Reaching the Adams’ mansion, they stepped out of the carriage where the men and women wore expensive gowns that made the simple soiree look grand like a ball was going to be held in the time of evening. With the clouds that had come to hover in front of the sun, blocking any possible sunrays that could touch any living or non-living thing on the lands of Bonelake.
Penny walked through the entrance of the mansion as she placed her hand in Damien’s hand, walking through the marble floor which was not carpeted. As the atmosphere was dark outside, candles had to be lit to spread light around the corridors and the other parts of the mansion that stood tall and alone.
Entering the room that was filled with guests in it, Penny found the girl named Belle who wore a lilac dress with a ribbon that was tied around her neck. She was conversing with two of the guests who stood in front of her and upon seeing Gerald Quinn, the young girl excused herself to greet him.
“Good morning, Uncle Gerald. I am glad you came for the soiree,” her voice was pleasant as she spoke to him. Her brownish-red hair was left open that was combed back with a band tied around her head.
“I am glad to be here too,” Senior Quinn responded back to her, “Have you been doing well? I see you haven’t recruited new servants in here,” he said looking around the room.
The girl smiled at his caring words as if wanting to support as her father would, “There isn’t much work to do but clean the mansion and cook. It felt enough for now.”
“You let us know if you need any help,” said Gerald Quinn to have the girl nod right away.
“Belle is a big girl now. She should be able to know what is right or wrong,” it was Lady Fleurance who commented.
Penny saw them converse and she heard Damien whisper to her, “Belle’s father used to help my father with his work,” she gave him a nod of understanding. She could tell that Damien’s father had a soft spot for the girl as he spoke to her.
While they were still conversing, Penny caught sight of the butler who arrived with the maids who carried treats and tea in the trays that they held. She stared at the butler for the longest time as he greeted the guests with smiles and polite words that he had to offer to them as he moved around the room.
Penny felt a sense of familiarity as she watched the man walk around the room. She had met him only once here in this very mansion, yet there was this feeling as if she had met him before. For a moment Penny had come as far as to question if he resembled her father before she shook the thought out of her head. No, she remembered her father’s face and he looked older than the butler while the butler appeared to look like a young man.
She could feel a slight amount of headache form in her head and this usually happened when it was her erased memory coming to pass through the block that was made by her mother.
Caitlin who stood on the other side of her noticed Penny scrunching her face, “Are you alright?” she asked her.
“Just a little bit of a headache,” Penny murmured and Damien picked up the glass of water from one of the servants who was walking by to hand it to Penny. Her ever-attentive master thought Penny while taking sips of water from her glass.
The hour went by as Penny and the others tried to get to know each other, “When are you both getting married?” asked one of the men who stood in the crowd, “We heard you both are engaged,” word did spread from the land of Valeria to the land of Bonelake, thought Penny in her mind.
“In less than two months’ time,” Damien replied to have everyone raise their brows and Penny turned like an owl to look at Damien.
She didn’t know if Damien was joking or not right now to entertain the people around them. Playing along she smiled.
“I don’t know if I should tell it is fast or it has been pushed for too long but congratulations to both of you,” said the same man.
Damien gave out his charming smile, carrying the glass of red wine in his hand to say, “I fear my step-mother might bring me many more prospects if I don’t get married now,” he joked, having everyone laugh and Lady Fleurance gave everyone a tight smile. When the eyes of the others moved away from the older vampiress, the woman glared quietly at Damien.
“That is great news though!” exclaimed another guest. Everyone around them started to congratulate them on their future day.
“Congratulations, brother Damien and Sister Penelope,” it was Belle who wished them with a big smile and she then looked at Penny, “I would like to be involved in the wedding!”
Lady Fleurance who opened her mouth to speak was cut out by her husband who said, “You can come live at the mansion on those days and have an extra vacation. Give your butler a break,” he said and Penny noticed how the girl smiled before her eyes met her butler’s where his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
The guests had tea or wine, playing the game cards while some of them took their time to gossip. Penny who was sitting next to Damien couldn’t get the idea of the butler out of her head when she finally realized where she had seen him. It was in her dream!
When it finally sank in, Penny excused herself to step out to one of the patios to get some air. Thankfully this one didn’t have water below next to it.
Spending some time there, she went back inside when she saw the butler walking past the room. Clutching her hand, Penny quickly made her way to catch up with him,
“Do you mind if I take a minute or two?” she asked him. The butler stopped walking, pausing his footsteps he looked at her with his black eyes to give her a nod.
Penny saw that there was no one here in this part of the corridor, therefore, she said, “We have met before, haven’t we?”
The Adams’ butler didn’t say anything but stared at her for a few fleeting seconds, “For a person who lost your memories you happen to have a very good mind,” his words had her eyes turning wide in disbelief of what he just said.
Was this man involved in the black witches work? Was he from her past? But then she would have known if he were from her past, thought Penny to herself. A light ache started to form at the back of her head.
“But we didn’t meet in the village,” she saw him shake his head to her words.
And then the butler said, “The more important question you need to ask is something else.”
What did that mean?
