User:WBardwin/Chapter

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-- Wikipedia:Once upon a time...
 * Chapter 1


 * Please put suggestions and comments relating to the ongoing Chapter below on the discussion page.


 * As of late afternoon 29 May 2005, I'm putting a hold on any future developments in this chapter until we decide when the murder took place -- the first night or the second?

Points I've added to the general story:
 * Ethelynn Strand is a young local woman, and a new maid employed by Mr. Winter.
 * The Cook (Mrs Harper) was called away to her "old" father before the storm and is not in the story. This is true of young Blake (teenage male -- job consists of lifting and hauling around the house?) as well, who is from the "village."
 * I've named Lady Margret "Janine" (although I considered Adell), unless there are objections.
 * I've narrowed our time setting, I'm afraid. They have a wireless and motor vehicles -- but how many grooms and carriage drivers could we have added to the story?  So, 1920's??

Ethelynn's Account
"Well, sir." The tall young woman wrapped her large bony hands in a sacking dish cloth. "I'm new, you know....an I don't know much yet about the household an' nothin' about the master's guests."

"Please sit down, Ethelynn." Christopher pointed to a chair. "You have not been with Mr. Winter long, I know. You came in autumn, October wasn't it?"

"Yes, sir. I heard about the position from my Gram, down in the village.  She said it was a quiet household, just Mr. Winter most of the time.  And that Cook, Mrs. Harper, would be good to work with.  And she's looked after me, it's true."

"I would like to talk about what happened that day and what you might have noticed. After all, you were about all day helping people."

"It was a busy day, sir. With the weather, an' Cook snowed out, an' all." Ethelynn sat on the edge of the red brocade seat. "But, I can't be long, sir. I just put pies into the oven."

"I must tell you, Ethelynn, you have done a fine job with the food. Everything has been delicious."

"Thank you, sir. But, Cook, she did a job of stocking things up for the guests, and had many of the dishes already prepared.  So, it has been easy to keep things goin'."

"Can you tell me what you remember the evening before the murder? Just what you did and what you saw?"

Ethelynn pulled the chair closer to the desk and leaned toward him. "Well, before Cook left to look in after her old father, she asked me to put on a clean apron and help Mr. Adams with the guests. So I was downstairs when the Lord an' Lady Margret arrived."

B
Ethelynn stood erectly against the left wall of the entry way while Adams answered the door. She straightened her apron, as the finely dressed lady strolled through the door and was followed by a solidly built gentleman carrying a worn leather bag.

"Good evening, my Lady. My Lord." Adams said respectfully, before he closed the door behind them. "I'm glad you arrived safely in this storm. We've heard reports on the wireless that roads to the south are beginning to be closed." Adams helped the lady off with her fur coat and handed it to Ethelynn.

"It is getting bad. I have good tires, but it was a near thing on occasion." Lord Margret gave his coat, hat and the bag to Adams. "Please put this in my room, if you would. But easily to hand.  It's my medical bag."

Adams passed the bag to Ethelynn. "Ethelynn will take it to your room while I gather in your luggage, my Lord. If you would like to freshen up after your journey, she will show you the way.  We have prepared a light supper for you.  And Mr. Winter and some of the guests are still in the livingroom, if you would like to join them."

"I would, thank you." Lord Margret turned to his wife. "If you would like to freshen up, my dear, I will pour you a drink. What would you like?"

"A glass of brandy, please." the Lady's voice was low and pleasant. "I'll join you in a few moments."

Lady Margret followed Ethelynn up the stairs to a room near the end of the hallway. Ethelynn opened her door for her, made a small bow, and went on to the next room. Setting the bag on the bedside table, she doublechecked the towels and soap next to the washbasin, and turned down the bed. Carrying the damp fur coat, she knocked on her Ladyship's door.

"Come in." The low voice carried through the heavy wood.

Ethelynn stepped just inside the door. "I'll be takin' your coat downstairs to air out the damp, if that's alright with you, my Lady."

Lady Janine Margret turned from the window. "Yes, that would be fine. Tell me, Evelyn, --is it?  Did Miss Winter arrive safely from the United States?"

"Yes, Miss Johanna arrived the day before yesterday. And it's Ethelynn, my Lady, thank you."

"Ethelynn, of course. Thank you.  I will be joining my husband downstairs for dinner and then Mr. Winter and his guests for a few moments.  Please let me know when the luggage has been unpacked."

Ethelynn made a small curtsy and closed the door behind her. She took the smaller staircase at the end of the hall to the lower floor. In the laundry area, she wiped the fur down with a small linen towel and carefully emptied the pockets. Gloves, a small notebook and several other items went into a rough fir box. The damp coat was shaken, and then carefully straightened on an appropriately sized hanger where it would slowly dry in the airy room.

"Strand!" Adams' voice snapped down the narrow hallway.

"Yes, Mr. Adams." Ethelynn stepped to the door to meet the older man. "I've just hung her Ladyship's coat to dry. Is it sable, sir?"

"Yes, Strand, a fine one. Take good care of it and return it to her room in the morning.  I've taken the luggage up and showed Lord and Lady Margret to the cold buffet.  Once you get them unpacked, take the buffet down and do the washing up." Taking her elbow, Adams drew her from the laundry room and closed the door.

"Yes, sir." Ethelynn nodded briskly. "It shouldn't take very long to do those last things. I've only the one roasting pan left soaking."

"I'll go through the living areas and gather any glasswear and cigarette trays. You can do any remaining glass in the morning." They reached the narrow stairs. "The storm seems to have worsened. I don't know what time we will see Mrs. Harper tomorrow, Strand.  And young Blake may not make it up from the village.  I'll ring the bell early so both breakfast and the upstairs rooms can be done in a timely manner.  Check the coal shuttle for the morning." He looked at her rather sternly. "Make good use of your time, Strand."

"Yes, Mr. Adams." Ethelynn hurried up the stairs to the upper floor. It was late, and tomorrow would arrive very early.

C
"''And you saw no one other than Mr. Adams for the rest of the night?" '' Sir Christopher asked gently.

"That's right, sir." She folded the dish cloth and draped it over her arm. "While I was upstairs, I turned down all the beds and added coal to the fires. I heard a gentleman speak out in the hallway, but it wasn't Mr. Adams or Mr. Winter.  An' there was no one in the hallway when I came back to the kitchen.  When he brought in some glassware, I asked Mr. Adams to tell Lady Margret that I had unpacked her things.  I did the washing up, gathered in some coal an' went to my bed."

Ethelynn stood up. "If you'll excuse me. sir. My pies." As she reached the door, she stopped and turned. "But, it is strange, now. In the morning, when I took that sable coat upstairs, I couldn't find that little notebook.  It wasn't in the wooden box or on the floor.  Green it was, with a gold pencil."  She closed the door gently behind her.

Ethelynn lined the six apple pies up into two rows on the center island to cool. Nicely browned and fragrant. She had the pork roast simmering in Cook's sauce and yeast rolls rising. Just the potatoes to worry about, but there would be something to eat this evening anyway.

"Strand," Adams walked to the counter, eyeing the pies. "are things well in hand for dinner?"

"I believe so, Mr. Adams. The bread is a country recipe and might not suit these toffs, but it will be filling and hot.  Those fancy potato puffs o' Cooks.  Well, mine won't look as pretty."

"Please, Strand, ladies and gentlemen, not toffs." Adams' voice tried to be stern, but simply sounded tired. "I don't believe anyone will be in a mood to criticize as long as the meal is warm and flavorful. For the dessert presentation, we'll cut the pies in very narrow wedges, serving three on a plate, with some thin ribbons of cheddar, slightly warmed.  That will be soothing at the end of the meal.  I'll have to find a good wine, however.  They will notice that."

Adams walked over and checked the coal shuttle. "We'll need several more loads in before dinner, and coal will be needed upstairs before the guests retire. I've laid the fire in the dining room for dinner."

"Miss Joanna," Adams voice softened, "should be made more comfortable. I opened the rose room in the other wing, next to Miss Inglewood, cleaned out the grate and laid a fire.  Please take up some bedding and towels and get the room presentable.  If you would move some of her clothes and toiletry items, she may be able to settle in and take some rest." He picked up the coal bucket. "I'll move some coal in while you work upstairs."

"Thank you, Mr. Adams. As flightly as he is, we surely miss Blake's hands, don't we?"

"And his back." Adams sighed as he moved toward the rear door.