Marianna and Adam found Bradford in the kitchen of the great castle. They explained how they would just love a tour of the older parts of the castle. Could he do that, or could he suggest another member of staff who would know enough to show them around?
Alfred, the chauffeur /odd job man, was summoned and instructed to take the couple on a tour of the older parts of the beautiful castle. Alfred was in his eighties. He walked slowly with great dignity and yet a subservient presence.
Alfred knew his place, which was one of silent service to this current owner of the castle. However, he had been there for decades, and had served many Royals, although distant ones in terms of connection to the Queen. He was well aware of the cache that was his as one of the original members of staff who had served the Duke of Buchan.
Now here he was, with, what he thought, was a fatuous sham of a family, headed up by a businessman of dubious background. Alfred had no real sense of where their money came from, although he felt he had a few good ideas, and none of them were worth repeating. He served. He only had a few years left until he hung up his chauffeur’s hat for the last time, and would return to the village of his birth to live the remainder of his life in peace and quiet.
He took the young couple through the parts of the castle that were not normally open to anyone. He felt quite proud and proprietorial, smiling to himself he mused, although he was not in the same league as Mrs Danvers with Mandalay.
He had no particular attachment, just a wistful nostalgia, as he led them through various rooms no longer used. Dustcovers and closed curtains meant that the light of day never shone in these rooms, and then he took them even further into parts where there were no furnishings, just bare stone, where once tapestries had hung to cover the cold walls. It was here that he pointed out various curious details and, lo and behold, one of them was the priest’s hole. He explained how that had come to be and how it had been used.
Marianna and Adam tried to keep their heightened interest under wraps, making mental notes as to where exactly this cupboard was sited, so that they could return later in the night to retrieve their treasure.
Alfred noted that it was almost with undue haste, after they had seen that part of the castle that the couple decided to return for some lunch to the main part and the dining room. It was as if they needed to get away and quick.
Alfred tolerantly took them back the way they had come. The young tire easily these days. Their interest, seemingly so intense, had suddenly dissolved very quickly. No one knew this castle like the back of his hand as he did. Not even Charles Hampton the current owner. Alfred smiled to himself. He knew the secrets of this building as no other.