A House Flipper 2 Companion Story
Part One: Woodsea Manor
Had Ariana not been born a Lady she would have been just another widow, childless and alone. Instead she had been born into nobility. She married the famous war hero, Lord Richard Gysborne. Lord Richard was a man that lived as war heroes do– courageously, and died as war heroes do– young. This standing in life afforded the Lady to keep a full staff and they were the lifeblood of her beloved Woodsea Manor.
Despair from the loss of her true love drove Lady Ariana to undergo a supernatural procedure known as “ageless”. I’m sure you can easily guess the effects of such a thing. While Adriana’s face possessed the glow of radiant youth, her body felt all of her 97 years. Her life had become one of reclusion in her beloved Woodsea Manor.
This is not Lady Ariana’s story.
Nurse Yaasmeen was nearly as old as Lady Ariana and only left the Lady’s side to gather botanicals for the potions that kept Ariana alive and seemingly youthful. Yassmeen was of the Afsun people. Magic practitioners that dwelt in the shifting sands to the south of Nordholt. To the Northfolk she was as mysterious as snow in summer.
Giles, the butler, was a man of middle years. Slight of stature, yet his sense of duty laid heavy upon him. His household management skills were crucial for the manor’s particular needs.
Thomas Estbury’s cooking was one of the reasons being employed at Woodsea manor was a blessing. His duck pie with sagebutter parsnips was exquisite.
The two housecarls, Guy Vass and Ulf Fodde, liked to drink and gamble during their off time. And while on duty as well. They still got the job done, but it’s fair to say there wasn’t much of a job to do.
None of these people are the protagonist of our current story, but we are getting closer, and you now have the benefit of knowing who everyone is.
A bulk of a woman named Christina was the greenskeeper. She could be as delicate as a pansy or prick like a thorn. Chrissy, as she was so lovingly called, shared a room with the housemaid, Maybel.
Let’s check in on Maybel.
Chapter 1: Solstice
(12 am)
Maybel awoke to the clattering of a hairbrush hitting the floor. She reluctantly opened her eyes to see Chrissy sitting in front of the mirror, already looking presentable with her auburn hair tucked into a perfect bun.
“It was time for you to get up anyway.” Chrissy said while retrieving her hairbrush. “Don’t keep Giles waiting.” She switched on the artificial light as she bustled out of the room.
Maybel shielded her eyes with her blanket and groaned. She wasn’t one for sleeping in two phases as most did. She enjoyed staying up late and reading borrowed books by candle light. Living lives she could not. Despite Maybel’s protests, Giles preferred to have his staff meeting during the watch so they wouldn’t interrupt anyone’s duties. She squirmed and yawned for a good length of time before rising. She had precisely enough time to throw a blue flowered house dress over her rumpled shift and run a comb through her flaxen hair.
Chrissy and Maybel’s quarters were tucked away in the rambling old manor. With stockinged feet Maybel padded down the long hall, down a flight of stairs and down another long hall.
Having reached her destination she took her usual place by the fire and wasn’t shy about helping herself the sweets Giles always provided. After two cookies, still warm, Guy and Ulf swaggered in.
“Thank you for joining me.” Giles said as Guy and Ulf sat, sandwiching poor Thomas between their two unwashed bodies. “As you know, the summer solstice is exactly one week away. We have much to do to prepare for the Lady’s quarterly changing of the seasons gala and must go above our regular duties. I have a plan that will not leave anyone feeling overworked.”
Dressed in his simple black livery that he always wore no matter what, Giles always went through these formalities even though everyone present had been in service to the Lady for years and knew the drill. They all held the same secret as well, so there was no reason to talk about it.
Giles continued, “Tomorrow we will get the heavy lifting out of the way. Men, we will bring up the tables and chairs and things from the basement. Ladies, you will get the tableware from the cellar. Chrissy, I’ll also need you to make the centerpieces. As for the food I will need…”
A short time later Giles was finished with his instructions. This was Thomas’ cue to depart without saying a word.
“G’night princess!” Ulf called after him.
“You’re such a brute.” Chrissy scolded.
“Yeh, be nice. Princess Thomas makes the best plum raisin cookies!” Maybel said and immediately hoped that Thomas didn’t hear.
Laughter erupted, even from Chrissy, and continued through the rest of the watch– and beyond. How much sleep does one really need to set out six tables? And thirty-six chairs. And just as many plates… and forks… and knives…
Chapter 2: An Unexpected Party
(9 pm)
The week flew by without a hitch. Preparing the manor for a feast alleviated the ever-pervasive empty feeling that lingered through the manor. With candles lit and meats roasting the crew had nothing to do but wait.
“There’s people comin’!” Ulf cried as he tumbled into the kitchen where the rest of the staff was gathered.
Everyone looked at each other in shock.
“Are you sure?” Chrissy asked in an all too accusing tone.
“Yeh! I saw ten of ‘em approaching the stables with my looking glasses. Guy took off after ‘em.”
Giles was thoughtful for one moment before he started instructing. “Ulf, go and join Guy. Treat our visitors like the guests they are, if they are. And be prepared.”
Being prepared meant taking a weapon. Ulf nodded and hurried to his task.
“The rest of you, to your stations. Maybel, ready the wine. We don’t have much time before they arrive. And be prepared.” Giles said as he headed for the entryway.
Being prepared meant having an exit plan.
***
It wasn’t long before voices could be heard coming up the path. The guttural laughs of men and the tittering of women.
“I’ve arrived!” A fashionably dressed man announced like it would bring joy and elation to everyone. For men the high-fashion of the time involved cascades of white lace and colorful embroidery. Pretty silly looking if you ask me. He was just about as handsome as a guy could get, as much as I hate saying that. Even so, he had the kind of face not even a mother could trust.
“Good evening.” Giles bowed deeply. “I am Giles, at your service. Whose presence do I have the honor of?”
“I am Sir Thurstan Gysborne.”
The ever steady, ever composed Giles gawked upon hearing that surname.
“Yes, that’s right,” Thurstan continued, “I am Lady Ariana’s beloved great-nephew.” Thurstan paced around like the manor’s entrance, inspecting it like a cow that he was about to purchase. “She is still alive, isn’t she?”
“Lady Ariana is indeed alive. I’m afraid the hour is too late for her to take any visitors. Perhaps you’d like to rest in the lounge until dinner. I will see that your things are taken to the guest quarters.”
“Yes, that sounds lovely. Ladies.”
The source of the tittering was revealed to be four women in risque attire. They glommed onto Thurstan as he followed Giles into the parlor.
The remainder of Thurstan’s retinue consisted of five personal guards decked in chainmail. Ceremonial swords sheathed in fine leather hung from their belts. The men began patrolling the property without a word of greeting.
Bringing up the rear were Guy and Ulf struggling with an overloaded handcart stacked high with bulging panniers.
“Have fun taking all that to the guest quarters.” Chrissy stuck her nose in the air as she strode past them.
In the parlor Maybel had the enormous task of keeping Thurstan and his harem of women’s wine glasses full.
“Hey Giles,” Thurstan said, taking a great swig of wine worth more than most made in a month, “It looks like this place is ready to host a party.”
“That is correct. You are most observant.”
“So, where is everyone?”
Giles took a thoughtful moment. “Many invitations were sent out, but we received not a single RSVP.”
“Oh? Is the Lady out of favor?”
“Not at all. It is the most unfortunate situation that all of the invitees are dead and have been for quite some time. Sir.”
“How very sad.” Thurstan swirled his drink. “And why do you prepare for an event that will never take place?”
“It is our duty. Sir.”
“Fair. But then why does the Lady plan an event for dead people? Seems rather odd. Has she lost her wits?”
“She is unaware that no one ever attends her parties anymore.” Giles answered.
Maybel could keep quiet no longer. “Look here, Thurstan, these parties bring so much joy to our Lady. So, yeh, we go through all the motions. So yeh, we lie to her. We tell her everyone had a grand time and were walking on treetops when they left. Just let her have this!”
Maybel’s face flushed crimson.
“Sir.” She added and scurried to the kitchen before anyone could say anything.
Thurstan watched her leave with his chin resting on his hand. “How very interesting.” He turned back to Giles, who had not faltered in the slightest.
“Giles, I decided I will play along in this charade. I wouldn’t want to upset my dear auntie.”
“That is much appreciated.”
Thurstan laughed to himself. “Oh, and one more thing. Tell your staff to start making other arrangements. I won’t be needing them when this place is mine and the rest of my crew arrives.” No doubt the rest of his crew consisted of more chest-heavy tarts. “Though, I will be needing your people to be on their best behavior until then, lest I accidentally tell my auntie dearest what’s really been going on.”
“As you wish. Sir.”
“Now, I presume dinner will be served soon. My men will be dining as well.”
Giles bowed deeply and strode to the kitchen neither quickly or slowly.
Once again everyone had gathered in the kitchen. Excited chattering about the worst thing to ever happen at Woodsea Manor filled the space. Giles inwardly fretted at having to relate the unfortunate news, but his outward appearance remained steady.
Giles clapped once and everyone stopped conversing. “I know you are all upset about this evening’s turn of events. However, we all must continue to perform our duties to our best ability. Thurstan will tell Lady Ariana our secret if he is not pleased and he will replace us once she’s gone.”
Chrissy’s mouth dropped open and Thomas stared into the sauce he had been stirring.
Maybel felt as though blood was rushing to her head. She had to place a hand on the wall to steady herself. Her whole life was shattering around her.
Despite the shock no one said a word. Their respect for Giles was too great. Besides, they needed him to tell them what to do.
“Our first duty is to attend to the “guests”. Our number one priority is to protect Lady Ariana. Everything else you can leave to me.”
Everyone simultaneously nodded in the cliche way you read about in children’s books. I guess it does happen in real life.
“Now,” Giles continued, “Dinner for ten, make it happen.”
Everyone jumped to action as Giles returned to the parlor to resume attending to Thurstan. In the back of his mind Giles was setting plans into motion.
***
After Thurstan and his consorts had devoured the feast the staff had planned on eating, Giles herded them into the drawing room located in the guest wing. He had supplemented their current round of drinks with Yaasmeen’s sleepful herb tonic. Giles didn’t care where they passed out as long as they were out of his hair. Or what was left of his hair anyway.
Maybel would need to arrange temporary beds for Thurstan’s men so she peeled herself away from the “party” and headed to the dining hall storage closet. Humming to herself she lit a candle. She had a great start when she looked up.
“Guy, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re hiding from Thurstan’s men.”
Maybel regretted chiding Guy when he didn’t answer and she noticed his crestfallen expression. “What’s wrong?” She asked. As she neared him she noticed that he was staring at a child’s drawing with the deep creases of repeated folding and unfolding.
“They took over our quarters and Ulf ran off to Ashbury to drink and spread rumors and left me here.”
“Sorry.” Maybel dumbly said as she stared at the rudimentary images on the page.
“Guy, maybe this change can be a good thing. You can clean up and get a good job in the mines. Show Anabel that you’re ready to take care of little Peadar. You do want to be in life, don’t you?”
“Yeh.” Was all Guy said.
“That’s good enough for now. Stop moping and help me dust off these mattresses since you’re going to be the one sleeping on em’!”
Maybel and Guy each grabbed a broom and started beating the living malarkey out of the mattresses.
Chapter 3: On and On
(7am)
As Maybel walked up to the creek at the corner of the property Chrissy silently scooted over without looking away from the water that endlessly moseyed along its way. Chrissy usually came out here to be alone, but she didn’t mind being alone with Maybel.
Oftentimes Maybel would wonder where the creek meandered off to. She imagined herself as a fearless hunter traveling along the creek, unperturbed by the fierce animals of the woods. She would eventually reach a river, and that river would bring her to the ocean. She had never seen the ocean before.
“Lady Ariana is going to be expecting you.” Chrissy’s interruption of the silence jarred Maybel out of her daydream and she nearly dropped the book she had been holding.
“I know it seems callous for me to tell you that everything’s going to be alright,” Chrissy went on as she turned to face Maybel. She had a fiance, she had somewhere to go. Of course everything would be alright for Chrissy, “but it is going to be alright.”
“Perhaps I’ll go on an adventure.” Maybel responded.
“An adventure? Like finding a boyfriend?” Chrissy laughed.
Maybel rolled her eyes. “I’ll get you for that! Later.” She teased, heading back to the manor.
***
Esquire Dowd, Ashbury’s Law Steward, twisted his cap-of-office in his frail hands, “I suppose you’re not particularly pleased to see me here.”
“I’m always happy to see you, old friend. My displeasure is reserved for the one that summoned you.” Giles answered. “Perhaps you’d like to wait in the garden while I fetch Thurstan. These warm summer days are all too scarce.”
“I’d like that.” Dowd clasped Giles’ arm. “You’re a good man, Giles.”
Giles rapped on the door of the guest quarters. “Esquire Dowd has responded to the summons of Sir Thurstan Gysborne and is waiting in the garden.”
Groaning emitted from the room. “It is rather early, isn’t it?” Thurstan complained, “Oh, blast it. I will be down soon enough. Keep the old man occupied.”
Giles was all too happy to keep Dowd occupied. Procuring some cool mint tea, Giles joined Dowd, who was sitting in the shade of the smoke-leaf tree.
Giles made a show of looking at the open windows of Thurstan’s room before turning to Dowd. Voice low he said, “Don’t worry about me or my staff, old friend. Lady Ariana and I have prepared for all possibilities. Take her lead and trust her words.”
Dowd nodded and put his doubts away. The “ageless” procedure was known to cause an array of side effects, including going mad. If Giles deemed her to be sound, however, Dowd was not going to question it.
“If I may ask one thing.” Giles went on, “Are his documents in order with all the official stamps and seals?”
Dowd nodded.
“I was afraid of that.”
***
“Lord Primrose had found himself in quite the predicament. He could go hungry or he could skin and cook the dead rat that lay before him. As his stomach growled and churned he began to gather kindling for a fire.”
Lady Ariana chuckled. She wore a fine silk dress the color of a lake in twilight. Jeweled adornments sparkled in the firelight. The modest amount of skin showing was smoother and purer than fresh cream. In contrast to the finery, a woolen blanket covered her lap. “This is quite an amusing story. I simply must have you read it to Richie when he returns.”
Maybel smiled, she was never sure about how to respond to such comments. She had just taken a breath to start the next paragraph when there was a knock at the door.
“Lady Ariana, I have two esteemed guests calling. Sir Thurstan and Esquire Dowd.”
“How lovely!” Ariana exclaimed. “Maybel, would you please let them in?”
Maybel put down the copy of The Prince Pauper and started towards the door. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the door to Yaasmeen’s chambers were ajar where they had been shut before.
Maybel opened the door. “Enter.” she said and quickly returned to her seat before anybody could say anything.
“Thank you Maybel, you may go now.” Thurstan’s voice had taken on an air of kindness that Maybel thought impossible.
“As you wish, sir.” Maybel presented Thurstan with the shallowest courtesy possible and stalked out.
Thurstan looked about the room, darkness and the strange layout of a room that was clearly too large for its occupant disoriented him. Seeing a young woman by the fire he bowed.
“Greetings miss, might you tell me where I can find Lady Ariana?”
Ariana giggled, “You are speaking to her. Forgive me if I don’t get up.”
Thurstan cursed Giles and Dowd for letting him make a fool of himself. He had no time to stew about it, nor could he rebuke the two men. Instead he knelt beside Ariana and took her delicate, unblemished hand.
“Lady Ariana, I am Sir Thurstan Gysborne. Your long-lost great-nephew. I am so pleased to meet you.”
Ariana was eating up Thurstan’s phony charm like it was teacake. “Thurstan? Yes, Thurstan. I’m sure I’ve heard about you.”
Thurstan rose and motioned Dowd over. “Do sit, Esquire.” He turned to Giles. “You may return to your duties now.”
Giles bowed and departed. Leaving Dowd looking like a frog in the woodpile and Lady Ariana beaming like a marmet at the fishmonger.
***
Returning to his duties meant that Giles had to pay Nurse Yaasmeen a visit. As soon as he left Lady Ariana’s chambers he went next door and walked in without knocking. The earthy, but not unpleasant, scent of dried herbs wafted over him.
“Don’t worry, Yaas, I don’t care if you’re only wearing your shift.”
“Shush,” Yaasmeen whispered, “I an trying to listen.”
“You should be packing.”
“Not you worry about me.” Yaasmeen pointed to a bookshelf against the wall, “There. I ken how much is mine. Not with your tricks.”
Giles pocketed the key and bowed to Yaas on his way out.
Giles would need to devise a plan to get past Thurstan’s men to access the attic, but first he needed to instruct his crew to get ready to take leave.
***
When Chrissy entered her quarters she found Maybel reading in bed.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Not cleaning.” Maybel replied.
“Didn’t Giles tell you?” Chrissy’s tone softened. “Nevermind. Get up. It’s time to pack.”
Maybel dropped her book and stood. “It’s really happening, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Maybel. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“What about Ariana? Giles said we’re supposed to protect her!”
“Lady Ariana told Yaas that she is ready.”
Maybel’s stomach dropped to the floor. This was happening all too fast.
“No! I have to go say goodbye.”
Chrissy gently put her hands on Maybel’s shoulders. “Be strong, Maybel. It’s also time for us to move on.” She embraced Maybel. There was time to spare for a few tears.