Page 66 of The Time Of Kings

This was positioned at the end of a curved service wing, that also provided an open arched entry into the conservatory. It had a stunning tessellated floor and niches in the walls where marble statues were displayed. Its pattern of geometric shapes from the large tiles was another addition I knew about, as Draven recalled one story of after it had been installed. His steward had beenannoyed to find keys hidden behind one of the statues they were exchanging for another, long after the work had been finished.

It turned out that one of the servants liked to sneak out to rendezvous with a stable hand and this was where she hid the keys. This so as she could get back into the house once her romp in the stables was concluded. I remember this because Draven, at the time, had teased me, saying what he would have done the same had I been a maid there. And how he would have liked to have gotten me into a barn and what he would do to me there.

I, in return, had teased back by asking if the smell of horse shit was a particular turn on for him. His handsome laughter quickly filled the room straight after.

Gods but I missed my husband.

I shook myself out of my self-pity and focused back on the job at hand, slipping through the open arches and started to search the statues.

“Yesss!”I whispered triumphantly the second I found them, knowing now I could get back inside the main doors located at the South portico. From here I knew that this would lead into the saloon but before that, I left the doors unlocked and ran to put the keys back where I found them. As the last thing I needed was to get some poor girl thrown from the house after first being locked out of it.

Once inside, I realised that everyone must have retired for the night, which was a blessing, or this would have been a shitty break in. However, someone must have left a candle burning, and good job too or I wouldn’t have been able to see a thing. The moonlight came and went under the cover of the rain clouds, which meant it wasn’t enough to guide me, so I picked up the glass lamp and carried it with me so I could see.

The glory that was Witley Court was one I had only seen as an illusion as I remembered Draven telling me how a fire had destroyed most of it. The devastating blaze broke out at about8:00 PM on 7th of September 1937. The Draven’s hadn’t been home at the time, or such a thing would have never had the chance to cause so much damage.

It was later discovered that the fire started in the bakery in the basement of the South-East corner of the house. A strong wind caused the fire to spread rapidly to the main rooms and after that there was little that could be done. Not when the hydrant system that was connected to the fountain reservoir had failed. And with the master of the house away, only a handful of staff were in the building, meaning thankfully no one was hurt. Although with help from the villagers, many of Draven’s possessions were saved, with the central and eastern sections being completely gutted sometime after. Of course, after this point, no one ever lived in the house again.

Draven only ever used it for private parties like the one I had experienced for Pip’s birthday party, and only when no mortals were ever present. As this was the only time Draven restored it to its former glory, not exactly something that could be maintained for long. And I found out later that the illusion took a lot out of him.

As for the rest of the time, although Draven still owned it, he allowed it to become part of the English Heritage, which was a charity he often donated heavily to. But then, this wasn’t surprising, not considering how old my husband was, and the charity managed over 400 hundred historical buildings, monuments, and prehistoric sites all over England.

But now seeing it in its former glory, even in the dark, gave it a kind of magical aura. Like I was sneaking through time, as if the place shouldn’t even be here. Almost like that scene out of Beauty and the Beast, where Belle first arrives at the castle. A place so quiet and still, like some tome left cursed and therefore untouched by life.

I tiptoed my way into the entrance hall, and the Y shaped staircase to my left was just begging for me to climb it. Gods but I just wanted to sleep so badly, I knew there would be rooms untouched and left unoccupied for me to easily sneak into. But what then? What was my overall plan here?

I knew that I had to make it back to my own time and well, being here, right near the fountain, certainly helped with that. But the tricky part came in the form of a coin, or should I say, my obtaining one. Because I knew well enough by now that this was the only way I was going to get down into the Janus Temple. After that, it was taking a walk down easy street, as I could step back into the Janus gate and poof, I was gone and back in my own time.

Well, that was the hope anyway.

But like I said, first I needed to get a coin to do that and the only way for me find one was to go sneaking around the place. Which meant hiding in the grand estate long enough so I was free to search it while people were sleeping. But despite knowing the layout of the house, I still hadn’t a clue as to where Draven would keep any of these coins. That was if any were even hidden in this place. Of course, I didn’t have very many options at present, so I had to at least try.

Which was why, I thought searching his office was my best bet. However, the second I heard a woman’s voice, I froze.

“Good lord, where has all this water come from?”

I spun on a heel to see light emerging from the drawing room to my right, knowing there was a staircase there. One that led down to the ground floor and service wing. The second I heard the woman speak, I looked down at my feet only to find that the source of the water was me!

Damn it, but was this shit fated or what!? Was I really to relive my past mistakes over and over again? Well, I had no choice now, as there was only one place I had any chance athiding. So, I quickly made my way up the staircase, hoping I wouldn’t be seen.

No such luck.

“You there… Who are you?!” a woman said, making me flinch. However, I didn’t stop to answer, quickly rushing the rest of the way, and taking the steps to the left once I found myself on the small landing. Up the stairs led to an open balcony walkway that allowed me to see the entrance hall beneath. One where I could see the servant now hurrying along it as she looked up to find me running from her.

So, with no other choice, I slipped inside the first door I could see, finding myself in a sitting room of some kind. I tried to orientate myself as to where I was, finding this room was directly over where I had broken in, over the large, roman style pillars that made up the impressive south portico.

From here I could go either left or right. But the moment I made my panicked decision, I knew it had been the wrong one. Because I would have had more chance at hiding the other way, with the number of rooms that were in the west wing.

Oh well, no going back now, I thought, gritting my teeth. Especially considering my plan was going to shit pretty quickly. I heard whoever it was still in pursuit of me, wondering when I was going to catch a freakin’ break!

So, I put my back to the wall and blew out my lamp, placing it gently on the floor so hopefully I was hidden in the shadows. This wouldn’t hide me for long as they did have a lamp in hand. Which meant the second it was held up in my direction, I knew it would reveal me pretty quickly. There was nothing to do but make a quick decision. Did I chance making a run for it or did I chance hiding in one of the rooms? Yep, a bedroom it was, because out here, standing against the sitting room wall, I was a sitting duck.

So, I felt along wooden panelling and when my hand felt a doorknob, I curled my fist around it and turned it slowly. Then I slipped in the room, making sure to do so quietly. I felt my heart hammering in my chest as my whole body shook from cold, my clothes soaked to the skin.

I seemed to be in a dressing room of sorts, which worked in my favour as I found a heavy, thick cloak lying across one of the chairs in the corner. I tossed it over my shoulders, which instantly helped with my shivering. The large hood I knew would also help in keeping me hidden, should the woman searching for me think to look in here. So, I raised it up over my wet hair and pulled the long material around myself.

After this, I felt as if it was wise not to linger too long, so I made my way towards another door, thankful at least for the windows, as it allowed a little light to penetrate the darkness. Enough to prevent me from falling over anyway, so I classed it as a blessing as I stepped quietly into the next room.

Instantly, I felt the warmth at my back, making me turn to find the fire down to its embers. The flames long gone from the iron fireplace, but it was at least something. So, I walked slowly to them, needing to feel something other than the numbing cold seeping into my bones. Which was why I held my numb hands over the hot coals, nearly moaning in bliss as feeling started to come back to my fingers.

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