The Wishbornes And The Fallen Star

Chapter 11

Raynard
I kept on staring at them. Waiting. Waiting for any sign, even a small one, that would expose them. But there were no signs. Nothing at all. They just kept on laughing and joking like a normal family. Some part of me sighed from relief, but the other part kept on reminding me that there was no way in hell Helena could have known about my hallucinations. So they must be hiding something from us. Maybe they stalked us long before coming to see Peppa about adopting? Whatever it was, I was going to find out.
Clarabell then walked through the door, looking like she just saw a ghost.
"Sorry, I'm late", she said and sat down next to me, but kept on staring at Claudia. I looked towards Claudia who was laughing at a joke Theo just told, then back at Clarabell.
"What's wrong?", I whispered.
"Nothing", she said and broke her stare from Claudia.
"You have that same look on your face like the time you accidentally walked in on Peppa naked?".
"No, I'm fine", she said and started to fiddle with her fork. "Doesn't seem like it".
"Claudia, how long are you staying for?", Clarabell said, ignoring me.
"Well", she said and looked at Theo and Helena," a few days. I have some important business things to help the.. uhm.. Uncle Theo and Aunt Helena with". Theo waved at Furdolph to bring in the food.
"Like what", I asked leaning forward.
"Like uhm... The annual ball".
"Isn't that only in November?"
"Well yes, but certain things must be ordered and arranged months in advance".
"Is that what the meeting was about earlier?".
"Ah Furdolph! That looks delicious", said Theo as Furdolph and some other servants entered with bowls of food. As soon as they put the food down I asked again, "What was the meeting about that made it so urgent?", and scooped some mashed potatoes. Theo, Helena and Claudia exchanged looks.
"It's boring business things I'm sure you don't want to hear", said Claudia as she dished up some turkey.
"How would you know? You don't know me?". Clarabell kicked me under the table and shot me a sharp look.
"Be nice", she whispered. In the corner of my eye I could see Theo's face turning very serious. Interesting...
"What I meant to say was, what could possibly be so important? It's just fabric?".
"Exactly it's just fabric, so it's nothing interesting", said Theo impatiently.
"Then why not talk about it?"
"Enough!", Theo said in a raised voice. "You might still be new to this house but I will not tolerate any disrespect. You want to know what was discussed? Our rival company sent spies into our factories and stole some of our supplies and planted some... things that would not pass the annual inspection, and if we don't pass it, that means the company will be shut down". Everyone around the table went quite and was all of the sudden very focused on their food in front of them. But I didn't break my stare from Theo and neither did he. So it looks like mister jokester here has a temper. Hmm. Very Interesting.
I finally broke my stare and continued eating. I then looked at Claudia and said, "I'm sorry if I was disrespectful". She smiled and gave me a nod.

***
The next morning I walked into Clarabell's room to see if she was awake yet. But her bed was already made and she wasn't in her room. I walked over to Irenes room and saw she was fast asleep still. That's strange? It 9am already, why is Irene still asleep?
I went down stairs to get some breakfast and walked into Angus.
"Morning Angus"
"Good Mornin Raynard". He gave me that smile again. The one that made me feel like I've known him my whole life.
"Do you know where Bell is?"
"Oh Miss Clarabell went to work this mornin". Oh yeah that's right, she kept her job. Sometimes I wander if we're even related.
"Oh yeah, thanks Angus"
"No problem", he said and walked towards the front door.
"Hey Angus?". He stopped and turned around.
"What are you doing today?"
"Well, uhm I have to fix one of the windows on the east side of the manor and then work in the garden. Why? Ye need help with somethin?"
"No, I wanted to know if I can join you? Maybe help in the garden after breakfast?". Which I definitely didn't want to do, but maybe I can get some clues and answers out of Angus. He frowned and took a few seconds before saying, "Aye, if that's what ye want to do, then ye more than welcome to join".
"Great, I'll see you after breakfast?".
"Aye, I'll be waitin". He turned and walked out the front door.
I walked into the family dinning room to see only Claudia sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading something off a piece of paper. When she noticed me she quickly put the paper away.
"Morning", I said and pulled out my chair.
"Good morning", she said and smiled. Damn she's kinda pretty. I took some bacon but could feel her staring at me. When I looked at her she looked away quickly.
"So how well do you know Theo and Helena?", I asked, pouring in some coffee into my mug. Maybe she'll slip something.
"Well I've known them my whole life?".
"Hmm. I see, but how well do you know them. Like do you know their favorite colour, favorite music band, things they hate, things they love, their secrets?". She flinched as I mentioned secrets. So she does know something?
"Where are you going with this?"
"Oh no where, just want to get to know my new family a bit better". I took a sip of my coffee but kept on staring at her.
"I take it your from Theo's side of the family?"
"Yes", she said and started to spread some butter on her toast.
"Sister or brother", she stopped spreading the butter for a second and looked at me and said flatly, "Brother", then continued. Ahh! Struck a nerve! So she probably has some daddy issues? Or maybe he is an issue for everyone?
"Does he also work for the company? And what about your mom?". She took a big sigh and put down her knife and piece of toast. "Listen Raynard, I don't know why you are interrogating me, and don't say it's because you want to get to know me or us better. I've work in this... industry long enough to know when people have other intentions to what they say they do. Now I really don't want to start off on the wrong foot with you, so can we drop the integration?". I just stared at her. She is definitely hiding something. But scaring her off now will just make it more difficult to find out things, so I just said, "Fine", and continued eating my bacon in silence.
Irene then walked in, looking like shit. "What happened to you?", I asked while chewing on some bacon.
"I went to bed with this terrible headache, but its kinda gone now", she said as she sat down.
***
I stood in front of the red rose, thinking, "Why does Bell love them so much?".
Angus then appeared around the corner carrying some gardening supplies. When he was close enough to me he dropped everything and said out of breath, "Right shall we start then?", and handed me a pair of huge scissors and gardening gloves. "What am I suppose to do with these?".
"We going to prune the roses of course?"
"Prune? What the hell is prune?"
"Here let me show you". He took his scissors and started cutting some of the rose branches. "You cut away all the dead or overgrown branches". Then looked at me. "Well get started then?". I put on the gloves and started cutting the branches
"How long have you been working for the Wishbornes?", I asked.
"Almost me whole life. Me father worked for them before I did, so I basically grew up with them".
"So they probably trust you a lot?".
"Aye, I would say so".
"Don't miss that one there". He pointed to one of the branches of the rose bush in front of me.
"When we arrived, Theo mentioned that you where responsible for the security as well? I mean, don't get me wrong, but I would expect more men to be grading a place that looked like a small castle". Angus smiled. Then stopped cutting and looked at me, "Me father sent me to the army for two years and the Wishbornes make you take a special course before working for them where they train ye. There's also a few alarms and sensors around this place that lets me know if there's any trouble on the property".
    "You were trained in combat?"
    "Aye, some of the things Helena trained me herself". He continued cutting the bushes.
    "Why does Helena know all these things?". He stopped for a few second, then continued cutting. Was that also a struck nerve?
    "As you probably know, Helena grew up in Holland. And before she met Theo, she worked for uhm.. a hunting company that was employed by the government".
    "Hunting company?"
    "I mean security company"
    "Like a secret agent?"
    "Well not a secret one but definitely an agent". I didn't know if I should of been impressed or more worried. What if they are doing some shady business for the government? That involves orphan children is some way?
    Something started running across the grass in the distance, just before the forest tree line, I quickly looked up and saw a cat or well something that seemed like a ginger cat run into the trees. It was quite large for a cat.
    "Do you have cats?"
    "No", said Angus without even looking up.