THE
VALET OF DARKSHIRE MANOR
By
Linda Boltman
The Valet of Darkshire Manor© copyright 2011 Linda Boltman
All rights reserved.
Thank you for downloading this free eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial purposes. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to actual events, locales, or persons, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover design by: David Clish
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THE VALET OF DARKSHIRE MANOR
Edwin spotted them the moment he stepped off the train. Their dress was unusual for the time. The man on the left wore a heavy, black overcoat covering evening attire. He held a finely crafted wooden cane, the silver tip reflecting a soft glow from the station’s lights. The second man, with pasty white skin, was obviously subservient. Their deep, dark eyes locked onto his. They strode forward to greet him in a manner which appeared more businesslike than friendly. Neither smiled.
For a moment, Edwin regretted his decision to come to Darkshire Manor. The advertisement had simply stated, “Wanted – valet for large household. Must love animals.” Desperate for a job, Edwin responded and was immediately accepted. A train ticket arrived within a week for the evening departure to Darkshire the following Friday. There were no further instructions. Now he stood at the train depot, a small satchel in hand, about to be greeted by two very strange men.
“Edwin Thorpe, I presume?” the man with the cane asked. He did not offer a handshake.
“Yes, I’m Edwin Thorpe.”
“Come with me.” The man turned and walked down the long train platform, the heels of his shiny black boots clicking against the wooden planks, the second man just behind him. Edwin followed.
An elegant black carriage awaited them in the deep shadows off to the side of the train station. An older man stepped down from the front of the carriage and opened the door as the three approached. No words were spoken.
Edwin allowed the two men to enter the carriage, then stepped in to sit opposite them. He held the small travel case on his lap. He would send for the rest of his luggage once he made up his mind whether or not to stay. The two men stared directly into his eyes, but neither said a word until the carriage ride was underway.
“Arthur will show you to your room once we arrive at the Manor. You will have a bit of time to freshen up. Dinner will be served promptly at eight o’clock. You will dine with the rest of the servants in the kitchen. I will not require you to begin your duties as my valet until tomorrow afternoon at 4:00. I have a small soirée planned for the evening and will need you to attend to me prior to the event. I trust you will enjoy your time at Darkshire.”
There did not appear to be a request for an answer. Edwin sat in silence the duration of the carriage ride. The dirt road wound through a deep forest and tangled undergrowth before slowly climbing a single-lane dirt road towards Darkshire Manor.
Two huge wooden gates creaked slowly open, allowing the carriage to enter. The courtyard was dimly lit with ornate gas lights, which cast an eerie glow over the smooth tiles. The doorman opened the carriage door and the three men stepped out.
“Arthur will show you to your room,” the man said, nodding towards his companion.
“Very well, sir,” Edwin replied. “May I know by what name I should address you, sir?” Edwin asked.
“My name is Lord Darkshire. My family has owned Darkshire Manor for many centuries. Arthur will tell you anything further that you need to know.”
Arthur stepped forward. “Follow me,” he ordered, turning towards the west wing of the building.
Edwin watched Lord Darkshire ascend the stairs towards the entrance to the Manor. He turned to catch up with Arthur.
They entered a simple wooden, side entrance door. To the left was a large kitchen, with several people preparing food for the next evening’s feast. Arthur picked up a lit candle and moved quietly down a long, narrow hall. Edwin followed him up a flight of stairs. Immediately to the right was the entrance to a small, but cozy bedroom, sparsely furnished with a single bed, a dresser and a washstand.
“This will be your room,” Arthur said, using his candle to light the gas lantern. Arthur turned and left the bedroom without further explanation.
Edwin pondered the lack of communication he had experienced so far and hoped the kitchen staff, at least, would be more hospitable. He unpacked the few items he had brought in the travel case and tested the mattress. It was surprisingly comfortable for a servant’s quarters.
He stood back to survey the small bedroom. A thin line on the wallpaper caught his attention. He drew the lantern closer and ran his finger along the fine line. There appeared to be a hidden panel. He pressed his hand along the wall until a small door sprung open.
Edwin held his lantern high and peered inside the entrance. The door led to a long hallway with a well crafted door at the end. He moved tentatively towards the door. He could hear voices on the other side. Putting the lantern next to his feet, he pressed his ear to the door. One of the voices resembled that of his master’s.
“…appears he will work out. We will see tomorrow night. Are the preparations complete?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well, thank you, Arthur. Now, if my children are ready, we shall go hunting. I shall be down immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
Edwin drew back from the door, picked up the lantern and moved swiftly down the hall towards the door to his room. It wouldn’t do to be found eves dropping on the master before I’ve even begun my duties.
He closed the hidden door, waiting until he heard the click that announced it was latched. He splashed water on his face and hurried down to make the 8:00 p.m. dinner hour.
The kitchen staff was comprised of a small, but friendly group of villagers originally from a town about a day’s drive from the Manor. They greeted Edwin warmly and the butler invited him to sit towards the front of the table, next to the head housekeeper. Just as he was seated, an eerie howl arose from outside the walls. Everyone in the kitchen went silent.
“He’s gone hunting,” the head housekeeper whispered.
“We already have the meat prepared for tomorrow night,” the lead cook said.
“Well, perhaps he’s just gone for an outing,” the butler replied, casting an eye towards Edwin. “Now everyone back to their meal.”
One by one the staff resumed eating, but not before casting a quick glance towards the outside window. Before long, normal conversation returned. Edwin pressed to discover more about his new master, but little was shared. When they spoke of Lord Darkshire, they spoke in hushed tones. The most Edwin could learn of his new employer was that all of the staff lived at the house and kept to themselves. Dinner fare was comprised of wild game caught within the confines of the woods surrounding the estate. By the end of dinner, he was resigned that all he would need to know about his new job, he would discover when he went on duty the following evening.
Thinking it prudent to get a good night’s sleep before his big day, Edwin took to his bed shortly after dinner. He had a fitful sleep, with res
tless dreams of large, vicious dogs dashing through the forest undergrowth, followed by men in black overcoats slipping between shadows.
He awoke to dogs barking just as the sun began to peek over the horizon. He dressed and went down to the kitchen. The staff had not yet arrived. Two quail lay on the kitchen counter, their necks broken and bodies bloodied. He stared at the mutilated birds.
“I see the master has brought us dinner,” the cook said simply, pushing past Edwin and gathering up the quail.
Edwin admired her expert touch as she chopped off the heads and quickly plucked the feathers. She didn’t look or speak to him while she went about her task of cleaning the game. Other staff members began to filter into the kitchen.
After breakfast, Edwin took the liberty of roaming the immediate grounds. Darkshire Manor was a large estate with the main house spread well across the front entrance. To the back he could see a barn and small shed. A well manicured garden stood to the left of the entryway and to the right, a polished lawn vanished downhill into the trees. Edwin spent several hours wandering the estate. He had the entire day at his leisure and took his time strolling the grounds. After lunch he would look in back of the main house and perhaps walk down into the woods.
He was surprised at how little he saw of the staff outside of the kitchen. Apparently they were busy preparing for the evening’s event.
During the mid-day meal, talk centered on the evening’s soirée. Plans were readied, duties delegated and the excitement rose. Edwin welcomed the opportunity to escape the mayhem within the kitchen for the fresh air of the outdoors. He left through the side door and headed towards the barn. He pulled open the massive wooden doors leading inside.
The interior of the barn was exceedingly dark. The small amount of light that filtered in came through cracks in the barn siding. Edwin waited for his eyes to adjust, then moved slowly towards the center of the large room. Rows of stalls lined either side, most empty with their gates open, but the first housed a magnificent black stallion. As he approached, the horse threw his head back, his nostrils flared and he pawed at the stable floor. Edwin moved away.
He could see a glimmer of activity at the far end of the barn. He moved closer. A groomsman appeared to be feeding the dogs, housed in the nearby stall.
“There ‘ya go, my pretties,” he said, throwing a small rabbit over the top of the stall gate. A feeding frenzy arose from behind the stall door. Edwin moved into view. The groomsman’s head shot up.
“What are you doing here?” he shouted.
“Good day, sir. How do you do? I’m the master’s new valet, Edwin Thorpe,” Edwin said, moving closer and extending his hand.
“I’d stay back if I were you,” the groomsman said, ignoring Edwin’s extended hand. He reached for another rabbit. “At least until the boys get to know ‘ya better.”
Two dogs eyed Edwin hungrily through the slats of the stall gate. Their lips were parted, showing sharp, white teeth, their dark eyes blazed. Foam mixed with blood dripped from the sides of their mouths. Edwin stepped back sharply.
“Is there a proper way to be introduced to them?” he said, his voice quivering.
“You let them take the lead,” the groomsman replied. “They’ll let you know when they like ‘ya enough. But if I were you, I’d make it a point to be back in the house before the sun sets. The boys like to hunt at night. Wouldn’t want you to be one of their prey,” he said, his lips breaking into a ghoulish grin.
“Yes, of course,” Edwin replied, taking another step back. I suppose it’s fortunate I’m thinking of walking the woods while it’s light,” he added, hoping to sound cordial.
“Not too many people venture into those woods,” the groomsman replied. “Find themselves easily lost. Impenetrable undergrowth, a dense forest and a lot of creatures you wouldn’t want to meet. Would consider staying a bit closer to home, if I were you.” Throughout the entire conversation, the man had not looked directly at Edwin.
“Yes, I see. Very well, then,” Edwin stammered. “Well, perhaps I had better be going. It was nice to meet you Mr. …” he paused, waiting for the groomsman to reply.
“Stephan,” the man answered, still not looking up.
“Stephan. Yes, well, nice meeting you, Stephan,” Edwin said, moving back into the shadows. He hurried away from the strange man and the dogs, pulled open the barn doors and stepped out into the sunlight. It has been a most unusual first day.