7.
~ The pants Phillipa had brought for her were too long, but she rolled them up and dressed in a shirt that was only slightly too big for her. Appreciating that the woman had taken care to find things that fit. Ariadne joined the old lady for a simple breakfast of tea and toast.
"So, tell me what do you think of our resident stick in the mud?" Grace asked as soon as Ariadne sank her teeth into her toast.
"Um..." She said as soon as she swallowed. "Pardon?" She asked not understanding.
"Arthur." Grace said with a bemused little smile.
"Oh, he's alright." Ariadne said feeling the old lady knew things she didn't.
"I nearly fainted dead away at seeing the two of you in his closet like that. He never lets anyone near his clothes. Never knew a man so prickly about his wardrobe. What were you two doing in there?" She asked.
"I got lost." Ariadne explained. Grace laughed to herself. Not willing to share the joke with Ariadne.
"When you were little, you would wander all over this castle." Grace said with a smile of remembrance.
Ariadne said nothing. Hoping the old lady would continue.
"On rainy days, you used to play dress up in those closets all the time. But your favorite was his closet. I think because you knew you weren't supposed to be in there, and that he would never be mad at you if he caught you." Grace said sipping her tea.
"Who?" Ariadne asked in a breathless voice.
Grace seemed to come back to herself for a moment.
"Well, Archibald Blunt. Of course." she said.
"That was his closet? Before it became Arthur's?" Ariadne asked. Her heart beating rapidly. Imagining herself as a little girl. Playing dress up in all the museum quality clothes.
"I thought you weren't here when I stayed here before." Ariadne said feeling her courage rise. Grace looked like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"Well, I wasn't of course. I was just told that's how you used to be." She said. Her voice becoming worried.
"Told by who?" Ariadne asked.
"It's not important." Grace said standing up. "Now, let me show you around."
~ "The foundation was laid to Blackwood Castle in 1740. Lord Henry Blunt and his family had made a fortune off the colonies and wanted a home better then what he had left in Europe." Grace explained as she showed off the still impressive library and dinning room.
"The family has always lived here." She explained.
"Is Arthur a nephew or grandson?" Ariadne asked. Suddenly curious about him.
"Uh, a nephew." Grace said carefully. "His parents died ages ago."
"He seems to have the run of the place." Ariadne said absentmindedly. Half expecting Grace not to hear. "I mean, he manages Archibald Blunt's estate." She explained as Grace looked at her. The two women had wandered outside into the fresh air. The storm of the night before had made the flowers come alive and everything smell fresh and clean.
"The stables are as old as the castle." Grace said ignoring Ariadne's observations.
"You keep horses?" Ariadne asked.
"Oh yes. Everyone in the family rides except myself and Eames." Grace explained as they walked to the elegant stables. There were over twenty stalls and a large carriage house. Now, a pristine Rolls Royce sat in the house.
"It's from the fifties, I think." Grace said with a sigh. "One of my uncles bought it new. No one ever drives it these days."
"How do you get supplies, groceries?" Ariadne asked peeking into the luxury cabin of the classic car.
"James and Phillipa go into the city a lot. They take the sail boat. It's faster if they just sail to the city then drive to town. Always has been."
"Oh." Ariadne said. She had forgotten that the ocean was so close by. Of course these people had a sail boat. Probably had a yacht or two as well. Who needed a road or car when they could sail anywhere from their backyard?
She was drawn then to the sound of the horses. A handsome gray was making his boredom at being locked in his stall known.
"Don't worry, Arthur will take them out for their walk later today. He's always taken excellent care of the horses here." Grace said as the gray came up to them and demanded Ariadne pay attention to him. His big brown eyes were soft and pleasing as she rubbed his muzzle. The younger woman slightly intimidated by the big, beautiful animal.
"Do you ride?" Grace asked.
"Oh no!" Ariadne said with a surprised laugh. "No. I'm a city girl."
"Well, it's never too late to learn. You will have to ask Arthur to teach you. He's an excellent teacher." Grace said.
"I've never even been near one." Ariadne said as the gray seemed to refuse to let her leave. Following her as the two women walked away.
"I'll tell Arthur to let you ride Perseus here." Grace said pointing to the gray.
"Perseus?" Ariadne asked catching the gray's eye as the horse seemed to be flirting with her.
"Oh yes." Grace said. "Arthur always had a great love of Greek Mythology."
~ "The tower was installed in 1820." Grace said pointing to the impressive tower that served no real need, but complimented the castle never the less.
"Lady Blunt, at the time, wanted a widow's walk. Which is foolish since none of the family or sons were in the navy or sailed. Fashionable to the end."
"Was she the Lady of the house during the storm of 1845?" Ariadne asked. Grace paused.
"Well yes. Her name was Rose." Grace said with a faint smile of fondness. "She was a beauty in her youth. It's her portrait that hangs in Arthur's study now. A more fashionable creature never drew breath. Or so I've been told." Grace amended.
"She was killed? During the storm?" Ariadne asked tentatively.
"Oh yes. Poor woman was found dead in the dining room when the villagers came. Her son survived and was beside himself with grief." Grace explained.
"What happened to all of them?" Ariadne asked feeling Grace would tell her. The old woman seemed not willing to keep things to herself.
"Well, the three sons had taken in a girl in secret. Her name was Ada, and she was an outcast in the village. Her parents were unknown and it seemed wherever she went, strange things happened." Grace explained carefully. "They hid her from the village because they believed she would be burned. When the storm happened, she vanished into the sea, or so the sons said. Their story, was that Ada had murdered the family before she left. Although how she could have killed fifteen people, many of them grown and healthy, is anyone's guess." Grace said.
Ariadne scowled. Her mind lost in thought.
"How did the three sons survive?" She asked.
"For some reason Ada didn't kill them, or the servants. The staff walked back into the village in the morning, claiming the Devil had come in the castle the night of the storm. That Ada was a witch and had cursed the three sons." Grace explained.
"How were they cursed?" Ariadne asked. The air in her lungs growing tight.
"You don't believe in those things, do you?" Grace said with a laugh. Her bright eyes turning to Ariadne.
"Oh no." Ariadne breathed out. The spell suddenly broken and she felt foolish.
"Oh, Arthur!" Grace said happily as a man appeared out in the gardens. Ariadne felt the story of Ada die away in the warm spring weather. Arthur looked his normal grumpy self as he approached them.
"Eames is looking for you, Grace." Arthur said as if the old lady were in trouble.
"Oh your right. I forgot." Grace said waving to her head. "Must be getting old. Eames and I have always had a long visit after breakfast." Grace said to Ariadne. "It's a standing appointment and he'll be cross if I break tradition now. Arthur?" She asked looking to the younger man. "I want you to take Ariadne riding. She says she's never been."
Arthur gave Ariadne a hard look that she cowered away from.
"I think she should ride Perseus. That horse seems to have a crush on her." Grace suggested.
"I think Ariadne was planning to leave soon." Arthur said not looking at their guest.
"I really do need to leave." Ariadne said trying not to be a bother.
"Nonsense!" Grace said as if her authority could not be questioned. "I desire you take her out for a ride. Show off some of that so called charm of yours!"
"Grace." Arthur said curtly.
"Arthur." Grace replied in an airy voice that showed she didn't take the younger man seriously.
"It's alright. I should get going." Ariadne whispered to him. Trying to be helpful.
Arthur was watching the old lady walk back into the house.
"No. It's not you fault." Arthur said rubbing his forehead. "I should take you riding." He said suddenly. His face cheering up.
"No, it's okay." She said feeling slightly nervous.
"No, I was planing to take the horses out anyway. May as well have a nice long ride." He said. His face softening as his eyes met hers.