'Now look what you've done', Lucinda said angrily

Boris poured himself another glass of wine
He rose from the table
Staggered to the door
Glass in one hand
Bottle in the other....
'Ladies, gentlemen...
Eve...
Goodnight'

Exit Boris from the room!

The party evaporated
Excuses of tiredness
Things to do
Apologies for the main event

Bellamy served Sam and Eve a nightcap
Leaving them in the sitting room
To mellow and mull
Over Dulitch developments

From above the fireplace
The imposing picture of the olde Lord Dulitch
Staring down on them

'Boris is a nasty piece of work' Eve spoke in a low voice

Sam replied, 'Literally spoilt rotten,
I wonder what he wouldn't do to get his own way.
Mind he seems to like you Eve'

'Oh god, don't say that
I had to put up with his smarm all night.
That Jack's the same, just more subtle
What's wrong with them all?

'Each has their own agenda I feel
Anyway, time for bed.
Let's see what tomorrow brings'
And with those words they made their way up

Later Eve sat at the dressing table
In her PJs,
Taking her makeup off

She rose to close her curtains
Noticing Jack talking to Nancy
In the shadows
Near the greenhouses

Tap tap tap startled her
Eve spun around
not sure which door the sound came from
Knock knock

'Eve, Eve ...
I want to talk to you,'

Eve jumped up
Ran to the door
and made sure the key wouldn't turn any further in the lock.
'Go away Boris, I'm tired, I want to go to bed'
'So do I' Boris sounded slimy suggestive from the other side of the door'
'We can talk in the morning...goodnight'

'Well, I can go and get the master key or we can just talk and see where we go with our conversation'

Another door opened.
Sam's voice
'I think Eve is tired and wants to sleep Boris'

'None of your business Mr. Sam snoop' Boris turned to face Sam
'You should know your place; you're an employee. This is a private matter between Eve and me. Now out of my way'.

'Not until you leave Eve alone'

'I'll persuade you otherwise'
Boris aimed a fist at Sam's head

Sam dodged
Boris's hand flew past Sam's head and into the woodwork
And in the same move Sam took Boris's arm
Twisted it behind Boris's back
Frog marched him back into his room
And pushed him onto the bed

'Goodnight Boris'
Sam closed the door behind him.

'See you in the morning Eve', Sam called,
And went back into his bedroom.

As the night moved into the early hours
All slept

Around 2.30am
In the dead silence of the night
There was a loud crash

Followed by another crash...

Eve sat up startled

Sam, Lou and Ed
Congregated on the landing
Joined by Jane and Jack
Even Mary appeared,
Coming down from her room above
Her sewing kit in her hand

In the shadows
For just a second or two
The ghostly countenance
Of the dead Lord Dulitch
Pointing a finger
Then fading into nothing.....