My dearest Himeko,

I have been confined as I await your arrival. I am writing to you to keep myself sane. It is not the first time I have feared madness. Perhaps one day I will tell you about it.

Perhaps I will tell you about it now.

I guess it begins with my first husband, a man you will never meet. We married shortly before my eighteenth birthday. His name was Osamu Yasuhara and he was a Baron, Baron Astley. I became a baroness. As the daughter of a gentleman, a few said I married above my station, but Osamu never thought so.

We were friends, first and foremost. There was love there, but whether it was romantic on his part, I do not know.

A few years into our marriage, he was called away, not on business but to the funeral of a dear friend. A friend whom he regularly visited. They had met at Cambridge, I believe.

Originally, he was to be away from me for a week, but upon arrival he wrote and said that his friend's brother required some help with the estate. He was to stay a month.

While I was disappointed he was to be gone so long, I was proud of my husband for behaving in such an admirable way. He was like that with everyone. He would help if he could, using his wit and cheer. Well, perhaps not everyone, but those who were kind and respectful.

Eventually he returned. And he did so out of sorts. The travel had made him weary and pale. He took to his bed for several days. But he laughed and joked like he always had.

His colour returned. And that is when tragedy struck.

He went riding, his horse spooked, he was thrown and did not survive the fall…


The young woman sat by the window, a handkerchief clutching in one fist. Her dress ought to have been black, but it was charcoal grey, as if her tears had diluted the dye.

The staff came and went, offering her food or to stoke the fire. She refused them all.

"My Lady, Baron Astley is here."

"Baron Astley is dead," she whispered.

"Your late husband's cousin has arrived, his… His successor."

"Oh… Oh I see, yes, well show him in."

"We have, my Lady. He is… He is our new master."

"Of course. I forgot."

"He wishes for your presence at dinner."

"Dinner? But it is not late?"

"It is dark, my Lady."

The young woman looked up out of the window.

"So it is… I will be there momentarily."

"Yes, my Lady."

The young woman collected herself, an act that appeared to take more effort than she expected. She left her window and made her way through the manor house to the dining room.

Her late husband's cousin, the new Baron Astley, did not much resemble her husband. She searched his face for similarities, but found none. He gave her a grave smile and gestured for her to sit.

"My dear Mai—"

"Lady Astley," Mai corrected.

"Yes, quite. Lady Astley, how are you?"

"Grieving, as is expected."

"It has been a few months now—"

"I would not tell you how to grieve your dearest friend, so do not tell me how to grieve mine. Your cousin was the only family I had left in the world." She looked away from him. "You have dragged me from my quarters, I presume you had a reason?"

"Yes, now my wife and I have taken up residence here, we feel it is best that you have your own space. However—"

"You're evicting me from my home?"

Baron Astley pursed his lips.

"I have a letter here," he held it out to her, "from a friend of your husband. They have offered you refuge."

Mai took the letter and began to read.

Dear Baron Astley,

I am saddened at the loss of your cousin. The letters we exchanged not long after his marriage did indeed contain a promise from me that I would care for his wife if something should happen to him. That promise, after all he did for me, is still valid.

If you reply to this letter in the affirmative, I shall arrange for a carriage to be sent to collect the Dowager Lady Astley.

Pembridge

"I have never met this man and you want to banish me from my home to live with him?"

"Madam, I think it is for the best that you take time away from this place. For your health and for your future."

"My future?"

"You are entitled to a third of the income of this estate as is stated in my cousin's will, but you will of course want to marry again, no doubt."

Mai spluttered. Baron Astley continued.

"I have replied to this letter, the carriage will be due any day now. You ought to prepare yourself for the event."

"Sir—"

"I will hear no more on the matter. Now will you join me for dinner?"

"I am no longer hungry."

Mai swept from the room. She returned to her quarters to find several maids packing her belongings into trunks. They flinched at the sight of her, but did not stop their work. They knew who their master was.

She glared at them, then softened.

"Please leave me, this work can be finished tomorrow. I wish to sleep."

"Yes, my Lady."

They filed out, leaving Mai quite alone.

"Oh Osamu, what have you doomed me to? Who is this Pembridge you have left me to?" she asked the empty room. She received no reply.

Mai undressed without assistance, a task that took quite some time. She pulled on a night shirt and climbed into bed, closing the drapes around her.


The following morning brought the arrival of a woman from Lord Pembridge's estate. She was brought into Mai's quarters and introduced as Miss Madoka Mori.

Once the footman left, Mai gestured to Madoka to sit.

"I am sorry for your loss," Madoka began.

"Thank you. I have been told you will be bringing me to Lord Pembridge's estate."

"Yes my Lady. To Harker Hall, it's a two day trip, the plan was to leave on the morrow, to arrive the following evening."

"Tell me about Harker Hall, and of its occupants."

"It is a handsome old building, the West wing is currently awaiting some repairs, so is off limits to all but the master. The grounds are large and a delight to walk around—"

"Miss Mori, please do not give me some falsely bright version, I want the truth."

Madoka flushed.

"The house is handsome, but could do with some repairs that extend beyond the issues in the West wing. The grounds truly are beautiful, they are well taken care of. The master is fair but stern, he is not an easy man to warm to, but I have only known him a short while. I am new to the household."

"Is he married?"

Madoka let out a bark of laughter, then covered her mouth in embarrassment.

"He is a recluse. He would need to leave the house to find a wife. I have been told he has a great deal of interest in the natural sciences and spends much of his time locked up in a study performing experiments. But he will not deny you your freedoms, nor impose upon you for company."

"I see, and the staff?"

"Half of them are new as far as I can tell," Madoka said.

"New?"

"Yes, quite a few of the staff left when the master's mother moved to london. She did not want to stay in the house after the death of her husband. I'm sure you can understand that."

Mai pursed her lips, but nodded.

"But are they good?"

"Good? Yes, I believe they are good people. The butler is a tall fellow, but everyone respects him well enough. The cook is fierce, but her food is the best I've had in a long time. The stableboys are all cheeky, but hard working. Lord Pembridge treats his staff well, so they work hard in return. I believe he is a good employer."

"And the housekeeper?"

"We're currently without one. She moved to London with Lady Pembridge, and so Mr Lin, the butler, has been handling that side of things as well as his own. I believe there is an advert out for one though."

"I see."

"That is why so much of the house is in disrepair I think. Normally, the housekeeper would have arranged for such things, and without the lady of the house to manage things either, you can see how it could end up this way. The butler does not have time for it all."

"But Lord Pembridge does not take an interest in it himself? He just plays at science?"

"Yes, he is not of the domestic kind."

Mai sighed.

"I hope he does not expect me to contribute in such a way. I will not play at being the lady of the house until he gets it into his head to marry. Besides, my husband's cousin has made it quite clear he wants me to remarry as soon as possible so that he can have the full estate earnings back."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"He was not an unreasonable man before my husband's death. But I think his wife has been talking into his ear. We never liked her before they married, and even less after. She married him believing him to be wealthy. He did well enough, but now that he has a title, she is far more interested in seizing everything she can. It is a shame."

"Yes, quite horrible that she should put fortune before family, especially when there is enough money to go around."

Mai sighed again.

"Yes, quite. But onto happier things. I very much like your dress."

"Why thank you, my aunt had it made for me before I moved to Harker Hall. The fabric is quite fine."

The two women chatted for the remainder of the day on lighter topics, with the maids packing up the rest of Mai's belongings around them.


The following morning, they left early. Baron Astley said his farewells, but his wife was nowhere to be seen. The weather was not fine, but it was not raining and for that Mai was grateful.

The autumn days were getting colder and she feared it would soon be winter. Her summer had been stolen from her by her husband's death, and now, as she was forced out of mourning, she would be stuck with cold dreary days.

They rested for the night at a small inn just outside of a small town. Mai begged Madoka to share her room, fearful of being left alone in a strange place. Madoka acquiesced to her request. It was a cold night, the inn's windows were poorly fitted and a draft blew through the room.

They woke up to find rain. Their journey continued. The rain did not let up for the entirety of the day, forcing them to stop around lunchtime so that the carriage driver might have a bite to eat in the dry. Neither woman begrudged him this small mercy, for he had driven without complaint thus far.

They arrived at Harker Hall around dinner time.

It was an imposing building. Shaped around three sides of a gravel courtyard, with the West Wing on their right devoid of any light.

As they drew up to the house, two young men, who were little more than boys, dressed in footman's garb came to greet them. The two women were escorted inside.

"Lady Astley, I presume?"

Mai looked up from wringing out her shawl to see a tall imposing man standing next to her offering a towel.

"Thank you, and yes, and you are?"

"Mr Koujo Lin, I am the butler. Please, let one of the maids take your wet things."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Mori spoke very well of you," Mai said as she handed over her shawl to one of the waiting maids.

"I am glad to hear it," Lin said. "Dinner will be served on the hour, perhaps if I could show you to your rooms, you could dry off before then?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you. Is Lord Pembridge not here to greet us?"

"Ah, the Lord is currently otherwise occupied, but he will join you for dinner. He sends his apologies."

Lin escorted them up a grand marble staircase and down a corridor to a bedroom decorated in shades of dark green and silver. It might have been depressing had it been poorly done, and yet somehow it cheered Mai. Whoever had chosen the decorations had done well and made it homely. She suspected that Lord Pembridge's mother was responsible, from what Madoka had said.

"Lord Pembridge will be joining us for dinner, you said?" she asked Lin as he made to leave.

"Yes, my Lady. As I said, he sent his apologies for not greeting you, but he was indisposed."

"With his science?"

Lin frowned and glanced at Madoka.

"I have been told he has a great deal of interest in the natural sciences," Mai went on.

"He does, but I'm afraid tonight's activities were more on the side of paperwork for the renovations."

"A gruelling task, I shall be glad to relieve him of it with my company at dinner."

Lin bowed his head and left.

Mai turned to Madoka.

"Did I misspeak?"

"I do not believe so," Madoka said. "It is no secret that the Lord likes his science. Perhaps Mr Lin thinks me a gossip."

"I do not think Mr Lin is wrong there," Mai teased.

Madoka laughed.

"Come, let's get out of these wet clothes."

Once they were both clad in dry dresses, Madoka showed Mai down to the dining room.

"I will leave you here," Madoka said. "I need to catch up with the cook about a few matters of importance. I will eat in the kitchens."

Mai looked around in alarm.

"You're leaving me alone with him?"

"You'll be fine. Lord Pembridge is not going to hurt you. Besides, you will not be alone. Mr Lin will be there, as will the other servants. Go on, go on in," Madoka said, giving Mai a gentle nudge towards the doors.

Mai scowled at Madoka, but entered the dining room.

Lord Pembridge was already sat at the head of the table engrossed in a book. Mai did a double take at his attire. He was not properly dressed, but wearing only a shirt open at the neck and trousers.

"Excuse me, sir, my apologies, I—"

"Sit down," he said without looking up.

"But—"

"I am in my own home. I will dress as I wish."

Mai blushed and took a seat opposite him at the other end of the long table. She cast her eyes downwards and admired the table cloth.

He reached over and rang a bell without looking up from his book. Moments later, food was served. Only then did he close his book and cast it to one side.

"Thank you," Mai said to the servant that placed the plate of food down in front of her.

"Was his passing difficult?"

Mai, who had only just raised her fork, choked on air.

"I was told it was instantaneous, he did not suffer," she managed to stay.

"I am glad to hear it," Lord Pembridge replied.

They ate in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again.

"I am sure you have been made aware of the dangers of the West Wing. I must impress upon you that it is for your own good to avoid it."

"What is the problem?"

"Part of the roof collapsed earlier this year, it killed a maid. The only tradesmen my Mother and I would trust with fixing it are currently working on another project. So in the meantime…"

"That must have been quite difficult."

"Yes. You are free to roam the rest of the house, though I would prefer if you did not linger in my bedchamber for, I hope, obvious reasons. I am sure Takigawa, the groundsman, will give you a tour of the gardens if you're interested."

"Thank you."

"Do you have any other questions?"

Mai finished her bite of food before answering.

"What of the local society?"

"Miss Mori will take you to the village. She knows more of that than I do."

"Yes, I've heard."

Lord Pembridge looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, I've heard that you're very invested in the natural sciences," Mai hastily added.

"They are much more interesting than standing in a corner at a ball."

Mai laughed nervously.

"Well yes, no doubt about it, but had you considered dancing?"

"Find me a dance partner worth dancing with and I'll consider it."

Shocked, Mai returned her attention to her food.

As the courses changed, Mai asked another question.

"I heard you do not have a housekeeper?"

"There is an advert out for one, Lin is taking care of matters in the meantime. I do not want your interference."

"I was not offering it."

"Good."

At this, Mai made no further effort at conversation. She ate quietly, and excused herself at the end of the meal. Lin offered to escort her back to her room, and she thanked him for it.


Author's note: Long time no see...