Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I have it, swiped it from my car console this morning,” my mom assured her, patting her large purse.
“Enjoy,” Edna said and got into her car and drove off.
“Edna is a gem. I don’t know what we’d do without her. She’s been with the historical society for, I believe, eight years now. She moved into the old Sutton cottage about ten years ago, her husband passed two years before that. She told me that her husband’s job had taken them all over the world and after endless travel she wanted to establish some roots. She keeps the place running smoothly.”
My mom started the tour before we even stepped into the place, and I listened carefully in case she said anything that might be a reason someone was so interested in the mausoleum.
“This large courtyard would greet visitors back in the day. I just love accessing it through that grand portcullis we passed through. It’s like stepping through to another time and place.” My mom turned and pointed to the left. “That charming stone building once housed carriages and horses. It stands as a reminder of the mansion’s storied past. To the right there, that raised area contains the billiard room, library, and sitting room or parlor, though they can only be accessed from within the house.” My mom raised her chin as she said poshly and with a teasing twinkle in her eyes, “It adds an air of exclusivity.”
Once inside, we entered a grand foyer and were greeted by a round, claw-foot table and centered on top was a crystal vase with a lovely arrangement of various tall flowers. Beyond, one caught a peek at the large dining room dominated by a sizeable and ornately carved fireplace that seemed to glow with warmth and history, though no fire burned in it.
“Can you imagine the elegant parties the Willows must have hosted here? It must have been magnificent bringing such refined culture to a backward place,” my mom said as if she could picture it.
“Why aren’t I more familiar with this place if it meant so much to Aunt Effie?” I asked, having almost no memory of being here with her.
“That’s a good question,” my mom said. “I do recall her saying something about you being too curious.”
I thought that odd but let it go since my mom gave me a slight shove to the right and we entered a formal living room, followed by a small parlor where visitors would be entertained and beyond that was a library then a billiards room. The mantel on the welcoming hearth in the living room was adorned with family heirlooms and items that were popular for that period.
“The Willows were a fine-looking family,” my mom said, looking at the family portrait above the fireplace.
I had to agree. They were a good-looking family, though they appeared stuffed into their clothes. I didn’t know how a woman survived the summer heat in all that clothing or how a man could tolerate such a tight collar. The young girl, who sat between them, looked to be around eight and she wore a smile that highlighted her pretty face and had to be none other than Verbena.
“It was a shame she died so young,” I said. “Does anyone know what illness struck her?”
“The Willow family kept their private life very private, so there is only speculation about what illness claimed her at such a young age. Your aunt tried to find out the cause but wasn’t successful, which bothered her, since she was meticulous in keeping everything accurate right down to the period furnishings. She brought several pieces back with her from Ireland and the short trip she made to England, also documents concerning the family that for some reason the historical society has not been able to locate.”
“That’s odd,” I said. “If Aunt Effie was so meticulous in keeping accurate records of the Willow family and the mansion, why wouldn’t she make sure all documents were properly filed and easily accessible?”
My mom shrugged. “The documents could have been misplaced after Effie passed.”
That still didn’t sit right with me. Knowing my aunt, she would have made sure they were properly preserved.
We passed the dining room to reach the kitchen tucked in the back of the place where one could almost detect the scents of past feasts. It was small and it boggled my mind to think that such a small space could provide the amount of food required for a dinner party that would accommodate the two dozen seats at the dining table in the dining room. I noticed a door that read pantry and private next to a staircase that we took to the second floor. The wood stairs curved and creaked all the way up to the second floor. There was no way anyone could ever sneak up them without being detected, but then this was meant for the servants to use.