Chapter 4 (Exploring)
I was exploring the estate, as it would be my home for, well, as it would now be my home. There are so many halls and rooms I thought to myself. I could see that the manor had once been beautiful, grand, amazing. But now, things seem to be, well, for no better word, dying. Now that I thought of it, the whole house seemed to be in this state of disrepair. The gardens are amazing (though overridden with weeds), but when, in this season, everything should be blooming, all the flowers seem to be sick. Tapestries clung to crumbling walls. I hate to think what this place would look like in the winter.
Something nudged me. I looked down to see Rolf with his big, wet nose in my palm. I smiled. If only mom and dad could see me now. I don't know if they would have wanted me to come here, since they never mentioned this place before. Father never mentioned he had a brother, so I wonder if they had a fight or something. Rolf nudged me again; apparently he wanted me to follow him, and I did. Though I had no idea how, Rolf seemed to know exactly where he was going. I only hoped he could bring me back, I did not like the idea of being lost in the manor, not with half the place falling down around our ears.
We walked down many halls, all in the same state. Some of the hallways went off into other corridors, some lead into unknown rooms. Uncle did not exactly say I could not go any where, he just said I was not to disturb things. Whatever that meant. I kept following Rolf, deciding to explore the other rooms another time.
Suddenly I noticed I had lost my faithful companion. "Crap, Rolf, Rolf where are you?" I called. Shit, I have no clue where I am. I looked down the hall to see a small door, the same size as the door to my bedroom. I decided I might see if someone was in there, as unlikely as that would be; almost everywhere in this house was deserted. My skirt ruffled as I pushed open the door and peeked inside.
"Hello," I jumped back, banging my head on the door frame.
"Crap!" A small dwarf man had just appeared in front of me, "What, how, I mean you just appeared, I..." Oh god, what was wrong with me; I needed to get in control. I was not usually this way, all jumpy and such. "Hello, I am Beka -"
"Hello little princess," using my father's nickname for me, "I am Marmaduke Scarlet, the chef," the little man announced proudly.
"Oh, well it is a pleasure to meet you Mister Scarlet," I said stiffly, still rubbing the back of my head, "I must say, I am honored to meet you, your food is amazing. I don't think I have ever had such good cooking, not even in London," I grimaced. The man looked flattered. I was not lying, but my tone was not exactly pleasant; how many surprises did this household contain? Changing ceilings, magic chefs, a dying house.
"Well, thank you Miss, would you care for a cookie?"
Pop
"Where..." The little man, Mister Scarlet had disappeared. Damn, if he kept doing that, I would have another migraine, adding onto the one Miss Bennet will no doubt bring on.
"Over here Miss." I turned to my right, sighing, and sure enough there stood the dwarf with a cookie, much the same to the cookies left in my room that morning.
"So, your the one who leaves the cookies in my room," I said with a small smile after I had finished my cookie.
Pop
"Right you are, little princess," Marmaduke said, while stirring something in a large pot he had just appeared next to, "I hope you enjoy them."
"Yes, thank you. I had been wondering who had been in my room," I replied. Mister Scarlet looked quite pleased with himself. I had a thought.
"Monsieur, you would not happen to know why everything seems to be..."
"Dying," Marmaduke finished sadly. I nodded my head. "All in good time, little princess, all in good time," and with that he wandered over to what can only be described as a very large pantry. "Now," he said cheerfully from somewhere inside the pantry, "What should we have for dinner?"
After spending a little more time in the kitchen, and not being able to get another thing out of Marmaduke about the dying house, I went off to explore some more. Marmaduke saw me off with a basket of goodies, and making me promise to come back and visit him again. I promised; besides I liked his company. He was not cold like Uncle could be, and not over dramatic like Miss Bennet. Plus, he only talked when he had something of use to say, not just to here himself talk, like some people in London.
Walking aimlessly around, I came upon a piano in a distant part of the manor. The piano looked rather ancient, and, like everything else in the house, seemed to be falling apart. The paint was peeling off and the keys looked chipped.
Though I had not played in a very long time, I decided to give it a shot; I had always loved the piano, as did my mother. Before she died when I was nine, she taught me how to play. After that, I played because I enjoyed it, but it still did not feel right without her. My father never played, and after her death, I rarely saw him at all. My family had become Miss Bennet. I rolled my eyes. She was fine, just over did things far too much.
I sat down on the rather dusty bench and opened the piano. My fingers glided over the ivory keys, playing a simple, yet delightful piece. I was surprised at how in tune the piano was, though it had clearly not been used in awhile.
I was so caught up in my thoughts and what I had been playing, I had not heard him come in.
"I did not know you could play," Uncle called as I sat bolt up, startled out of my thoughts, "Though I shouldn't be surprised considering my sister-in-law loved it so much. She taught you, I take it?" I nodded, narrowing my eyes, I do not like it when people sneak up on me.
"Before she died," I said flatly.
"Yes, well, lets not dwell on such depressing memories," he paused, "Do you ride?" The question caught me off guard, and I answer without thinking.
"Yes," I said, "Though I know I shouldn't. Humph, Miss Bennet says ladies are not supposed to ride," I rolled my eyes again; this had been a touchy subject when Miss Bennet took over my life. I would run away for hours to go riding. I always found her frantic upon my return.
"And why is that?"
"I don't know," I answered truthfully, "and I do not care."
"Because, the creatures are unstable and vicious," the voice came from behind Uncle. This time both Uncle and I jumped. Do people enjoy sneaking up on each other in this house?
"Miss Bennet, I don't believe I heard you come in," Uncle regained himself, "But I assure our horses are anything but vicious creatures. I intended for Beka and I to ride around Moonacre. Give her an educational tour of the estate." I grinned beside myself.
"I would love to join you, Uncle," I said before Miss Bennet could reply. Uncle showed me to the stables, with a nervous Miss Bennet in tow.
"Beka," she whispered to me, "please say you do not intend to do this. Horses really, you are a city lady, you shouldn't be found atop a horse."
"Miss Bennet," Miss Bennet jumped as Uncle's voice boomed, "Perhaps you would care to join us." This time I snorted, though Miss Bennet seemed to be too busy looking at Uncle in disbelief to notice.
"What, I could never, no. Terribly sorry, but I, I have things to do, Yes, I think it is time I retire, good luck, child," Miss Bennet glanced at me nervously.
"I'll be fine, don't worry," I said to Miss Bennet's receding back. She paused to give me a reassuring smile before heading back into the house. Behind me I heard Uncle chuckle.