Homicidal Affairs

Ⅰ

The news was devastating to the whole family. Florence was adored by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. I didn't understand how it could have happened. It seems she was walking from an evening party, hand in hand with her newlywed husband, but all of a sudden she clenches her heart and drops dead on the concrete floors. I read over the letter thousands of times, desperately trying to find an answer to what caused it. However, every time I read it I felt more confused than before.

There was one thing I did understand, and that was the fact that I would have to marry Florence's now widowed husband, Chester. He came from a very wealthy family in England and that was why my elder sister had to marry him. Our family was struggling to get by financially since my father had acquired a gambling addiction. We nearly lost everything, until Chester's family entered our lives. They offered to support us in exchange for a woman to wed their eldest son. You would think I would've been grateful, but I wasn't. I was wary of this exchange since my sister would be alone in a foreign land.

She never wrote to me, in fact, she never wrote to anyone which I found peculiar because one thing we all knew Florence loved doing was writing and reading. Books were always considered her "best friends" and she would refuse to part without a quill and her diary. Whenever she used to take trips to Virginia, she'd write a letter so detailed that I felt like I was right next to her, smelling the warm Virginian breeze. I was worried about her. She was my favourite sibling after all, and I loved her platonically.

There were things I envied about Florence, like her wavy hair and blemish-free face. I envied the way her smile could warm a stranger's heart and everyone wanted to be in proximity of her. Unlike me, she had a mindset of "the grass is greener on the other side" and "the glass is half full." I wished to be like her, no, I wished to be her and now I kind of was.

I said my goodbyes to my family as I boarded the ship taking me across the Atlantic.

"Don't forget about us Annie," my younger sister Lucy cried.

Tears formed in my eyes as I replied, "I could never." I then turned to my mother and father and gave them a huge hug, "I love you all so much."

"We love you too," my family said in unison.

The waves below wafted a cold gush of air in my face as I admired my reflection in the clear waters of the ocean. This was a newly opened chapter in my life and I wondered what it had in store. I looked up at the blue, sunny sky and thought of my sister once again. "I hope you're doing alright up there Flo, we miss you," I said to myself whilst holding back tears.

"Are you alright miss?" A woman asked from beside me. She looked in her mid-50s with a caring smile and she had a distinctly British accent.

I fiddled with my dress slightly, "I'm fine, thank you for asking."

The woman placed her hand on my shoulder. "Travelling abroad alone is challenging, I get it, but don't let this stop you from making the most of England my dear," she said before walking to the other side of the ship.

Her words were kind and lifted my spirits. She was right, although my sister had passed this was a new leaf for me to turn over and I shouldn't let her death hold me back. Except it would.

Once I finally reached the port, a fancy carriage was awaiting my arrival. The driver greeted me with a kiss on my palm and opened the door to let me inside. Upon reaching the estate, butterflies settled in my stomach. This was my first time meeting my in-laws and considering how wealthy they were, I was incredibly nervous.

When I lay eyes upon the residence, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. The hedges were nearly as tall as me and in the yard stood an elegant fountain. The manor itself was extraordinary and I could already imagine myself getting lost in it. 

A parade of house staff greeted me at the door and I felt like true royalty. I stepped out of the carriage and made my way inside the building where I was met with my new husband and his family.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Sue-Anne," Chester's mother, Lady Ackerbridge remarked. "We have heard many wonderful tales about you from your sister."

I curtsied and replied, "I hope only good ones."

Lady Ackerbridge burst out with laughter. "Her sense of humour is splendid," she turned back to me, "These are my sons, Chester and Eugene." The men smiled and Chester kissed my palm. "Along with my daughter Martha." Instead of smiling, Martha shot me a deadly glance. "I hope we can all be the best of acquaintances, we will be your family after all."

I grinned, "Yes you will be," but in the back of my mind, I had a bad feeling about this, and soon I'd learn that I should've listened to that feeling.

A maid named Gertrude showed me to the room I'd be staying in until my wedding night.

"It's splendid, thank you."

"My pleasure," she replies, but something about her feels on edge.

I whisper, "are you alright?" and she closes the door slightly.

"I'm not supposed to be saying this but please do not pry into things that you are not supposed to ma'am, it wouldn't be smart."

"What do you me-"

A voice interrupts me, "Gertrude, can you help me with my corset."

"Coming!" she calls back. Yet, as she leaves, she gives me a desperate look. Her eyes warn me of the danger that will come if I let my curiosity rampage. I never saw Gertrude again after that encounter.

Once she left, I began to look through the drawers but they were all empty. What could she be trying to protect me from? Then I noticed a piece of paper tucked inside a crack on a mirror, I picked it up and examined its contents. It read:

I'm sorry this explanation couldn't be written simply but I can't risk it falling into the wrong hands. To put it short here, I know there are dangerous things happening in this manor and I wish to uncover them. If things don't go as planned, I hope my curious sister puts that mind of hers to good use.

-F

This confirmed all my suspicions. Perhaps my sister had gotten too close to the truth, and foul-play entered the equation. As I stared in disbelief at my discovery, footsteps approached from the staircase. I quickly tucked the note in my pocket and found my stepbrother Eugene looking at me from the doorframe.

"I was wondering if you'd accompany me for a walk of the grounds?"

I exhaled and removed my hand from my pocket, "I'd be delighted." 

That was too close.