The Manor House - My We-Write Entry

The beginning of the story for We-Write by @zeldacroft, and @freewritehouse

“I can’t believe we’re here!” Clara gushed, gazing at the manor house. Its front steps were preceded by carefully-laid stone, centered around a magnificent fountain. Tourists bustled around eagerly with their cameras and visitor pamphlets as the two sisters joined them.

“It says here that tours start every hour in the Grand Gallery,” said Kelly, holding up the guidebook. Clara was too busy admiring the variety of flowers that adorned the area, from the climbing vines near the elegant windows to the lush bushes around the stone path. So Kelly went back to her reading, but with a smile. It was nice to see that the manor was already living up to Clara’s expectations.

After a brief distraction by a duck swimming in the fountain, the sisters quickly made their way inside. As they mounted the marble stairs, Clara’s excitement became tangible, an emanation of joy that merged with the curiosity of the other tourists.

MY ENDING:

The Grand Gallery was an incredibly large hall, like a ballroom. High ceilings with ornate chandeliers the size of a small car were by themselves breathtaking. One wall was lined with photographs, which Kelly explained were put up by date. Left was the oldest and to the right most where they were standing was the latest. Shelly Mastrime was the subject of most of them. She was the last of the legendary singers and the reason this manor was a tourist attraction. She had lived here for forty years of her distinguished and infamous life. The four feet tall photo showed the aged singer in a wheelchair talking to one of the most famous actors of the last century. Kelly pointed to the right hand corner of the photo and Clara exclaimed excitedly.

"Nana!"

Kelly shushed her and dragged her away towards the group of tourists waiting for the tour to start. "OK Clara." She told her sister.

"Stay with the group, it will be about forty minutes. You have your bottle? And your cell phone?" When Clara had dutifully nodded touching them to show where she carried each item.

"Now I have to see what Nana was talking about. The tour will end in the back garden. I will meet you there and you can call if you need."

Leaving Clara with the tourist group Kelly snuck out of the hall and headed to the first floor. She checked that no one was around and there were no cameras before turning left and halfway down the hallway, going down the side passage to the corner bedroom. Kelly checked the door. Thankfully the door was not locked; the old lock was jammed and nobody had bothered. She was relieved not to have to open the hallway window where the spare key was hidden in a niche in the outside sill. the The small room was empty of furniture and dust covered all the walls and the floor. It was dim as the window was barred. This was Shelly Mastrime's study, Nana had said that this was her private space- where no one except she or Nana entered. Nana was Shelly's personal maid and assistant for eleven years. Till Shelly was forced to shift to Chicago to live with her son. They had come with court orders declaring the proud old lady "Unfit" and all the staff was herded out along with her.

Kelly walked to her left till she reached the wall and switched on her phone's flashlight. About two feet from the floor, peeling wall paper was marked by a blue line three inches long, just as Nana had explained. Kelly felt her heart swell with excitement as she pressed her thumb to each and of the line. Nothing happened. Kelly took a few deep breaths and tried again and again. Finally the small hidden panel popped open. Kelly could not believe she was looking at a real gem. Among some small silver jewelry was this brooch with a fiery red ruby larger than her thumb. Kelly scooped up the treasure with a sense of urgency upon her; she tried to replace the panel but it would no fit back. Wedging it in as best as she could Kelly hurried to the bathroom. Where she took her time to wash her face and forcibly relax herself.

Sometime later the sisters emerged from the front door among a gaggle of tourists. Kelly took Clara by the hand and stood close to the fountain till the tourists had passed.

"Nana was a fantastic woman."

Clara literally jumped, blurting out with concealed excitement now exploding. "You found something."

Kelly hugged her tightly, emotions making her temporarily speechless.

The Contest: https://steemit.com/wewrite/@freewritehouse/we-write-10-the-manor-house-last-week-s-winners-announced

Picture Credit: https://localwiki.org/oakland/Easterbrook_Bird_Fountain