As One Door Is Closed
Jul. 31st, 2006 05:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
avevale_intelligencerLady Mary was standing at the top of the stairs, her arms braced against the banister on either side, as Sir Louis and Master Shadman approached.
"My daughter is not receiving visitors today," she said.
"Perhaps you are unaware of the situation, your ladyship," saids Master Shadman. "Two women have disappeared--"
"Two women have left this house," the lady countered, "of their own volition. Where they went thereafter is no-one's concern, least of all my daughter's."
"Hang it all, Mary," Sir Louis expostulated, "what about this, then? Bird o' Grace received an invitation from the child this mornin'. Surcease brought it."
"And what do you think my daughter did with her, Sir Louis? Murdered her and chopped up the body? Perhaps you would like to tear up the nursery floorboards?"
"Madam," Master Shadman said tightly, "no-one is accusing your daughter of anything. We merely wish to know--"
"Master Shadman, sir," said Surcease from the landing below.
"What is it, Surcease?"
"Some gentlemen to see you, sir. They say it's urgent, and his lordship sent them, sir."
"Very well," Master Shadman sighed. "I'll see them in the drawing room." He turned back to Lady Mary. "We mean Miss Violata no harm," he said. "Suirely you can see that, my lady."
"I do not quite know what I see, Master Shadman," Lady Mary said. "When I have talked to Violata myself, and to my husband, I shall decide whether to allow her to speak to you or not. Till then, pray do not attempt to see her or speak to her."
"Understandable, I s'pose," Sir Louis grunted as they descended the stauirs again. "Wants to know the whole tale herself 'fore she does anything. Do the same myself,. probably. Hullo, what's this?"
Three of Sir Tempest's labourers were vigorously restraining a struggling figure swathed in a large and dirty sack.
"How do, Master Shadman, sir," said the least involved one, saluting. "We'm caught ye the sallow man."
"My daughter is not receiving visitors today," she said.
"Perhaps you are unaware of the situation, your ladyship," saids Master Shadman. "Two women have disappeared--"
"Two women have left this house," the lady countered, "of their own volition. Where they went thereafter is no-one's concern, least of all my daughter's."
"Hang it all, Mary," Sir Louis expostulated, "what about this, then? Bird o' Grace received an invitation from the child this mornin'. Surcease brought it."
"And what do you think my daughter did with her, Sir Louis? Murdered her and chopped up the body? Perhaps you would like to tear up the nursery floorboards?"
"Madam," Master Shadman said tightly, "no-one is accusing your daughter of anything. We merely wish to know--"
"Master Shadman, sir," said Surcease from the landing below.
"What is it, Surcease?"
"Some gentlemen to see you, sir. They say it's urgent, and his lordship sent them, sir."
"Very well," Master Shadman sighed. "I'll see them in the drawing room." He turned back to Lady Mary. "We mean Miss Violata no harm," he said. "Suirely you can see that, my lady."
"I do not quite know what I see, Master Shadman," Lady Mary said. "When I have talked to Violata myself, and to my husband, I shall decide whether to allow her to speak to you or not. Till then, pray do not attempt to see her or speak to her."
"Understandable, I s'pose," Sir Louis grunted as they descended the stauirs again. "Wants to know the whole tale herself 'fore she does anything. Do the same myself,. probably. Hullo, what's this?"
Three of Sir Tempest's labourers were vigorously restraining a struggling figure swathed in a large and dirty sack.
"How do, Master Shadman, sir," said the least involved one, saluting. "We'm caught ye the sallow man."