Good-bye My Lady - Part IV

As I surveyed my estate room by room I tried to imagine in what manner I would utilize each space from the lower level to the highest level which culminated in the bedroom of the Lady’s youth. For myself I chose a room on the lower level both for the dark foreboding ambiance and the soothing effects of a warm fire in the fireplace. The expanse of the room was also to my liking for it was almost as expansive as the great hall on the center level which was so loved by the Duke before me.

Lady would often come and visit to help with the decorating of each space. My furnishings were few since I had relocated so often since I lost my estate to the war. Slowly I acquired the necessary items to minimally furnish each area of the estate.

As time went on I noticed a change in the Lady. She curiously began to avoid the upper levels of the estate. One day when she looked extremely distressed I ask her what was the matter. She said: “I don’t feel comfortable in the upper levels of the estate. Especially in my old bedroom.”. I didn’t quite understand but told her to avoid that area if she was uncomfortable in those areas of the estate.

Little did I know what the estate was doing to the Lady or why. Memories of unpleasant incidents in the estate began to haunt the Lady to the extent that she became ill with a peculiar swooning illness which had almost taken her life in her youth.

The illness progressed with such intensity that the Lady could no longer care for herself in her own estate. She had a brother but he was prone to abandon the Lady for days while he attended to his business ventures.

Hearing of this and remembering my pact with the Duke I made a place for her in the great hall of my estate since it had easy access to all essential functions of the estate. Her illness made it difficult for her to move around the estate due to the extreme dizziness caused by the illness which usually made the Lady faint dead away when required to walk between areas of the estate. Subsequently the best alchemist in the province were summoned but they could offer little relief for they couldn’t determine the cause of the illness. Eventually she began to appear to hallucinate by hearing strange sounds and seeing strange sights in the estate especially emanating from the upper reaches of the estate. I became very concerned with her condition at this time because of its intensity and our inability to properly treat the disease. The resulting bleedings and leachings did nothing but drain her strength so eventually I put a stop to these practices which infuriated the alchemist so they left her with me untreated.

Meanwhile at her estate which had been left in the hands of her brother I received word that he had arranged and sold Lady’s coach and steed. Because she was ill and could not use them any longer he decided that he couldn’t afford to continue support of these items for he had little use for them. Unfortunately little did anyone know (especially Lady) that he was slowly selling off her property while she was away to settle some covert debts he had acquired.

Hearing of the sale of her coach and stead by her brother; the Lady was very much distressed. Eventually her brother convinced her that it was best since she couldn’t use them anymore and he would use the coin to keep up the estate while she was away.

I took it upon myself to arrange a deal with the new owner to allow the coach and stead to be taken to the Lady and give her one more ride. Even thought she was very sick she welcomed the chance for a last ride. As we finished the ride she stroked the stead and said: “Good-bye My Lady for I will miss you dearly”.