The Widow Morgan had sniffed suspiciously at Lilith, but soon shrugged and found her a room, since she was assured that she could pay-- the desire for money outweighed suspicion over strangers.

Nothing interrupted Harry and Lilith getting a good night's sleep (not even any bizarre dreams, unlike certain previous nights Harry had spent recently).

Following Harry's directions from the night before, Lilith made her way back up, up, uphill, to Collinwood... Then kept going, past the house, through the woods... Soon enough, she came to Eagle Hill Cemetary...

Did this part of the county all used to be called Eagle Hill, before the Collins family bought it all, she wondered...?

In any event, she kept an eye out for... yes, there it was... The mausoleum labeled COLLINS over the door...

The iron gate was closed, but not locked...

She hoped there wouldn't be any spiders in there...

(I presume Lilith goes inside...?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:51, Mon 08 June 2020.

Lilith takes a deep breath before pushing open the gate. "Hello?" She calls out as she steps inside.

No sounds come from inside, at least none that Lilith can hear so far.

No horrible spiderwebs in her hair, either. Which figures, if someone's been coming and going from here every 2 or 3 days (or more often).

She steps forward to the far wall. Yes, there are the rings in the wall... One could imagine that they might hold torches, or the stems of cut flowers... but yes, just as Harry instructed, Lilith can see how the ring in the mouth of the middle lion could conceivably pulled, to open a secret door...

Except...

...The wall isn't really at a 90-degree angle to the side walls. It sort of--

Oh dear. The door isn't shut properly. It's already open a crack.

...Has the other time-traveler from the future (1795's future, anyway) decided to take himself for a walk...?

Lili takes a breath and pokes her head into the hidden room.

Oh heck, there's no one in there.

Either someone accidentally stumbled across the secret to opening the door, or else the man inside let himself out on purpose.

Too hungry?

Something else?

She'd probably better tell Harry about this...

Lilith turns and heads out of the mausoleum. She takes a moment to get her bearings before heading towards Collinwood to find Harry.

(Me (to Harry): Where does Lilith find Harry?
--On her way to Collinwood?
--Walking down the town's main street?
--Somewhere else?
--Or DOES she find Harry...?)

Harry spends the initial part of her morning in town coordinating the search parties before despatching them. Knowing the land, she sends the southward group along a gentle track that will keep them well away from Deirdre's seaside cottage. The northward group Harry sends timed to afford them the greatest window in which to search the many sea-caves along that coast. She sends the inland group along the main road out of town. Harry leaves it to the Collins men to decide the leadership of each group. Once they have left on their respective errands, she hikes up to Collinwood with the Old House as her intended eventual destination.

Lilith comes up the road and spots Harry ahead of her. "Good Morning Harry!" She calls out. Lilith rushes to catch up. "Sorry to bother you, but there's a slight problem at the mausoleum."

Harry grunts. "Let me guess... no one there. And he was our best lead for getting home."

Lilith nods. "Yep. The door was cracked open and everything." She sighs. "Since I ain't working, want me to go looking for him? Or I can join you and see about getting a job at the house?"

Harry considers Lilith for a moment. "Not sure you'd want to be stuck working as a servant, even if it might provide an insider's view of the Collins household." She comes to a realization then. "Like as not you're better educated than these folk. Could refer you to 'em as a replacement for the Professor, who was supposed to tutor young Leo. Or as a governess to look after all the children." Harry tells Lilith meaningfully, "The youngest Collins girl, Isabella, has what folk call 'the Sight'. I suspect her late aunt might have had it as well, and that may be why she was killed. That puts Isabella in danger from whoever or whatever killed Abigail."

"Grew up looking after my two younger siblings and three younger cousins, so a governess isn't too much of a stretch." Lilith says. "Plus there's cleaning, mending, and such as a governess. All that I can do."

Isaac is found in the drawing room when Harry brings Lilith to Collinwood to discuss being the new tutor for young Leo.

Isaac is reading some book when they enter the room. "...Yes, Mr. MacLeod...?"

He gives Lilith a small, quick smile, because of course he does, because she's pretty, but he also seems a little wary, since he doesn't know what this is going to be about...

https://vignette.wikia.nocooki...40?cb=20120725010306

Harry introduces Lilith to the Collins patriarch. "Mister Collins, this is Miss Lily Grey. I sailed for a time under her father, Charles Grey, who asked me to look after her when he passed." She succinctly elaborates. "Lily raised and schooled two younger siblings and three younger cousins after the deaths of her mother and aunt, got me thinking she'd make a fine tutor for your grandson or governess for all the Collins children."

Isaac seems very hesitant. "Leo has a governess, Miss Wick... So I don't know... Any foreign languages, Miss Grey?"

Lilith gives a smile and a slight head bob. "Yes, sir. My grandmother taught me Latin and because of my cousins, I learned to speak Romanian." After years of practice, Lilith easily hides her Romanian accent. "I can also speak Greek and French." She sifts. "I can also sew, cook, and clean Mister Collins."

"I don't think that Leo will have call to speak Romanian, but Latin and French are quite useful-- and Greek has its uses, too, in a classical education, but we don't want to overtax the lad just yet... Well, I won't oppose it... I suppose you should talk to Leo's father, Aaron... Have you met my oldest son, Mr. MacLeod? Mm. Well, he's at the office, in town, right now, but I suppose I can have you meet his wife Anne, Leo's mother... Shall I send for her? She's surely around here somewhere..."

OOC: Perhaps we should delete this thread, given Lilith's departure, and start a brand-new Chapter Seven?

(I'm okay with getting rid of this (soon)... but there's your interview with Gerard to finish, back in Chapter Six, I think...?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:07, Sun 07 Mar 2021.

OOC: Yes. Been trying to think of a different tack to take with it, but new meds have me feeling loopy at the moment.

OOC: Now that Harry is finished with Gerard, time for a brand-new Chapter Seven!