Chapter 4 Two

You are just being scandolous now. Hes, a nice man. And you can come and visit us there on weekends " Laura suggested to her.

Laura found herself packing her stuff the next day in a suitcase. She had decided to go. What could happen. Little did she knew she was walking in a gothic horror novel scenario.

It would do her a change of scenery too. She laughed when she remembered mr winterbones reaction to her leaving the job and going with Clint. " Are you marrying him, love at first sight is it " he asked. " Its too early to say anything on that " Laura told him.

Clint came with his car after two days in the afternoon and helped her with her bag. And they drove away from the city. Into the forests.

They drank some wine afterwards. " So would you like to visit our family mansion in Eastwood. It will do you a, good too away from the citys hustle bustle. Meet my mother. She would like some company. She gets quite lonely there " Clint said.

" The idea sounds appealing but what about my work here at the museum and wouldn't it look a little odd if i come and stay with you there " Laura, asked. " Ofcourse not. Why would it be odd. You can come in with me as a friend or my girl friend. Would you like to be my girlfriend " he asked. " And as far as work is concerned we really need someone very reliable there to manage the estate. Which i think you can do it " Clint told her.

Laura felt confused and slightly shy. She replied him " why not. " Clint smiled and got up and helped her get inside her coat as, it was getting shivery outside. When he smiled his eyes crinkled up. " Laura you looking beautiful in this dress. I can't wait till you meet my mother. What about next week we go then to my mansion " he said.

" Let me decide " Laura said and they both walked out of the restaurant. " He seems appealing but kind of fixated on his mother " Laura was thinking.

In night Laura told Meg about her date and how Clint invited her to visit his mansion. " It all sounds hurried to be. You can go and stay with him. But be careful you still dont know him very much. And his mother seems to me a, weird sort what with him being so much fixated around her. And i still dont completely remember what i had read about that family in the newspaper " Meg said to Laura on the phone. Something about the guy seems off and too good to be true. Remember i saw him when you went him on a, date " Meg continued.

" You are just being scandolous now. Hes, a nice man. And you can come and visit us there on weekends " Laura suggested to her.

Laura found herself packing her stuff the next day in a suitcase. She had decided to go. What could happen. Little did she knew she was walking in a gothic horror novel scenario.

It would do her a change of scenery too. She laughed when she remembered mr winterbones reaction to her leaving the job and going with Clint. " Are you marrying him, love at first sight is it " he asked. " Its too early to say anything on that " Laura told him.

Clint came with his car after two days in the afternoon and helped her with her bag. And they drove away from the city. Into the forests.

Rural country side started. And the citys buildings gave into cottages. Clint was driving the car. And Laura, was napping.

After two hours of driving. They reached Clints mansion. It was big and sprawled on a big space. A huge iron gate entrance and rose bushes and oak trees surrounding it. It was, of two floors and besides the wall to floor windows a balcony overlooked the forests on its right side. A cool chilly mountain air was blowing. And the pathway was, covered up in tiny dew drops.

" Its looking like it might rain. See the clouds overhead " Laura said to Clint while getting out of his car. " Really its lovely. Its all so picturusque " Laura said. " I am glad you liking it and looking forward to stay here " Clint said.

A butler came out and said " miss we were all looking forward to ur visit. Welcome to manor blue mont. " " Ed keep the luggage inside Lauras guestroom " Clint said.

After entering inside it was marvelous inside. A big lamp was on the ceiling and heavy curtains and a fireplace in a, corner. Some lovely paintings were on the wall, Laura observed.

A woman in a tight bun ,beady eyes and wearing a midnight blue dress entered. " " Meet my mother " Clint introduced. Clints mother Mrs Chiller looked at Laura and said " so you are the girl my son was talking about " with a cold expression. There was something quite chilly about her Laura thought

The moon was up in the sky. Laura was sleeping in her guestroom. There was a, dressing table beside her bed. She got up and went to the balcony. Overlooking the forests. It was very cold outside. As she was wearing a thin nightgown the coolness was feeling nice against her skin.

Laura looked at the forests. They were dark against the sky which had some few stars in it. She heard someone walking outside her room. Sound of footsteps. And then mild three knocks on her door. " Whose there " she asked. She slowly opened the door and saw that no one was there. Then who it was knocking.

Laura was bit afraid. She tried to sleep back and sleep came fast to her. In the morning she saw the time on the alarm clock it was 11 30. She got up and went out and saw outside the balcony. The forests were looking so lovely all wet because of the rain.

After getting ready she went down. Clint was, already sitting at the breakfast table. His mother was sitting beside him. " You are up we thought you might like to sleep some more " she asked.

" Its okay i slept well " Laura said and joined them. They had butter toast and tea. Then Clint said " let me show you around our estate and office. Maybe you would like to go around the neighborhood too, it's mostly forests but we could take a, hike there " he said.

" Sure i will get ready " Laura said and went upstairs. She heard his mother say while going up that " this girl are you sure about her managing our estate as an assistant Clint " to her son.

Laura went with Clint on a, tour of the mansion. It was quite big with white pillars, and carvings on the ceilings. There were some antique vases and a bunch of red roses in them. Outside in the garden a fountain was there and a bench to sit on and marvel the magnolias and daisies growing all around.

A cool breeze was blowing. " As, you can see Laura you will forget all about the city here " Clint said. " Sure i would " replied Laura.

The butler came in the garden and said " miss Laura a phone call came for you from a miss Meg from Newyork. She said that she will visit you this weekend. "

" That would be nice. We allcan go hiking together too " Laura said gleefully to Clint but was a bit surprised to see a hint of grey pallor come over his face. " Why is he displeased " Laura wondered. Clint showed her around the office too and introduced her to Joey the stable hand and John his secretary who now worked as his business and property advisor. Joey was a very young lad with innocent eyes and a sunny disposition which Laura got attracted to immediately.

Its nice to meet you miss Laura. You are very beautiful " Joey said. Laura almost laughed. A scornful Clint instantly said " Joey nowadays you have become very careless. Last time the horses were not properly fed. Next time i see this happening you are out of here. "

A frightened Joey said " he will be careful " and walked away quickly from there. " Clint is too strict with him and i think he was jealous too " Laura thought.

The next day Meg arrived! " Im so happy to see you " Laura said. " Ofcourse i had to see how things are here. And yes this mansion and forests surrounding it are dreamy like a postcard type " Meg said. She was introduced to Clints mother. " So still you have not got your big break as they call it " Mrs Chiller said. Laura did not like this statement of her but as it was so typical of her. Laura said " i am sure she will get it soon. Come with me Meg i will show you your room. "

Laura took Meg up to her room. It was just beside her. Meg unpacked her bags and later came down to dinner with them. The butler had prepaeed roasted chicken with white sauce. Clint was wearing a, navy blue blazer and his hair were all gelled up. He was looking very nice. After dinner Meg came in Lauras room. Laura was reading a gothic novel. " So Laura, im thinking a, night walk in the garden below. Are you joining me. Maybe i will smoke a, cigarette too " Meg said. " I don't think so i am coming as im feeling quite cold. It has, rained and is very cold outside too dear. And, Mrs Chiller wont like it " Laura replied. " Tell your mrs Chiller to take a chill pill. I am going now with my jacket to keep me warm. You sleep " Meg said.

" Thats a nice jacket. I like its color light yellow " Laura said. " They gave it to me to keep in return of the fashion event that i had done last month " Meg said. " I like it too. See you tomorrow morning " Meg said closing the door.

Meg went into the garden. She was strolling around the bushes. Rose ones. " The gardener here has taken quite good care of this shrubs here. And the roses dark red in colour are very beautiful. They should call it the rose mansion. This name would suit it more. Its, a nice place to live but where exactly had i read something about this, family. Wait let me remember. Yes five years back. A governess was hired here and she was found murdered in the forests. The case wss closed without any further investigation. So i think this Clint is, a fishy guy. I have to tell this to Laura " Meg thought. A sense of emergency overcame Meg and she started to hurry out of the garden. But a something heavy fell at the back of her head and everything went black and she fell unconscious.

The butler was knocking feverishly on Lauras, door. " What is it what happened? " Laura, asked opening the door. " Your friend Meg had fallen in the gardens. She has been taken in her room. And a, dr has, been called for " the butler said. " Oh my god let me see " Laura, said and rushed out of the room with him. She found Meg lying on a pillow. " What is this red spot on her head. I think some intruder or thief had entered and on encountering Meg hit her with something heavy on the head. Or was it someone from the mansion itself. She has, been suspicious about this family all along " Laura thought.

Dr Hemmingway arrived and applied some balm on Megs head and prescribed some medicines and confirmed Lauras opinion. It was the work of some burglar maybe. " What was y side of the mansion is exposed to the forests. Anyone can intrude here. Tell her not to venture out like this " Dr Hemmingway said.

****

The next day as Laura was, sitting with Meg having tea. Meg was feeling better. Mrs Chiller entered the dining room. " It was very silly of you to go out like that at midnight. Do you city girls entertaon such fetushes " she said. Laura, thought " she reall just has, to talk like this only doesnt she. " " Meg had actually thought that as its a big mansion with fences all around. It would be safe. Why dont you fix theexposed part of the mansion with some electrified fences. Maybe who knows one day a wild animal will venture out here " Laura said. " Sure i will tell the butler to get some one right now about this issue " Mmrs Chiller said and went out of the room. Clint entered. He was, wearing a navy blue tshirt and light blue jeans. " So Meg how you feeling " he asked. Did Laura saw a hint of smile on his face. He turned towards Laura and said " so are you both wiling to come with me on a, tour in my car of the neighbouring area. Meg replied " sure we are. " When will i get a chance to tell Laura about that newspaper clipping i had read about and remembered yesterday night " Meg was thinking.

In Clints silver car they drove off. The road was surrounded by meadows and lush greenary. A cattle were there too. Meg and Laura were sitting in the backseat. Clint said " would you two like to do some shop there are, some very nice stores here. " Meg said " yes why not no harm in checking out. " After half an hour of driving he stopped at a boutique near a village. It was very quaint looking with pink lights spelling its name the village fashion shoppe. " A great name " Laura laughed. " You really should see there are sime very nice clothes inside. " As they got out of the car and entered the shop. Laura saw that some very nice clothes were on display. Dresses in baby pinks and shimmers and beiges. Laura brought for herself. A white cotton shirt. And Meg bought a black top. A spectacled saleswoman greeted them. She had a short haircut and was wearing a white shirt and black pants. " So what exactly are you looling for in dresses so i can help you " she asked. Laura, replied " anything in cream colour and what about you Meg. "

As they were looking at the dresses Laura still had a, feeling of coldness over her about last night. And Meg was behaving creepy. Clint had gone out to make a call. The saleswoman came and, asked her " are you the new governess. Because the last one had died in the woods " with a look of fear on her face. " No im the estate assistant " Laura said. She was shocked to hear this. On the way back there was silence in the car through out the trip.

In night it was, near midnight. Laura was feeling restless. She heard something. Was it the sound of muffled laughter and some talk. All rooms, were far from each other. Was someone walking in the corridor at this time. Should i wake up Meg. She was behaving all sullen from that incident of night. As, if she wanted to say something to Laura. She got up slowly and creeped out in the hallway towards Clints room and was surprised to see the door wide open with him nowhere in the room. At 2 in the night where had gone and what was that laughter sound.

In the morning Laura, saw, that a heavy snow storm was predicted. For the remaining two days. So they all sat watching from the window the lashing of the snow. " So i guess we are all snowed in for two days now inside. Its risky to go out in this weather. " The lights went out suddenly. The butler came saying that the power line was cut because of the snow. And the phone lines have gone dead too. So i will light some candles " he said. " This is kind of creepy " Laura said. Meg replied " good time to live like how they used to live in the past medieval times. " " I think i will go and catch up on my knitting " mrs chiller said. " She knits too " Laura was surprised to hear that. " For whom are you knitting by the way " Laura, asked. " For my daughter. She coming this weekend. I am knitting a scarf for her. "

Clint said " actually shes my step sister and shes coming from California for the weekend. " But how she will travel in this weather " Meg asked. " You cant say with het. Anyhow she will come " Clint replied. From the window the headlights of a, car could be seen.Outside it was, dark as twilight. " The snow is, falling so heavily that its looking like nightime " Mrs chiller observed. The butler came in with a, tra of hot coffees for everyone.

Someone rang the doorbell. " Its John " Clint announced. John came entering inside. On his jacket all snow flakes were there. " The roads are all blocked with snow. I think im stuck here now till it all clears up. I actually came to tell you that theres some huge discrepancies in the annual trade report of your business in the states. But as the phone lines had all gone cut. I was driving through the town so i dropped by. " " More the company " Clint said. " And yes again i get to see the beautiful miss Laura and whose this " John said gesturing towards Meg " as he took the cup of coffee from the butler. Shes my friend who came to visit me " Laura, said. John looked good with with his hair falling on his eyes. Clint said to John " let's go and discuss the problem that you came here to discuss. "