Page 16 of Kept 2
As we set off in pursuit of the others at a fast walk, I turn my head to study the forest opposite. There is no sign of the fox. He or she will be long gone by now, but I know the look in its eyes will stay with me for a long, long time.
`I’ll get away too, Foxy Loxy,’I vow,‘I’ll make it too.’
The ride to Ereston was an education, one that, at one point almost stopped my heart in fear when I learned my saviour, Daniel, and his party of hunters were all staying at Ereston Estate.
“But,” I say breathlessly, my heart hammering like a drum inside my chest, “I understood Lord Montague was away from home.”
“Wouldn’t know,” Daniel quipped, “never met the man. In fact, don’t know anyone who has. No, our party stay there every year on the hunting route, just as other parties stay at my family’s estate in the next county– it’s a tradition when you are on the circuit.”
“So, it is like, an open house?”
“Well it is by invitation, naturally, hereditary tradition actually, invitation is the wrong word. My hunting party, for instance, is made up of the same families it would have been made up of hundreds of years ago, apart from the Russian with the new money and an American fashion designer. The Russian takes part in the hunt because he purchased one of the estates in Lincolnshire. The American who bought the estate in Derbyshire hosts us when we are in her country, keeping up with the tradition, but never takes part in the hunt or socialises in any way with us. Of course, this year there are more of us than usual because there is an election coming up. More than a few Lords have brought along people they wish to curry favour with, or gain funds from, big company execs, that kind of thing. Each one of them has brought their wife or girlfriend with them too.”
“And,” I push for information, as a plan begins to formulate, “you have the run of the house? So to speak.”
“I suppose so,” he laughs, “although the families usually have a private wing where guests fear to tread, and this estate is no different. In general, though, we spend most of our time outside on the hunt, dining in the great hall or drinking in the billiard rooms.”
“Of course,” I nod, chewing my lip. “So, there are plenty of staff there to look after you? I mean are these estates staffed all year round?”
“No,” he snorts, “few can afford that anymore, especially not these fly-in-fly-out absentee Lords. No, we are on a circuit, like I said, the staff are all villagers who have been employed for generations, they come and go as the parties are due on the calendar.”
“Are you the only hunting party that stays at Ereston?”
“Hunting, yes, but I understand there are royal circles that favour the grounds in Autumn and stay for a week here or there. Mostly though I would say Ereston is, like most estates now, served by a skeleton staff year-round and maintained for public visitation, but rarely lived in.”
‘Skeleton staff makes sense – given who, or what, they work for.’
“Hang on, so the public can come and go too?”
“Well they can’t stay,” he chuckles, “but all the grand homes are open to public tours – except when the royals are staying. It’s all damn boring business really. And just between you and me, this house gives me the creeps. I’d much rather have stayed at Eaton for the break, but my bloody mother insists I take part in the family traditions and my father hopes for a career in politics for me. He wants me to rub shoulders with the future leaders of our great nation – I suppose though, being a tourist you will be keen to see inside.”
“Absolutely,” I murmur, “but, ah, so this is why you participate in these hunts when you don’t want to even kill the fox? Family commitments?”
“Can’t see the point in murdering the poor old thing really,” he shrugs. “It’s never done any harm to me. If it was a man-eater that would be different, I’d see the sense in taking him out before he could get me; kill or be killed so to speak. But foxes, I don’t feel any animosity at all towards them.”
“No,” I muse, “I guess if they were vicious, it would be easier to justify taking their lives.”
I stay quiet for a long time after this, thinking.
By the time he drops me at the only Inn in Ereston, I have formulated an idea for how I will get into the manor and begin my search for whatever it is that will enable me to kill Nicholas Montague before he can kill me.
Because if there is one thing I doknow about him; heisa man-eater.
Short Crust Pastry
(Pastry for such recipes as quiche)
Ingredients:90g water, 250g plain flour, 125g cold diced butter, 5g salt.
Method:
Make sure the mix is the consistency of sand before adding water; don’t overmix once water is added or it will become too elastic.
Combine dry ingredients, mix and slowly add water.
Finish by kneading by hand.
Refrigerate for four hours before rolling.
