They Have Always Lived In The Castle

Chapter Two

"She's brought someone else."  Merricat comes in, shock horror all over her face as Helen, a friend of the late Mrs Blackwood rolls up the driveway in Mr Clarkes car. "Are you frightened?"

"She'll be alright, won't you Constance." 

"I'll send them away." 

"Oh sweet Merricat, you are a wonderful sister, I believe you are the truest protector of your dear sister but I am certain, today is a good day." You pat her on the head "Now, answer the door." You motion and she does, in her odd and abrasive manner. It had taken a while for you to become her confidant and to gain her trust, but as soon as you found out what made her tick, you were in. 

"Tea?" Constance asks pouring five cup as you all sit round the small ornate table in one of the many rooms in the house. Large glass garden facing windows, it was rather lovely. 

"The garden looks beautiful, Constance." Helen remarks, trying to make conversation, doing her best to appear as the glorious socialite she is. It was her mission to bring the young Blackwood girl into society, it would be her crowning moment to once again be involved with such a family. 

"Tell Constance about the money raised at the Friends of Miss Porter's Iris Contest."

"Six hundred dollars!" Lucille, the friend Helen had brought with her was already proving an imbecile but potentially quite useful one. 

"An iris contest this early?" Constance was shocked at the situation. 

"Adrian Whittle won with her plum iris, but you could have beat her to a pulp with your Night Ruler, Constance.....You're missing so much." She coos softly her eyes flicking to come family photos, your mother and I were..." She sniffles a sob " You have a right to be happy. Come back to the world, dear." At this to your utter delight, Merricat stands, making a scene. 

"We've forgotten the milk..." you motion to Merricat as if that's what the two of you had been talking about while the others were lost in flower conversations. 

"I mean, not too much at first." 

"That would look odd." You agree, eyes on Constance as she seems a little confused. The women both talk around her as you hear a clattering in the kitchen. As if by magic the sound snaps Constance out of her confusion. 

"I'll think about it."

 "No one will come here. They're too afraid." You say as Mary walks back into the room, a new milk jug you notice.

"Good heavens, Y/N, I can't believe you of all people are listening to their gossip! You know this family as well as I do." She scoffs, flapping a gloved had at you with a worried laugh. 

"People will gossip, no matter what..." You raise a brow, sipping your drink. Your comments giving Mary the confidence to join in. 

"Father used to say the townspeople were lazy animals. Trash... He said if they only worked a little harder they could have a castle too, and then they could grow things like stores and roads and beautiful gardens."

"Oh nonsense Merricat, do you really suppose people are afraid to visit here?" Helen laughs awkwardly. 

"Afraid to visit here?" On cue Julian pushes his wheelchair though the door "My niece was
acquitted of murder. There could be no possible danger in visiting here now." He comments as he comes to a stop next to a now very intrigued Lucille. "Julian Blackwood."

"Hello. Lucille Wright." She shakes his hand, already blushing a little.

"Hello, Julian" Helen is less impressed.

"Though one could say there's danger everywhere. Danger of poison, certainly. My niece, Constance,  could tell you of the most unlikely of perils, garden plants
more deadly than snakes, and simple herbs that slash like knives through the lining of your belly, madam."

"That's all been forgotten.... No one ever thinks about it anymore." Helen tries to interject but Julian is on a roll. 

"A most fascinating case, one of the true genuine mysteries of our time, of my... time, particularly. And I survived to tell the story."

"I followed the trial" Lucille says excitedly as she looks up from her chair at Julian. 

"There is such a thing as good taste." Helen says with gritted teeth. 

"Taste, madam? Have you ever tasted arsenic?"