ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 4- Secrets best never shared.

     Tom was waiting for me at the top of the spiraled stairs as I reached the top, his face serious and thinking as I walked next to him and allowed him to take my arm. He led me through all the corridors again. The candles the only source of light now that the sun was setting on London, making the house look gothic and dark with its interior. We turned a corner and the doors to the dining room came into view. The darkness of them reflected the candlelight and made the flicker of the flame dance with that grace a ballerina could only acquire. I let go of his arm as he walked in front for the door, his posture tall and confident as he opened it and walked inside. I followed and walked through the doors into the dining room. Like the rest of the house, the room was furnished and designed for far grander guests then myself. The curtains were drawn and heavy against the window. The colour a vivid black that made the room seem more enclosed. The dining table took up the room; made from oak that Edmond had said was carved in India. Its matching red velvet chairs where tall and strong against the wooden floors and stone fireplace. Everything worked together like an orchestra, apart they would still have been beautiful but never as impressive as when it all comes together. The table was set at the far end for the three of us, Edmond sitting at the head holding up a newspaper and leaning to the side of the huge chair. As we walked inside he lowered it down and peered at us. His smile forming in his face again and making me feel welcome. He folded it and set it beside him before standing up and holding his posture up tall. Like father, like son.

"Take a seat you two. I hope you're hungry, cooks been making a feast fit for an army" he laughed and grinned even more, making the lines on his face stand out and giving him a gentler nature in appearance. I walked over to the left side of the table and took a seat. Tom taking the one opposite and finally Edmond settling back into his. We sat there for what seemed like a couple of seconds before the doors opened again. Charlotte, the head cook came striding in. She was a little over 5ft 3 and must have been in her forties with the slight hints of age creeping into her strong face. She carried in the food on a kitchen kart that was steaming with plates of food. The smell hit me before I could identify what it was. She placed the hot plates in front of us and the smell of the chicken sent my stomach growling with a hunger I didn't realize I had until now. Potatoes, cabbage, carrots and stuffing filled the rest of the plate as I looked up to see Edmond and Tom both admiring the food as I was. Charlotte was the best cook I knew. The moment she closed the doors we had our mouth full and furiously chewing, silence filling the room as we ate and enjoyed.