Mysterious Seduction

X. An Invitation

The old man said Byron Glocheshire came from somewhere not quite far.

He told Ellie that the man was ambitious and that he was after her estate to utilize it for his illegal activities.

"He is the enemy of our nation," he had told her.

What could a man want from an old mansion? There were others more suitable for what he intended to do, for sure.

Byron Glocheshire accepted her invitation to remain with some other guests for a long weekend. They would have games the entire day and parties every night.

She gave him one of her best rooms.

This would be a fun weekend.

*****

The Town Herald published another article written by one of its renowned writers, praising Above and Below. Apart from claiming that both and the play were written in perfection, it also praised the play's main actors, Stella Marie and Jordan Smith. It discussed the history of both actors.

Stella had been playing small roles in previous plays, but Above and Below was her first major one and it showcased her great talent. As the writer claimed it, Stella Marie brought out the best of the play and the play bore the Town an amazing, promising actress.

As to Jordan Smith, his name was as famous as many lords around the Town. Once an actor who was at the top of his career, Jordan fell as fast as he rose merely a few years past. He began to disobey orders from directors, often changing lines and scenes on the spot—and most often ruin them—until eventually no one would want to take him in. He was amongst the Town's greatest disappointments, but now he was back and the townspeople were gladly giving him a chance. He had not merely been acting his best, he was also delivering his lines in such ways that made men frown with envy and women swoon with dreamy sighs.

Apart from the play, the writer also gave credit to the amazing magical effects of lights and mirrors. As much as he was astonished, he was also disappointed that the play's director had remained anonymous. None of the crew or actors would dare slip the identity. Jordan Smith even once claimed that he would rather have his fame be taken away from him again than betray P. Wallace, the only name the writer-director was known for.

The play did not merely give the townspeople a glimpse of what might be above, but it also brought to life the stage itself with the genius tricks that only an equally genius mind and talent could pull off.

Yet, despite the article, Samuel remained indignant that the play was naught but an impossible love story being sold to dreamers and that he had seen other far more superior romantic plays.

In fact, it was during their picnic that he promised Emma to take her to one.

As Lindsay ran around the grassy ground in the woods, Samuel told her, "Below the Stairs has a more realistic story line, Em. You ought to see it. It shows the contrast of our realities—of a servant and her master. It stirs questions of how things would be so different if social status is nonexistent."

Victoria excused herself from the picnic to run after her daughter.

"The love story between the two main characters is much more relatable as well. No fancy lights and dramatic words. They are real."

"I heard they did not end up together, Sam," Emma said with a chuckle. "We women want our love stories to end happily."

"Above and Below did not offer such happy ending."