Lila went down after she finished cleaning the room and even dusted the bathroom a bit, but was surprised to find that the normally lively cafe was as quiet as a church. The only remaining customers in the shop where Mariam and Old Jo. The first was talking with Margot about the city while Old Jo seemed still lost in his own mind, his gaze empty reflecting the dusky light, transforming the other times cosy and warm view into an eerie nostalgic feeling.
-...And you just resigned from such a good job! I can't even fathom if you are brave or just blinded by youth.
The remarks that were proper to Marian echoed into the empty cafe. Lila shook her head and took the tray her mother was using to pile the mugs from the tables.
-Go to rest mom, I will take it from here.
-Thank you dear. I feel really tired today, when Charlie comes back I will not bake a single biscuit in a month, it's so much trouble.
Lila smiled, Charlie was the man that loved his mother more than the air he needed to breathe and was her own fatherly figure while growing up. Since her parents divorced and her mother moved to Fog Valley, Charlie was smitten by her at first sight and thanks to a bit of effort, her mother Lauren and Charlie finally managed to be together.
Charlie was a man of multiple talents. Being a teacher in the local school, he was a good decorator and had a knack for baking that almost rivalled the famous local baker Oliver Breaker. Fortunately his passion was in teaching so there wasn't any competition between them, as in their shop they sold biscuits and small cakes in very small quantities.
Right now, Charlie was out of town with a group of kids in a four-day travesty, visiting some close by interesting locations. They are supposed to come by tomorrow morning.
While cleaning the tables, Lila focused a bit on the chat ongoing between their customers. Marian has managed to return to her bubbly mannerism and Margot didn't seem troubled by her chatter and question that become more and more invasive and full of proving.
-I would really like to see Aberdeen in October, Miss Marian, but I have important matters to tend to in Fog Valley at this time so maybe I will be able to go next year.
-And tell me dear, why did you choose Foxglove Cottage to rent? Wouldn't it be easier to be in the town rather than in the periphery? The weather can be quite tricky around here.
There was a brief silence and Lila turned her gaze to see Margot smiling somewhat darkly.
-I am looking for some… thing. And that cottage is so lovely, I fell in love at first sight. It's a shame that there was something bad with the pipes and it got flooded as soon as I arrived there.
Once more, there was a bit of a stagnated feeling. Broken pipes leading to a flood? That wasn't something terrible or ominous, after all, that cottage was left abandoned for a few years since the last dweller.
The same gazes were seen in the faces of Mariam and Jo. The feeling of tension that had been growing in their chest since knowing that something happened at the cottage faded away leaving some discomfort and relief, and just a bit of doubt.
Could it be that there was really nothing more than a broken pipe?
It was hard to believe, and Mariam obviously couldn't believe such a statement and didn't think before speaking.
-Oh my, and you got inside the cottage all by yourself only to find it flooded? There wasn´t anything else there…
-Come on woman, is getting late and I have an appointment with your boy.
Old Jo suddenly got up and took the arm of the chatty Marian who didn't resist to his forceful movements but her mouth refused to shut, firing words like a machine, only those who know them know that they are acting this way because Marian almost said something wrong.
-Joel, you are always so rude and bossy. Be careful that my Henry will not give to your antics and you will have not a bit of his secret stash of quality tobacco from…
The words disappeared when the door closed and the shop became still quiet for a moment, but it didn't remained like that and the sound of Lila washing plates and mugs filled the silence.
It was strange for Lila, she hadn't thought that her cafe would ever be so silent and calm because as long as one of the two gossipy old fellows was inside there would be at least a noticeable babbling background.
After a few mugs, Lila looked at the guest sipping from a brown mug and decided to enable a conversation.
-I heard that you are looking for something in Fog Valley, Miss Ravenswood. Is it perhaps, some antique tome or controversial paint? We had some things of historic value in the old castle, some tourist said that is very similar to the Carisbrooke Castle.
Margot put her elbow on the table and her chin rested on her hand, her gaze lowered looking at the untouched plate of chocolate biscuits.
-I am looking for something that belonged in that castle, yes, I reckon that this small town was once domain of Baronet Duncan Blackthorn, I am correct?
Crash!
Lila quickly closed the faucet control and carefully put the pieces of the broken mug apart before moving until she had Margot Ravenswood in her line of sight.
-Miss Ravenswood, where did you heard that name?
The young face of the woman slowly turned cold. Her green eyes almost seemed to glow for a second, her hair like dark waves contrasted strongly with the pallor of her skin.
-Why is it that every time I ask about him, all of you seem scared, confused or become so serious that I feel like you are police officers interrogating burglars or something worse?
Lila looked in the direction of the door, it was already nightime, the street lamps were on but the mist that had slowly invaded the town made it difficult to see anything beyond a couple meters.
After being silent for a moment,
After being silent for a moment, she couldn't help but tremble and quickly closed the door and put a small pouch of dry daises on the handle.
All this actions didn't escape the watchful green eyes of Margot.
-Miss…
-And I told you to call me Margot. I feel a bit awkward being called Miss all the time.