2.
~ She looked up at the black rocks that made up the walls of the castle.
"Their native to this area." Dom explained. "The old girl has been here almost three centuries."
"Yeah, I heard about this place." She said as they approached a handsome mahogany door. It was sturdy and old. With a crest of some kind set in colorful stained glass.
'I remember this door.' She thought with excitement. 'There is a grand stair case on the other side.'
She wasn't disappointed. As soon as Dom unlocked the front door, she was greeted by mahogany stairwell that overpowered the foyer. It's lighting was done naturally by the beautiful stained glass windows on the open second and third floor.
"Wow." Ariadne said feeling the air leave her body.
"Still gets me every time to." Dom said. "No matter how many years go by."
"There you are." Came a woman's voice. Ariadne and Dom turned to see an attractive blond woman in her late 40's come into the room. She stopped short when she saw Ariadne. As if the shock of a stranger was almost like seeing a ghost. Her hands flew to her heart and she stared wide eyed at their visitor.
"Um.. Dom? Who is this?" The woman asked. Her voice sounding strange when it landed on his name.
"Ariadne, this is my sister, Phillipa." Dom said waving at the well groomed blond woman. They certainly did look alike. Phillipa possessing the same height and natural good looks as her brother. Her beauty was only enhanced by the expensive clothes she was wearing.
"Ariadne?" Phillipa asked in shock as she looked at her, obviously, younger brother.
"Yes. She is here to speak to Mr. Archibald Blunt." Dom said giving his older sister a knowing look.
"I see." Phillipa told him as she clasped her hands together.
"Perhaps I should go find Arthur?" She asked turning a terse smile to Dom.
"That would be wise." Dom said not breaking his sister's gaze.
The blond woman left and Ariadne felt her brain rattle in confusion. The way Phillipa talked to the younger man was not how most older sister's spoke with their younger brothers. Phillipa had at least 10 years on Dom if not more. Yet, she looked at him for clues on how to act.
'Maybe this is just how rich siblings talk to one another.' She thought. She looked around the beautifully furnished home. This family certainly was well off. Their art work, furniture and rugs were all beautiful and well cared for.
Dom slid his well used walking stick into a nearby umbrella stand.
"Would you like something to drink?" He asked. "I can show you around a little." He offered.
"Oh, um, yes." Ariadne said feeling rather under dressed in her opulent surroundings. She should be wearing some kind of romantic dress with floating sleeves. Not an over washed T-shirt, shorts and Covers with no socks.
"Wait right here, please." He said with a smile and vanished down a hall. Ariadne breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the handsomely appointed room. It was lined floor to ceiling with books and leather furniture. Everything about it spoke to a masculine influence as she looked at a stunning painting of the Blackwood castle over the fireplace.
"Painted by Drews Blunt in 1904. Right before her suicide off the tower." A voice came to her. Ariadne turned guiltily to see a tall man coming out of the hallway Phillipa had vanished in. He might have been handsome, if it were not for the angry look her wore. His dark hair was smoothed back and he, like Dom, looked an old fashioned kind of handsome. Like he belonged to another century.
He was dressed in a suit of all things. It's color was an appropriate pale tan for the spring weather. It looked cool and comfortable enough to wear in this heat.
"Oh." Was all Ariadne said as the man stepped gracefully into the parlor. He was starring at her. Taking all of her in like he was appraising her. His gaze made her uncomfortable and it was with relief that she saw an older woman bustle into the library.
"My word! I thought Phillipa was pulling my leg!" She said fluttering her hand to her heart. She was a much older woman. In her late 70's or 90's perhaps. She could still walk very well and she was nimble on her feet as she crossed the room in front of the other man and took Ariadne's hand.
"My dear, we never have company." She said as she warmly greeted their guest. Her accent wasn't American but seemed a very educated mix of European schooling.
"I'm sorry to have just dropped in on you like this." Ariadne said as the old lady pulled her to a nearby sofa. The dark haired man with a scowl stayed perfectly still as he watched them.
"I would have called but I couldn't find a number." She explained as the old woman looked over her. The way the old lady's eyes picked up each detail of Ariadne's face and hair. it reminded her of seeing older relatives. Ones who had not seen her in so long they had to look for little clues as to the person she used to be.
"Oh, yes. Eames, my grandson, he won't tolerate a phone in the house."
"Oh." Ariadne said feeling uncomfortable again. She could still feel the dark haired man's eyes on her.
"I came here to speak with Mr. Archibald Blunt." She told the old lady. Out of everyone she had met that day, the old lady seemed the nicest.
The lady turned to the dark haired young man in shock.
"She's here to see Archibald Blunt, Arthur." She told him. Her blue eyes merry with some kind of hidden secret.
"I heard." The dark haired man said in a cold, deep voice.
"I see you've meet Grace." Dom said as he came into the room. He handed her a bottled water and sat down next to the dark haired man.
"Ariadne, this is my great Aunt, Grace Eames." He said waving a hand at the old lady.
"So happy to have you hear, Dear." She said with a warm smile.
"This is my cousin." Dom said nodding to the dark haired man who had been giving Ariadne such a cold, angry stare. "Arthur." He said and the dark haired man nodded.
"Pleased to meet all of you. I know Mr. Blunt must not be feeling well these days, but I was just hoping he could talk to me if he's able." She said feeling too many eyes on her. These people were very interested in her. All of their attentions were focused squarely on her.
"Well, I'm afraid the Mr. Archibald Blunt is not able to receive any company." Grace said to her. A sly hint that the old lady was being less the honest with the inflections of her words. "But, Arthur here is Archibald Blunt's... executor." She said brightly. Her clever blue eyes hitting on the dark haired man.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Yes. I can help you." He said formally. "Would you like to go into my study?" He said stiffly. His long frame suddenly springing up.
Ariadne looked at Grace. As if she was asking the old lady if it was alright to leave with this strange young man.
"Go on, Dear." She whispered. "I'll see you in a bit."