The lab was empty when he walked in. The scientist looked around confused. There should be someone else in here. He glanced around the room.
"Raymond?" he called out. No answer.
Shaking his head, he left the lab and walked downstairs to check on the progress of the day and to get any messages.
He walked down to the first floor, on his way to the basement to check the containment unit's readings. "Morning Janine," he mumbled, not looking up.
"Morning Dr. Spengler," came a voice that was not Janine's. Egon stopped and looked over at the receptionist's desk. Aggie DeWinter was sitting there, smiling at him. Sitting next to her desk was Ray.
"I apologize Aggie. I'm not used to changes in the schedule."
"I understand," Aggie joked. "By the time you get used to seeing me, Janine will be back."
"Speaking of Janine, has she called? Maybe left a message saying she arrived?"
"Not yet Dr. Spengler. But if she calls, I'll let you know."
He nodded, ignoring Ray's knowing look, and headed for the basement. He couldn't escape this uncomfortable feeling of dread that settled on him the day before.
It was only day two.

It's been two months since she'd first found herself in this odd world, but she was getting used to it. She'd carried on her duties and befriended Magdaline, who was teaching her how to cook. When she'd found out, she was shocked. Janine just shrugged.
"My mother never showed me how."
She spent time with Raymond in the garden talking about little things, when she wasn't in the lab with Christopher. She avoided Michael since that one day.
She was walking the gardens with Raymond one day when a male slave came to them. "Lord Christopher wants her in his lab now." he said. Raymond nodded. "I'll escort her," he said. "You may go."
The slave bowed, then was gone. Ray grinned.
"I love doing that," he said. "Let's go see what my overly serious brother wants from you, and see if we can't get you out of it."

"Christopher," Raymond called out, after opening the door to the lab, and walking in. "I've brought your lovely assistant, although I don't see why you would need her. It's much to lovely a day to have her sitting in this dreary tower with you."
"Since when did I agree to share my assistant with you?" a voice came from above them. Janine looked up to see Christopher above them on a ladder, looking through some jars.
He came down the ladder, and looked at his brother. She could see his stern look melt under Raymond's best puppy dog face. "All right, you may come back for her in three hours, no earlier. Although I have no idea what you do."
"We talk," Raymond said, smiling at Janine. Christopher raised an eyebrow.
"Talk." he said, dryly.
"She can talk." Raymond said. "And she's rather worldly on topics." He looked at Janine. "I'll be back in three hours." he said, then was gone.
Janine looked back at Christopher, when was shaking his head.
"Nonsense. Come along."

"So, what do you and my brother talk about?"
Janine looked up from her sorting. Christopher's nose was still in a book. Eventually, he glanced up at her. "Well?"
"Nothing much really," she said, going back to her sorting. "He likes to discuss philosophy, art, music," she grinned. "The aristocratic gossip."
"What do you know of these things?" he asked. She shrugged.
"Things I picked up here and there. Mostly he talks. He likes to hear my stories."
"Stories?" She nodded. "From where I came from. The different unbelievable inventions, as he says."
There was silence for a moment, then he spoke again. "You'll have to tell me some of these stories one day."
She glanced up to see him watching her. She smiled. "I'd love too."

Three hours on the dot, Raymond rushed into the lab, almost upsetting a bowl of some rather nasty liquid on a table, he righted it before it crashed to the floor.
"Your three hours are up," he announced his brother and the woman sitting at a table. Both looked up. Christopher looked at the sun, then back at the younger man.
"You are right. Janine, you're free to go."
Janine stood up, unsure how to react. Before she could make sure he was really allowing her to go, Raymond grabbed her arm and pulled her from the lab. "I need your help," he blurted out before the door to the lab was closed. She smiled fondly at the man next to her.
"Yes?"
"Michael has announced that we are holding a ball in the next two months." he started. "Only the most aristocratic will be here."
"Would that include the Lady Marianna?" Janine teased. Raymond's face turn a shade of red.
"Yes," he said shyly. Lady Marianna was a young woman from the next providence that Raymond had talked to her about. She'd just come of age to marry, but he'd loved her for years.
"Anyway, I want to be able to impress her, but I don't know how to dance." he admitted.
Janine smiled. "Does this mean you want me to teach you how to dance?"
He beamed. "If you don't mind. I mean, I'm sure they danced where you came from."
She frowned, what kind of dancing did they do in that era. Certainly nothing she knew how to do. "Nothing that wouldn't insult Lady Marianna and get you thrown in the insane asylum," she muttered. Then it dawned on her. "Wait. I could teach you how to waltz. I'm not sure if they do that yet, but it's dignified. I've seen a couple of movies about this time, I'm sure I could figure out something that will get you by."
"I don't want to get by, I want to impress her." he said. "Then I'll have to teach you the Waltz. You can impress her and start a new dance craze."

She started off by teaching him the basics, or at least what she could remember from dance classes, and one too many sittings of The King and I. They practice for only a little bit, before Raymond was called off for something. She wandered into the kitchen and offered the help Magdaline with the chores.
Magdaline looked up at her. "You want to help?"
Janine shrugged. "I've been exiled from the lab for the day, I could use something to do."
"ll right, there's a bushel of carrots and potatoes at the entrance of the servants quarters. Bring those in here, and you can help peel them for tonight's dinner."

So Janine walked off to collect the bushel of vegetables. She was carrying it back toward the kitchen when she passed the open hallway. Sitting on a table was a set up game of chess. Janine looked at the board. Obviously someone in this castle played. Looking at the board, she noticed a move. Peter had taught her how to play one day when there were no calls and nothing to do. Egon wouldn't play him, and Ray and Winston were busy, so he'd bugged Janine until she agreed. She managed to catch on rather quickly, although she could never beat anyone. She moved a knight to a new spot, then continued on her way to the kitchen. Michael was on his way through the hallway when he saw Janine move a piece, then walk away. He was about to call after her until his curiosity got the better of him. He strolled over to the board and looked at it. It was actually a good move. He glanced off in the direction she'd left. He was intrigued.