Chapter 3: Heart of Dartmoor

[HoneyDog]

The night looks cold and the garden is frozen with frost, but it seems the snow hasn't started yet.

Lady Amanda stiffens in her seat. “The village... is the largest habitation in the vicinity. There are a few farms dotted around, but most of the workers” she almost spits the word… “reside in Bargrove.”

Josephine and Ursula stand. Ursula goes to her mother and kisses her cheek, and Amanda visibly relaxes. The two exchange a loving embrace and wish each other goodnight, and Josephine announces to the company their intention to retire for the evening.

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam stood politely as Ursula and Mme. Ducray retired. Once the door closed behind them and he had heard their footsteps fade beyond, he said, ”I understand that this is very difficult for you to talk about, Lady Allingham, but I am afraid that we must ask questions of you that you may find awkward or uncomfortable, if we are to solve this mystery.”

“If you wish to talk now, that is all well and good, but if you would prefer to wait until the morning then we will understand. You may, after all, feel better if you have been able to rest.”

[HoneyDog]

Lady Amanda looks directly at Fitzwilliam. “You may ask your questions Captain. I will do my best to answer them.”

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam sat back down at the table and took a moment to compose his thoughts.

”Can we start with your relationship with the locals, and perhaps more pertinently, your late husband’s?” he said, looking directly at Lady Allingham.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander accepts the brandy with gratitude, though he prefers whiskey. "Your Ladyship," he asks, "do the villagers have a leader? Is there anyone among them you particularly suspect?"

[aine]

Now that Ursula has gone to bed, Isolde feels she can broach the less mundane side of the mystery, "Lady Allingham, when the disturbances occur, are they restricted to certain parts of the building and to certain times of the day? Sometimes the deceased try to communicate an idea to us by the way they react to this plane."

[Raiko]

Melody,[b]Melody[/b] helps to clean away the dishes. If possible she stays close to the young servant who was talking to her, and she doesn't carry on talking while [b]Mrs Beddowes[/b] is there unless someone else speaks first. She will carry on talking if the housekeeper leaves though. [spoiler]She'll whisper to the young lady,[color=#FF0040] "That [b]Mrs Beddowes[/b] seems quite stern..."[/color][/spoiler]

OOC:   Sorry I meant to post much earlier today, but my children have all come down with a stomach bug at the same time.

[HoneyDog]

OOC:   Not to worry Raiko. I hope the children are okay.

Lady Amanda looks flustered at the barrage of questions.

"One at a time, please!" she snaps.

Melody,The servant drops her voice. [color=#FF0040]"Don't let that rosy-cheeked look fool you. She's hard as nails. She's rule us with an iron fist if she had her way."[/color]

[Mr. Handy]

"My apologies, milady," says Alexander, stepping back. "Captain, you asked first."

[Philulhu]

”We meant no offence, Lady Allingham,” said Captain FitzWilliam, gently. ”We are just keen to help you solve this mystery and bring your husband’s killer to justice.”

”As Dr. Campbell said, if we may start with my question about your family’s relationship with the village and then move on to my colleague’s?”

[aine]

ooc,I didn't mean to barrage - it was more of a question from Isolde to be answered at some point in the conversation - the limitations of PBP![/ooc]

Isolde listens with interest.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Be warned, I will play Lady Amanda to the nth degree :twisted:. But in all sympathy, she's had a tough time lately. She will be difficult and unreasonable at times.

Lady Amanda is very tense, and sits up straight in her seat. "I'm sure that my husband's murderer is in that village. They hate us! They hated William! They’re so wedded to their primitive, traditional ways! William tried to modernize them, and bring them prosperity. But they rejected him! Damn them!”

By the end of this speech, she is almost shrieking. Howard looks on with concern, hovering in the background.

[Philulhu]

”ln what way did your husband attempt to ‘modernise’ the village?” replied Captain FitzWilliam calmly. ”And what are the ‘primitive ways’ of which you speak?”

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,My intention with my question had been the same. Play by post is slow enough, and I didn't want to slow it down further by delaying posting my question.

[HoneyDog]

“William tried to introduce new farming methods. He wouldn’t tolerate slackness and wanted to maximize efficiency. Of course those lazy fools resisted him; they want to just keep on trying to produce the bare minimum. He had to hire men from outside the district to work.” She squirms in her seat.

“I don’t want to discuss that place anymore!” she says, more quietly now. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to retire for the evening. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow. Howard will see to your needs. Goodnight.”

With that, she leaves the room.

[Rooter]

"Her ladyship is clearly under a great deal of strain at this emotional time," opines Percy, the voice of diplomacy. "I think I'll turn in for the night as well. I look forward to our tour tomorrow, Howard. Goodnight, one and all." So saying, he heads to his room to make some notes before retiring.

Spoiler:

On his way upstairs he pauses surreptitiously at each door and listens in case he should overhear any gossip.

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam sighed and sat back in his seat. It was going to be a long process trying to get to the bottom of things at this rate.

He looked at the butler, trying to size the man up. ”Without betraying any confidences, Howard, are you able to shed more light on recent events?”

[aine]

"I think I shall retire too; goodnight everyone, it seems we have a lot of avenues to pursue tomorrow. Howard, I can find my own way to my room." Isolde rises and leaves the room but does not go straight to her bedroom. Instead she meanders slowly, pausing often. 'To gain a sense of the house,' she says to herself. She pauses on a dark landing and closes her eyes, listening and feeling with her medium's intuition.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good evening," says Alexander, resigned to his questions never being answered. "I shall turn in for the night too. On the morrow I intend to see what I can find about the family's history in the library."

[HoneyDog]

“I’m sorry sir, but I would prefer it if you about events from Lady Amanda” Howard tells Fitzwilliam. “I concur that unexplained events have occurred lately in the house. Perhaps a tour of the house, including the library, will help to answer some of your questions. Of course, we can provide an escort to the village should you want to talk to people there.”

He turns to Alexander. “There are several personalities in the village who might help with your enquiries. My Lady does not like to travel there.” He hesitates for a moment. “Recent events have been most trying for her. I beg your indulgence”.

He bids goodnight, after telling the companions that breakfast will be served at 9. Another servant directs everyone to their rooms. There is no-one else staying in their section of the house, and the corridors and rooms are quiet. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. The companions retire to their rooms, tired after the long day.

Melody too goes to bed. Night settles over the mansion, and the temperature drops. To those with a sensitivity to changes in the weather, it feels like they may be on the verge of some very cold days and nights.

OOC,Roll Listen; if you succeed, you awaken.