How deep is your love: 'What ifs'

Request 1

Chapter 1

Prompt: What if Heather didn't kill Astrid's old fiance?
Suggested by RibbonTheWolfDemon

Warnings! Possible character deaths.

Pairings: Astrid/OC

AN: This chapter contains excerpts from chapter 15 of How deep is your love.

1863 - Somewhere in Essex

"Why did we have to come out to this drab place again?" Heather asked Astrid as the ladies, dressed in their petticoats and shawls walked through the Highstreet. It was Fall now in England and bare trees displayed their branches waiting for new leaves to sprout. The brown and orange leaves blew past them on the sidewalk as a cold gust of air had the ladies pull their shawls tighter.

"Because it was you who wanted to send a letter to your brother." Astrid argued. "And you know how far the post office is. Leaving a lady to travel such a distance unaccompanied is just not done." She added in a posh voice that caused Heather's brow to twitch.

"Why is this era so repressed?" Heather muttered. "An unaccompanied woman eliciting such a scandal." She laughed but kept her voice down as there were still people on the street. They would surely think her mad and dump her in an asylum if they heard her. Sure she could escape by flying through the bars but still, she was a lazy vampire during this time of year and it would be too much trouble. "But what I meant was why did we come back to this island?"

"I always found the rural countryside to be beautiful." Astrid told her as she hailed a horse-drawn cab. "Besides didn't we live in Ireland for a while as well?"

"And that's where I found out how much I hated the cold." Heather grumbled as they stepped into the carriage. "At least the manor is far from town that the people here don't ask too many questions. They are just happy about the extra labor we provided when renovating it."

"It was quite a steal for a manor that big." Astrid laughed.

"That's because it's situated right next to a graveyard!" Heather bluntly stated. No matter where they went, people would always be superstitious.

The doorbell rang a few days later and when Astrid answered the door she was greeted with the sight of neatly combed and slicked back red hair that was attached to a handsome man. "Morning miss. I hope I'm not disturbing you on this fine day." The man said as he introduced himself as Hendrik Murray, an investigator from London. "Pardon me Miss Astrid but are you the owner of this estate?" The man asked after Astrid had introduced herself.

"Astrid, who is at the door?" Heather's voice could be heard as she came down the stairs and then laid eyes on Hendrik.

"Miss" Hendrik greeted her equally.

"Heather, this is Inspector Murray." Astrid introduced. "He seems to be in search of something."

"Well invite the man in then." Heather stated. "We always have time for the local constabulary. I will go put on some tea."

"My friend is slightly forceful." Astrid mumbled as she stepped aside and bid Hendrik to enter. "But please do join us for some tea."

The man nodded as Astrid led the way to the living room where a fire burned warmly in the hearth. Heather appeared within a few minutes with a tea set on a tray.

"Forgive me if this might sound rude but are you ladies the only occupants of this house?" Hendrik asked. Astrid and Heather looked at each other before saying "We are."

"And have you ladies seen anything suspicious around these parts at night?"

"I can't say that we have." Heather answered as they all sipped their tea.