Murder at Griffidonce Manor

Chapter 2 The Party Starts

Miss Griffidonce and The Butler walked down the stairs and headed towards the Billiard Room. As they went down the hall; the rain began to hit the window harder. The Butler opened the door and everyone abruptly greeted Miss Griffidonce.
"Hello Miss Griffidonce! Thank you for inviting us; we are extremely grateful to be invited." said Mr. Graves.
"Well, everyone here is one of my closest friends; I am honored that you came." replied Miss Griffidonce.
"Now for dinner we have lightly poached Salmon accompanied by a delicate mint salad, and for dessert I can offer rum raisin apple pie, chocolate cake, or a lemon soufflé glaze. You may choose after dinner." The Butler said,"Now, if you would please follow me to the Dining Hall."
"Alright," everyone said.
As they walked towards the Dining Hall, everyone was disappointed that it rained on Guy Fawkes Day. They planned on shooting fireworks into the night sky and watch the different colors spread like a peacock's feathers.
"You may choose your own seats; Miss Griffidonce sits at the end of the table." said The Butler. As everyone chooses their seats, Miss Griffidonce sits and takes a sip of Riesling, a wine that its dry versions go well with fish, chicken, and pork dishes.
"Dinner will be ready momentarily, for now please enjoy your small bowl of curry." The Butler said.
"Thank you, you are dismissed," said Miss Griffidonce. The Butler bows then enters the kitchen. The Butler said," Is dinner almost ready?" to the cook.
"It's ready," he said as he gave him the tray of Salmon and Salads. The Butler entered the Dining Hall and said," Dinner is served," and gave each one a plate of Poached Salmon and Mint Salad. The Maid took up the curry dishes and put them on The Butlers tray and he carried it into the kitchen.
"This is delicious!" said Mrs. Graves
"I do agree with you Mrs. Graves, it is outstanding," replied Mr. Whitham.
The Butler enters and says," I hope you enjoy your meal; it was prepared the best that the Griffidonces could make it."
"Well the meal is wonderful." said Mr. Graves.
"Why thank you, I try to get the best help i can find." said Miss Griffidonce.
"Well you do have the best workers in England." replied Miss Halford.
Miss Griffidonce laughs as she takes another bite of salmon.
The Butler enters the kitchen and walks towards The Chef and say's,"You did an amazing work on dinner tonight; if you would like you may take a break. I will take care of everything else."
"You sure?" replied The Chef.
"I'm positive."
"Alright, whatever you say."
The Butler exits the kitchen and enters the Dining Room.
"Miss Griffidonce?" said Mrs. Graves
"Yes?" replied Miss Griffidonce.
"Did you design the Dining Hall youself?"
"No, my parents designed it, but I kept it the way it was so I can remember the memories of when I was a child."
Mrs. Graves loved the vintage brown and off-white crest pattern wallcovering and the crystal chandelier above the dining table. There were red and black roses in a vase on the table.
"Miss Griffidonce? Your roses seem to be dying." said Mrs. Graves
"Oh no, they're not dying; they are a special type of roses. My Butler found and thought it would be a good idea to put them with the other roses."
"Well it does go with the color of the room."
"I do agree." said Mr. Whitham.
Everyone had finished eating their meal; The Maid took up their plates and brought it to the kitchen and set them near the sink.
"Now what would everyone like for dessert?" asked The Butler.
" I would like to have the lemon soufflé glaze" said Mr. Graves
"Me as well," said Miss Halford said.
"I'll have the chocolate cake," said Mrs. Graves.
"Me and my wife would also enjoy a lemon soufflé glaze." said Mr. Veitch.
"How about you Mr. Whitham?" asked The Butler.
"Nothing for me thank you." replied Mr. Whitham.
"And for you Miss Griffidonce?" asked The Butler.
"Just a chocolate cake." replied Miss Griffidonce.
"I will see to your desserts." said The Butler
"Very good." replied Miss Griffidonce.
The Butler entered the kitchen and grabbed four lemon soufflé glaze and two chocolate cakes and placed them on the tray, then walked towards the Dining Hall. He came in with the desserts and everyone's eyes gazed upon the sweets on the trays. The Butler put down each dish in front of the guests.
"This looks magnificent." said Mrs. Veitch
"It was made by the the best Chef in England." The Butler replied.
"I can tell, the flavor on the Salmon was very juicy." said Mrs. Veitch
"We did our best to make it perfection."
The Butler left the Dining Hall to await the guests in the Ballroom.
Everyone finished their desserts and all got up from the table and went to the Ball Room.
"That was absolutely delicious! You must make some more for your next get together." said Mrs. Graves.
"Oh don't worry; I will." replied Miss Griffidonce.
They all arrived at the Ballroom, The Butler was waiting at the end of the room with a towel on his arm. Eine kleine nachtmusik - serenade no. 13 in g major - 1st movement was playing on the recorder player. The Ballroom was decorated with Anaglypta Wallpaper and white curtains covering the windows in the Ballroom. With a light oak wood flooring; with white chairs on the side of the walls.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you may dance the night away." The Butler said as everyone was walking in the Ballroom. Mr. Graves approached Mrs. Graves and asked,"May I ask for this dance." She replied,"Why of course honey." They both went to the dance floor and danced to the music step by step. Everyone was talking, dancing, laughing; just having a good time. A strike of lightning light up the Ballroom and the thunder rolled across the sky. The lights started flicker. Miss Griffidonce called over The Butler and said,"Will you please retrieve some candles; just in case the lights go out."
"I will see to it at once madame." The Butler replied.
The Butler left to get the candles. When he left, the wind blew harder and harder; the rain began to smash against the window. The thunder grew louder and greater, and the lightning flashed every five minutes. Then a big roll of thunder sounded of in the sky and a flash of lightning hit the electric wire. The lights turned off in the Ballroom. The women panicked and screamed. The men were trying to find a source of light.
"Honey," yelled Mr. Veitch,"Where are you?"
"I'm in the middle of the room!" replied Mrs. Veitch.
"Will everyone please calm down and relax; my butler will be back with some candles." said Miss Griffidonce.
In a short amount of time, the lights turned back on. Then, the most shocking thing was discovered. Everyone found Mr. Whitham dead; eyes in cold fear. His mouth open with a pale skin, and blood spreading on the dance floor.
"Oh my God!" yelled Mr. Veitch.
"What happened to him?" asked Miss Halford.
"Everyone move," yelled Mr. Graves," I used to be a doctor."
Mr. Graves checked his pulse and felt for breathing in his mouth. He found nothing.
"He's dead." Mr. Graves said.
"But how?" yelled his wife.
Mr. Graves flipped over the body and saw where the blood was coming from.
"It appears that he was stabbed in the chest by a dagger or knife." said Mr. Graves.
"He was.....Murdered?" said Miss Griffidonce shocked.
"Yes, he was murdered." replied Mr. Graves.
Everyone shocked and sad that one of their closest friends was murdered in the same room as everyone else. Everyone started to get suspicious on who could have done it.
"Wait," said Miss Halford,"If he was murdered in this room. Then doesn't that mean that the killer is in this room with us."
"Thats what I was thinking as well." replied Mrs. Veitch.
Miss Griffidonce yelled,"So which one of you did it?"
"Well it wasn't me." replied Mr. Graves
"Me too as well." said Mrs. Veitch.
"Did you do it Mr. Veitch?" asked Mrs. Graves forcefully.
"I certainly did not, how about you Mrs. Graves? Did you do it?" replied Mr. Veitch.
"I did not, I am only a lady."
"Well somebody did it." said Miss Griffidonce.
"Did you do it Miss Griffidonce?" asked Mrs. Graves.
"Who do you think you are; to deem me of this horrific murder." replied Miss Griffidonce.
"It was just a question." said Mrs. Graves
"Well it was a foolish question." replied Miss Griffidonce
The Butler enters with a handful of candles, and said,"Since the lights turned back on, will you need the candles." The Butler see's the dead body on the floor. His reaction was very dull.
"Dear me," said The Butler,"This would be very hard to get off the oak floors."
"Is that what you are really worried about? The stupid floors when there is a killer on the loose?" said Mrs. Graves.
"You're right I'm sorry, but what should we do?" replied The Butler.
"Well, I think we should see who killed Mr. Whitham, now Butler, is there anyone else in the house besides everyone in this room?" asked Mr. Veitch.
"The Maid and Chef." replied The Butler.
"Where are they?" asked Mr. Graves.
"Well The Maid is probably upstairs. Lets all check and stay together." The Butler said.
"Alright ." everyone said.
Everyone exited the Ballroom and went down the hall towards the stairs.
"Alright, there are fourteen rooms on the second story; everyone will check two rooms, agreed?" asked The Butler.
"Agreed." everyone said as they walked up the stairs.