章 5: 5: Another Mister Hughes?
A knock on the door broke his long train of deep thoughts. He commanded the person outside to come in. The old lady opened the door and placed a tray of Earl Grey tea and caramel custard pudding on top of his study table.
"Are you ready to meet the lady again, my lord?" A pinch of worry clouded the face of Mrs. Joanne Brown or Madame Jo as the entire Hughes family fondly calls her. Madame Jo has been serving the Hughes clan for over four decades now. The sixty-five-year-old directress takes care of nurturing and managing the entire household and needs of the people living in the grand manor. She used to be the younger Hughes' nanny when their mother, Lady Elizabeth Smith Hughes travelled away with her husband Lord Markl Louis Hughes, the 17th Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery for provincial courts and political responsibilities.
As the first-born son of the couple, he inherited the title as the 18th Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery when his father died three years ago. The management of the estate as well as the other Wilson properties were left on his hands. Their family owned the entire estate including Port St. Mary and the little town of Pembroke Hollows, just a little bit south of Isle Wylye, where the former fortress of King James V was built.
He didn't glance at the old directress but instead looked outside the glass window where he was standing for a couple of minutes now.
"We will meet again whether I like it or not."
There was a trace of pain and repugnance on his deep despondent voice.
"Will you be fine with that? What about Lady Beryl? Wasn't she the one who tasked Lord Matthew to bring Lady Hughes back here in the manor?"
He simply nodded.
"I wonder why Lady Beryl did that." The old woman questioned herself as she tried to understand the present situation.
"No one knows what's inside the head of Nana."
Madame Jo frustratedly sighed and shook her head.
"I guess the whole manor will be lively again once the lady returns."
"I'm sure the manor will be in chaos. Again."
His eyes became fixed to the classic black car that entered the triumphal arch.
"She's here."
…
"We're here." Mr. Paxton lively announced.
I peeked outside the car's window and was welcomed by a great entrance porch and a majestic triumphal arch of the Wilson House. The stone carvings and the towering Gothic columns on either side spoke so much history. A perfect combination of older Gothic and new Renaissance style where in a thick fortified wall about five to seven meters tall enclosed the whole Wilson Estate.
I saw a statue of a rider atop his horse with one of its front legs raised on the topmost part of the arch. It could be someone important from the past, someone part of the rich history of the country, perhaps.
I was not that sure! But so far, everything that my eyes laid on to were all jaw-dropping spectacles.
I just cannot believe that I am fully awake and these are all happening!
Another pair of Irish guards stood in their post just outside the arch and gave us their salutes.
As our beautiful car entered the grand entrance, I gasped upon seeing the impeccably manicured garden in the center of the courtyard. A meter tall Juniper maze surrounded the center piece which is a three-tiered Romanesque fountain. Atop was a fairy sitting gloriously with its wings widely spread. Within the Juniper maze were topiaries of swans and flower boxes of chrysanthemums and blue lavenders. Four wooden benches sit in the four corners of the center garden which were all resting under its own classic gazebo.
This must really be a dream that I do not wish to stop soon.
We then stopped in front of a grand manor with two Italianate pavilion towers serving as the east front façade of the mansion.
Mr. Paxton opened the door in the backseat for me.
My lips formed a full "O" in disbelief as I stepped out of the car and had a full view of the three-storey mansion. The rectangular house around the central courtyard was blasting my eyes with downright air of aristocracy.
The walls around were built from local stones yet softened by climbing red Virginia Creepers. The exterior architecture of the manor is indescribable. I cannot pick the right word to describe its beauty.
It was surreal. I felt that I entered a different world, utterly different from where I was in the city a day ago.
"This is a paradise." I turned to Matt who was standing a couple of feet away from me. He got his hands on his waist while his eyes were looking straight through me.
"Welcome home." He said and gestured his hand to walk towards the grand entrance door.
It was made of thick iron-studded wooden pieces which is usually used as castle doors I'd seen in historical movies.
The huge main entrance door parted and two lines of estate servants welcomed us as we enter the main hall.
"Welcome back Lady Hughes." They greeted me in chorus and everyone bowed before me.
My eyes narrowed and turned to Matt who was standing a meter behind me. His face was expressionless.
"Oh dear! Thank you for the warm welcome." I answered back then I turned to Matt again. "Should I not say that?"
"Lord Matthew!"
I searched where that raspy female voice came from. An old elegant woman was standing in the center landing of the grand staircase within the main hall. Her face exuded an aura of great control and authority.
Could this be Nana Beryl?
But I thought she's sick.
And she called him Lord Matthew?
Matt quickly ran towards her and met her in the bottom landing of the staircase. He gave her a tight hug and whispered something on her ear.
The old woman nodded and they walked side by side towards my direction.
When they were a few feet away from me, the old woman showed her courtesy to me too.
"Welcome back home, Lady Ruth. I am Madame Joanne Brown, the household directress."
I offered my hand and shook her hand.
"It was nice to meet you Mrs. Brown. Please call me Ruth. I'm a bit uncomfortable with the "lady", you know?" I said while trying to look less nervous and more at home.
Actually, I sensed that this old woman doesn't like me. I don't know why. Maybe it's gut feel. I am not really sure.
She accepted my hand and pressed it gently. "Please call me Madame Jo, Lady Ruth."
I felt more uneasiness within me.
"So, it is true." She commented with a weird smile after letting go of my hand.
"Pardon?"
"That you lost your memory, milady." She still spoke to me with courtesy but the way she shot her glance at me made me really uncomfortable.
I paused.
"What do you mean? Do we know each other? Have I stayed here before?"
Before Madame Jo opened her mouth, a thundering deep voice echoed in the main hall.
"How's the prodigal lady of the house safe return went?"
A man on his powder blue button-down shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows and beige dress pants stepped down from the left wing of the staircase.
His shoulder-length shiny wavy hair was brushed up and tied at the lower back of his head. His piercing eyes were sharp and dark, his nose was as pointed as Matt's but he was the rugged version of him. He got facial hairs around his red thin lips and jawline. He's a little bit tanner and taller than Matt too. Aside from those obvious difference, they looked so identical.
When he made it to the bottom landing of the staircase, he walked towards me and gave me a mocking grin.
"Miss me, my little wife?"
クリエイターの想い 
Marylla_Amor
Marylla_Amor I wanna give the real Mr. Hughes a great entrance but I was so enthralled by the grand manor I tried to be as descriptive as possible.
Well, another shocker for our dear Lady Ruth here.
I bet she's most confused now than ever.
I would like to hear your comments. Please post your review.
Thank you for reading my first entry here in WN. Happy reading!
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