Postby KP Presents » Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:09 am
As they left the room, Gerri turned to Mrs McPhee and said “how can you live with yourself, frightening young kids and threatening us like that!”
“Oh – do they seem to be frightened to you,” Mrs McPhee said with a smile. Gerri thought for a moment, and then said “Well, now that you come to mention it...”
“And are you afraid?”
“A little – I mean...”
“That’s understandable,” Mrs McPhee said, “but remember, you are responsible for them, so we make it as much fun as possible. Now, the film?”
When they returned, they saw Mrs Danvers tied to a chair, a strip of white tape over her mouth as she looked back at them.
Jay smiled as he stood behind the bound and gagged girls, and said “Excellent. Please, introduce the movie Lady Markson.”
Gerri slowly put the DVD into the machine, and then stood by the side of the screen, holding the controller as Jay, Mrs McPhee, and some of the other associates sat down.
“Well,” she eventually said as she took a deep breath, “the film is called The Awakening, and it’s loosely based on a story from our family history. A hundred and fifty years ago, the oldest daughter of the then Viscount Markson met and fell deeply in love with a young officer in the British Army. The story goes that they were engaged to be married when he was ordered to South Africa, to fight in the Boer War.
“Alun has always been fascinated by our family history, so the film covers their courtship, and how Amelia, the daughter, coped when he returned injured from that war. We open in the year 1863, and I really hope you enjoy it.”
As they watched, both Mark and Yvonne found themselves engrossed in the movie. On the one hand, they could see how Despond and the others could be justifiably proud of what Angela and Alicia had done, and it was a really good film. On the other, they could see for themselves where some of the filming was done, and Yvonne in particular loved the look of the costumes used.
“That, ma dear, was a truly beautiful film,” Mrs McPhee said as the end credits rolled, “Truly beautiful.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Gerri said with a little smile, “but really it was Alun’s film. I just helped out.”
“Well,” Jay said as he stood up, “Thank you for that, but what I would like for you to do now is to give our party and the girls a tour of the Manor House, if you would be so kind. It will help pass the time, and I think proved educational at the same time.”
“Well – I do guided tours for select groups on occasion, and I guess it will take your minds off the situation,” Gerri said. “And I did promise to show you the rest of the building, if you are still interested?”
The girls all nodded in unison, as Mrs McPhee whispered into Jay’s ear “If you men would avert your eyes...”
“Of course – gentlemen, allow them some privacy,” he said as he and the other associates stood facing the wall, while Mrs McPhee untied their ankles and knees and helped them to stand up.
“I know you gals like to jump around when tied as a rule, from past experience,” Mrs McPhee said, “but with the costumes on, you would soon be breathless, and that’s not a guid idea just now. So you will walk – like ladies.”
As Mrs Danvers was untied and led off, Gerri started the tour, both Jay and Mrs McPhee listening as they walked round, and helped the girls up and down the stairs...
After a while, they were all escorted to the dining room, where Mrs Danvers had already been secured. One by one, the girls were tied to chairs before Gerri was made it sit down, and her arms and legs secured. A strip of white tape was pressed over her mouth, as Mrs Danvers was released.
“Now just sit nicely, and Mrs Danvers and I will sort out lunch. Keep an eye on them, boys.” Mrs McPhee said as they went out of one door, Jay slipping into the main hallway and going back up the stairs. As they had walked past earlier, he had noted Gerri said nothing about the room, so he guessed it was the private office.
Naturally, the door was locked, but it only took him a few minutes to pick the lock and make his way in. As Mark looked round, he saw he was right about it been an office, and he quickly searched through the letters and papers left out as well as in a filing cabinet.
“Bills... Confirmation letters... Personal Correspondence...” he said to himself, soon realising there was nothing there that was going to help him with his other assignment. Shaking his head, he left the room, closing the door behind himself and making sure it was locked, before he walked down the stairs.
“And where did you disappear to?”
“Looking for some sort of clue as to where the letters Brian was talking about may be,” Mark said as he looked at Yvonne, “but no luck so far.”
“Well, keep looking – it’s a big house and you’ve only had time to check a few rooms. Look – the girls are secured and eating, and the boys can manage for now. Why don’t we take a look in here?”
Yvonne pointed to a door to one side across the hallway, which they both walked over to. As Mark opened the door, and they both walked in, they saw a store cupboard.
“Nothing here,” Yvonne said as they tried the next door, and opened it, only for Yvonne to gasp and say “oh my...”
“What is it,” Mark said as they both walked in, and he looked at the rows of costumes on hangers, everything from ballgowns to domestics clothing.
“Oh my goodness,” Yvonne said as she walked round, wide eyed as she touched the clothes, “these must be the costumes from the film. The girls must be wearing some of these.”
“I wonder why they have them stored here,” Mark said as she walked round, and then saw the way his wife was looking at some of them. “You want to, don’t you?”
“Oh I would love to, but we’re working...”
“And? It might help put them even more at ease if you look like them.”
“Those girls? They’d be at ease even if...”
“You know that’s not true, Yvonne,” Mark said quietly, “her ladyship for starters. Go on – what would you wear?”
Yvonne quickly selected a dark blue checked dress, and a pile of petticoats and other items, before she said “help me change Mark. I need to strip down first.”
As Mark collected her clothes, Yvonne put on a chemise and a pair of drawers, before she fastened a corset round herself. “Right – pull the cords behind me until I tell you to stop,” she said, taking a deep breath as Mark tightened the garment around her, and then tied it off in a large bow. She then stepped into the cage, and asked Mark to pull it up and secure it round her waist, before putting on the petticoats and finally the blue dress. As he fastened it, Yvonne then put on a blue bonnet and fastened it round her head, before checking her balaclava and gloves were still in place.
“A very Victorian governess,” Mark said with a smile. “Let’s get back in and get something to eat.”
As they walked back into the dining room, the girls turned their heads and gasped as they saw the new Mrs McPhee.
“I hope you don’t mind, Lady Markson, but I really felt this would make you all more comfortable.”
“Well,” the older girl said as she looked at Mrs McPhee, “I have to say you do wear it well.”
“Why thank you,” she said as she and Jay took a plate of food and a drink, and disappeared again for a few minutes into another room.
“Once we’ve eaten,” Jay said quietly, “we let them go to the toilet, re-tie them and then let them finish the tour. We may get a few more hints about where to look. Then, if you can distract them, I’ll have a bit more of a look around.”
“Got it,” Mrs McPhee said as they ate.
“Well, I think that concludes our tour for now,” Gerri Markson said as they came back to the room they had started in. “Sit down girls,” Mrs McPhee said as the men turned their backs.
“Stay here and assist,” Jay said as he made his way back up the stairs, going over in his mind what their reluctant guide had said. She had said something about the Viscount sleeping in the same room through the years, so he walked into the oak panelled room and looked round. It was well furnished, with a large oil painting of Markson Manor hanging on the wall facing the bed.
“Oh now it wouldn’t be that simple, would it,” Jay said to himself as he felt along the frame, and then heard a small click as the painting swung out, revealing a wall safe. Smiling, he went to work on it, and within ten minutes had it open.
The only thing inside was a folded letter, which he took out and read. Printed on the piece of paper was a series of letters and numbers, and nothing else.
“XPF 463,” Jay said to himself, “what does that...” He then remembered that during the tour, the young Lady had pointed out a door which she had said led to the cellar, which had a number of storerooms which were not really used these days.
Replacing the document carefully and closing the safe door, Jay moved the painting back and left the room, walking down the rear staircase and finding the cellar door. Fishing in his pocket, he took out a small torch and opened the cellar door, making his way down the stone stairs and marvelling at how well a disused cellar was maintained.
At the bottom of the stairs was a long corridor, and as Jay shone the torch down he saw doors going off at each side. Each door was labelled with a combination of letters and numbers, which he looked at until he stopped outside one.
“XPF 463.” Taking the lock picks out, he soon opened the door and looked in, finding a light switch which he pressed down as he closed the door. The room was bare, except for the heavy stone bench against the opposite wall. Looking round, Jay felt the walls, and then shook his head.
“Another dead end,” Jay said with a sigh as he sat on the heavy stone bench – and then stood up again, looking closely at it.
“This isn’t stone,” he said quietly, “this is wood. Now why would he paint it to look like stone?”
Taking hold, he lifted the bench, and was shocked to discover the floor lifting with him, and a staircase appeared. Turning the torch back on, he walked slowly downstairs, finding another locked door at the bottom. As he picked the lock, he walked into a cool, dark room.
“What have we here,” Jay said as he shone the torch round, and found a switch. Flicking it down, he turned round and gasped “Oh... My... God...”