "I supposed dey don't way more den der average cow." She winks to the steward.
"Very well, let's see dis room." She claps the man - gently - on the arm and gestures toward the stairway.
He smiles and leads her upstairs. The stairway is wider than your typical stair, but about the right size for the ballroom. It comes up into the upper floor, where the floorplan is open around the ballroom below, forming a viewing balcony. Out in the hallway and about the balcony the colors match the ballroom, although there is much more panelling up here - dark stained wood. There are imported carpets laid over the hardwood floors, some of which have seen better days.
"All our main rooms are on this floor, only rooms upstairs from here are the studio and the servant's suite. I've had it, through my grandfather, that when the mansion was first built, the 3rd floor was never intended to be used as living space. It was just for decoration, I suppose. Maybe storage. To make the place look bigger and more impressive. A good third of it is still storage, which the Viscount had only had fully insulated about 50 years ago, so as he could put his projects in there."
As you reach the main area of the 2nd floor, you can see the balcony opens into a 16' x 20' main hall, which has some couches and chairs scattered about, almost like it's an informal gathering area for guests. At the end of that main hall are double doors which clearly lead to the master suite.
"There are five guest suites along the north side of this floor. Gabby thought you'd like the one with the window. First come, first served, and all that. That one is also the last one back along this side of balcony," he motions to his right, pointing to the guestroom which is the furthest from the master suite. "Er, there's not much for entertainment about here during the day. You're welcome to use any of the horses or take the carriage if you'd like, to go to town or what-have-you. And the library is always open. We've been somewhat informal about meals, so Gabby will likely check up and see if you're hungry, or you can stop in on her."
"I am die soldier, sir," Arryl grins with humor dancing in her eyes, "I can find der kitchen mit die best auf dem." A warm chuckle punctuates the leutnant's sentence. "Und Danke. Das room mit der window would be wunderbar. Would you thank Gabby for her t'oughtfulness, bitte?"
He nods. He's going to lead you down to the room if you don't have any objections. "Of course, the real thing around here is the country. I know it seems pretty flat around here, except for this hill, but about two hours ride north it gets a lot more hilly, and there are some beautiful waterfalls, and a lot of caves. I've got maps if you decide you want to go see those." He shrugs. "Not that we don't want you around. We'd love the company, to be sure."
"It ist beautiful country. I very much enchoyed my run up here." Arryl smiles warmly. "Und don't worry about 'entertaining' me -- I may be serving in Das Port dese days, but I was littered on an estate dat dis reminds me auf."
The Weir gestures for the man to continue on.
At the end of the north hallway/balcony is a window, very small, only about 2.5 feet wide, overlooking the east side of the property. He stops at the last door on your left, opens it, and gestures for you to enter.
These guests rooms are smaller than the Viscount would have liked. Before we furnished the 3rd floor, they served as the servants quarters. Lord Merrick would have liked to have taken out the walls inside these, making three larger guest suites, but we never got round to it. So Its a bit cozy, but for one person its comfy enough. Back when the Viscount was new and trying to establish the House as his own, we used to stuff sometimes whole families in these rooms, with the little ones camping out on the floors. Made Lord Merrick crazy.
Youre looking at a 10 foot wide by 20 foot deep room, with one window on your right, situated behind the couch. The room is divided into two sections by a privacy screen. In the front section is a couch, coffee table and chair, with a bookshelf along the entry wall, mostly empty.
The screen here folds up if you want to open up the space. He demonstrates, which reveals the bedroom. Back behind the screen is a small bed, a nightstand, a wardrobe and a washing stand.
Back when we used to do the fall ball here, and mind you, this was a long time ago now, back when Lord Merricks Aunt, Lady Susana, was alive, the servants would all set up tents out on the north side of the mansion, and even though the ball was a lot of hard work, it was still a bit of a holiday for us all. Then Lord Merrick - the one preceding Master Gavin - would stuff the important people up here, and everyone else who couldnt make it home that same night got to sleep in the ballroom. The young ones would make any excuse to get to sleep in the ballroom, offering up these rooms to their elders. It was always amusing.
The Leutnant steps into the room and takes a deep happy breathe (not incidentally getting a good scent off of her room.) ((And the room is musty clearly not used in a very long time. Whoever stayed last must have really liked the perfume. Smells like a girl, or a very flowery man, but that scent is old. Even a bit of mold-smell, like the rooms haven't been aired out as much as they should. Gabrielle has been in here recently too, her scent lingers.))
"Ist very pleasant, Master Lamby. Vielen dank. For die old campaigner like myself, dis ist indeed luxury." Arryl chuckles warmly.
"Die celebrations sound like dey were grand. I know wot you mean about der pups. Dey act der same way at die barracks. Always haf to keep an eye out."
Arryl grins and nudges Lamby a little in the ribs. "But not too close an eye, ja? Else die pups couldn't be pups, now could dey?"
"Weelll, I've seen der room. Wot say you we head back to der kitchen und get under Gabrielle's feet mit der coffee und die rolls, die cigars und die stories." Arryl smiles, well understanding that the servants of a remote manor overseen by a reclusive Lord might want some company and some talk but still have work to do.
He nods and offers his arm again, heading back down. "So, er, how long have you been serving under Prince Eric?"
A chuckle ripples through the uniformed woman as she lays her arm on the steward's arm and walks with him. "Oi! It must be some t'ree four hundred years now. I lost count a long time ago." Another chuckle punctuates Arryl's statement. "Und I haf never regretted a day auf it. D'ough I tell you, I'm old enough to appreciate die assignments like d'is d'at bring me to nice places where I can keep my paws dry." The Leutnant grins companionably.
Mik nods. "Before I came to work for the former Viscount, I was a stableman. Damn messy business. Part of the reason the last Countess and I got on so well, I suspect. When the Viscount wouldn't let her ride she'd hunt me out and ask me every horse question she could think of. Made her feel better to talk about them. Talking about all that work is fine, but doing it is quite another thing. Don't envy Harvey a day, even with only the two horses."
"Ja." Arryl chuckles companionably. "Horses are fine. For someone else."
"Are you all alone, Master Lamby? Or ist d'ere a fine frau somewhere?" The Leutnant is carefully not flirting, just making polite conversation.
Never got married, but Ive got a big extended family. My sister is right in the village, not doing too well right now, but shes stubborn. Gabbys her great-granddaughter. Ive got a brood of nieces and nephews, though the most of them have either married folks from elsewhere and moved off. Gabbys mother lives about three hours from here, and still has three little ones at home. Gabby came into the village to help her grandma, which is why she doesnt stay here at night, unless there is really a need. She leaves out after dinner. But I never met anyone who I felt compelled to marry, and dont feel like I missed much, either. Ive got the kids when I want them, and when I dont, I dont. No woman around trying to schedule my life, if you count out my sister and Gabby, and neither one of them get hurt feelings when I tell them to leave me be. Youre not married, are you? he asks. He seems to find the idea of you being married a bit strange.
Arryl's merry laugh indicates that she would find it a bit strange too. "Nein, nein. Like you, I haf my duty und my career. D'at's more d'an enough."
She shakes her pale blonde head. "D'ere haf been fine men on occasion... but never one d'at I wanted to settle down mit und raise a litter or two. I'm a girl auf der road, bad case auf das Wanderlust." She grins and winks.
"Und for when I wish der company, d'ere ist der barracks und der kameraderie auf der Gottswache. Und, like you said, when you want you can tell d'em to leave you be. Ist good." The Leutnant nods happily.
He nods. You reach the bottom of the stairway. ((Smells like theres an apple pie going in the kitchen.))
Hell lead you through the ballroom to the back kitchen entrance.
((Yup, theres definitely an apple pie cooking. The room is layered in smells, and none of them are bad, as in rotten. There isnt the amount of spice youd smell in a normal Viscounts kitchen, or as many sweet smells, but a lot of freshness that scent of things just picked. Somewhere off the main room there must be a drying area, because there is the faint smell of dried herbs. Of course, theres also the fireplace, which at the moment has only the pie dish sitting on hot coals. Beneath everything else is the underlying fragrance of soap not perfumed, but with some kind of mint infused in it.))
The kitchen looks as clean as it smells. Everything is put away in a very precise manner, and labeled, to the point of ridiculousness. The room is only 10 feet wide, and most of that space is filled with cabinets and tables, but its 30 feet long, giving it a very skinny feeling. At the far end of the room is a large fireplace. The kitchen is built to open into the Dining Hall and the Ballroom, which have only a thin wall between them. There is also a door which opens out into the kitchen gardens, facing the back of the house right now shes got a screen hanging up over the door, so light comes in from there, as well as through two skylights which look like theyve been added to the ceiling. (Right now she doesnt have any lamps lit.) The ceiling is quite high, and the cabinets reach all the way up to the top, leaving a small path in from the doors and down to the fireplace.
Across from the ballroom/dining hall doors is a small table with two benches -the only place to sit in the room. On either side of the doors are working tables (one is empty, the other has a washing bowl, and the makings for meat pies on it), and next to the fireplace there is a stone slab. There is, of necessity, more open space around the fireplace. Gabby comes into the room through the dining room door and goes immediately to wash her hands. Then she turns back to you, and grins, seeming just slightly winded. So you two have come down to the heart of this place. Sit down. If youd like something to drink Ive got some lemonade down here, with the apple juice from this morning and milk, and water of course, and then anyway its almost time for Grandda Miks special tea. You could have some of that, but it might make you a bit Im not sure. Energetic. Thats what it does to me. But then, I usually have a headache the next day. Strong stuff, that brew.
Mik purses his lips and snorts. If the mix didnt work so well I wouldnt take it, but it helps these old bones. Gabby rolls her eyes. Hes always difficult. So what can I get you?
Arryl chuckles as she heads over to the table and out of the way. "Nu. I don't t'ink der tea ist a good idea. If I get any more energetic.... Ach!" She laughs at what she knows is her own rather large personality.
"But some more auf d'at apple chuice would be wundebar. Danke, Gabrielle." The Leutnant lowers herself into one of the chairs with a happy 'whuf.' She's been being polite but it was a bit of a run from Amber and the Weir is perfectly happy to ensconce herself, get her feet up and chat the day away.
Maybe help shell peas or anything the cook would like help with.
Gabby will definitely put Arryl to work (albeit with feet up and a glass of apple juice close at hand.) Gabby is definitely working with an upcoming group of people to feed in mind. She's making the meat pies for dinner, but also keeping extra ready in case more folks show up. She's also pulling out, while talking to you, all kinds of jars of veggies and fruit.
Mik will drink his tea, and then wander off to 'work.' Anything specific you want to ask Gabby while grandda's not around?
Arryl will be fairly roundabout in her inquiries. She will trade stories and make jokes, be friendly and personable. She doesn't ask anything directly but she would like to get a feel for what the various claims to the household might be. And how the people who live here feel about the various claims.
And she will shell and peel and slice with gusto. She's not a chef, but the Leutnant's done enough KP duty to know how and what to do. If Gabby's interested, some recipe swapping can go down. Arryl's experience in the Weir barracks kitchen has given her some clue as to how to feed hungry masses. :)
Gabby, at least, is very confused about what will happen with the house. She figures it will go to Feldane, since theyre vasseled to Feldane. (She hasnt heard wonderful things about House Feldane, so she doesnt seem to love this idea.) Then again, she thinks the King, being the wonderful and benevolent soul he is, might just sell the house and its contents and give those funds over to the Viscounts mother, since shes all alone now. Gabby has a very romanticized view of the world. Its clear from the conversation that she doesnt really understand how anyone could take their own life. She admits shes uncomfortable staying in the house at night since the Viscount died, although she cant put her finger on why.
Mik will wonder back in eventually with the stableman for a light meal. He introduces Harvey to you. (Harvey definitely smells like the stables.) Harveys pretty quiet, and is trying to watch you without acting like hes watching you. Mik will expand on the claims a bit. He has nothing bad to say about anyone, or at least is saying nothing bad about anyone. He runs down the list:
Well, theres Feldane. Dont know what theyd do with it, but maybe give the title to one of their horde. Seems like the place would be a drain on their resources. Then theres Lady Newell, who is the Viscounts mother. Shed probably have a good claim, if she pushed it, just on the fact that he was her son and all, and she was married to the man who would have gotten the title had he outlived Samuel Merrick. But the Ladys not the kind to push. And then, if youre looking at other people who held the title, there is the Duchess Carlisle, who was married to Samuel Merrick when he was the Viscount, and stayed in the House until she got married again. But she did get married again, and just like the Feldane, I cant think what Carlisle could do with the place beside throw coins at it. Its really up to the King, to my thinking. He could go just about any way and come up with a justification for it. He could just give it to some new up-and-comer, too. Its a mystery. What do you think, Harv?
Harvey looks surprised to be consulted, then he shrugs. He looks at Arryl intensely and whispers, Honest truth, they should burn the place down. Nothing but bad luck in these walls.
Gabby catches this and gasps. Mik rolls his eyes, like hes heard this all before. Gabby comes over and puts down a bowl of melon slices in the center of the table. She turns to Harvey. You shouldnt say things like that. A house is a house. It cant be good or bad luck. Its just a house.
What happens in a house gets in the walls. Whats in the walls gets in people, he claims.
Mik chuckles. Lucky for you then that youve got your stable loft. He looks at Arryl, his eyes sparkling with suppressed laughter. Harvey wont stay in the house. Hes more comfortable with the horses.
Arryl smiles back, both to Mik and to Harvey. "I haf cousins like d'at. Can't get d'em out auf der werkstatt for love or money." She shakes her head fondly as she chuckles, "If someone didn't remember to feed d'ose churls, we'd be short a few cheniuses. But ach, die t'ings dey make."
The Leutnant winks at Harvey, "Die loft ist a wundebar place. Und I'm sure your charges love to haf you d'ere."
"Was d'ere bad luck in die walls before d'is last misfortune? No fond memories und good folks as well?" Arryl cocks her head back to Mik and Gabby.
Gabby just shrugs. Its a dark house, I guess, but not I dont know.
Mik grins. There are good things and bad things. Every family has ups and downs.
Gabby smiles. People in the village seem to believe that is, there are rumors Mik shoots her a look that can only be given by an elder to a young person. And she gives him its opposite number right back. She looks more serious now. Its true bad luck is associated with the house. The poor Merricks just had a string of unfortunate incidents, so people want to make things up to distance themselves from tragedy, hoping it wont happen to them. She gives Harvey a sad look. Staying in the stables doesnt make you any more untouched by tragedy than the rest of us. Just because some bad things happened doesnt men people have bad luck, or walls are filled with bad luck, or that people are cursed somehow. People will have bad things happen to them when they make bad choices. The Viscount chose his end. The Viscount before him waited until he was too old to get married. And business is business.
Gabby, hon, it is never too late for a man. Mik points out. She snorts.
Seems like it was, she tells him.
He managed just fine. You werent even thought of back then, and youre speaking of things you know nothing of, he adds with an edge. She snorts again and focuses in on her work, blushing a little. Mik focuses on Arryl. There were some tragedies. More than any family should have to go through. Gavin Merrick was the 12th Viscount Moorefield, just to give you a reference before this gets convoluted. The 10th Viscount died young, in his sleep. No one could ever explain why. This was well before my time, mind you. He had three little children when he died, Samuel being the oldest at 9. So with no uncles or other relatives, the children got raised by their mother and a nanny. I got this from Susana Merrick, the middle of the three, and the only girl.
Their lady mother had no idea how to run the estate, but it was well built up then with a lot of wealth, which they lived on. The King invested Samuel in the title when he reached 16. Now the youngest of the three, that would be the Viscounts father, Lawton, was just a baby when the 10th Viscount died. I guess Susana was somewhere between the boys in age, but I never knew how old she was. So Samuel Merrick, then the 11th Viscount, was the man of the house. I dont know why, but before I came into service here, there had been some falling out with the 11th Viscount and his brother. I understand the Viscount sent his brother to live in one of their holdings near Feldane. Eventually the property was signed over to Lawton Merrick, but I dont know the what ofs and how tos of that, just that the brother never brought his family out to visit after the 12th Viscount was at majority.
Oh, and sometime before the 11th Viscount reached the age of 25 the former Viscountess had died. She was young too, but they say she never recovered from the last birth, which was difficult. So, I came to work for Lady Susana, that is, Susana Merrick, here at the house long after that. I was here about 300 years before the 11th Viscount decided it was time to get married. It was just normal day to day, except for the ball every year. Sometimes business people would be up. Not too many friends the Merricks like to keep their own company. See, Lady Susana ran the house for her brother, since neither of them had married or such. So the Viscount went looking for a wife. The staff wasnt told that, just that he was out on business. Mind, the staff was bigger then. More than what we needed with but two people in the house. He wasnt gone too long before he came back with a girl.
Now, this is Lady Ana, who was out of Westerville, the one who did so well and married that Duke and all. Well, back then she was just a girl, straight from her fathers house. We were surprised hed married someone so young, for as Gabby so nicely pointed out, he was quite old by then. Somewhere in his 9th century. So she came in, and there was some conflict with her and Lady Susana. The new Viscountess wanted to run the household, as she felt was her place, and Lady Susana wasnt about to give up her work, see? So they didnt get on real well. The Viscount, he had to talk to them, and then they tried to work together, but their ways were different. They didnt see the same way. I think Lady Ana felt a bit like they were treating her like a child, her being so young, so she fought even harder to have her way.
Well, they were planning the fall ball, Lady Susana and Lady Ana, arguing over some detail, when Lady Susana died. The doctors said it was her heart, that it was worn out before that, and it would have happened even if they werent fighting. Lady Ana was devastated. She blamed herself for Lady Susanas death. The Viscount was very angry, with no one to blame. He took over the running of the household then, and let just about all the staff go. He kept me, the cook, a maid for the Viscountess, and a stableman. It was a couple years before the Viscount would let Lady Ana give the staff instruction, but then we got on pretty well. She expected things to be done right, and so long as they were, everything was wonderful. But she had a temper too, if something got botched up. Even I got more than one verbal lashing from that lady. It wasnt that she was very difficult, but just that she insisted everything had to be perfect for the Viscount.
Theyd been married about seven years when she got pregnant. Mik then pauses to shoot Gabby a significant look. He must have been close to 950 years old then. The Viscount was thrilled, going around like a man half his age, and telling everyone in the world of it. The Viscountess was very sick, almost from the beginning. She was just starting to show when she miscarried. Shed been riding she loved to ride and he blamed her riding for the miscarriage. To be honest, we were all very worried for her then. She lost so much weight you could almost see through her. Ive never seen a woman grieve so much. Of course, he wouldnt let her ride for quite a piece of time after that. I think he was worrying for her safety so he sent for one of her kinsmen to come out and talk to her. That one talked the Viscount into letting her ride again, and after that things were better.
About a year after shed lost that baby was when Mr. Merrick came out to live here. Back then he was Mr. Merrick, anyway. This is the 12th Viscount, Im talking about. The 11th Viscounts nephew, this is Gavin, Lawtons boy. Now, things were tense at first. I had it from the stable hand that hed come to help his uncle run the business, what with the new baby, and all, but the stable hand had to tell him the Viscountess had lost the child. But he stayed on, living out at the cabin, about three hours out on horse, and riding in every day, then back out at night. I guess he was trying to build up a bridge, because by then his father had died too. Lawton Merrick died of some horrible disease that made it harder for him to breathe, until he was gone. Took some time, I understand.
The Viscountess never did get pregnant again. The 11th Viscount was never the healthiest eating man, so as he got older his doctors told him he needed to start eating better. He didnt care. He told me, a man will eat what he likes, or what kind of man is he? The Viscountess lived for his happiness, and he wasnt the kind of man you wanted to fight with on your best day. She fed him what he wanted, and between that and the drinking he probably died a few years sooner than his time. When he realized he wasnt recovering like he usually did, he named his nephew heir.
Now as the 11th Viscount got past working, the Viscountess started learning the house business from Mr. Merrick. She was good at it, from what I understand, but it wasnt something the Viscount would have wanted her doing. He had a very traditional view of women, you know? But there was so much to do, and Merrick couldnt do it alone. We had a little conspiracy, I guess, to let her do the work and help keep the Viscount in the dark about it. It was the best thing for the house. When the Viscount died, she was inconsolable. The 12th Viscount took right over, it was a smooth transition, no problems. But for Lady Ana, she went back to how shed been when she lost the baby. We all struggled to get her to eat. Eventually we got her back on her feet, or I should say, a letter from her father did it. We never saw any of her family, you know. Only the one cousin ever came to visit, and he only came the once. I brought her that letter, and the next day she was moving into Amber City. Like someone had lit a fire under her.
Now, shed come back now and again. To discuss house business with the Viscount, and such. But she lived in that city house. She told me once it really wouldnt have been proper for her to live in her husbands house with another man. We were all real happy for her when she married the Earl. The Viscount got along well enough without her, I suppose, but he was sorry to see her go. They kept in touch though. All those art books in the library are from her, sent to him from all over those shadow places shes been. We fell right back into a quiet routine with this 12th Viscount. Hed work on business a bit, but mostly on his art. Hes courted a few ladies here and there but no one really has held his interest much. Of course, he had the mood swings. But that was normal, we thought.
He takes a big drag off his drink. Like I said, its ups and downs. I dont see anything special or accursed about any of it. Hell, my youngest sister lost two little children in accidents and had a husband die on her too. Death doesnt discriminate between the poor and the rich.
Arryl goes out to inspect the ruins of the lodge.
I would like to have Arryl lope out there, just for a look-see. It seems kind of a waste of her and Eric's time to just shell peas until the Inspector gets there. ;)
It's an overgrown site of a burned down building. Arryl has a nose, but it burned long long ago... The stone chimey still stands, although it has begun to disintigrate.
Back to the House to await for the auspicious Inspector's arrival.
-- Main.LizTrumitch - 07 Dec 2004
