Day 10: 17 November 2025

 Short Story -- Monkshood Manor: Part 2

Teddy entered the dining room through the large double doors off the main hallway. The room was large enough that it had two massive stone fireplaces along one wall. There were also large floor to ceiling windows, although since it was now dark outside, there wasn’t anything to see. And down the centre ran a huge mahogany table. It could have sat thirty people at least.

At the far end, at the head of the table, a place had been set. Teddy walked over and before she knew it, Mr Drey had slid the chair under her and she was sitting.

‘We hope that a simple dinner will suffice for tonight, not knowing your specific likes and preferences,’ Mr Drey informed her.

There was a tureen of soup with a ladle, a plate with a few rolls, a small roast of some sort, potatoes, carrots, and boat of gravy.

‘This is more than enough,’ Teddy assured him and he stepped back to the side, standing along the sideboard and not far from a door that must have led to the kitchen.

It was weird eating in this giant room alone and being watched while doing it none the less. But the food was good and Teddy tried her best to enjoy it. She wasn’t much of a cook herself and as a result often ate a lot of take out.

She wondered if Mr Drey would answer if she asked him any questions and decided to give it a go.

‘Mr Drey?’

‘Miss?’

‘Would it possible to get a comprehensive tour of the house tomorrow?’

‘I will arrange it, Miss. What time?’

‘Shall we say 10 o’clock?’

‘Perfect.’

‘Also,’ Teddy continued. ‘Do you happen to know if there’s a master set of keys and where any important documents would have been kept by my aunt?’

‘Of course, both the housekeeper and myself have a master set of keys’ Mr Drey said matter of facts, ‘And there is a set that was the mistress’s, so I can give those to you tomorrow. As for the documents, there is a safe in her office. But perhaps her solicitor would be a better person to confer with on this point.’

‘Thank you. And of course,’ Teddy responded.

The rest of dinner passed in silence. Until Mr Drey asked, ‘Begging your pardon, Miss, but will you be having dessert?’

It hadn’t even crossed Teddy’s mind. ‘Ummm… yes?’

‘Please do tell me when you’re ready,’ Mr Drey responded.

Already having eaten quite a bit, Teddy nodded, ‘I believe I am ready.’

With that, Mr Drey cleared the present dishes away and disappeared through the door that presumably led to the kitchen.

Teddy was looking around the room again when she couldn’t help but get the eerie feeling that she was being watched. She looked behind her expecting Mr Drey, since he seemed so good at catching her unaware. But to her surprise, the room was empty.

She walked over to the windows. In spite of the dark, the curtains hadn’t been drawn. She looked out into the black night but didn’t see anything out of place or anyone.

‘May I help you, Miss?’ Mr Drey’s deep voice came from behind her.

She spun around. There he was. Again, he’d managed to sneak up on her!

‘No, thank you,’ Teddy said and headed back to the table.

There was a whole cake. A whole chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and a bowl of fresh, cut strawberries next to it.

Teddy sat down, cut herself a slice and spooned some strawberries onto her dessert plate.

Once she finished, she stood up.

‘Will there be anything else that you’re wanting for this evening, Miss?’ Mr Drey asked.

‘No,’ Teddy said, ‘Thank you. I believe I’ll just head back to my room. I’ve done quite a bit of traveling today. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at ten in the grand entrance for the tour.’

He nodded.

And she made her way back to her room.