Dead...Or So We Thought

Chapter One

After walking home from church and removing her cloak, Elizabeth strode into the kitchen.

"Hello, Lizzy.  Has confession ended yet?" Jane asked as she strolled in.

"No, there were two or three others behind me; if you hurry, you should make it.  No here, take my cloak, it's cold in the church," Lizzy said, handing her sister her cloak as Jane rushed past to reach the door.

"Thank you, Lizzy.  Don't worry, I shan't be gone long.  If Charles asks, be sure to tell him where I've gone," Jane threw over her shoulder as she hurried out the door.

Chuckling to herself at the irony of a vampire dashing to confession, Lizzy walked to the main hall.  Looking up the stairwell, she saw her niece scurrying down the stairs.

"Aunt Lizzy, Mrs. Garison says I have to go to bed, but I don't want to," Victoria said as she jumped into Lizzy's waiting arms.

"Well, little one, Mrs. Garison is right." Setting the child down, Lizzy continued.  "But, if you get ready and are in bed by the time I come upstairs, I'll tell you a story.  How does that sound?  Can you do that for me?"

"Alright!" Victoria scrambled up the stairs, grabbing Mrs. Garison's hand as she passed and began to drag her to her room.

"Thank you, Mrs. Darcy, thank you!" Mrs. Garison said heartfully as she allowed her charge to drag her down the hall.

"Of course, Mrs. Garison, "Lizzy said with a smile.  She knew how difficult Victoria could be when she didn't want to go to bed.

Still smiling, Lizzy made her way to the parlor.  Upon reaching her destination, she informed Charles that Jane had gone to confession and should return in roughly half an hour.

"Thank you, Lizzy.  By the way, what did you promise Vicky if she got ready for bed?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, just a story if she was ready by the time I went upstairs," Lizzy said with a little laugh.

"Of course.  Don't know why I didn't think of that myself.  She always loves a good story.  Also, Lizzy, a letter came for you while you were gone.  I put it on your desk," he said.

"Thank you.  If you'll excuse me, Vicky should be ready by now and I believe I'm going to retire early myself.  Good night, Charles." Lizzy said with a small curtsy as she quit the room.

"Hullo, Aunt Lizzy," came a voice to Lizzy's left as she closed the parlor door behind her.

"Goodness, Johnathon!  I had no idea you were there," Lizzy exclaimed.  "Come now, surely it's time for you to get ready for bed."

"Oh, alright, I suppose.  Might I escort you to my sister's room?"  he asked gallantly, holding out his arm.  Faintly, they heard Charles laughing from inside the parlor.

"Of course, Johnathon,"  Elizabeth said as she took his arm and allowed him to lead her up the stairwell.  "You are so much like your uncle, always creeping up silently, and so proper.  A perfect gentleman, exactly what we need nowadays."

"Thank you, Aunt Lizzy.  If you don't mind me asking, what happened to Uncle Darcy?  You so rarely ever talk about him," Johnathon said.

"Your Uncle Darcy go ran over by a carriage, I'm afraid.  It was so sudden.  One moment the carriage was no where in sight, the next instant it was right on top of him,"  Elizabeth said sadly.  "If you'll excuse me, we've arrived at your sister's room," she continued, curtsying to her nephew after pulling her hand from its place on his arm.