Dead Man's Bells

The Gardener's Wife

Rachel Brys was completely embarrassed at her lack of composure and apologized profusely to the poor woman she had just run over. Her morning had started off badly already, with the argument she had with her husband. He was incessantly badgering her about what she did all day, who she was seeing and where she was going. It drove her crazy these interrogations, but she couldn't blame him for he wasn't wrong. About eight months ago they were struggling financially, so she decided she would get a job waitressing. Conveniently, The Swan's Cross tavern was low staffed and happily took her in due to her previous experience. The tavern was filled with wealthy self engrossed middle aged business men, who tipped poorly but expected nothing less than to be treated like a king. One night, about three quarters into her shift on a Friday night, a man seemingly indifferent to the others, came into the bar and sat at one of the back tables. However, when she went to take his order, he was kind, charming and to Rachel's utter surprise flirtatious. He would come in every evening and compliment her and notice little details about her, like a hair cut or a new blouse. This sent her head spinning and her stomach burning with fluttering butterflies. She'd usually blush or giggle nervously, these things he pointed out her husband would not notice, and it made her feel special. After a couple of weeks she started to realize that it was only she, that he'd speak to in such a manner and soon he began to request to have her and his waitress, his excuse; 'She is the best'. This harmless flirting quickly escalated, once he invited her out for an evening, to go to one of the most respected and highest quality restaurants. Flattered and without a second thought she agreed, but what unnerved her especially was that she was practically cheating and she didn't feel guilty.

He was the perfect gentleman. He was gracious, pulled out the chair for her, let her pick the most expensive things on the menu and was a swift and witty conversationalist, never allowing there to be a dull moment. He consistently complimented her; he said her dress was exquisite, he said she was the most beautiful lady in the room, he said she was radiant like a mid owning sun. All this filled her with delight and excitement, she felt like the scullery maid saved by the price charming. She couldn't believe her luck.
On the second outing he bought her a silk shawl, so fine and visibly expensive and on the next to come he bought her necklaces, bracelets and dresses. This, she thought, was the lifestyle she craved.
She did not know that the charming and illustrious man had a wife already, and that she was currently standing in his garden.

The Governess

After a few weeks in the cold house, Miss Peridot had solidified her relationships with the family. The children had a new affinity towards her, and were surprisingly conversational. They relished in the days in which they could talk to her, as if she were the mother they never had. Miss Peridot, also found an alliance with Adeline, Mrs Craig-Hart's mother-in-law, and Mr Craig-Hart's mother. She was a sharp witted old lady, who spent her days in the living room, staring out of the vast windows, her eyes glazed over as she transported herself elsewhere. Miss Peridot approached Adeline, on the second day of her stay and they instantly bonded over Charles Dickens novels. Mr Craig-Hart's brother, Uncle Rupert the children called him, liked to contribute his firm opinions at dinner and had a quite an appetite for cider and wine. He was much like his brother, but perhaps with a fuller head of hair. It was clear that Rupert had some protracted resentment for his brother, the successful business and family man, in comparison to him, the single, unattached, drunk. Often when he was alone with Miss Peridot he would make a point to deride some of his brother's achievements. He frequently confided in Miss Peridot his insecurities, and she would listen intently and sometimes suggested some ways in which he could better his life. 

There were few staff around the house: the head maid, Kathrine, who had worked for this family since the Craig-Hart brothers were children, three other maids, who did laundry and helped the cook. Miss Peridot's days off came on Sundays and, as she expected, she did not know how to fill her time. She was not one for sitting around hours on end doing embroidery, the first time she tried it she was 14, her mother had tried to teach her. Miss Peridot's mother was a kind woman who, coming from a less fortunate family to the one she married into, had an unnerving devotion to prove to the higher class how perfectly suited she was to be married into such a precedented family. The fear of never being accepted made her mother erratic and over time this constant insecurity was what drove Miss Peridot away from her family and she soon became engaged to the man she fell in love with at 16, a man she thought would lead her to a life of peace and fortune. Clearly her judgement was deluded. Miss Peridot brushed the memory of her mother from her mind and made her way to the exit of the house. She had finally decided to go into town and in case the family needed her and she announced it to them at dinner last night, whilst some maids were taking away the plates. As she headed for the big oak doors she spotted Katherine looking distressed.