Disclaimer: Yet again, I have to write that I don't own the Haunted Mansion and I'm not making any money off of this fanfic. There, are you happy?
A/N: Throughout the story time will be skipped at random intervals. Sometimes it's only months, but then it might be years. I have a reviewer! Yay! Thank you so much!
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Chapter 5: A Small Knowing Smile
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Over the months after Halloween, everyone in the mansion began seeing Gracey less and less. He was busy with his work and managing the salaries of all of the servants, the cooks, the groundskeeper, and everyone else that held a job with the mansion. It required time to perform his complicated tasks of math and money making.
Lillian began to feel less like a wife and more like someone just living in the mansion. Bouts of depression would take over at times and she'd lie in bed all day or stroll melancholy-like through the grounds. She began to snap at the gardener for not pruning the flowers right and the servant for not pouring tea just the precise way. Lenora also found Lillian to be the perfect subject for jokes and pranks. Lillian's tea would have ink in it, staining her teeth blue. A rat would be hiding in between the sheets as she went to lie down. The petty and ridiculous jokes would only make her more depressed, though they made Lenora a lot less bored in the house.
Lenora was alone in the house at almost all times. She used to go and bug Master Gracey, but now he'd tell her he didn't have any time. Leota was too busy with her business to entertain Lenora and the servants avoided her at all costs. That is why she took to pulling jokes on Lillian. She was an easy target considering Lillian just didn't care anymore.
Edward and Tangerine always were off into town socializing with the highest class of people. They didn't spend much time in the mansion anymore because it was a very dull place. Odd noises would interrupt anything you tried to do and many objects were never in the same place that you put them. Lenora's constant bout of pranks would also disrupt the day and no one ever spoke to one another. The mansion had become a dreary place to be.
The dreariness of the mansion had given Tangerine an opportunity to hold a party. Everyone would cheer up and perhaps Gracey would start socializing with everyone once again. The party was held in the middle of spring.
It was a bright and cheery day out in the clearing by the river. Flowers were blooming and the trees were green. Everyone in town was present and everyone had their best Sunday clothes on.
Lillian lounged on a checkered blanket by the river. Her brown hair was piled on top of her head and she wore a flowery pink and white dress. A pink sun umbrella sat on the ground next to her. Despite the cheery clothes she wore, she was the epitome of depression.
Tangerine and Edward made their way around the party, talking to everyone that would listen. Leota wore a silky red dress and elbow length gloves. She appeared very bored. Lenora twirled around in the grass, her blue party dress flaring out. Gracey sat at a table calculating if he could keep one of the cooks. He sat there frustrated and tired for a few seconds before giving up entirely. He ran his hands through his brown hair, ruffling it. A quick glance at the party showed him that his wife was alone, miserable looking. He strolled to where she sat and plopped down next to her. After a few seconds of silence he said just what she needed to hear.
"I'm sorry." Only a few tears came out of her as she grabbed him into a tight hug.
Over at one of the tables, Leota sat even more bored than she was before. She spotted Tangerine walking by and had an idea.
"Tangerine!" Tangerine glanced sideways at her name being called.
"Yes, Madame Leota?"
"I had an idea. How about we get Lillian to perform one of her tightrope acts? Just over the river, there." Tangerine oohed in delight at the suggestion.
"That is a wonderful idea, Leota!" She giggled and ran to the now smiling couple. Leota watched on with almost hidden delight.
Tangerine couldn't help but bubble in excitement as she relayed the suggestion to Lillian. The crowd cheered in agreement. A bright blush came over Lillian's face as she stood up.
A strange feeling had come over Lenora at hearing Lillian agree. Strange enough to make her stop twirling and wince at the almost constricting quality of it. Something bad was going to happen.
The act started innocently enough. Lillian balanced herself out on the middle of the rope spread across the river. The crowd oohed and ahhed at the feat. She made her way across and turned to return. A few small twists awed the party goers even more. The guests were so entranced they didn't notice the rope starting to untwine. One breathtaking strand at a time until only one was left.
Lillian only concentrated on the balance within her. It had been months since her last attempt at her act. She didn't notice the last strand of the rope break. She only felt the falling sensation that came after and the clamp of mighty jaws. That was the last thing she felt on this earth.
A scream came from the crowd as they saw her fall, right on top of the gator. It might have been a crocodile. No one was quite sure; they were too busy processing what had just happened. Gracey went to jump into the river but Edward stopped him. If he had gone in, it would have been the end of him just like his wife.
They buried Lillian only days later. No one notice that Leota didn't look sad at all during the funeral. In fact, no one noticed that she had on a small knowing smile the entire time.
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Word count: 961
A/N: So what do ya think? I was kind of sad I had to kill Lillian at such a sweet moment between Gracey and her. Oh well.