grail of death and clockwork.

Chapter V

Dakoda stretches her arms up with a yawn as she strolls into her dressing room, her tired eyes lazily glancing over each gown as she decides what to wear. Eventually, her gaze falls on an elegant vermillion gown with a black dyed leather corset and a small black top hat with a red band. She takes the gown off the rack and picks up a pair of her plain but elegant black boots. Taking her time she puts the outfit on.

Leaving the dressing room she sits at her vanity table and using the mirror Fixes her hair to be pinned up immaculately under the small hat accessory. Glancing down At the tabletop she picks up the locket.

Looping the chain over her head she lets it fall down into place around her neck, she applies a light makeup then stands to start her day. As an afterthought, she picks up her pocket watch and leaves to go to the dining room for breakfast.

As she is Walking to the dining room her heels click against the hardwood floors and cause an echo to ring through in the large empty house.

She keeps her head down and gaze trained on the floor as she enters the dining room out of fear that she might look up and be forced to remember Virgil.

"Good morning, Lady Cipher, Shall you be wanting your guests inside today or out in the gardens?" Menachem inquires serving Dakoda breakfast. Glancing up that the large window Dakoda bites her lip

"inside, unless I decide otherwise later we shall host the party indoors," Dakoda instructs lifting the cup to her lips to take a sip.

"What flavour tea is this?" She recoils roughly putting the cup back down on its saucer causing some of it to slosh over the rim of the cup and onto the saucer.

"I was told It is an English breakfast which was gifted to you by Detective Inspector Keeland before he left yesterday, it would seem he has not forgotten what today is either," Menachem offers as she bows slightly.

"Is it not to your satisfaction, Lady Cipher?" She enquiries

"heavens no, it is far too sweet made like this and the tea leaves are far too weak, it taste like I am drinking mildly warmed dishwater, Very clearly not English breakfast, more likely to be a bohea tea!" Dakoda huffs turning her nose up in disgust at the cup.

"The numpty sod probably got horrible, cheap tea on purpose," she pouts pushing the cup away.

"Take it away and throw the putrid stuff out, all of it, I would not dare even let my workers drink that vile stuff" Dakoda instructs picking up her cutlery and starts to eat,

"Affirmative, Lady Cipher," Menachem chimes lifting the tea set back onto its silver tray and striding out of the room with it.

The room -now silent save for the delicate clinking of silverware hitting her plate- felt ten times bigger now that She was alone. Pulling out her pocket watch she checks the time.

Menachem enters and bows,

"Your guests will be arriving soon, Lady Cipher, Will you be satisfied in that attire or shall I retrieve one of your ball gowns from storage?" the main queries

"This shall be satisfactory, If I were to change it would be into an attire fit for a funeral," Dakoda jokes pushing her chair back and standing, she moves to walk past Menachem

"I shall be waiting for my guests in the ballroom, I suspect everything is how it should be?" she says as she walks past.

"Affirmative, Lady Cipher," The mechanical maid bows.

"Good, Once all the guests have left we are to go down to the workshop, my watch is in need of repair and one of my employers is in need of a disciplinary chat about the quality of work which we produce.