"Hmm?" asked Lisle, seeming to return to the present from somewhere far away. "Well, there are some things you can't just<em>tell</em>people and expect them to understand it. That's not how you tell a story, and there's so many stories in this place that even I can't remember all of them...."<br/><br/>She stopped for a moment, looking briefly lost again.<br/><br/>"But yes, a tour of the premises sounds like an excellent idea! Though it just won't look the same without any people here." she said wistfully. "Of course, the grounds will be too dark, and most of the things below ground level are sealed off....the wine cellar, the bunker, the passage to the catacombs....they weren't structurally sound, you see."<br/><br/>When the guests were done with the food and tea, Lisle almost hopped up, and seemed in danger of overbalancing for a minute.<br/><br/><br/>.....<br/><br/><br/>It was a strange tour, and not just because it was taking place through a house that didn't look like it had been disturbed in decades, yet Lisle was talking about it as if she hadn't noticed everyone had left.<br/><br/>"....and that was going to be young Thomas' room when he was old enough. Of course, there was that terrible business with the kidnapping. Ghastly stuff, people can be so....."<br/><br/>Outside, it was entirely dark and the wind was high enough to be audible inside the house, along with other sounds that might have been branches beating against the wall, or sleet. The acoustics were strange and unfamiliar, and if you were the nervous type, it was easy to imagine something outside, scratching to get in....<br/><br/>"....and this picture is of Lady Joanna. She came over from New York, you know, where her family owned a soap factory or some such. Met the young lord when she was on holiday, and it was love at first sight. Now, she really bought some life into the place! Even if it was always us who had to clean up after her parties, and she was always inviting those funny types over. They said they were occultists, but I think it was all smoke and mirrors....."<br/><br/>This room looked like it had been a nursery once, a small dustsheet-covered bed sitting at one end, across from a dust-covered toybox. A stuffed bear sat forlornly on a shelf.<br/><br/>"Of course, I made up the beds for each of you and put heaters in the rooms. You'll find them quite comfortable...." said Lisle, peering round. Again, there was that sense that she was returning to the present. "You will stay the night, won't you? I promise, this place will look so much better in the morning."