The clockwork dormouse

Chapter 3

I have updated in sooooooooooooooo long but really i only have my laziness to blame ( and moving house, but mostly my laziness!) so i will try to write more frequently but i can't promise anything. Anyway hope you enjoy! :)

 

“Uh, yes Ms Ackaman, I would appreciated that” Abila saw her smile and turn away from her, placing the dustpan and brush on the floor next to the bin. She reached up into one of the cabinets which were screwed into the wall and pulled out a new plate.

“A spot of tea Ms De Ansa?” opening a box of scones as she spoke.

“Why yes, do have a cup yourself, mind you” It would be nice to have a warm beverage, after all Jack Frost was up to his usual mischief at this time of year. She watched Isabella pick up the plate and the butter as well as a knife.

“Here you go Ms De Ansa, I’ll have your tea done in a jiffy” She turned around again but headed to a cutlery draw and pulled out a box of matches, before heading over to the stove.

Abila looked at the scone. It was slightly golden and smelt wonderful. Picking up the knife that was also silver like the coin (she still assumed the coin she’d been watching earlier had been silver) and the scone in the other she cut it through the middle before applying the ‘right’ amount of butter. Some people could be so reckless with the appliance of butter to ones scones, they either put too little or too much. Kalem was one of those shameful people who put too much on normally resulting in butter and crumbs by his mouth.

Placing the two halves of scone back together, Abila began to inspect the pattern around her plate. Abila knew that they used chemicals to paint ceramics that changed colour under heat, but she wasn’t sure what mixture would create a dark maroon like this, it almost looked like blood. The design was intricate and almost looked like animals fighting, but she did believe at one point the shapes looked like an angels striking down a flowers of some kind.

There was a soft clank and Abila looked up.  Two cups and saucers with matching red border had been placed on the table by Isabella who was currently pulling out the chair opposite Abila. The tea’s citrus like aroma caught Abila off guard as she added a sugar to the amber liquid.

“Earl Grey, I presume Ms Ackaman” Sipping the liquid so that it didn’t burn her lips or dripping on to her skirt.

“Ah, yes. It was my late husband’s preference to all the other teas, God bless his soul. But Ms De Ansa I’d like to call you up on one of your previous points…”

Abila placed her cup down on its saucer and rested her head on her palm “Yes, which one”

“Well it all seems very unusual this doesn’t this. My little Lulu dead, it’s very unlikely really!  She’s a bright girl and wouldn’t have been so easily snatched away; we had a fight about her results in school and how she didn’t seem to try hard enough! Heck, she even said she wanted to be a librarian, which no daughter of mine will be! Books put weird beliefs in your head you know; anyway like you said before about never really trusting what you hear, I was wondering if you could do a more detailed sear-”

The chair squealed on the tiles as Abila stood up and push the chair back, “Ms Ackaman I know this is a troubling time for you, your husband died last year and your oldest daughter left for New York. But nether-the-less you must come to turns with that your daughter is unmistakably dead! Now I am sorry to leave on such bad terms but I cannot enjoy tea whilst being quested over my ability to do my job!”

The door slammed behind her sending dust and splinters into the air. How dare she question the skills of my job! Was all Abila could think as her shoes cracked and clopped on the stone cobbles. Yes she was in grief but could she not be the littlest bit less rude! First it was the ‘are you sure you did this right?’ then it was the ‘why do we even need detectives?’ It had happened to a Jacob Norse down in Cheshire where he’d worked before hand. He swears there was a mob and his desk got thrown out of a window.

Irritated and oblivious to Ms Ackaman’s pain, Abila clopped off to the residence of the Moscort’s who were a family of five or four now.

It’s not very much but I promise I'll try!!!!! Also I’m having a problem, i want the place where Abila and everyone lives to be in England but I can't think of the right place... so any chance you could give me a few ideas?? It needs to be large and somewhat close together(building wise) to create the small alley ways, London’s a possibility but it just seems rather too large, if no one can think of any place I’ll just have it as an Imaginary  town... So maybe a few name ideas? i also don't know what time period this is based in but i won’t bother about that...

 

ANYWAY Librarians are awesome and if you like this story please vote as it really encourages me and shows that you like the story!!! :)