<br/><strong>Lady Rowena Bleakmore Ashwin snubs the Winterstone's</strong><br/><br/>Sitting at her desk Rowena gently opened the invitation that had been left there since early morning,  taking it out and glancing it over she begun to read it's contents her mind pondering as she did so.  The bright morning light from the large windows of her study had bothered her more of late, but that was of course just the late nights and pouring over books such pursuits and obsessive gleaming for a glimmer of fact among mostly drivel was bound to dull the sight.  That's how Rowena explained it away to herself anyway, her aunt was always telling her reading books so much and taking such interests would do her no good perhaps there was indeed some fact.<br/><br/>And so Rowena sat in her study the light dim curtains drawn both to keep out the bothersome brightness and just to avoid thinking of that strange hound,  out of sight was out of mind after all if there was no chance of seeing it there was chance to forget it perhaps. After taking in the contents of the letter Rowena considered the invitation, a shooting weekend she was curious as to why she been invited it seamed quite peculiar so soon after such a tragedy but well social life went on, it was an opportunity perhaps to meet with those who where there that night again and Tyler would be there of course most likely she assumed so.  But here was an opportunity a chance and Rowena's mind seized it with a defiant will, no Rowena shall not play to there grace she was intent on sending a message. That night was not forgotten and the suspicions had not died they may wish to pretend as such and move on to try climb that social ladder, Rowena would cast the stones of doubt and make  her opinion obvious and dam the consequences who could blame her for not wishing to attend the events of murders and schemers.<br/><br/>She smiled to herself as she planed her own scheme to snub the invitation and make sure it was known, she would send Barnabas with her reply and decline to attend with false reasons of course such was expected but all who could read between the politeness of etiquette would know the truth.  And with her presence unexpected Rowena could remain in residence of her own nearby, perhaps she would decide to make a surprise appearance or keep tabs and of course if she was seen to be in the area oh the rumors would be most entertaining.<br/><br/>And so it was that Rowena left her estate once more dressed discretely and traveling in her private carriage which did not bear the marks of her father and family, it was most exciting and she could not help but feel a old thrill as she traveled with her entourage on to county of Sussex. Once settled into her discrete abode for the stay a old farmhouse cottage, she dispatched Barnabas on horse with her letter of decline.<br/><br/>Barnabas opened and resealed the letter before actually arriving at the estate reading it over and smirking slightly behind his mask, she was quite like her father and mother it seamed he resealed the letter with a practiced hand as he did all of Rowena's correspondence just as the order and her Father had tasked him to do. It could wait to be told and Rowena may become suspicious if there was news or rumor in much delay in him turning up at the estate or not at all, he was not looking forward to the task it meant a social occasion and he did not expect he would be welcomed specially not after Rowena's decline.<br/><br/>As he rode the horse into the Winterstone estate and was greeted slightly suspiciously due to his appearance he showed the letter and glanced blankly at the men who greeted him, his appearance intimidating as it was and his silence made things rather awkward and he was unsure if he get away with passing himself of as mute. He grunted in a guttural damaged tone overplaying his disfigurements and inability his mask alone should tell them all they needed to know, after the letter was taken Barnabas waited just encase he was asked to stay as Rowena had asked although he could see little reason why they would want him there.  He hopped they would not invite him in as interested as he was in snooping around for Rowena the potential for having to talk or socialize with people was far to great, and those looks and the talk of his face of his disfigurements would be most frustrating last thing he wanted was a weekend of that.<br/><br/><strong>Rowena's Letter of rebuke</strong><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body"><em>To whom it may concern<br/><br/><br/>Thank you for the invitation to your country estate in Sussex on the 1st of June.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, I have pressing business with the theater and my household staff due to my aunt's poor health, and so shall be unavailable over the coming month and not able to attend your functions presently and in foreseeable future. <br/><br/>Nevertheless, thank you for inviting us and I and my household are sure that your event will be a most enlightening and eventful occasion for you and all those in attendance.  <br/><br/>Please pass on our apologies for not being able to come and share in the plans. <br/><br/>Yours truly,<br/><br/>Lady Rowena Bleakmore Ashwin</em></div></div>