The Timekeeper - 3 - Secrets & Surprises

3

Secrets & Surprises

Penelope shut the door behind her as she left Lady Thane’s sitting room and hoisted her seamstress case up on to her hip. She sighed. Now for the long walk home.

The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the open drapes as she made her way down the first long corridor of many in Riverfor Manor. Grand portraits of previous Riverfor Lords and Ladies lined the walls whilst a red velvet carpet followed them along the dark, wooden floorboards.

Penelope’s purple slippers padded softly on the carpet as she meandered between the oncoming servants and guests. The servants casually chatted to one an other, completely ignoring Penelope’s sweet smiles of greeting. Some carried fresh sheets or bundles of clothes, some carried trays of food whilst others seemed to be just trying to get to various rooms as fast as they possibly could.

“Excuse me,” Penelope tried to catch someone’s attention. “I seem to have gotten myself confused. Where is the way out?”

A few dirty looks were given but no one answered the question. Apparently, she wasn’t important enough for these servants to listen to. What was she supposed to do now? The exit could be anywhere and she was reluctant to start wandering around aimlessly.

Penelope spotted a wide oak door which looked familiar. She must have come through it on the way to Lady Thane’s sitting room. Pushing down on the door handle, Penelope smiled as she heard the click of it opening. The door was so heavy that she had to heave with her shoulders to get it ajar enough for her to squeeze through.

Whilst the door was familiar, the room definitely wasn’t. It was a vast dining room with the longest table Penelope had ever seen. Golden plates and golden goblets lines the table’s places and pure white candles were standing proudly down the centre.

Penelope was too busy gawping at the opulent to hear the voices from outside the door she had just come through. It wasn’t until the door handle made the same click that it did for her that she whipped round with panic. She did not want to be caught snooping where she shouldn’t be!

Quickly, Penelope slid her seamstress case under the dining table and scrambled after it, pulling the case into her chest. Sweat beaded across her forehead just as her heart threatened to jump right up out of her throat.

The voices had now entered the room. Penelope could make out a man’s deep voice and a shrill woman’s. They seemed to be arguing. Penelope watched their shoes shuffle into the corner of the dining room.

“You should have seen the look on her face, Hugo! She was furious. Do you think she knows?” hissed the woman. The terror in her voice was tangible.

“Don’t be so ridiculous, Darling,” replied the man. “I know what I’m doing. She wouldn’t know a fish from a bird even if they hit her in the face. We’re fine. Now come here. I’ve missed you.”

The woman let out a girlish giggle and Penelope saw their feet now only inches apart. She was mortified at the thought of listening to such a private encounter. How long would she have to wait here?

“Oh Hugo!” the woman squealed in delight. “The servants wouldn’t believe what the Lord of Riverfor gets up to in his spare time.”

Penelope’s almost stomach fell through the floor! The Lord of Riverfor! Lady Thane’s Husband! She couldn’t believe her bad luck. Why in the world did she have to be in this room at this very moment? She would be lynched if anyone knew.

“Even if the servants did know what I was doing, all they would do is whisper and tattle about it in the kitchens. No one would dare anger the Lady so with that sort of rumour. That is why this is safe and this is also why it is so much fun. I win in all scenarios my dear, Faye!”

Penelope had to hold in her gasp of shock! Faye! The one that they all laughed at in the sitting room. The one who Lady Thane was trying to help! Betraying her in her very own house.

Penelope disbelief and nosiness were getting the better of her. She decided that she had to get a closer look to see if it really was the same Faye from the sitting room earlier.

She shuffled towards the edge of the dining table on her hands and knees, careful not to make any noise even though she thought they would definitely be able to hear her beating heart. It was deafening in her ears.

The couple’s legs finally came into view. The woman’s dress was definitely familiar to the Faye Penelope had seen earlier but she just had to make sure.

Surely I’m wrong? Aren’t I? No woman would do this to another?

Penelope’s mouth fell wide open when she saw Faye’s face smiling into thin air as Lord Thane nuzzled into Faye’s neck. It was her! How could she?!

Suddenly, after staring a little too long than she should have, Penelope’s eyes met Faye’s.

Faye let out the most hideous scream. Lord Thane span around in fright and immediately spotted the seamstress’ assistant cowering under the table.

Penelope immediately threw her hands in the air to try and explain but everything stopped. Paused. Froze.

Faye’s mouth was open in mid scream and Lord Thane was stuck in the motion of stepping towards Penelope’s hiding spot, a venomous look etched upon his face.

Penelope looked between the too frozen figures and back at her outstretched hands in pure incredulity.

How did I do that?