Sir, It's time to get up.
Really sir, you must eat something.
Allow me to get your robe for you, sir.
Sir, are you all right?
You are my life, sir.
As you wish, sir...
Sir...
...Sir.
Goodbye, sir.
"Riff!"
Golden eyes opened as Cain cried out, awakening himself. The count was slouched over his desk, head surrouned by equipment and bottles. He could hear the muffled sounds of life creeping in from the rest of the house; it had to be the morning. Early morning, for Riff had not yet come in to wake Cain. In fact, he obviously had not come to put his master to bed. Cains' brow furrowed, until his sleep-fogged brain recalled the previous night. "Riff..." Cain winced in apology at the memory of his harsh words. The Count himself had ordered Riff to take the night off, so, relieved of his duties, the steward had undoubtedly gone straight to bed when he returned to the Hargreaves residence. Even now, he must be downstairs, most likely preparing the young Count and Miss Hargreaves meal himself. Yes, that must be. Satisfied, Cain stood and straightened his clothes before opening the door to investigate Riff's cooking.
"There you are! Brother, it's not like you to sleep so late! Or in your clothes..." Merryweather gave her brother a funny look.
Cain blinked in confusion, first at the unexpected presence of his little sister, and then at her inexplicable words. "Late? Of course I never sleep late. Riff always wakes me." With tea... cream, and no sugar.
"Oh, well then." Merryweather was silent as they walked down the hall. "Brother... then where is Riff? The whole household is in an uproar.... He isn't anywhere to be found."
When she recieved no reply, Merry looked up to see her brother standing frozen, an unreadable expression upon his face; not fear, nor pain, or anger, but something far beyond all of those and more. Cain's brow was furrowed, as if in thought. His eyes pained, and his mouth turned down in the smallest of frowns. Suddenly he gasped, and oblivious to all else around him, he ran down the hallway, leaving his stunned sister behind.
"Miss Merry, did you find the Count?"
Miffed at her brother, the girl didn't bother to face the maid as she replied, "Yes, but I'm afraid he's gone out. Oh! And tell the kitchen staff they won't have to worry about breakfast."
Cain reached the end of the drive before the thought of his carriage managed to cross his mind. Riff hadn't come back. The count couldn't imagine why. Had he been unhappy, wanting to leave? Did last night provide the proper opportunity. No... he said he'd stay forever. He promised he'd never leave. Maybe he got lost. Or it was too late, and he's staying in an inn right now. Maybe he... met someone. Maybe he... or maybe... Cursed eyes widened, as Cain's thoughts ran themselves in circles to the unthinkable. The count turned, and raced back to his home to order the small chaise(1) readied.
Bursting back into the house, Cain sped through the halls to his sister's favourite sitting room. Gasping, he stopped in the doorway, before demanding, "Merryweather! Where was the inn the whores spoke of?"
"Earl! Such language!" Merryweather's tutor, a prim old spinster, stood with a scandalized expression beside her student.
"Oh, brother! Here, I'm just practising my cursive right now, so I'll write you directions," with a smile, the blonde head bent over a scrap of paper, where she hurridly scribbled a few lines. "There! Now, Ma'am, did I do the last A correctly?" Merryweather grinned impishly at her tutor, who was still staring at Cain in horror.
"Here, Merry," Cain took the paper from his sister, noting the improvement of her hand. Having recovered himself slightly, he turned to the tutor and bowed his head slightly, "My dear Miss Havisham, I apologize for the interruption. Feel free to continue the lesson once you catch your breath again." He swept from the room, barely allowing the door to swing closed before sprinting once again out of his house.
Cain found the chaise parked before the door, and had the horses moving before he was fully settled. Having never bothered with the employ of a coachman (Riff always drove), Cain took the reins himself, and set off at a fast trot.
The inn was an old-fashioned building, all red brick and ratty yellow shutters. A carved wooden sign creaked back and forth, as if the little carved ship were riding through a rough, stormy sea. Above, one of the shutters had come undone, and a lacey curtain flapped out the open window like a woman's handkerchief. None of this registered in the count's mind, however. Only one sight penetrated the fog: the inn was closed. Not that this could be a surprise, it was barely eight o' clock. Undoubtably the barmaids were there now, cleaning the common room, preparing for the guests who would soon appear for breakfast. None of this mattered, however. Riff had gone inside, or had been inside, and Cain was locked out. His normally quick mind was frozen, and left him staring blankly at the large wooden wall before him.
And then it opened. A pair of large, dark eyes, framed by rich wavy hair blinked at the count in confusion.
"Excuse me, but can I help you, sir?" the girl asked.
Cain blinked at the open doors before blurting, "I need to come in."
"Ah, well, I'm afraid we're closed, what with the murder... If you would care to return in a day or two..."
"Actually," Cain cut in, his mind having finally pulled itself out of the fog, "I am here about hte murder. If I could introduce myself..."
Luminous, black-brown eyes widened, "Oh! Of course! You must be the inspector Scotland Yard promised to send. You were supposed to come last night, you realize? Ah well, at least you came. I knew the police wouldn't really ignore a murder. Please, come right in, and I'll introduce you to the owner."
Cain raised his hand, a vain attempt to stem the flow of words. Instead of stopping, however, the girl took hold of his wrist, and pulled him inside.
"Oh, inspector, how rude of me! I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Chicane."
Cain bowed, "And I am Earl Cain Hargreaves, not and inspector of the Scotland Yard. I'm afraid I'm here out of a more... personal interest." He went silent for a moment, before smiling again, "I do apologize for the mistake, but would I still be allowed to ask a few questions?"
Chicane nodded, "I suppose that would be all right... any investigation is better than no investigation, I suppose. What would you like to know, earl?"
"Well, were you working the night the body was discovered?"
"Saturday? No, I was in the Black Dragon.... It's down the next street."
Cain paused for a moment, "Well... do you remember anything about the victim? Did he come here often, when was the last time anyone saw him... Did he ever have a companion?"
"Hmm... Mr. Jeremaid... he usually came in every few nights, always alone. Oh! except for a week ago... the last time he was in. It was Monday, I remember, because it was pretty quiet. That time, Mr. Jeremaid came in, and joined a blonde woman. He didn't drink anything, either, which was strange. Normally he would have at least a mug of ale."
Cain sat listening intently as the girl talked. When she finished, he continued to sit, lost in thought. Chicane waited, watching the young Earl. The silence stretched on, until Cain seemed suddenly to come back to himself and everything around him, "Do you know the name of his companion? And did you see them leave together? Or did they depart seperatly?"
Chicane closed her eyes, thinking hard. "... no.... I don't remember hearing her name. And the woman left first, if I remember correctly... I don't know.. I was on the other side of the room, and she ordered all barmaids away when she first arrived. Oh, I'm sorry sir, but that's all I know... And I really ought to get back to work."
"That's perfectly all right. I don't think there's anything more for me to ask you... But would it be a problem for me to stop by again if I think of anything?"
Smiling as she returned to her cleaning, Chicane nodded her assent, "Of course, Earl. You're welcome here any time at all."
Cain bowed before letting himself out to the street. Thoughts ran freely through his mind as he walked, paying little attention to his surroundings. The body had been discovered on Saturday, and Cain had found no plausable reason to question the girl about the patrons of the previous night, Sunday. No way for him to discover if Riff had gone to investigate or not. Not that Cain needed to be told that. He knew the man had gone there. He was just too bloody loyal to do anything for himeslf, even when ordered. Cain raged silently at his missing companion. Why did he have to be so selfless, anyway? He had given Cain his life, and the count knew he could never deserve it. No-one could. Except Riff. But he would never accept something like that. It took a heartless, selfish soul to take control of another's life. It took someone like Cain, someone absorbed entirely by his own comfort, his own entertainment, his own worthless life...
"Extra! Extra! Second murder of the week! Read all about it! Only 5p!" The shrill cries of the newsboy across the street burst through Cain's angry monologue. "Murder in the Anglessy Arms! Second Body found in local Pub! Only 5p!"
~oOo~
huh... i found another, older entirely different version of this chapter... which had bits that were much much better.... so here's the spiffy new and improved chapter two!
a footeynote!
(1) Technically, I probably could've used a car, but since they didn't show up till the 1890's... and Cain, in my mind, much more suits the old-fashioned carriage anyway. Shmeh, I say!
~ Old author's note... why, you ask? Why not?
well…. Been awhile, ne? X_x Well, I have no excuses, really. This isn't even the completed chapter… but I really wanted to post something, and I have to go to work, and if I leave it, it'll be another month before I try again. O_o;;
Anyhoodles, enough of my pitiful lazyness… This is really something for you sweet wonderful people who left reviews that made me feel really bad for being such a lazy bum. ^.^;; And I could promise that from now on I'll write lots and update all the time… but I won't. We'll just have to see… and hope for the best!
Once again, thank you for the reviews, they really do make my day when I get one!
Until next time….