The Last Hope
May 26, 2023 6:34:22 GMT -5
Esmé's meme is meh and Optimism is my Phil-osophy like this
Post by twigz on May 26, 2023 6:34:22 GMT -5
A liquorice tinted taxi rolled into the driveway. A figure emerged from the passenger side, striding to meet the driver, maybe murmuring something or other in the shadows, slipping them some money, it was difficult to decipher in the darkness.
The figure approached the cast iron gate, running his fingers across the inscription.
Descending from the driveway, the car disappeared. There was no turning back now.
Eras of erosion had worn away the lettering. Stumbling under the terrain beneath, his black boot caught and clanged. Bending below, he dislodged his foot from its obstacle, brushing the soil from the unknown object. A single « V » had dismounted from the display.
« So this is the Avenue... »
He knocked anyway.
A few moments later, a dark-haired girl, different from whom he’d spotted only moments prior, unlocked the door.
« Good evening »
« Good evening, I hope I am not troubling you at this hour »
s i r . . . »
she enquired intently
the gentleman offered openly.
The girl paused.
« I’m here to acquire about the absence of... »
Leading into the parlour, Jean was ushered to a stuffy couch, which held far too many decorative cushions, and not enough room for his buttocks. The girl disappeared, and a few moments later a fair haired servant replaced her, carrying a tray of tea, in which she placed clumsily on the sitting table in front of him.
As she turned to leave, Jean-Luc queried,
« Why were you peering through the curtain? »
« I did no such thing, sir »
she spat, before departing just as quickly as she had arrived. What felt like an eternity had passed before a third girl, or rather a woman in this instance, emerged, in a pristine white dress, without stain, wrinkle, or rumple. A pale powdered face leaned towards him, glimpsing intently at his dark demeanour. Extending her wrist to the unfamiliar man, she introduced herself as Roxanne, the lady of the house.
« What brings you to MY manor? »
she asked directly, but not unkindly.
« I’m here to acquire about the absence of Sebastian Chambers »
« Oh thank god !
It is s o o o hard to find good help these days. »
« Would it trouble you to ask a few questions about his disappearance? »
« Of course darling, what would you like to know? »
« When did you last see Sebastian? »
« Well we were all planning our annual gala, we hold it each year, in the Manor you see, this must have been around two, three weeks ago? »
« Do you happen to have the date »
« Of course not darling, Chambers was my bookkeeper you see, he did all sorts of planning, it’s all been rather a mess, ever since he left so - so unexpectedly. »
« He left, you said? »
« Well, erm... no... But why would anyone quit without a word? »
Jean-Luc began scribbling notes in a legal pad, which he uncovered from his breast pocket.
« Did he collect his last pay? »
« He didn’t you see. Normally, the domestics collect their stipend Sunday evening. It was untouched until Tuesday, then the envelope disappeared »
« And no one saw him from Sunday onwards ? »
« That is correct. »
« Who knew about the envelopes? »
« Everyone, my darling. We have a full house. »
« Right Mme. Roxanne, I am going to require a list of each and every person who was in this house the weekend of his disappearance »
« Oh, that shan’t be too difficult, we only had a few members from the society. »
« And the domestics? »
« Why on earth would you need a l l of their names? »
« For my investigation »
« Right on. I will see to it that Betsy, the meagre girl who let you in, will draw you up a list of everyone who entered the premises. Until then, I’ll send the chamber maid to prepare a bed for you until supper is called. »
« Thank you for your warm hospitality, given the circumstances. »
The lady began to rise, Jean-Luc had hoped to gain more insight during their discussion, in which his counterpart was rightfully reserved.
« I didn’t happen to catch the other maid’s name, the one that fetched my tea? »
« Oh, how terribly rude of me. That’s Vivie, our kitchen maid. »
« Have each of them been here as long as M. Chambers? »
« Goodness no, it’s almost like a revolving door here these days. Only last week, our housekeeper had to dismiss one of them »
« Do you happen to suspect any of them to be nefarious »
« What an odd question! I don’t suppose they are. I hardly spend time with them, you see. Why do you ask? »
« I have my suspicious that something may have happened to M. Chambers. In any case, it is too early to say at this point in time, but he has been missing for an awfully while. »
« How troublesome, I miss him dearly. All of my documents are a mess ! I can hardly get one of the others to assist me, they’re as thick as two short planks! »
« Still, you don’t believe any of them to be capable of anything ? »
« I’m not sure what I believe these days »
the lady retorted.
the lady retorted.
« It seems as though I have my work cut out for me, then. »