Snippet #1509781

"Lord Kelnor." the Earl reminded her with a smirk. "And a vegetarian eh? Must admit we don't get too many of those this way. If afraid at this hour the menu may me somewhat inflexible, but our cook always provides an abundance of wonderful seasonal vegetables, so I promise you shalln't go hungry."

The food was not long in coming, and looked mouthwatering. The Earl was having the duck also. As they ate he asked the girls about their reasons for traveling through this part of the country so late at night and in such appalling weather conditions. In return, he spoke of himself, the house and his family. He explained that he was the last survivor of his family, and that his estate streched for miles around the house. At one time the estate was propserous, with many tenant farmers cultivatig his land and providing a healthy income for his family. But things started to change. His sister died at the age of thirty-two under mysterious circumstances. She was found dead in a clearing in the woods wirth strange marks on her neck.

News travelled fast, and the ignorant locals started muttering about witchcraft and black magic. In their eyes, the house was cursed. Pure superstitious nonsense of course, but gradually the farmers moved to new pastures, avoiding the estate.