Chapter 43 - Chapter 4: Beyond The Woods (-43-)

-43-It was morning and the sun was peeking out from its burrow. The servants were preparing for the day's work as they dressed. Some of them had already started, even."Gillian, Stell, I'm off to the garden.""Okay. You should hurry, I'm not saving you if you're late for roll." Gilliant replied, brushing her hair while looking at a mirror."I'd like some of the blue ones." Stell said, a hair tie in her mouth as he braided her hair."Okay, I'll be back soon."She left with a basket slung on her arm.The female servants' quarters were to the side of the mansion, with a bit of a distance between. Though, nothing cumbersome.The male servants quarters were on the opposite side. That too was probably a distance away from the mansion.The closest path to the mansion from the female servants' quarters was an archway through the garden, which they all crossed on their way to work.Instead of passing through, she stopped and went to a path on the side. While turning her head and making sure that no one saw her.She walked for a bit and reached the place where the blue roses were. Along with yellow and white roses.They were all so pretty and smelled wonderful, enough that the girls decided that they would take turns to pick one everyday. To use as parfum or ornaments.The farmers didn't like that, but that wasn't going to stop them. They would just be more careful and secretive.She plucked a few and set them in her basket, careful not to get pricked by the thorns.When she had enough, she turned her head and scanned around her.Seeing no one, she walked to another part of the garden. She swerved through the garden pathways and finally passed a gap that led her near the mansion fences.She went close to them and looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then examined the bars as she walked past them.She stopped when she found what she wanted. A string tied around a bar, right above where the bar sank into the stone wall below.She pulled it up and two papers sprung up from the other side of the wall. One folded multiple times, the other neatly in half.She opened the one folded multiple times and read it. Then read the one folded in half.'What does he want to meet for?' She thought.She pulled them apart from the string and kept them within her shirt. She turned around, left the garden and returned to the quarters.There was still a bit of time before roll, and some of the servants were still there."I'm back. I brought the flowers." She put the basket atop a side table."Thanks," Stell said, she came close and examined the basket, "Mm, these smell so good.""Courier boy was here, with a letter for you. We left it on your bed." Gillian said, as reached for the flowers on the basket."You don't say…" She mumbled, then went to her bed and sat on it while reading the letter."We're heading off now." Gillian said."Don't be late, okay?" Stell shouted.She gave a nod and continued reading the letter."Did you see that peddler the other day? He had these really shiny trinkets?", "Really? I was on laundry duty that day. What were they like?", They chatted as they left the quarters.She folded the letter and left it on the table beside her bed.If that was to be her cover, she may as well look the part.She slung on a cape and pouch, and donned a hat, then left for the mansion with the letter in her hand.-"That is unfortunate. I hope your mother recovers." Louis said, as he read the letter."You will not need your pay? Or perhaps an extended leave?" He asked."No, Mister Louis," She shook her head,"My mother's been like this before. I'll simply check on her and will be back after.""Very well. Do send a letter if anything else happens." He replied.She nodded.They bowed to each other, then parted ways.She left the mansion and walked to town, then approached a wagon that was near the edge."How much till the first inn?" She asked.The driver was on the back of the wagon, tightening the ropes on some things that were covered in cloth."Setting out right now. I'll drop ya there 'long the way if ya want. No charge." He said, as the tired fixed a rope.It seems she was quite lucky."That is fine." She replied.He turned to her and helped her up the wagon. Then jumped down as she sat and closed up the board and latched it.He went to the front, swung the reins and they were off.They travelled for a while and finally reached the first inn. The driver helped her off and went on his way.She entered the inn and reserved a room for a night."Where can I draw water?" She asked."Oh, we can do that for ya dear, 'less it's drinking' water ya need. But if ya really need it, the well's out back." The proprietress replied.She nodded and went out the back of the inn.Instead of the well, she headed to the barn behind the inn.She opened the doors and peered inside. It was empty.'He should be here already. Did he go somewhere?'She walked inside and sat on top of a haystack.After a while, the doors opened and someone entered."You're late, even though you called me here. Why did you want to meet?" She said as she stood up.Her eyes widened when she saw the figure standing by the doors.It was a girl with grey hair in black dress and an apron. It was the new maid of Lady Lerkester, and not the person she was expecting.The maid was staring at her with a smirk on her face.Suddenly, her vision tilted as she felt a blow on her legs and she dropped to the ground.-"Cover their mouths properly, and make sure the ropes are tight." Mark said.The servant girl was being tied up by Anne, and there was another man tied up beside them."How about you help me out instead of just standing there?" Anne asked."Hey, you're the one who almost screwed it up. And then came to me for help." Mark replied."I could've done it myself, and I went to you for a suggestion. Not for your help." Anne said.Anne had gone to his room at night and told her about what she discovered, and what she had done after. That was the reason why Mark couldn't find her that day.Mark grit his teeth when he recalled that night.The girl had gone on a wild servant hunt to find the person who had written the letter she found - who she knew nothing more about except having long grey hair - and had spent that day and the next day - where Mark couldn't see her - searching.The idiot risked letting the servant know someone was on their tail and tried to find someone just from their hair. And for all they knew, they could have braided or tied their hair. There were other servants with grey hair as well.So she had turned up at his room after failing to find them. She also risked the servant escaping or hiding by taking her time and not going to anyone straight away.When Mark asked why she brought it to him and not Louis or Hurlstead, Anne said it was late and she didn't want to bother them. Just for that reason.So they made a plan, or Mark did; Anne brought Mark to the letter and they examined it, then they forged another letter with as similar writing as they could - this one requesting a meeting to deliver important news - then replaced the letters and kept watch.Then when some peddlers arrived at the mansion to sell their wares, one broke off from the group and snuck to the letter from that side of the wall.He read it, wrote another and attached it to the string, then turned and ran.They examined the new letter - which had a date and place - and replaced their forged letter with the real letter.After that, all they did was prepare for the meeting and wait.They caught the servant's contact first, then waited for the servant to arrive and captured her as well."I'm the one who planned this, okay?" Mark said."Only because I discovered the letter." Anne replied.She finished tying up the servant girl, stood up and dusted her hands."Now what?" Anne asked."You watch them while I call Crausel to bring the carriage. Then we head back to the mansion.""Okay," Anne nodded, and sat on a hay bale.Mark turned and left the barn.-After they returned to the mansion, Louis stopped Mark in the hall."A letter for you arrived, Mister Mark. I left it in your room." Louis said."Thanks Louis." Mark replied.They snuck the two they caught into the cells below and could interrogate them later.He went to his room and found the letter on the table beside his bed.He opened the envelope, unfolded the letter within, and read it.

Mark dropped the letter and rushed out of the room.