Chapter Text
It was early December and raining heavily. Three figures walked as quickly as they could across an empty field, slipping on the mud in their hurry. The tallest figure, Mr Robert Morton strode out ahead, leaving his younger sister and brother behind, stumbling and holding each other’s arms for support. Eleanor was five years Roberts junior and considered to be a reckless sort, but of fine breeding. It was rumoured about the town that she had inherited quite the sum of money from her father when he had passed away four years before. Although in reality this was an insignificant sum compared to how much her brother was worth, she was considered to be a good match for a number of the young gentleman of her acquaintance, and what with her being in her twentieth year, it was thought by most that it would not be long before she was married.
Samuel was the youngest by ten years and was the child of their fathers’ second marriage. Neither Robert nor Eleanor were fond of their step mother and even Samuel treated her with civility rather than affection. Eleanor had referred to her as ‘the witch’ within a few hours of meeting her. She was a strong willed and cheerless person, and while her manners were polished she looked down her nose upon everyone. Her looks reflected her personality for she had a thin face and long nose that gave her a permanently stern look, and her small eyes darted about looking for any misdemeanour that her step children may have caused. The house always seemed silent, but this was about to change.
Since the death of Robert Morton senior, Mrs Morton had been pining to go back to her family home away from London. She had finally been granted her wish when a suitable property had been found, which was quite a task in itself as Mrs Morton had many demands that her new house must fill. But one had been found and this is what led the three siblings into the rain. She had insisted that the three children join her at Rushdon House once she had settled in. Unknown to her Robert and Eleanor had made plans to journey back to their London home as soon after the New Year as they could. The thought of leaving their brother behind with his mother made Eleanor feel unwell, but he was still in her custody and the thought of spending any more time with her step mother than she had to was unthinkable.
They had taken a public coach to the nearest town, but were unwilling to wait until another arrived to take them to their destination. They resolved to walk, carrying the light bags they had brought with them. This was, of course, before the rain set in. It was now dark; they were now soaked to the skin and lost. Eleanor was getting tired. She was not wearing suitable shoes for walking in the rain and her feet were cold and painful. Samuel was winging under his breath which always had the power to annoy his sister, but she was too tired reprimand him. Suddenly Robert turned round
‘Eleanor!’ he called ‘I can see a building ahead; I think we should stop there and ask for help. We might get directions or they may even lend us a carriage’
Eleanor looked up; trying to find the place that Robert was speaking of.
‘Robert, that looks like a castle.’ She said, finally locating it with a glance before shielding her eyes from the rain once again ‘It’s most likely a ruin, what if nobody is there?’
‘No…no, I can see a light in one of the windows, somebody must be at home.’
‘Might they have food Robert? I’m so hungry.’ Moaned Samuel
‘We must not intrude too much Sam.’ Eleanor said, half dragging him along by his elbow ‘They might be quite unfriendly, we must make sure not to overstay our welcome.’
They were travelling faster now, bent on reaching the dry and warmth as quickly as possible and they reached the large door of the castle covered in mud. Robert knocked with his fist on the door and took a step back, standing next to Samuel. It was a short while before a well-dressed elderly lady stood before them, the door creaking loudly as she pulled it open.
‘Oh my poor dears do come in! What are you doing out on a night like this?’ she said herding them into the entrance all and looking them over. Robert ran his hand through his black hair, dripping water all over the floor
‘I am extremely sorry to intrude ma’am, but I am afraid we have got lost on our way to Rushdon House. We are the children of the new owner, Lady Morton. Would you be able to give us directions so we can find our way there this evening?’ Robert said gesturing at the three of them and then the door.
‘Oh no, you must not go out again this evening, Rushdon house is above seven miles away, you will all catch your deaths! Especially the young lady, it is no weather for you to be walking. I shall have some clothes found for you, you cannot stay in those and I suspect anything you have carried with you will be soaked through as well. You must let me dry them for you.’ She said in a breathless rush
‘You will dry them? But if you are a servant who owns this place?’ Robert asked as they followed her through an echoing corridor and into a high ceilinged drawing room.
‘The Master? He is Earl of Leicester, Mr Richard Armitage. You may have heard of him, he has a reputation in this area, I’m sure it’s spread further than I have travelled. You are very fortunate he is out of town at the moment, I’m sorry to say he doesn’t take to visitors very well.’
‘Oh, so this is Addersly Castle?’ Robert said moving to stand near the large fire that was burning in the fireplace, Eleanor and Samuel following fast behind him.
‘Yes sir, I see you have heard of us.’ She said, not looking too surprised at this news and giving the fire a strong prod with a poker.
‘Indeed, I am afraid to say the rumours have been circulating in London for as long as I can remember.’ Robert said sadly.
‘I’d like to say that he didn’t deserve them, but he brings it on himself. Now…’ she said more briskly ‘You stay and keep warm by the fire in here, I shall have some clothes found for you and three rooms made ready for you to stay in tonight. I shall be back presently.’
‘Wait a moment.’ Eleanor said ‘you have not told us what we are to call you?’ The woman stopped by the door.
‘You may call me Mrs Burke.’ she said and with that she exited the room. Eleanor looked up at Robert
‘Is this the man that mamma’s family would tell wild stories about and accuse of the most terrible crimes?’ Robert grimaced
‘Yes my dear. But do not let this trouble you.’ He said, leaning a hand against the mantelpiece ‘Mrs Burke has said that he is not in town at present, we should be quite safe.’
‘Quite safe? You mean you believe those dreadful rumours too?’ she said. She was always wary of the things that her step mother’s family would come out with. They were a crude family and not beyond exaggeration.
‘I’m afraid I have been persuaded that they are true. I am more widely travelled than you are, and have attended many more balls. What I have heard fits with everything they said. This man is dangerous.’
‘Well, if you are right then I dare say that we shall be gone from here early tomorrow morning. But I hope you are not, I cannot believe someone so bad exists outside the realms of fantasy.’
‘Why can’t we leave now?’ Samuel asked, eyeing the room with fear.
‘Because if Mrs Burke is correct then mamma’s house is over seven miles away, we will not reach it tonight; not in this weather. That is without taking into account getting lost in the dark.’ Eleanor said her shoulders sagging at the thought of it.
‘Then why can we not take a carriage?’ Samuel persisted
‘I do not think that Mr Armitage would like to lend his horses to anyone, particularly strangers.’ She said, remembering what her step mothers’ sister had said about his collection of fine studs around the country. It was said that very few people in England would buy from him, knowing who he was and unwilling to pay a high price for them, so they were often sold abroad.
‘The housekeeper has been very kind in allowing us to stay here; we would otherwise be out in the cold. Don’t complain Sam.’ Robert said sharply. He was always quite blunt with Samuel, who had been brought up by a rather over indulgent nurse. He felt a certain duty towards making sure that Samuel was going to turn into a better young man than his childish manner at the present held out for him.
At that moment Mrs Burke knocked and entered the room, saying that their rooms were ready and she and the butler, Vernon, had done the best they could for clothes. They filed out of the drawing room behind her. Once Eleanor was alone in her room, she peeled off her wet dress and put on the new one. It was not a very good fit and was rather loose around her shoulders, but she expected that she would only have to wear them for a short while until her travelling dress had dried. The room was lit by a small fire that had plainly not been burning long as the room was still deathly cold. Eleanor looked round and caught a glance of her reflection in a cracked mirror hanging next to the door. She let out a sigh, if her step mother could see her now she would disown her. Her face was pale and drawn with lack of sleep and there were large dark circles appearing under her eyes. Her hair, which was such a dark brown it appeared black unless seen next to her brothers’, had started to dry and looked a crazed mess. She tried to run her fingers through it, but it got stuck in the mass of tangles where her ordered curls had been that morning. She sighed and left the room.
She found her brothers in the drawing room again, already eating the food that Vernon had brought up. Eleanor sat and ate with them, feeling her strength return slightly. Mrs Burke remained in the room even after they had finished and cleared the plates. The three of them decided to stay next to the fire a little longer to warm up. Eleanor’s long hair was still damp and while it was getting more and more unruly the more it dried she had given up on taming it. She just wanted to be rid of the memory of being in the rain. Robert had sat in an old chair nearest the fire while Eleanor was curled up on a chaise lounge with Samuel stretched out on the floor next to her. Eleanor had started to drift into a light sleep when a load crash made her wake with a start. She turned to see Mrs Burke looking wide eyed towards the door.
‘The Master is home.’