Location: Mournweald Estate, London
Over at the Mournweald estate the preparations for Mosi's funeral were in full bloom... almost. To the complete horror of Clarice Crane, the mother of the departed, the funeral preparations had hit a hurdle. Half of the family expressed complete refusal to proceed with the proper etiquette required for the upcoming grim event. Mosi was her daughter and while she didn't always see eye to eye with her, the proper etiquette and the traditions demanded a proper funeral.
“No, stop this.” A young man stated with firm voice, cutting off his own mother's path.” We CANNOT proceed with this. You know my sister's will. She demanded direct cremation in any event of her death and for everything else to be handled by her friend from the colonies.” Ernest Crane stated with one of his sister by his side to support him.
“Stop this...” Their mother growled really low as to not make excess sound, throwing a look at the house servants.” You know the traditions, the funeral will be held tonight...”
“NO.” The young man stated again.” I personally wrote her will since she couldn't. It is clear as day... at least her death, she will face as she wishes.” The young man wouldn't budge from his position. He himself didn't interact much with Mosi, but that was both because difference in age and the fact he respected her to leave her free. He didn't wish to lose his sister like that, but now she was dead and dammit, he regretted not interacting with her more.
“Stop this... it's unsightly.” Beatrice said in really low voice.” Just do the traditions... people expect it. She's already dead, Ernest. She won't mind.” The sister stated to the huge shock of her still living sister.” What? She did whatever she pleased with all her life, she cannot stupidly rebel and tarnish our name any further now. Beside what will... it's not official.”
“Tell me, you didn't mean that!” Bridgitte, the second sister uttered in disbelieve.
“What didn't I mean? That our family's the bad talk of everyone? The rumors? The disgrace?” Beatrice stated flatly.
The tensions were high right now as Clarice found herself at the bridge of a huge family scandal right in the worst of possible timing. Worst part was that her husband, William had entered his study after the earlier argument about what to do about the funeral and hadn't left since. He was unable to decide.
Outside of the estate itself, the Crypt carriage finally arrived after its departure from Crypt Manor. Virginia was accompanied by Alfred and her brother, all of them dressed in fine mourning attire, appropriate for this day and age. There was never a shortage of black clothes in any Crypt household, even if Virginia preferred an innocent lavender herself. The black gown only served to accent the paleness of Virginia and James, though Alfred's skin was nowhere near as ghastly in comparison.
"Ginny, are we gonna dance the mamushka for Mosi?" James asked eagerly, hardly containing himself as the Crypt family left the carriage. He was accompanying his sister for a few principal reasons. The death threats made against her brother's life made Virginia desire to keep him close. He had the traditional Crypt obsession with death and the macabre. And of course, the Crane family adored British tradition, from what Virginia had come to understand. The presence of the Viscount Wenwyinth might possibly be welcomed at the funeral, even if Virginia was the true acting head of the Crypt family at this moment in time.
"Of course. We danced the mamushka for Nero. We danced for La Voisin. And we danced for Mary Bateman. We'll dance for Mosi as well," Virginia explained. Virginia had only been alive for the dancing of the mamushka for the last individual, someone her father had admired very deeply. She remembered seeing the body on display after the execution. A soft smile graced Virginia's lips.
"Will Mary be here?" James suddenly added, as Alfred finished giving instructions to the carriage driver as to when to return. The funeral, Alfred imagined, would take a while. He was a bit apprehensive of the entire ordeal, knowing that Virginia and James would have different expectations for the burial than the Crane family would.
"If you keep asking after Sister Hale like that, someone might think you're taken with her, Master James," Alfred said seriously, though there was the slightest bit of a smug smile on his face.
"I am not!!!" James protested, looking as if Alfred had suggested that he might dress only in pink and wear ribbons in his hair.
"I believe you, Master James," Alfred replied, as the trio walked to the steps of the manor. "The real question is, Master James, whether or not Sister Hale will."
The rather unusual for the time commotion insie the Crane's family home was continuing as the siblings were arguing to a point that was bound to escalate into a full bown scandal when one of hte servants informed them that 3 people had just arrived outside in a carriage. Going by the description, Ernest turned towards the front entrance right away.
"Stop it." Beatrice called once more, she too getting the feeling knowing who arrived." Do you wish for our family to face even greater disrespect in the eyes of everyone? There are things we must uphold." She tried to bar his way, but was pulled away by her mother for her own susprise." Mother why are you stopping me?"
"This is enough... I do not wish for my remaining children to quarrel between themselves. Let's see what Lady Crypt will decide..." THe older woman stated as Ernest stormed past his sister and eventually out the front doorway of the estate.
"Lady Crypt, I'm glad to have you here... especially given the situation." Ernest stated with a rather rushed manner, forgoing some of the pleasantries that were normally going to be present whenever people arrive." My name's Ernest Crane." He introduced himself since he never really talked to or met up close Virginia or James for that matter.
"My sister... requested in her will that should she dies, she want's to be cremated right away, and Lady Crypt, you should be the one to organize the funeral ceremony aside that. She mentioned something about 'not wanting the bad influence of this society'..." Ernest quickly explained as Mosi's mother showed on the doorway, waiting to greet Virginia and James in after her son's done breaching the etiquette enough.
"Ernest, invite them inside already. This is not a talk for the public..." She stated coldly.
Virginia blinked. She was not used to normals speaking so quickly with actual purpose. Generally, there was what seemed to be a never ending round of pleasantries that precluded anything meaningful. It would be poor form, poor manners, to do otherwise. It did not strike her as a bit strange that Mosi had entrusted her burial procedures to Virginia, but more so that this was the first she was learning of it. It was already the evening hours and she had to imagine funeral preparations had already begun. She would've appreciated more notice to plan such an event for her dear friend, but it would have hardly changed matters too much. Virginia had spent a good deal of her time in the laboratory, attempting to uncover the truth behind a death threat.
"Can I watch the cremation?" James whispered, tugging a bit on Alfred's pant leg. The butler shook his head slightly--whether it was in affirmation or negation was hard to tell--but James seemed to take it positively. "Do you think she's got maggots?" James then added, hardly bothering to whisper this time. He was getting too excited about seeing a real corpse--the corpse of someone he knew, even. Strangers weren't nearly as interesting.
"Master James--" Alfred began, only for Virginia to hold up a hand.
"Excellent question, little devil. Perhaps that is a project you could take on in addition to your lessons--the prediction of maggot infestation in corpses." James' jaw dropped at the very idea--his very own experiment! "In your laboratory?" James asked, hardly able to contain his glee.
"Yes, though Miss Evers might be persuaded to set up the dining room table for your studies for you," Virginia replied, before turning her attention fully to the Crane family. While most would have offered apologies for James' behavior, Virginia did not. He was a little boy and he acted his age. What was there to apologize for?
"Now, let us discuss the matters at hand," Virginia said, awaiting the formal invitation to enter the Crane household.
"Bodies do not always rot as slowly as would be convenient." “Yes...”Ernest muttered chosing to disregard the rather unsettling things that Virginia's brother was saying.” Please, welcome to our home.” He said, gesturing for the three to follow him inside.
Mosi's mother scowled and simply moved away, while the rather unfriendly sister just couldn't help herself but give both her brother and Virginia a hell of a unfriendly glare before choosing to go to her room.
“Me and Bridgitte have been trying to stall the funeral preparations until now.” Ernest explained.” Mother and Beatrice have been pushing to proceed with normal funeral for Jeanette. Since her wish was for you to handle it, can we assume you know what she wished for?” He asked. Frankly he didn't care much what people would say right now. He'd deal with it later. Saving face was important, but family was even more so. He realized it now, sadly too late to do anything about it.
Location: Annan
Annan was beautiful, though Maeve could not help but feel a bit of a longing for the streets of Dublin. It felt like it had been months since she was home, though it was considerably less time than that. Still, it had been more than just a few days since she had last seen her daughter and her family. Stifling a bit of a chuckle at the stern elderly voice--the image of either the parson or Rory getting hit with a cane was a comical one--Maeve turned to face the direction of the voice. Seeing the front of the dress shop, Maeve's eyes then focused in on the woman.
She seemed to be simultaneously frail and tough--frail from age, tough from just about everything else. Immediately, Maeve was already sizing the woman up, figuring that she likely had to be Lady Kirkpatrick. Maeve had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at the parson, knowing now that his clumsiness was all an act. Everything about the man, as far as Maeve was concerned, was fake. Why, if she heard that he had been mentioned in the papers, she likely would've simply called it
fake news. Either way, Lady Kirkpatrick certainly didn't seem to be the type that needed help. They had hardly been there a minute and Lady Kirkpatrick had already put both men in their places. While Maeve had assumed that she'd need to play a more docile and sweet part initially, she realized now that likely wasn't so. Making sure that she was standing straight, holding her shillelagh in her left hand, Maeve nodded curtly at Lady Kirkpatrick.
"Aye, me lady. I am 'ere ter assist yer since the men in this world seem unaware or unwillin' ter admit that yer are perfectly capable av 'andlin' yerself," Maeve said, holding her ground and making eye contact with Lady Kirkpatrick. She did appreciate Lady Kirkpatrick hitting the parson-priest with her cane. It was something that Maeve herself likely would've done, if she didn't have anything on the line.
