Henry looked at the wallpaper around them and could see that from the ceiling it had began peeling down in strips. He could see the paper yellowing with the glue that had been crudely applied. Even the wooden furnishings all had a grimey layer of dust that had settled atop of them. It was quite a sorry state to see that a cultural treasure was going to waste. He understood why the manager had apologized profusely."Good thing that we have someone who can provide us with something to eat. I didn"t expect anything so I had brought a camping stove in case the house wasn"t standing when we got here. I really took it seriously that I"d have to start from scratch. Rightley, if you"re up for cooking can you give us something light--" Ellie turned to Henry as his stomach grumbled.
Henry touched his stomach reflexively at the shock of it emitted such a sound. He looked around nervously as everyone stared at him. It was uncharacteristic of him to have such an outburst. He hated eating on planes and during travels so he had just gone without not thinking that this situation would arise. He didn"t want to inconvenience anyone so he tried to lie. "I just had a granola bar. But my timetable is usually nine for dinner so I have a bad habit. It"s not a big deal."
Ellie rolled her eyes as she took her suitcase from Henry"s grasp. "I"ll get to town with a grocery list and introduce myself so the townsfolk know they are invited to come here again. That should stop the problems completely and quickly. Afterwards, how long would it take you to make us something?"
"Since I will have ingredients I don"t think that shouldn"t be too difficult for me to get to. I can get something on the table in about twenty minutes after I you get back. I"ll have a car waiting for you after you get set up in your rooms." Rightley checked a pocket watch from his pocket with a nod before holding his hand up to lead them up the stairs. Henry let Ellie go before him as they both took their bags up the stairs. He wanted to offer help, but felt a bit out of place as this was not really something his old staff would have allowed.
As expected, Henry was in a room which was as run down as he could expect. The size was ma.s.sive as he could have expected from staying at the house designed for the English n.o.bility. It was nice to see that the curtains and linens were bleached clean. The strong smell served to relax him as it was at least washed. In Asia, he had stayed at accommodations which were much less nice, he started to put some things in a dresser when he saw a ma.s.s of cobwebs. Henry stopped instantly and decided he would wait for Michael to sort his room out.
He crossed his arms as he shivered so he turned to push back the curtain to see the impressive park outside. The manor stood on a raised bit of land so he could see there was a giant park that was behind the house which lead into a row of woodlands which stretched out as far as he could see. Since his room was situated at a corner he could also see from the side view so he could see the river reflecting the brilliant of the fading day. It reminded him of the Hundred Acre Wood that Michael would read to him. It was just there real and open to his touch like a well worn blanket. Now experiencing it himself, Henry understood why Ellie really jumped at the chance to return home to such a wondrous place.
She would be very good at management, like his own family. However, she was much less of a showman than his parents. Ellie had grown up watching the proper way an estate would be run, she he had no doubt that she would pick up the trapping of a good attraction quickly. She would understand the business aspects quickly of keeping her tenants and tourists happy as she was a natural host. Ellie could enchant her little fans as well as make sure that the cars were working during the yearly auto show and race.
It made him feel giddy to think of her intently behind the wheel racing through these beautiful hills. She really should race again, Henry thought to himself as he looked at the adjoining doors to his room. The first door was a walk in closet very much like the setup he had at home, except miniaturized. He traced the dust at the top of the shelf before wiping his fingers, he would need to get Rightley onto having someone properly dust the whole place. Then the next door led to a balcony which looked onto the park behind the house. He upset a murder of crows so he closed the door quickly, before deciding to check the last to find that it lead to another bedroom. He wondered for a minute if this was the room for his staff, when he saw that Ellie"s suitcase was neatly tucked in front of the four poster bed. He could hear the water running in the adjoining bathroom so he was glad that he had not walked on her in a state of undress.
He tried to close the door quietly as he considered this new development. He would have preferred to have more security in his own room, but then he knew that this was a reclusive country estate where robbery would be entirely out of place. It wasn"t a surprise that they were given this type of connecting bedrooms as Ellie had mentioned they were married. He wondered if he should mention to Michael about bringing some bolted door locks with him when he came, but then decided it would be embarra.s.sing to explain. He couldn"t be uncomfortable. Ellie was not the type to take advantage of anybody and he knew that she was committed to their shared want of freedom. Why would a lock be necessary?
The fact that he had even thought to need one, made him feel uncomfortable. Why had he come then? Why didn"t he trust her? Or the truth, why didn"t he trust himself?