Present Day 

He suggested a horse!

According to Leopold, horses were the preferred method of transport for the lords of the manor since they liked the exercise, and horses were the best suited for most of the terrain they needed to visit.

Oh, lovely.

Well, that explains the subtle fragrance like honey and tea I catch whiffs of every time the wind changes. I rather like the smell of horses (the animals, not their manure), but I haven't been on one's back even once in my life, and I am not interested in starting an equestrian hobby now. I'll pet them and longingly gaze at them from afar, but I don't want to put my life in their hands... hoofs.

Besides, I can just imagine how obnoxious and powerful these animals would have to be to endure their masters. Alaric's horse will probably give me condescending looks and try to bite me, while Ransford's animal might lick me and offer to share his hay with me. Liam's horse might be suitable, but... no.

I asked Leopold if any transport was available to me of any shape or form that involved having an engine, and that is why I am now standing at the door of a vast garage I'd mistaken for a big barn. Well, it probably was one in a former life.

Leopold pulls dust covers from various large lumps neatly lined up in the obscenely clean garage. A couple of motorcycles. Uhm... hahaha... nope. The old-fashioned bicycle - with a basket - could be a possibility, but then I think of the steep, winding road along the cliff and the steady upward slope through the forest, and I realise that I'll end up pushing it more than riding it.

There is a car! My first reaction when Leopold mentions it is, 'Yay', and then he pulls off a section of the cloth covering it, and that reaction changes to 'Nay!' This vehicle consists of at least two cars attached nose to end. It's a limousine!

Very funny!

"How on Earth do you drive that vehicle on these insane roads, Leopold?"

"Very carefully, Miss," he answers in his dry manner, not even a hint of a smile on his face, causing me to have a fit of giggles.

"Leopold, did you just make a joke?" I ask, shocked to my core.

"I never joke, Miss."

"Do the Slatherties really drive around the island in that?" I cannot imagine navigating all those bends in such a long vehicle, let alone on the precarious edge of a cliff.

"I drive them on the rare occasions when they need to use it, Miss, but as I've said, they all prefer horses."

I wonder what those rare occasions might be. Their coronation ceremonies where they collect the adoration of the commoners while giving the rabble cold looks and tight nods? Thinking of Alaric makes my stomach churn, so I decide not to think about him anymore. Maybe it is Ransford who uses it to take some woman or another for a ride... No, thinking about Ransford is not much better.

My spirits are flagging again, and I felt so hopeful less than an hour ago. I woke up to the sound of the alarm on my phone this morning, and it was today, not two days from now. I had no visitors last night, not in my dreams or awake... that I'm aware of. I'd been nervous about going to sleep last night and thought I'd be lying awake all night since I pretended to be the sleeping beauty for almost two whole days. I even brought my book from the drawing room to keep me company, but I was out like a light shortly after getting into my bed.

Perhaps having that rather lovely wine with my dinner did the trick.

This morning, I felt refreshed and excited about meeting Billy later. I fetched my laptop from the office and spent quite a bit of time studying all the beautiful ornaments in my bedroom, making as many notes about them as I could after superficial once-overs. I ran into Leopold when I finally went to the kitchen, searching for a second cup of coffee, which I'm proud to say I made myself.

My coffee is not quite as delectable as when the ghosts of servitude make it, but I'm getting there. While I made my coffee, I asked Leopold about independent transport, and that is how I am now standing here, feeling somewhat depressed even though I'm wearing one of the few new dresses I'd bought for my new job. This would usually make me happy. The yellow sprigs of flowers on the soft terra cotta material have all wilted and died since I entered the garage.

The day started so well.

I've seen neither hide nor hair of the mysterious brothers or their rather disturbing sister, which is a plus. Pulling my cream cardigan tighter around me, I shiver slightly in the cool air even though it is nearly noon. I read that Peace Haven doesn't get much in the line of sun, and the temperature always tends to be in the cooler degrees, but I expected it to be more like London. It's nothing like it. Though not cold, it isn't quite pleasant either.

"What if I just walked?" I could put on trousers and sneakers and wear a jacket and go for a stroll the next time I want to go to town. I rather love strolling. "The town is over there, right?" I ask, turning so that I am facing what I believe to be south and extend my arm. "I could just cut straight through the forest."

"The town is more to the west, Miss," Leopold says, pointing a few degrees more to my right. "It is quite a long walk, steep in places. Yes, there is a footpath; if you'd let me have the map, please."

I hand him the papers I've been clutching. I brought the document with me and opened it to the map of the grounds when we stepped outside. I've been using this opportunity with Leopold here for guidance to familiarise myself with the grounds surrounding the mansion, which seems to have grown in size since the last time I saw it from outside. On Thursday, large parts of it had been hidden in the mist. The place is beautiful and, based on the highly decorative and theatrical style I recognise as belonging to the Baroque architectural period, I believe it was built in the early 17th century.

Sections have clearly been added during later periods, accounting for subtle shifts in styles, but they all blend together well. I am surprised by the touch of Gothic influences resulting in some vaulted roofs, buttresses, large arched windows, and spires. That specific period ended around 1520, about 100 years before this mansion was built. Still, it does give the building a certain mysterious flair.

"See here, Miss?" Leopold indicates a drawn route that does indeed cut through the forest, skirting what appears to be a cemetery, but I cannot be sure (it is marked with a few crosses); the details on this map are sketchy at best. Like the maps of the house's interior, it is hand drawn, and only the areas I'm allowed to visit contain explicit details.

"I would not recommend taking that route, though, Miss," Leopold says with a certainty that would not be denied. "It may only be the beginning of autumn now, but wolves are known to migrate into the forest around this time of the year.

"Wolves? The island has wolves?" I do not like the sound of that at all. I wonder if anybody considered wolves to be behind the disappearance of all those girls and babies in 1745. It seems like a logical explanation.

"Yes, Miss. They mainly keep to the south of the island, as they do not enjoy human company as much as one might expect, and the south section of the island is not densely populated, but during autumn and winter, their prey move further north, wandering into this area looking for food, and they follow."

I squint at the forest bordering the stone wall not far from us, trying to see if any predators are lurking, waiting for someone as ignorant as me to take a stroll, but all I see is a forest so dense with trees and underbrush, it is quite dark. The desire to stroll in it would've died as soon as I took my first step into it anyway, wolves or no wolves.

"In fact, Miss, I would not recommend uncovered travel in general," Leopold adds, his pale eyes even more guarded than usual. I can see my dreams of leisurely strolls evaporating before they were even fully formed. The land-facing borders of the estate seem to be surrounded by a low stone wall, and there's no gate at the beginning of the driveway.

"Do wolves often come onto the mansion's grounds, Leopold?"

"Only when given permission, Miss," he says straight-faced again. He is just full of jokes today, but this time, my laughter is not quite as filled with amusement as earlier. I found his tone of voice rather unsettling.

"Is there a car rental agency or a second-hand dealership in town I could use?" I try, but I cannot get my brain to form a picture of a tarmac lot filled with cheap cars and brightly printed advertisements. It would look utterly alien in the rustic town of Slaughtaverty.

"No, Miss, but I'll see what I can arrange for you," Leopold says, escorting me from the garage and closing the doors behind us. I can almost imagine a myriad of phantoms releasing themselves from the shadows inside to replace all the dust cloths he'd pulled off. I've never been a fan of fantasy novels and movies before, but this place is inspiring my imagination to venture into all new genres.

"Thank you, Leopold."

Walking back along the path winding through the trees and shrubs, hiding the garage from the mansion, I gaze up at the windows of what I think would be the North wing. Most of them are dark, their thick curtains drawn, and I wonder for the umpteenth time why these people don't let the light in.

True, sunlight is generally harmful to furniture, and many of the articles I've seen so far are very old and somewhat fragile. However, Peace Haven's sun is rather insipid at best; even when it was shining brightly into the airy drawing room yesterday, it wasn't hot. The mansion could do with some air and light.

I gasp in surprise, stopping to have a better look, when my eye catches a hint of golden red in one of the windows on the second floor. It is hard to pick it out among the shadows crowding it, but then it moves, and I can make out what might be a woman with long red hair, but then she's gone, and all I can see is the glint of the sun on the glass and more shadows.

I watch for a few seconds longer, but there is nothing, and now I'm not even sure that I've seen anything at all. My eyes have been struggling to focus properly all morning; I constantly have to squint and blink, often taking off my glasses to rub at them. I wonder if Slaughtaverty has an optometrist I could visit because my current prescription is apparently not sufficient anymore.

"Your ride is here, Miss," Leopold informs me, waiting for me to catch up to him. The man has truly remarkable ears because I only start to hear Billy's car when we round the corner of the manor. He parks in the driveway a few seconds after Leopold and I arrive.

"Howya, Aubrey!" Billy grins, getting out of the car and walking around it to open the passenger door for me when I direct my route towards him. A smile spreads over my face in answer to his when I see him. He is such a refreshing contrast to the gloom and quiet I've been experiencing since my arrival. Usually, I prefer solitude and quiet, but there is something very sombre and soul-drenching in the atmosphere of Slaughtaverty Manor. I crave fresh air, light and warmth. Even out here in the gardens, there is none to be found.

"Hello, Billy; it is so nice to see you again." I resist the urge to run my hand through my hair and smooth the skirt of my dress, feeling flustered now that he is actually here. Unlike Thursday, Billy is not dressed in a t-shirt, a windbreaker and jeans. He is dressed rather neatly in a creamy button-up shirt and chinos. He is even wearing fashionable shoes and not sneakers. Very nice, indeed.

I'm so glad I decided to brush my hair, fasten it with clips and wear some light makeup today. Looking down at my dress, I can see that the pretty little flowers are all blooming happily again.

"I just need to run into the house," I tell him, turning towards the front door, "to fetch my..." I stop, blinking, surprised to see Leopold coming down the patio steps carrying the purse I'd left in the foyer, ready for my adventure with Billy. The very bag I was about to go find. I did not even notice the man leaving me to enter the mansion.

"Thank you very much, Leopold," I breathe, taking the handbag from him. He'd even zipped it shut, reminding me of the day we met, and I'd strewn my goodies at his feet. Fun times! I need to remember always to use this nifty invention to keep the purse shut; for some reason, I never do and always regret it. Well, I suppose I have my very own butler now to do it for me.

"Mr. Doyle," Leopold says stiffly, nodding at Billy.

"Leopold."

Awesome! There is no love lost there. When Billy returns Leopold's nod, there is no sign of his warm smile, and his eyes have turned flinty, draining the happy sky blue right out of them.

Last night, I told Leopold that I wouldn't be home for lunch and might not require much in the line of dinner, depending on what I have for lunch and though he'd accepted my instructions with the same lack of enthusiasm, he always exhibits, there'd been something even more stiff about his demeanour when he heard that I was having lunch in town with Billy. I saw that now, too, when he greeted the man.

He offers us a slight bow and returns to the manor.

"Cheerful, fellow, isn't he?" I observe, trying to dispel the tense silence when Billy navigates his car towards the road, running along the cliffs, and the arch leading into the driveway disappears from sight. I hope the butler's ESP capabilities don't reach this far.

"Aye, that he is," Billy chuckles, and with his soft laughter, the atmosphere lightens, the car filling with air.

Today, the route to town is scenic and beautiful, rather than terrifying, since there's no mist caking around us, hiding the world. The sun plays hide and seek among the clouds, dappling the ocean in silver every time it appears. No, I was wrong; it is still terrifying to look at the cliffs plunging into the arms of white-foamed water, jumping up in a powerful spray among jagged black rocks, and yet, I cannot tear my gaze away. It is a stunning scene.

"Are ye doing okay?" Billy asks, glancing at me for a second before returning his full attention to the road. "Are ye settling in alright?"

"Yes, thank you," I bite my lip, wondering just how much of my experience I dare share with him before I'd be breaching my contract. "It is very different from what I expected."

"I hope it's not a huge disappointment," Billy says, giving me an alarmed look.

"No, I cannot say that I'm disappointed. The furnishings and décor are much more impressive and overwhelming than I'd imagined it would be; being able to study all of it is a massive gift to me. I cannot wait to start working tomorrow. It's just..."

I fall silent, trying to find the right words that will not make me sound like a crazy person.

"I think Leopold is telepathic, and a staff of ghosts runs the house." There, those were the perfect words for the job. To his credit, Billy doesn't laugh out loud, but I can see his shoulders shaking. "Honestly! It seems I only have to think about him really hard, and he'll just show up. How do you explain that? He said to call him if I needed him, and when I asked him how, he said: 'I'll find you'... and he truly does."

"Well, I cannot say for sure about Leopold; he is rather eccentric, but I think he'd been doing that job for so long he probably reads people well and is very intuitive... or maybe he is just telepathic," Billy grins on that last word, sneaking a teasing look my way. "As for the staff, they're not ghosts, but they do tend to stay out of the way. Also, it is the weekend; there will only be a skeleton staff on duty."

"Oh, my! I hope they're not actual skeletons," I mutter, and now Billy is laughing out loud.

I expected to find a quiet, sleepy town, lazing away the Sunday, when we finally left the zig-zag road crisscrossing the dark forest, and the car broke into the light, covering the distance to the village much faster than the previous sections of the road lend itself to do. I am, therefore, surprised to find the main street alive with people.

I remained quiet during our trip through the forest, staying on high alert to see if I could spot any wolves or other predators, but the forest had been eerily lifeless, leaves stirring in the breeze the only movement. The town is a welcome contrast.

Since driving doesn't seem to be a popular activity in town, Billy easily finds a parking spot. I'm a bit disappointed that I don't see any horses tethered along the stone pavements. Others don't seem to share the Slatherty brothers' preference. I do see many bicycles and people walking, though.

Leaving the car behind, Billy guides me to the pub, casually tossing 'howya', 's'going', hand waves, and friendly head nods around. He is completely unfazed by the fact that he is walking around with a strange apparition by his side, drawing the attention of all the people we pass. I don't blame them for staring.

I must stand out like a pickle in a bowl of coconut flakes; I am a complete alien in their close-knit world where everybody knows each other.

~~~