The Haunted Heir

1

A girl of 18 years stepped down from a horse-drawn carriage. Her long white dress gently swayed as she held onto a woven hat that protected her long black hair from the midday breeze. She gazed at a two-story stone building in front of her.

"Miss, is this the place?" asked the carriage driver.

Victoria double-checked the paper in her hand before nodding with a slight smile. "Yes, it is, sir. You can unload the luggage."

The driver complied. Victoria waited as he removed her belongings. She inhaled in the forest scent and listened to the echoing caws of crows. Mansion Ravenwood is a fitting name.

Victoria made her way to the front door and knocked. Three minutes passed before the door opened, revealing a friendly woman in her 60s.

"Miss... Victoria? Welcome to Ravenwood. I'm Margareth, the housekeeper. Let me help with your luggage."

"Thank you, Ms," replied Victoria. She paid the driver and lifted one of her two suitcases.

"Is this all, Miss?" Margareth glanced at the now empty carriage.

"Yes, just this." There was no hint of embarrassment on the young girl's face. She had been self-reliant for quite some time and took pride in her independence.

The elderly housekeeper smiled before leading her inside the mansion. "Alright, Miss, follow me."

*****
The smell of the old house filled Victoria's nose as she looked around. Tattered dark curtains covered the dusty windows, and the wooden furniture looked weathered.

"I didn't expect Lord William to leave this place to you."

Margareth's words interrupted Victoria's thoughts. The girl continued to follow the housekeeper, replying somewhat awkwardly, "I was surprised too; I didn't even know him."

Margareth paused. She turned and chuckled softly. "Lord William was known for his eccentricity. He had no friends, as far as I know."

"Oh, I see..." Victoria's gaze momentarily rested on a giant portrait of an elderly man in lavish attire hanging on the staircase wall before she asked, "Is he Lord William?"

"Yes, that's him, Miss." Margareth continued up the stairs. "They found him dead at the spa. It was quite a shock when we learned about the contents of his will. Truly surprising."

Victoria didn't comment. She was just as surprised by the letter she received. However, her lawyer assured her that the will was legally binding, and for an orphan who had supported herself by tutoring noble children, it was an unexpected stroke of luck.

"Please, Miss." Margareth opened the master bedroom on the second floor and entered first.
Again, Victoria was taken aback by what she saw. She entered the spacious room and observed the interior. A king-sized bed was in the center, a fireplace on one side, and a wooden wardrobe filled with old books on the other.

Victoria walked over to the wardrobe. Her eyes twinkled as she recognized some book titles on its shelves. She picked up one of the books and opened it.

The musty smell made her cough, but she continued reading. The printed ink had faded a bit, but it was still legible.

"If you enjoy reading, Miss, Lord William had a collection of novels in his library. You can find it on the ground floor near his office."

"Really? Thank you for the information," Victoria cheerfully said. Reading was one of her hobbies, and it seemed that the late Lord William shared the same passion.

"Alright, I'll leave you now." Margareth headed for the door. She was about to leave when she said, "Dinner at six. Do you have any allergies, Miss?"

"No, I can eat anything," Victoria smiled. "Thank you for your concern."