It was all explained to them. Their pension was tied up in an old bed and breakfast. Young Mr. Grace also included his attractive nurse, Miss Lovelock, in on the deal. After they got over the shock, they decided that it wasn't so bad. If they all moved into the manor they could make their pensions go further. This wasn't a problem for any of them.

Captain Peacock's wife had died a few years back of phenomena. He pretended to be sad for a while but everyone knew how liberated he actually felt. The last few months he'd really been giving the eye to Mr. Rumbold secretary. There's no word on whatever happened to her, oh well. Mr. Humphries lived with his mother. He was thrilled to death to have an excuse to leave her. She would always call to check in on him at the most inopportune times. Hew overbearing nature probably explained the why Mr. Humphries walked with such a swish. Miss Brahms lived alone, but she didn't seem to mind the move. She had been seeing a man that she wanted to break it off with; this would be the perfect excuse. Mrs. Slocumbe also lived alone except for her pussy, Mister Tiddles. She'd been married once upon a time, but there was no word on what ever became of Mr. Slocumbe. Mr. Rumbold's wife had also passed away, but unlike Captain Peacock he missed his wife. The move might do him some good. And then there was Ms. Lovelock. She was Young Mr. Graces nurse before he died. Some blamed his death on her. He died while scuba diving. Her bikini top popped off and he died immediately of a heart attack.

Mrs. Slocumbe could be heard telling anyone who would listen, "Imagine being flashed to death!"

"Well he probably saw the white light after getting the flash from Ms. Lovelock. Its hard to not go into a white light like hers." Mr. Humphries said, proud of his own little joke.

It was finally decided that they would all at least go out and look at the old manor. "But I'll have to make accommodations for my pussy. If they won't allow my pussy to come along I'll just stay where I am and I am unanimous in that."

One look is all it took to tell them that they were in their new home. The place was beautiful! It was out in the countryside with miles of old fashioned gardens and open fields.

Miss Brahms was the first to say anything, "Oh, its beau'iful! Look at them rose beds over there. You ain't gonna see them in the cities."

They all began to chat happily between them. They pulled onto the gravel path and unloaded their luggage from the car.

"Ough, I can't imagine Young Mr. Grace buying a place like this! Imagine staying the night here!" Mrs. Slocumbe was fussing with her cat carrier.

Mr. Humphries was as happy as can be, "I think it could be quite nice. Just think of all the strapping young stable hands and farmers."

"And why would we do that?" asked Captain Peacock.

Mr. Humphries was lost in thought, "What? I'm sorry; I was just having a nice little daydream."

They trouped across the grounds and into the front door. The front door was an impressive ten feet tall and made of old oak. There were stained glass windows, arches, beautiful woodwork and grand old stones. The front hall was stunning. Imagine any picture of English grandeur, this embodied all of them. On closer inspection the place was a little dusty and not that well kept, but there was defiantly potential. There were old upholstered chairs set into a conversational grouping near the staircase. In one of them sat Mr. Rumbold.

"Ah, there you all are. I'm glad to see you all again. So, what do you think of the place" He gestured with his arms to the hall around him.

"Well," began Captain Peacock "It may be a little premature to ask that seeing as we've just got here. Is there some place that we can put our luggage?"

"Ah, about that. Well it seems that the staff chose to resign after I laid down the laws."

"An what exactly does that mean Mr. Rumbold?" asked Miss Brahms.

"It seems as though they didn't like my rules. I only told them that they would have to buckle down because this place would be run differently than what it has been in the past. I told them that their wages would have to be cut, they would be expected to work weekends, do overtime and increase their workload."

"Oh blimey, what'd they say to that?" said Miss Brahms. She already seemed to know what they would say to that.

"Well…. In no uncertain terms, they told me to … ummm … 'get stuffed'!" He said a little embarrassed.

"Well," exclaimed Captain Peacock, "I'm not surprised. If I were told that I would say the same sort of thing!"

Everyone nodded in unison. Mr. Rumbold seemed a little uncomfortable.

"So what you're saying," began Mrs. Slocumbe "Is that we have no staff in a house this size?! How are we going to manage? And who will take my luggage up? I hope you don't expect me to carry my pussy all the way up those stairs. She weighs a ton!"

"Well, we do still have two people here to help us; Maurice and Mavis Moulterd." Mr. Moulterd works on the farm and tends to the livestock that is kept on the property."

"Well let's get him over here then!" yelled Mrs. Slocumbe.

She went over to a large gong that was set beside the staircase. She grabbed the drum stick and repeatedly struck the gong loudly.

"Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!"

A husky voice was approaching. He had a heavy country accent. They could hear him pounding down the hallway.

He had a large bucket of water in his hands.

"There no fire!" Mrs. Slocumbe yelled.

"Then why you ring the fire alarm?!" His voice was angry and gravely.

"I didn't! I merely stuck the gong to get your attention! We need assistance with our bags!"

"Well the next time, don't ring the bell. That there is fer' emergencies like a fire!"

Mrs. Slocumbe rolled her eyes.

"Well at least he's very alert. If there were a fire he'd have been the first one to put it out. Mind you, he's not very firemen-like."

"Ough, I can tell this is going to be nothing but a headache." Murmured Mrs. Slocumbe. "Come on then, let's get up to our rooms."

It was clear that this mansion would be even more of a headache to run than the department store, Grace and Brothers would be.