Charles Whitehurst Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 The ceilings of the Royal Library are 15 feet high. Shelves of polished walnut climb the walls to a height of 10 feet and are filled with books. Bindings of rich brown calf are interspersed with jewel-toned volumes of red, blue and green. Windows set high in the walls above the shelving fill the room with light. A number of comfortable chairs in rich tobacco coloured leather are dotted about for the use of those reading for pleasure. For those who have a serious purpose, several tables and upright chairs are provided. Damp is the natural enemy of the book. With the palace so close to the river, the battle is waged continuously. The Library has 6 fireplaces: fires are lit every day. The size of the blaze depends on the weather. Mr Potts is the Keeper of the King's Books. It is rumoured that Mr Potts never sleeps and that he has forgotten his way home as a result of his devotion to his beloved volumes. Nonsense, surely, but Mr Potts does always seem to be in the Library... His desk, well supplied with paper, quills and ink, is situated near the main door of the library. It is here that he works on his catalogue of the King's books. He also has an excellent view of the room and the doings of those therein, as well as seeing everyone who comes and goes. The greatest treasure of the Library is situated by Mr Potts' desk. Held in an ever-locked case of walnut and glass, lies the Bible of King Henry VIII, who founded the English church. Bound in the finest of ruby-coloured leather, richly ornamented with gold and jewels, the book is a thing of great beauty quite apart from it's historical significance. The tome closed with a louder thud than he intended. The noise echoed in the empty chamber. Although the Royal Library was not open technically on Sunday evenings, Charles was able to get himself inside where it allowed for quiet research on spirits. Having promised Susan Herbert to research the summoning of ghosts, the Earl was finding the task hopeless. As might be expected, books on the occult were generally forbidden. Thus, the ghost stories he had found were all tales written by poets and historians. There really wasn't anything useful. I shall just have to invent something I guess. For laughs, he had searched for something about ghosts of lions or swans. Nothing was readily available. It was possible that Mr. Potts had some secret collection somewhere, but it would be awkward to ask. With a sigh, he replaced the books he had been researching and moved to exit the library. The chamber seemed creepy when lit by a single candle. It was just the right setting for a ghost story. "Swan? Lion?" he called out into the dark, just in case their spirits might be following him somehow. He expected no answer and continued on his way, looking to lock the library doors behind him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 As he halted and waited, no spirits wafted into view, a surprised silence hung upon the air... the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Alerting him. He was not alone. He'd already begun to move again (was it with undue haste?) readying to fasten the library doors, when a paper thin voice beyond the bookshelves lifted questioningly, "Eagle, Wolf?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share Posted September 30, 2016 Just as he was about to leave, closing the doors behind him, a voice was heard. Frankly, it was unclear whether it was a male or female voice. Attempting to turn to face the voice, Langdon's eyes searched the darkness for signs of life. "Fox, raven?" he continued the game, hoping to draw the witness away from the clues that he had uttered previously. Would the stranger reply again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 After a moment hesitation the voice replied with greater strength, "Badger, Dolphin.... and butterfly?" Female, it was a female's voice surely that raised the anti with a third offering. The voice seemed to be coming from the south side of the library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 It was a female voice, and an uncertain one at that. He tried to recall if he could recognize the voice, but so few words were uttered that it would be difficult. He needed to have her keep talking so that he could find her as he moved towards the southern end. "Sheep and hawk?" he ventured. At this rate he would run out of animals and avians soon. Charles crept closer and closer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 Moving in that direction, Charles might belatedly notice a flickering if distant light. The library was a vast place, filled with rows and rows of books, it was little wonder he'd not come upon another patron earlier. There was a long pause, before the creatures names flowed again, "Polar bear, reindeer and angels." which was all the time Charles needed to discover the location of light: a grand chair with it's back to him, guttering candle balanced on chair arm, a tiny hand just there, with index finger through the candle holders loop. Thud. In the distance behind him the library door closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 4, 2016 Author Share Posted October 4, 2016 Spirits did not use candles, so Charles was expecting to find a flesh and blood girl or young lady. The lady seemed to be focusing on holiday creatures, and a trio at a time. "Unicorn and parrot," he declared as he moved in to corner the surprise guest. Suddenly the door shut loudly. How odd. Who would slam the door? Deciding to investigate the door later, Charles moved towards the candlelight to confront the mystery woman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 "Mermaids and..." His work boots betrayed his approach, though it was a pair of wide and somewhat nervous eyes that upon the young woman who twisted now to see who approached. "Lifeguards!" the delicate blonde recognised him, and leaped from her seat with joy. It was none other than Mignonette. Elated to see her old friend Charles! But in her delight she knocked her candle, sending the stub tumbling to the floor (she'd always been somewhat a clutz), perilously close to the tassels of a floor rug. Tassles that, now one stopped to think of it. looked awfully like a set of wicks themselves. Tinder dry they burst into flame in an instant. Noni shrieked, her own dress dangerously close, and in a great hurry she clambered atop the chair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 "Noni!" Charles exclaimed in surprise when he beheld her. With her typical lack of dexterity, Noni knocked over the candle and ignited the carpet tassles. If there was one place that fire was especially unwelcome, it would be the library. Blazing Cannons![/b] He had to move quickly. Taking off his jacket, Charles urged Lady Wentwood to move away from the fire before her dress went up in smoke. Using his jacket to beat down the fire, Charles hoped to smother it with his coat and stomping upon it until the flames were extinguished. "Fetch servants and some water," he found himself shouting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 It had been ages, why, possibly not since the wedding? Charles had alwasy looked out for her though. His alarmed shout even had a familiar ring to it. Noni coudl barely believe her eyes, yet ran at his direction, to get out of the way. "Help help!" she shouted, even as Charles whipped off his jacket and begun beating out the flames. "Help help!" Yet before she got to the door a figure rushed past (so much for his skulked entry to the library). Noni turned to watch, as the figure joined Charles, beating out the flames with gleeful vehemence. Perhaps a bit too gleeful in fact, the mans cries of excitement lifted up into the air. *Wallop wallop wallop* With the pair of them onto the fire so quickly...*wallop wallop wallop*... the flames were quickly extinguished. *wallop wallop wallop* "Well there's a bit of thrill for the evening!" the sooty fellow grinned though the now unnecessary beating. Noni blinked, then slowly smiled, thinking she liked the newcomers exuberance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 6, 2016 Author Share Posted October 6, 2016 Crisis averted. Even a small fire could spell the ruin of the library, if not the entire palace. It was good fortune that Noni's cry of alarm brought another fellow to help smother the fire. Two could do it when the blaze was so small. "Thank you friend," Charles replied as he looked to ascertain the identity of the fellow firefighter. In the meantime, Charles made a mental note to advise Noni's husband that she should stay away from lit candles. There was probably a much longer list of items for her to avoid as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 With the snuffing of the flames the room fell into darkness - Charles brief glimpse of his fellow firefighter in action had shown him to be a man in his middle years with dark hair, perhaps thinning, that fell to his shoulders, though otherwise physically unremarkable. That figure now became encased in shadows. "It was naught but the discharge of god given duty!" the chap announced, "Oliver Cromwell, at your service." Noni had collected up Charles lantern and returned to the scene once more with it held aloft, the movment no doubt drawing Charle eyes. She smiled to her friend. "My, that was lucky. Who are you talking to?" asked she. Now illuminated was the blackened scorched rug, bu no assistant in sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 Charles rubbed his eyes because the smoke made his eyes sting. The name given by his fellow fighter caused him to question his ears. The tyrant? Surely he had not heard the name correctly. Yet, when he looked back at the man, he had seemed to fade into the shadows. Gone Langdon found himself rubbing his eyes again, not trusting their perception either. "Did you see the man that helped me?" Charles asked Noni softly as he held his tunic loosely in his hands. Already he was moving in the direction he last saw the man. There must be an easy explanation for this. A jester no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 "Ahh..." Noni's eyes went a little crossed as she tried make sense of his question. "I didn't actually see him, but I felt him, as he ran past. He was very helpful, but perhaps shy. Why else wouldnt he stay around, unless he's just very busy. Most people are very busy these days." she gave an exaggerated sigh. "Oh is't so good to see you again Charles, how have you been." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 Charles had not forgotten how simple Mignonette was. She and he had been an item, at least until the Duchess of Savoy appeared in London. Rather than entertain her niece with Langdon, she took him as a lover and tried to gain her niece a throne in England. It had almost worked. How Noni had ever ended up with Winchester was a great surprise to him. In his last trip to Turin, the Duchess had revealed how disappointed she was in her niece and had given her away in a pique of caprice, keeping most of her dowry for herself in the process. "You felt him?" From someone else that might have been an odd statement. "He seems to have vanished in thin air." The lantern was held high as Charles glanced around the chamber again for signs of life. "He could have been a ghost I suppose." Charles did love to tell ghost stories to ladies; but, this time he was beginning to wonder whether he had encountered some spirit. Would he tell Susan? "It is good to see you too Noni. I have missed you. Marriage has agreed with you then?" he asked. "I fell into a poor match in Turin thanks to your aunt. The woman passed away earlier this year in a drowning accident back at Langdon. I am just coming out of mourning. Has your husband been treating you well? He better!" he added in a mock threat. "Did I hear you have a daughter?" All the while he spoke with Noni, he listened for footsteps or other signs of life in the library. He was not yet willing to concede that he had encountered a ghost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 "Well I didn't feel him." Noni laughed as he put it that way. "I meant when he rushed pass he brushed by. Really Charles, I am married now, I don't go feeling strange gentlemen. Or even not strange gentlmen. You are just going to get me in trouble with James now, and I am on my best promise to be careful of all I do." The burnt carpet suddenly got her attention, perhaps with relevance to her just delivered statement. "Oh dont tell any one I did this will you? Please." A ghost? She edged nearer. Looking about with Charles she saw nothing. "Dont talk about ghosts Charles, I dont like it." The savoyard nodded as to Marriage suiting her, then to make noises of commiseration of Charles own news, though really, even Noni expected her Aunt to get the best side of any deal. "It's not her fault she is so clever." who but Noni would defend Jeanne Marie? "You know it is a game she plays, she just cannot help it. And you are back to where you started now, none the worser." "I love being married." she smiled brightly, "I run my own household, why if I wanted I could set deserts before the main, and light every room of the house until midnight!" Like many a young woman, Mignonette had discovered much liberation upon marriage, while the demands of her husband were rather few. "He is very good to me Charles, Infact, that is why I am here studying, he thinks I went shopping after church. He shall be so happy when he finds out what I've planned for him. Do you want to see?" Was that a creak of floorboard then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 Noni took his words to suggest another meaning. Rather than refute anything, he simply nodded. It could only get worse. Looking at the carpet, Charles sighed. "I cannot tell a falsehood Noni, but I can keep quiet about it and hope that I am not asked." It was the best he could offer under the circumstances. "Speaking of which we should probably leave at once and hope that no one sees us. Do you have a coach waiting? I am happy to escort you to one." It was now dark and Charles feared that Noni might meet with another mishap if left to her own devices. "I am glad he is good to you. You deserve it." Initially, he had not liked Winchester, thinking that he was not worthy of Noni; but, he was beginning to overcome it. If she was happy, that was all that mattered. As they were preparing to leave, a floorboard could be heard to creak. Old buildings could creak without cause but Charles uttered "hello?" Offering his arm, the young officer thought it best to take their leave rapidly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 "Yes, perhaps we ought to quickly leave." She appreciated his pledge of silence, and was quick to agree to the wisdom of leaving, nodding that she had a carriage. "I know you would have been good to me too." she added, and then wished she'd not. "I mean. Well. And, also I think it very well that my Aunt was not successful either, for I have come to feel sorry for Karoline, she seems not to be very happy. I've not seen her smile much, have you? I like to smile very much, and I think a simpler life is the way to do it. Can you see Charles, how much thinking I do? James, well, he likes me to call him my Lord Husband in company, says I am to attend to my thinking, he places great stow in intellect." She was yammering on as they moved to the door, and seemed not to have noticed the creak of board, though she did notice Charles tone of voice as he called out. She moved to take his arm at that, and nervously whispered, "is it the ghost again?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 Offering his arm, Charles sought to leave promptly. "I would have been," he acknowledged. He would have taken care of her but theirs was not a match to be. He needed someone else. He did not give voice to fond remembrances or to her relationship with James because it was not certain that they were alone in the library. "It could be," he replied as he sought to leave. It was not that he was scared; rather the sudden appearance and disappearance was rather disconcerting. Someone or something was playing games with them, or so he speculated. They headed for the exit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 Charles reply was suitably vague. Though she understood an urgency to leave, "but you would look after me, even from ghosts, wouldnt you." She looked back over her shoulder as the exited the doors of the library. Narry a noise nor impediment. She was almost disappointed, nibbling a fingernail she looked askance at Charles, wondering if he was disappointed too. "We could go back in and try again?" then she remembered what Charles had been doing earlier. "Um... why were you saying animal names? Is it some way of tricking ghosts to show themselves? I didn't know what it was." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 "Of course I would," Charles assured her. She seemed to ask in a way that suggested that she was still seeking his protection. She had been rather fond of him once, distraught even that he had been convinced that the Duchess would not entertain his suit. Yet, she was married now, and a mother, so Charles dismissed any idea that Noni was still particularly fond of him. "No no," he assured her about ghosts. It would look bad if he admitted to trying to communicate wth ghosts. "It was preparation for a game," he improvised. "I was trying to remember names of animals I had been researching. Sometimes it helps me remember things when I say them aloud," he lied. Given how simple Noni was, it was so easy to just try and favbricate something. She was so trusting and he could not be proven wrong anyway. "No. let us not go back in." He was not disappointed by the lack of a further encounter. "I think I need to escort you to your carriage. It is getting late. You can tell me about your estate in Wales as we walk." That seemed a safe enough topic as he wondered how he might explain the burned carpet if Mister Potts might catch wind that he might know something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Noni had not realised quite how much Charles had loved her, until on the day of her wedding. While some girls might have been aghast that he tried to stop her marriage, Mignonette was a special type. This little savoyard had a marvelous understanding of the worlds hidden romance. Rather than anger, she was moved. Rather than stamp her foot she forgave. Rather than black him out, she had felt sorry for her old friend. Charles hadn't, and likely still could not, get over the adoration he felt for her. He'd been unable to cope with the thought that she would marry anyone other than himself. Heaven knew he'd done his best - it had been a magnificently grand gesture Charles had made. The stuff of a story book. Sometimes, even now, she wondered if her Aunt (a woman of grand cunning) and he (who continued to see Jeanne-Marie), tried to figure how they could be together. Although she knew that could never happen, for she and James were busy having a happily ever after. "It is such a shame that every story has someone who suffers, and quite often unjustly." Noni expressed, wide eyes upon Charles. It was so poignant. But she couldn't let Charles know she knew, so deflected, "That poor ghost, and so helpful too." With a small smile she moved with him, leaving the library far behind, and telling him a little of her life, but nothing that would upset him too horribly. Heartbreak must be awful. Once at the carriages, she turned and looked at him. She could see the anguish in his eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Whitehurst Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share Posted October 29, 2016 Noni's version of reality was not necessarily in alignment with the rest of those around her. Charles would have been surprised to hear her own assessment of things, had she given voice to them. Yet, she did not. So, he was left to remain ignorant of her views and assume her responses were simply at face value. Charles was not certain about her reference to suffering, so he merely nodded. It was best to be agreeable to ladies in anything a gentleman did not understand. The walk to her carriage was pleasant enough. She seemed to be happy enough and enjoy her place in Wales. It made life easier to accompany ladies that were not in distress. "Yes, most helpful," he admitted about the alleged ghost. As they walked he had just about convinced himself that there was no ghost. Rather, it was some intruder in the library pretending to be Cromwell, for fear of giving his real name. Maybe he was there to steal books, causing Langdon to slow his step briefly as he pondered returning to try and arrest the man, as a precaution. In the end, he convinced himself to disregard the phantom. "Good evening Noni. It was lovely seeing you again. I do hope you have a happy holiday." He was ready to assist her into the carriage and say a final farewell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 "And you too." she replied warmly, "oh, and you shall come to the party I am giving, it shall be so fine." Perhaps shed not yet discussed the guest list with her husband? Or perhaps Dr Winchester had also forgiven Charles. They were very christian people. And so farewells were made, and Noni as was her incline waved out the window to him for rather too long. OOC: & Fin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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