Chapter 5: Further Investigations

[HoneyDog]

Melody,The servants are full of gossip about Ursula's nightmare, but are quickly shutdown by Mrs. Beddowes who will have no idle chitchat. Melody does hear one thing however, an aside from a female servant: [color=#BF0080]“Looks like the sins of the father, if you ask me.”[/color] She is unable to find out anything more though. Mrs. Beddowes and Howard have a tight rein on things. Soon it is time to rejoin the others. [ooc]Yes sorry, Melody might want to stay inside next time. Don’t worry about the posting, but bring her to the village for more fun.[/ooc]

[aine]

"That's settled then, we should go as soon as possible to make the most of the daylight." Once they are away from her Ladyship Isolde says to the others, "My only worry is that if we arrive in his Lordship's carriage the villagers will think we are working with Lady Allingham and may be reticent with any information."

[Philulhu]

”I’m not averse to walking,” said Captain FitzWilliam. ”We could ask the driver to drop us off before we get to the village and then walk the rest of the way.”

[Mr. Handy]

"What about that sleigh?" asks Alexander. "Could we take that?"

[Rooter]

"Won't word that we are guests of her ladyship have already reached the village?" Percy chips in. "Servants are wont to gossip, after all."

[Philulhu]

”That may depend if the antipathy of the villagers towards the family extends to their staff as well!” said Captain FitzWilliam.

He turned to Melody. ”Miss Melody, have any of the servants spoken about any relationships with the village? I expect that some members of the staff may have been employed locally.”

[aine]

"Either way we must emphasise our neutrality in this affair with justice for all as our aim. Along with investigating the paranormal of course!" Isolde smiles and then turns, interested in what Melody has discovered about the staff.

[HoneyDog]

Once the companions are ready, they set off in the carriage with McKenzie driving. It is a bitterly cold day and the freezing wind whips across the moors, subduing the occupants of the carriage, who huddle in their furs and winter coats.

McKenzie confirms Percy’s suspicion that the villagers probably know about the companions’ presence at Bargrove Hall. It is slow going on the frozen road, but the village is visible after about twenty minutes. It nestles at the foot of the hill on which the manor house stands.

OOC,I'll give a short time in which you can talk to McKenzie if you wish.

[Mr. Handy]

"D'ye ken any of the villagers well, McKenzie?" asks Alexander.

[HoneyDog]

“Nae, Doctor” replies McKenzie. “Ah hae the occasional beer in the tavern, but the ma’m dinnae approve of us mixing too close with the villagers.”

[Rooter]

"Fortunately we shall not have that problem," Percy says. "The tavern sounds a likely place to begin our inquiries."

[aine]

Isolde just snuggles deeper into her fur, already she can feel the cold seeping big in.

[HoneyDog]

There are a number of houses visible and as they approach McKenzie starts to announce some facts.

“Boot a hunnerd folks live here” he says. “Yon is the schoolhouse.” He indicates a large building which looks just like a village schoolhouse in the companions’ imaginations. A modest stone church is off to the right. “St. George’s” says McKenzie.

Soon they reach the village green. A few locals can be seen eyeing them curiously, but there is no hostility visible and they greet McKenzie in a friendly manner.

A building bearing a post office sign stands behind the companions as they look around. On the right of the green is the village pub, bearing a sign which declares it to be the ‘Bull and Bear’.

[Mr. Handy]

"Shall we gentlemen go to the pub first, as Miss Beauchant suggested?" asks Alexander.

[Rooter]

Percy readily agrees.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,The ladies can join too, the pub isn't out of bounds for them.

[Philulhu]

”A wee nip might help us better bear the cold,” replied Captain FitzWilliam, and he lead the way towards the public house.

OOC,Is it late enough in the day for the pub to be open?

[HoneyDog]

“Aye, well, ah’ll leave the carriage here and be here aboots on mah ain business” states McKenzie.

Opening the door of The Bull and Bear, the investigators are greeted by a simply furnished but cosy traditional village inn. It is decorated with pictures of country life, and a trophy cabinet contains awards for the village cricket team. There are only a few locals present at this early hour, mainly crowded around the roaring fire.

Behind the bar stands a stout, cheerful-looking woman in her 40s greets the companions warmly.

“What can I get for you?” she asks.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'd like a beer and some gossip, please," says Alexander to the woman with a smile.

[HoneyDog]

“Gossip!” she guffaws. “You’ll be the folks staying at Bargrove Manor, then? Welcome to Bargrove sir!”

She fetches a glass and begins to pour some ale.