Weekend at Wilderhope Manor Read Online Free PDF Page B

picking up a paper napkin and examining it. The manor more than likely used proper cotton serviettes, but for the very special o ccasion of Halloween, they'd broken out their best bat and ghost covered ones. Jenny, at least, approved. Grinning delightedly, she looked at the place settings on either side of her to see if they were all the same. Much to Stephanie's relief, they were. She wasn't sure she could deal with her girlfriend’s in-depth inspection of each different pattern. She loved Jenny more than life itself, but her lover tended to get excited over the oddest things at times.
     
    "So," said Stephanie, trying to distract herself from her madly grumbling stomach, "what's the plan for today?"
     
    "Ooh," Jenny replied, immediately digging into the pocket of her jeans for her slightly dog-eared itinerary, "let's have a look! Umm…okay. Breakfast is now, obviously. And, oh! Awesome! We basically have the entire day to ourselves. Lunch is buffet style, so we can pop back into the house whatever time we like, between twelve and two, but we can please ourselves until seven. That's when we have our formal sit down meal, followed by the costume party. What fun!"
     
    "So," said Stephanie, looking out of the window, "what do you say to dashing back upstairs after breakfast to brush our teeth, then heading out to explore the grounds? It looks as if it's going to be a nice day."
     
    Glancing out at the gardens, Jenny nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Now where's our breakfast?"
     
    During this little exchange, other people had filed into the room and sat. And as if they'd heard Jenny's hunger-spurred comment, the doors to the kitchen flew open and a series of waiters and waitresses came out. They were laden with all the ingredients for a yummy English breakfast, and a few appreciative murmurs came from around their table as the tantalizing smells of bacon and sausage hit their nostrils.
     
    * * *
     
    Pulling the laces of her hiking shoes tight, Stephanie remarked, "Well, I was hungry, but now, I definitely need to walk some of that off! I'm stuffed."
     
    "Me too," Jenny said, emerging from the bathroom. "You ready?"
     
    "Mmm-hmm. So we need to be back here by six at the latest to make sure we're ready in time for tonight."
     
    "Make it half past five. We need to get our costumes perfect!"
     
    "Whatever you say, honey. Let's go!"
     
    After exiting the building, they headed into the gardens, sucking in lungfuls of the fresh, crisp air. Being October, it was a chilly morning, and dew adorned the grass, giving the garden a slightly ethereal feeling. Spotting a board with a map of the grounds, she headed over to it with Jenny in tow.
     
    "Wow," said Stephanie, examining the map, "I had no idea this place was so big.
    And look, there's a maze!" She pointed to the relevant place, drawing an excitable squeak from Jenny.
     
    "A maze! Cool! How do we get there? We have to go in!"
     
    "Hmm, give me a minute." Stephanie worked out the best way to navigate the sprawling grounds from their current position to the maze. "Okay, yep, I got it. Follow me."
     
    They walked hand in hand, their breath visible in the cool air. There was nobody else around. The other patrons must’ve gone back to bed with hangovers, or decided to spend the day lounging around indoors. Had the weather been inclement, S tephanie's choice would’ve been to hole up in the library all day, poring over the various fascinating tomes it housed. But as it was the sky was clear, and so, outside it was.
     
    Glancing across at Jenny, her nose and cheeks slightly pink from the cold, she decided she wouldn't have it any other way.
     
    Stephanie squeezed her girl's hand to get her attention. When Jenny turned her head, Stephanie dropped a kiss on her lips.
     
    "What was that for?" Jenny asked as they parted, smiling.
     
    "Just felt like it, that's all."
     
    "Okay. Well, I'm not complaining. Hey, is that the edge of the maze?"
     
    Stephanie looked. They'd covered