The Ladies of Whittaker

Chapter 10

"What is he doing?" Emma wondered to herself. Henry walked down the hall and she followed after him.  The greying thin man, passed through the kitchen and went down another hallway, the walls littered with paintings, mainly the familial paintings of the McKenzies. After the last one, Henry goes to an empty place where a picture used to be. He pushed against the wall and the door opened. A smile spreads on his lips. He went through the doorway, and Emma followed.  Someone else then followed after her. 

She went down the twisting, winding stairway, his lantern illuminating the way but only faintly. Descending down the last step, she marveled at the huge cellar, with massive arches.  The shelves were filled with various wine bottles. Henry checked the bottles, checking each and everyone of them. She placed them back from the place he took them. Emma hid behind an arch, watching him closely. Henry then moved on and she followed, but so focus she was on Henry, she failed to notice someone in front. 

She crashed head first into the person. Both of them hissed, "Ow!" Emma looked up and her eyes met her father's.

The light of the lantern neared, indicating that henry was coming back and the two ducked behind an arch each. Henry searched, his head turning left and right. Seeing nothing he murmured, "Must have been a rat," and moved on. 

With him gone, James and Emma sighed then looked at each other. "What are you doing here?" Emma demanded. "What are YOU doing here?" He shot back. "What are you doing here?" "What are YOU doing here?" "What are you doing here?" James then groaned. "I'm following him," He said, gesturing to Henry. "Now what are YOU doing here?" He demanded. "The exact reason," She answered. "I didn't expect anyone to be up. You should be asleep," He said. Emma pouted. "I saw the light. I couldn't help it," She said. "You really my daughter. Come on," He beckoned. She obliged. 

Emma and James shadowed the old man, tiptoeing after him. "What is he up to?" She whispered. James took a bottle. "Who knows?" He said. Emma frowned. "Daddy, I don't think Mom would like that you're drinking," She said. "I'm not going to drin-," He then stopped his daughter. Henry, ahead of them, was bent over a section of the floor.  He placed the lantern down beside him in order to see. He slid his fingers into the space of the stony floor and with a grunt, lifted the stone. He managed to dig out more stones and dipped his arm into the hole, there was creaking sound as he opened a trapdoor. Taking his lantern, he descended down. 

"Do you follow, Daddy?" She whispered. "No," He shook his head. "We've seen enough."

They exited the cellar and descending the steps to the top floor to where the bedrooms are. "Daddy, what do we do? Clearly Mr. Cavendish is up to no good," Emma said to her father. James paused on the stairs. "Not yet. We can't call someone guilty before substantial evidence," he explained to her. "That is bullocks and you know it!" Emma spat. "I'm your father, Emma so take my word for it," James said sternly. He flipped the bottle back into his hand. "I'm taking this back into my bedroom. Go back to yours, Emma," He said as he continued to his room. 

Emma sighed and returned to the bedroom. She went into her bed, pulling the covers over her. "Where did you go?" Lynette asked, startling Emma. "Oh! I.....I asked for directions to the bathroom," She lied. Lynette croaked, "Okay," and they girls feel asleep. 

In the morning, they all got ready and went downstairs, gathering at the dinning table.  "Good morning Father/Mr. McKenzie," Emma and the girls greeted. "Good morning," Sir Lloyd bowed. James joined them, yawning. "Mornin'," He said. The girls greeted him with the same enthusiasm. Henry came with some lemonade and poured it into each glass. "I have some news to tell you all. I am going away for sometime," Sir Lloyd announced. 

The girls gasped. "Father, no!" Jo said. He raised his hand, quelling his daughters. "I know the news is unsavory but I have to go on this business," He said. "But father! What if this is what the killer was looking for, for you to leave and then he'll pounce on us," Betty chirped up. Sir Lloyd chuckled. "Don't worry, Detective James will keep you safe," He gestured to the man, currently wolfing down some porridge. He looked up and smiled at them. Doris, Betty and Jo swoon and Emma laughs.  Henry groans, rolling his eyes. 

James notices him and chuckles. "Most unfortunate that you're leaving Sir Lloyd. But not so much as you, Sir Merlin," He sideways glanced at the old butler. "I beg your pardon?" Henry said. "Indeed," he produced the wine bottle from last night, slamming it on the table. "That's from the cellar! How did you-" "Get it? It's easy Henry. You're every dull when it comes to being followed," James said. Henry's jaw clenched in rage. "To lay hands on private property......I will have you arrested for this crime!" He promised. "Oh I'm sure you will. It'll make the police's job much easier to arrest YOU for harboring artificial magics in the cellar," James said, glaring. 

"What?" Sir Lloyd exclaimed.  "This..." James popped the cap. "Is not wine. It is an artificial magic," He said. "See? The "wine" is fizzling," He pointed out. "I'm sorry but what is an artificial magic?" Asked Emma. "It's a type of magic that is made for easy use by humans, and non-wizards and witches. Translation: Illegal," James said triumphantly. "Henry, explain yourself," Sir Lloyd turned to the butler. "It isn't of my doing. I'm not harboring these bottles. One of them maids asked if I'd give them permission to store their magic down there. I agreed to it of course. I assure Sir Lloyd. This has nothing to do with me," he said, his eyes meeting Lynette.

James covered the bottle. "Very well, Sir Merlin. I stand corrected," He extended the bottle to him. Henry took hold of it, but James suddenly tugged at it, pulling him close so that he could whisper into his ear. "You'd better not be lying," He said. Henry pushes away and straightens his coat. "I'm not," he glared. "Let's make sure," James answered. The atmosphere soon became awkward, with there being so much tension. Doris tapped her spoon on an empty glass. "More porridge please. 

A/N: I wonder what was the trapdoor Henry went into. So many questions and so little time.