IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Extreme =&gt; Extreme Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Senti on 22-03-2011, 15:34:02</h2>
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				Title: <strong>IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>22-03-2011, 15:34:02</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/19/Cordialinvitation.jpg)</div><br><br><br><br><br><br>Helena made her way through the house, as she had done many times before, though of late it had been uncomfortable. Yes of course there was all the gossip, and the over active imaginations of the two children. Some how though something did not sit right, and tonight it felt worse, a chill in the air, the flickering of the lamps casting strange shadows. Yes indeed something was wrong, though perhaps it was all in the mind.<br><br>However when she passed the room with that …that mummy in, it actually caused her to shiver and for a moment there was a pang of nausea. <br><br>Once upstairs the Governess saw the children were awake and out of bed looking out of the window. “Miss …Miss,”&nbsp; James was bouncing excitedly. “You …you just missed our friend the rav…” Alice nudged her brother trying to quieten him.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>23-03-2011, 11:59:17</strong>
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				The large woman made her way through the maze of corridors at a sedate pace, forcing herself not to hurry, not to give in to her feelings of unease. <br><br>She rubbed her arms to drive out the chill that seemed to have settled into her very bones. That would be the lack of sleep, she rationalized. She hadn't been sleeping well these past couple of days... Partly because the kids were getting up at every moment of the night to talk to each other, wander about the house and ask her to check under the bed for monsters, and in the yard for great black dogs. She of course, had done neither and told them to quit this nonsense and go back to bed. <br><br>Tonight it seemed, was to be another one of those nights. <br><br>"Alice, James..." she said, sounding disappointed rather than angry. "You should be in bed. You know you have a busy day tomorrow."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>24-03-2011, 14:53:07</strong>
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				“But we can’t sleep Miss…and the rav…” Again James was jabbed in the ribs so he would not say any more. It was more of secret now since they had heard it speak. It was a new friend, and it made them less scared at night. <br><br>Alice smiled, she was far less excitable than her brother, and in general was a good and respectful child. However she had been nervous lately and also it seemed her mother falling ill again had been having an affect on her. “Please may we at least peek in at the people at the party…and might we see mama tomorrow.” There was a pause and the girl swallowed she knew she should not speak ill of others or tell tales. “Her …her nurse will not allow us in, and …well I am sure we could make her feel better. I have some needle point that I know mama would love.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>28-03-2011, 12:03:11</strong>
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				"Absolutely not," Helena said to the little girl. <br><br>She really did feel sorry for the little ones who were obviously even more upset by the strange goings on than she, but there was no way she'd give the children a chance to disturb the diner party. That sort of thing could get a governess fired and Helena was more than aware there were plenty of other ladies willing to take her job. <br><br>"But we will try to see your mother tomorrow," she said soothingly. At least, if that horrible nurse didn't object. "And if you have trouble sleeping we can do some reading," she suggested, pretty sure there was no way she was going to get the kids to sleep and deciding she could at least keep them busy enough to not make trouble. <br><br>Feeling something more was needed to cheer the children up she added, "I could read from that book about the black stallion you like so much...?" <br><br>This was usually considered a rare treat and she saved it for just such occasions as this.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>29-03-2011, 12:46:18</strong>
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				“I do hope we can see mama….” Alice said with her usual sweet smile, “We do miss her so much.” James frowned though, and then spoke up” We don’t like that horrid nurse, she is mean and nasty I saw her hit on of the maids…” there was a pause as his sister tried to shush him, after all she was never one to cause trouble.<br><br>“She makes mama cry…” James was now on a roll, “And she pulled Alice’s hair when she went to see mama. She…” Alice swallowed and looked down. Alice spoke then quietly “It doesn’t matter… please I think we would like the story of the black stallion…do you think father might buy us one?”<br><br>It was obvious the girl was trying to change the subject.<br><br><em>Tap…Tap…Tap…</em> the window was loose perhaps, but something was tapping upon the window…. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>01-04-2011, 09:39:54</strong>
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				Helena listened to the children patiently, smiling down at them. The woman didn't like her job but she couldn't help like the children. They really very very sweet and well-behaved. Alright, so James was having a go at the nurse... That woman deserved it really. Still, it didn’t seem right to encourage the boy when he was already doing such a fine job exciting himself. "Now now…" she said to halt his rambling tale, "I’ll go get the book, you two get back under the covers. It's awfully chilly in here and you don't want to catch a cold," also she still meant to get them back to sleep. She was hoping for to a quiet evening despite all the goings on in the house. <br><br>The governess walked next door to her own cramped little room, far smaller than the children’s, and returned with a slim volume in hand. She tucked it under one arm as she went towards the window, thinking it was loose and meaning to close it. That would explain the chill...
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>02-04-2011, 11:21:54</strong>
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				<br>With a flutter of black and feathers the tapping upon the shutters of the window stopped. Whatever it was…well it was certainly a large black bird, Helena certainly heard its call. This was no dream, this was no illusion it was very real, it flew off into the darkness with another caw. Was this the bird that the children had been speaking of? Surely it was just a story…<br><br>The bird was gone it seemed and all seemed still in the house once more, yet Helena felt the sensation of creeping doom hanging over the whole place. She almost felt as if moths and other insects were fluttering in her head, as if a cold mind was reaching out to her, calling to her…whatever it was, it left a sickening sensation throughout her being.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>03-04-2011, 11:49:06</strong>
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				Helena almost screamed. The bird was huge and scary, all flapping wings with a sharp beak and claws. More scary still was the way it affected her, how it somehow seemed to speak to her. <em>Speak to her!</em> Oh this was madness... She shut the window with a bang, then shook the handle to make sure it was well and truly closed. <br><br>Hearth thumping, she went back into the room, feeling the hairs on her neck prickle as she turned her back to the window yet still forcing herself to do just that. She was glad to see at least the children had gotten under the covers. She removed the glass from the gas-lamp on the nightstand and used a match to light it, annoyed to see her hand shake, the flame flicker. The flame caught and she replaced the glass, then turned the valve to make it brighter, creating a warm strong glow that made her feel slightly better. <br><br>The governess sat down on the edge of James' bed and opened the book by the bookmark. She looked from James to Alice, "You remember what happened to Black Beauty last time...?" She always did this. It was a good training for the children's memory, taught them to summarize and repeat a tale. Now though, she mostly did it to distract them, get their mind on things other than that awful bird, their mother, that nurse, the mummy downstairs...&nbsp; 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>06-04-2011, 11:43:55</strong>
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				James piped up, “Ginger was being naughty…” Alice rolled her eyes, “Giger was always being naughty, just like you…I think I am more like Black Beauty, because he is good.” James then pulled a face at her, as she continued, “I think we had got to the part where the bad man rode Ginger in a nasty way and made the poor horse hurt there leg.”<br><br>The girl paused for a moment, “Miss why do you think Uncle Robert married that nasty Darkie, I mean it’s alright for a horse to be dark, but are they not all savages?” James nodded his head, “She scares us, and Uncle behaves…different now. Do you think she has darkie magic powers?” Alice then spoke politely as always, “Papa says we must be nice to her but its hard...then we have not seen much of her, at least not in the day…” James frowned, “I expect she is lazy.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>07-04-2011, 16:03:40</strong>
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				"Now dears I'm sure 'm sure I've told you many times, it's the Lady Maliska, or Aunt Maliska if you will. I won't have you talking about her as 'that Darkie' and certainly not in public," Helena said sternly. <br><br>Honestly the situation was bad enough as it was.&nbsp; <br><br>The woman sighed and closed the book again, keeping one finger between the pages to mark her place. "As for why your uncle chose her well I suppose he likes the exotic," an interest that was quite fashionable at the moment, though few had gone as far in their interest as mister Winterstone. "And she is rather beautiful and very well-mannered, knows when to speak and to be silent," she placed some emphasis on this last bit, feeling the children were far to chatty this evening. "And of course Uncle Robert is different, that's... Him being a married man. You'll notice a lot of men act differently when their lady is around. Honestly I don't understand where you get this nonsense about magic." <br><br>"Now, do concentrate," she said, opening the book again, "The bad man rode Ginger too hard and the other bad man made Beauty fall so his knees were damaged. Then what happened...?" 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>09-04-2011, 10:46:13</strong>
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				The children seem though a little distracted by the book more interested in asking more difficult questions. It has of course been very difficult for them with their mother being so ill, and them not being allowed to see her. Also the fact the mummy had been placed in the large room below them, along with apparently much of the jewellery. The truth was that the children had been having more bad dreams of late; however there could be many reasons for that.<br><br>As Helena picked up her book again, it almost felt as if someone walked over her grave, as if a gold finger ran down her spine. The fluttering in her head started then, unintelligible whispers. She was unable to tell just how long it went on for, though Alice asked if she was alright. It was then the governess was sure that she could hear a noise downstairs in the locked room…<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>09-04-2011, 14:29:36</strong>
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				<em>"They'll soon take you away," said Ginger, "and I shall lose the only friend I have, and most likely we shall never see each other again. 'Tis a hard world!"</em> Helena read to the children and as she did a whispering sound reached her ears and made her pause, listening intently but failing to understand the words, until the children started to fidget under their covers and Alice asked was she alright. "Yes, yes of course..." it was probably sounds from downstairs she was hearing, from the dinner party, or so the rational part of her reasoned. But then how come it sounded so close by, right in her ear... ? Suddenly she felt cold, a chill running down her spine and she shuddered. <br><br>"Is it cold in here?" She asked the children. <br><br>Standing up, Helena walked over to a nearby chair and took a scarf from it that she wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Next she went to the hearth and threw an extra log on the fire before poking it rather more viciously than necessary with the poker. It was then she heard a noise downstairs, from the room under this one, the room where the mummy was kept and she shivered again despite being so close to the flames. <br><br>When she returned to the children's bedside she was still holding the poker, which felt reassuringly heavy and solid in her hand. She placed it against the side of the bed hoping the James and Alice wouldn't ask her why she'd brought it. She wasn't sure herself except having the excuse for a weapon near made her feel slightly better. "Where were we? Oh yes... <em>About a week after this, Robert came into the field with my halter, which he slipped over my head and led me away.</em>" She found it hard to focus on the story, but that only made her try harder, using her own voice to block out the whisper in her ear. The children noticed her voice was louder than usual and the words followed each other in quick succession, so much so the governess stumbled once or twice, "<em>There was no leave-taking of Ginger; we neighed to each other as-I-was-led-off-and... And... We neighed to each other as I was led off, and she trotted-anxiously-along...</em>"
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				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>13-04-2011, 10:18:55</strong>
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				The children did seem a little perturbed by the fact that their governess had a fire poker with her, though at least she continued with the story, both children loved this book, it was so exciting. Alice did wonder if horses really talked, just like the raven did and the big black wolf did too. “Can horses really talk Miss?”&nbsp; She asked, “Some animal’s can you know…”<br><br><br>It was then both children seemed to shudder as if they felt the same sensation as Helena the listened too or at least appeared to. There was another noise from downstairs. “Mi…Miss…” James spoke nervously “Is there something….something…someone…” Alice then added “Perhaps you should tell Papa?” All the time the whispering and the fluttering continued in Helena's mind. The governess could be sure that something was happening downstairs, and likely nothing to do with the gathering.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prakkie</strong> on <strong>14-04-2011, 09:38:17</strong>
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				There really was something going on downstairs, Helena couldn't ignore it anymore, not after that second sound. It was probably nothing, or nothing as scary as she for some reason imagined it to be. Probably something perfectly normal. One of the maids giving the mummy a final dusting before the showing. Something like that. Yes. But she might as well check and make sure. It'd make her feel better. The children too.<br><br>"You stay here, I'll be right back," she said to the children, shutting the book and placing it on the nightstand.&nbsp; <br><br>Grabbing the poker on one hand and the oil-lamp in the other Helena made her way to the door, opening it with her elbow before stepping through onto the darkened landing. <br><br>"Hello...?" She called down the stairs, a bit annoyed to hear a tremor in her voice. "Anyone there...?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: IC A Cordial Invitation. (Not Quite Mary Poppins)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Senti</strong> on <strong>16-04-2011, 13:19:53</strong>
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				It sounds as if Alice was sobbing with fear and her brother though younger was trying to comfort her. Though his voice was filled with fear too not surprisingly after all this was an unnatural darkness. Alice had thought she might wet herself but her brother offered comfort and that made it a little easier. James thought he might vomit but for now clung to his sister remember all the lessons his father had taught him about being a man.<br><br>How the two of them wished the talking raven was here, they would know what to do. It had told them they had to be strong, and thus they would be. Once more they called out for Mama. More that they started to worry about her….perhaps they should ….dare they…in this darkness ….try to find her. They were sure that she would be as frightened as they were. Thus they started terrrified as they were to make their way to the stairs.
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