Gigi, the head housekeeper (and Gavin’s ghoul), heard the commotion and rose from bathing a naked woman (Francesca, a vampire in turpor) in the kitchen tub, to see what had been occurring. Upon seeing Rosemead’s disheveled condition, Gigi was thrilled that someone had finally put Rosemead in her place. After all, Gigi was sure that Rosemead (Lady Aidan’s nanny-turned-personal-maid) had planted a broach on her dress in order to cast suspicions upon her character.
Lady Aidan rushed to Rosemead’s side, but the poor dear was unable to verbalize her accident to her employer. Aidan felt deep in her pocket and fingered a martinet whip that she had found in the dungeon and was originally going to ask her husband, Major-General Montague, (head of the household and a newly-embraced Ventrue vampire) to use upon her in one of their “Master/slave” sexual interludes. However, at the moment, Aidan contemplated using the whip upon some of her more unruly servants, instead.
Gavin, who had exhibited an enormous amount of self-control, especially given the fact that he is a hot-headed Brujah vampire, headed outdoors where he uprooted a tree and adopted its stranded inhabitant, Dino, (the mortal cat, as his own.
When Rosemead clashed with the wall, she dropped a set of her worn pantaloons which Paddy, the Irish Wolfhound (and Monty’s faithful companion during a military campaign in India), snatched them up and ran off with them. Seeing that she could do nothing to help Rosemead, (not that she would go out of her way to do so, anyway), Gigi chased Paddy into the billiards room, thinking that Paddy might have something of Rosemead’s that Gigi might be able to use against her. Unfortunately, Paddy hid under the far billiard table and fell asleep with Rosemead’s soiled bloomers under his chin, and Gigi didn’t find him. Instead, Gigi stood in the doorway of the billiard room and experienced a flashback to a time when Manuel, her lover, (and master-turned-partner-in- murder), had taken her forcibly in a room much like the one where she stood. Along with the flashback came a flood of erotic memories which, in fact, caused Gigi to flood and flush.
In the interim, Monty awakened alone in their bed and chose to search for his beloved Aidan. He found her comforting Rosemead near the kitchen and, as he was about to aid them both, he heard and answered a heavy knock at the front door instead. Deacon Fenwick Fluck (alias Chief Inspector Fenwick Fluck of the London Met) had come to inquire about the position of vicar at Ventrue Manor, knowing that a newly-shaved face and haircut would disguise the lecherous inspector who some in the household had previously known. After a short interview which Monty conducted, Fenwick was given the job and sent around the side of the house to the chapel and parsonage where he would live and, no doubt, administer his special penances to several of the female staff.
Aidan denied Rosemead’s request to leave and set about finding Monty to discuss the possibility of Aidan’s mother visiting, when she saw him just as he closed the front door behind Fenwick. Aidan was about to approach him when dizziness, caused by a previous run-in with the kitchen sink caused by Paddy’s wet nose upon her derriere, stopped her. She closed her eyes while leaning against the dungeon door and experienced an odd flood of erotic thoughts ... albeit, Gigi’s thoughts of Manuel. For, the previous blow to her head had unleashed the gift of clairvoyance that she had never known to exist.
Aidan opened her eyes and saw Gigi approach Monty and whisper something to him. She approached slowly and quietly, while noting the sexual flush upon Gigi’s cheeks.
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Whereabouts of other characters:
Rionach O'Gallagher, a Ventrue vampire, is bathing in the upper dungeon. Her wolf, Ryley, is out looking for their coach driver. Pasha Phallic, a demon and Rosemead's warrior master, (currently a cursed, stone idol), is in his secret attic room, accompanied by the Ventrue ghost, who only Aidan can see. Aerynne Walker, maid-of-all-work (and Gavin's ghoul), is currently hiding under Rosemead's bed. Kaileen McKenzie, scullery maid, is washing clothes and doing chores in the butler's pantry. Johnathan McMasters, artist, is about to make his entry to the plot. Lady Scarlett, a voo-doo practitioner, is sitting in her carriage in Woodchester Village, contemplating whether to go to Ventrue Manor. Mistress Xera, Morgaine, Tryson Warclaw, and R.R.Amos have yet to make their entries.
