Once she was outside the gate and on the main road once more, she had taken to a slow strolling pace on her way back to the inn. It had given her a chance to fully collect her thoughts before she stepped into the crowd that had gathered for the evening.

As she arrived, she made her way without much pause for the stairs and her room, closing the door behind her. It was not long before she had the two small trunks out. Cloths and small belongings were placed into the compartments inside before they were closed and locked.

After almost everything was packed, she sat on the edge of the bed and reached for one item that wasn?t packed. The violin case was set down beside the two trunks and a call was then put in for transport of the items to the castle.

It was a young man with a pleasant face who came to the door to collect her things. And looked none to happy for the need to do so, or maybe it was just where he was going to be transporting them.

?Miss, are you going to be going there at this time of night??

?No. I?ll be leaving tomorrow evening. But I would like my things there by the time I arrive.?

He leaned close and looked around as if expecting someone to be listening in before speaking. ?You do know what they say about that place, don?t ya??

She couldn?t help but smile, though she did manage to choke back the laugh that had threatened to escape. ?No. What do they say??

The young man seemed to hesitate for just a moment, ?They say people go in there but don?t come out again.?

She nodded slowly, ?I see. Well, I was in there earlier this evening and I walked out completely fine. So, I suppose you can?t believe everything you hear.?

The young man turned back to the door, carrying out the violin case and muttering to himself, ?Don?t know ?bout that. Lizzy hasn?t been seen for days, and?? His voice trailed off as he walked down the hall with her case in hand.

She closed the door and lay back on the bed. Her eyes closed and it was not long before she was asleep.

It was late evening before she awoke again and had to hurriedly prepare herself for the journey to the castle. She had but to get a driver to take her there and so she stepped out of the room and down the stairs. One small case in hand with a key to her room and she made her way downstairs.

Into bedlam she stepped. Even for the gathering place that made the inn what it was, this crowd was large and there was an atmosphere of celebration hanging thickly. She had paused for a moment at the bar, but decided it was entirely too busy to even try to get anyone?s attention and so she made her way to the door and out into the night.

On the porch, though, she thought she caught sight of something in the corner of her eye. ?Is someone there??

It took a moment, but she did hear a voice from the nighttime shadows confirm the presence she had thought to be there.

She could barely make out the silhouette of the young woman who hugged the shadows so closely. It turned out that she was one who liked open spaces as well, and so had been reluctant to go inside. Jan?tte pointed out an open window to her and then turned to find herself a ride to the castle.

Charles Dukette stared down at the young man with the pleasant face with a look that left the lad unable to speak, or move, or even breathe.

"Ah, I see you've brought Ms. DeVore's belongings," he looked from the young man to the two wooden chests and back. "How prompt," Charles continued, his dark look making the lad's hair stand on end and nearly soiling himself.

"Y-yes sir. She said I was to bring them h-here."

"And so you have. So you have." Charles paused just for a moment to think. "You may leave them here and be on your way."

"Thank you, sir," the words quickly tumbled from the young man's lips, and then he immediately turned and hurried down the drive, first at a quick walk, then at a run.

Charles smiled and turned to two servants who had followed him to the door. "Take these upstairs to Ms. DeVore's suite. Then tell Anna to attend to the suite. She is to be available to Ms. DeVore full-time."

In moments the chests were gone, the door was shut, and the young delivery man with the pleasant face was running back to town.

Jan?tte had made the walk from the gate on the edge of the estate up to the twin lions. She didn?t even need to pause, but rather went straight through as they opened almost as if in anticipation of her arrival.

The sun was just in the process of going down, painting the sky in dusky pinks, mauves and purples as multi-shaped thick clouds painted by the last of the sun?s rays floated in from sea. She watched as the lights within the castle came on, one room at a time and couldn?t help wondering which rooms would be for her to use for the next six months.

˜*****

Shortly after the trunks had been delivered to Jan?tte?s room, Anna had been summoned and given her charge. She had been told where the lady?s suite was to be located and given the details of her responsibilities.

Making her way down the hall, she opened the door and stepped inside. The room had not been opened and aired in quite a while, so it had that faintly musty smell that castles could have. It didn?t take long, however, before the curtains had been thrown back and the window open to let it air out.

She had recruited two of the maids to come in and help her dust and prepare the room properly for a guest. Fortunately that didn?t take long since all rooms, whether in use or not, were regularly maintained.

She considering trying to open one of the locked trunks to put the items in it away when the doors opened and Jan?tte was ushered inside by Charles. With but a look which seemed to say that he knew what she had been considering, and that it wouldn?t have been prudent decision, he proceeded with the introductions, ?Ms. DeVore, this is Anna. She will be taking care of anything you need for your stay with us.? There was a pause before he proceeded. ?Anna, Ms. DeVore.?

With that, he was no longer there, and the two women were left with that silence of first meeting.

It was not long after Anna's departure that Count Longden stood outside Ms. DeVore?s door and sniffed the air. She was inside, but there was also that ?other? scent ? one that was far more familiar than Ms. DeVore. Interesting, he thought. The woman comes with many surprises.

Talomar was dressed informally, for him; black pants ending at the instep of shinned black boots. Into those pants was tucked a ruffled white shirt; a silver grommeted belt secured pants and shirt. A silver chain hung from his neck and was easily visible since the neck of his shirt was open to the top of his chest. He wore an intricately designed silver bracelet with cuff links to match. He pushed back his long back hair that cascaded over his shoulders and stretched his back muscles just before knocking.

Rap . . . rap . . . rap, went the knock from the carved ivory end of the cane he often carried.

He had a place he needed to be, and wanted to give Jan?tte a welcome before he left. Perhaps she would like to join me, the thought entered his mind.

He would ask.

Jan?tte watched as Count Longden smiled and ran his dark gaze from her eyes to the empty glass in her hand. His voice was deep and soft, one that could easily draw a woman to him. "Thank you for the kind offer, Mademoiselle DeVore. Perhaps I will take you up on that drink a little later." She noticed the glance that quickly drifted to her neck and then back to her eyes before he continued, "Are you all settled in? Has Anna proven satisfactory for you? If not, she can be quickly replaced."

She slowly shook her head and then offered, "Oh no, that won't be necessary. She is quite efficient at her tasks." She noticed his glances and a hand came up, as if by habits long taught, to gently brush her hair behind her ear as her head canted slightly.

Instinctively she knew that he had caught the move, although his answer addressed her previous statement. "I'm pleased to hear that Anna is suitable," he said. She then watched him as he walked to the window and looked outside. "I'm afraid that I must go to my downtown headquarters for a little while to attend to some business. If you are settled in and not too tired, would you like to join me?"

With a turn, she followed him as he moved to the window, briefly turning her attention to the night sky. She considered his question for a moment before responding. "I usually take a stroll at this time in the evening." She gave a single nod as she decided. "However, I would be happy to join you. Everything else here seems to be in order."

Talomar refrained from smiling, but he was well pleased with her response. ?Ah, splendid. It shouldn't take very long. I just need to pick up some papers." He held out his left arm to her. "Shall we then?" She thought she heard a note of pleasure in his voice as if something he had planned was about to come to fruition. This almost had her curious enough to ask what he had in mind, but decided to allow that to reveal itself in time.

Instead, she slipped her own hand within the crook of his arm, even as she set the glass upon the table near the window. "Of course." That pleasant, almost inviting smile was offered as she set her pace to his now. As they stepped into the hallway, she grasped the door and closed it behind them somehow managing to not miss a step or throw off his stride as if she had walked with him like this many times before.

They made their way to the first floor and out the door to where the black coach was waiting. A coachman had the door already opened for them. He was a deathly character who wore a black cape with a cowl that covered his facial features. The black coachman slowly bowed as the Lord and Lady approached. Talomar stood at the door of the coach to help Jan?tte up the step and inside.

She moved her hand from his arm, taking his hand and moving up into the coach with a soft, "Thank you." She took a seat and waited for him to join her. She glanced out the window of the coach and thought she spied someone in the distance, and couldn't help wondering who might be paying a visit to the castle this late into the evening.

Once she was inside Talomar closed the door and went around to the opposite side and entered. He wasn?t exactly sure why, but he found that he was looking forward to this time together more than he might expect. The coachman closed the door and climbed into his seat, his weight momentarily rocking the coach. Talomar tapped his cane on the roof of the coach to signal that they were ready for departure. The carriage instantly move forward and down the long drive of Longden castle.

Talomar looked at Janette and smiled. "I hope you are comfortable." It would be a stretch to not be comfortable in the Count?s private coach. The interior was plush with padded burgundy leather seats, polished wood and thick carpeting. The Count deliberately moved closer to Jan?tte so that their shoulders were just touching.

Although it was an almost intimate touch, Jan?tte did not move from it. "Most comfortable. Thank you." She eased herself back in the seat and was not nearly as stiff as one would have expected her to be in these surroundings. However, in an easy turn from too close an inspection of her person just yet, she queried, "Shall the Lady Oberon be joining you later?"