<strong>The night is drawing to a close.</strong><br/><br/>It appeared that the majority of the gentlemen had returned to the house and the scare was over or at least for the most. There was no more howling and there had been no more gunshots for some time. However many of the ladies were still a little upset, some more than others, a couple even pertained to a fainting fit, or a touch of the vapours.<br/><br/>Bethany was sent to get smelling salts for those that needed it, though it appeared that a number of the other women wished to retire to their chambers bringing the evening to rather an abrupt ending. Still they would have to be up early in the morning to be ready for breakfast and then a ride around the estate. Of course horses had already been marched to the rider and their competence, there was quite and art too it and the stable hands and stable master knew his job well.<br/><br/>Already some of the gentlemen escorted their respective partners whether they be mistresses or wives. Also a few of the gentlemen had indeed arranged meetings with some of the more appealing maids while their wives were asleep. There was nothing unusual in that, and of course every one was placed in an appropriate room. One of the gentlemen a rather older man did enquire if Bethany was free when her chores were finished.<br/><br/>In time the ‘countess’ was shown to her chambers which were indeed most lavish and pleasant everything had been prepared for her as one would expect for one of her station Everything appeared in order, yet there was almost a chill in the room, even though the window was closed, or at least seemed to be. However the curtain billowed a little and the woman was sure she could catch the sound of crying from within the wardrobe.<br/><br/>There was a tapping on the window then…if she looked out she could see a huge dog loping across the grass beneath the moonlight.<br/>