The Circuit

How I managed to wheedle more information out of Cathy was a miracle for she was lost in her world. She told me of the hall, fifty feet it was. The large refectory table, the armory, the tapestry in the walls, Day of the Walk she had been told. The Holt's were a proud lot to have marched with the king to war. The ceiling had paintings but to my utter dismay of blood baths.

"I get goose pimples when I look at them. "

A mince of new and old she had told me. There were sconces all round and the floor of flag stones. The east wings for the masters and the west wings for the servants. The gallery, Cathy explained was filled with the portrait paintings of the Holt's ancestors. The paintings had been renewed just recently and everything looked magnificent. Except the fact that one felt watched but they were a great fascination. There was a solarium in the east wing but rarely did people go there. The masters hardly home and the servants busy with their duties.

"I must tell you there's a dungeon. I've gone there once and twice. There's a rope banister to help you make your way through the unstable stairs. I say their prisoners died first of fright of the stairs other than the dungeon itself. If one is not careful it's a long way down. "

"yet I trust you made your way there with the impending dangers."

"what's the fun of it if I don't. There's a gun room it's no shock seeing the Holt's were men of war. But it served as the last walk of the unsuspecting captives. They would walk to the master seated near a corner and want to make their plea heard. The second they stand on a box like feature on the wood if one is not careful one might miss, the master would pull a lever from under his chair and down went the captive. There's a next room to the gun room,with stairs that lead the way to the dungeon but it was frowzy and I couldn't make my way down the dungeon. But I shall. You have to tie the stairs to a rope let down the stairs and down you go. It is to be pulled up immediately and disentangled from the ropes when one is done exploring. There used to be bones but they swept it clean. It only remains haunted now as the servants believe it so. But the Holt's are quite sadist for they build the walls of the dungeon in such a way they betray a way out. It's only after much effort one realises that the walls tear down to bring surface another wall . The light emitted is from the other hidden dungeon for the captives were mostly locked up in the right dungeon other than the left. Brutal delight. "

"how crude. "

"yes and I've heard there's one in the circuit,not the dungeon but a sinister gun room of sorts where the unsuspecting victim is called in and the master pulls a lever and down one goes into the river. "

"the circuit? "

"the maze I told you about in my letters. Built in a phenomenal manner if I must say. You must understand how it came to be. Legend has it that a family by the name, Orson's built the first maze. It was on plain ground. It caused such a fuss as people wanted to see it. It had no castle in the middle only a garden. Sweet haven it was called. You see no one had come up with an idea of a maze built and it was quite extraordinary. Higher thinking. It was a simple maze that one could easily make their way to the garden blindfolded. But it fuelled the desire to own a maze. Influential families then wanted a maze of their own and so they set their hearts to build their own. Maze of all kinds were set up. Each one more complex than the other. Each with their own destination. The first to have a castle in the middle were the Clarke's. It was called moat maze. Built on a moat yes but in an exquisite manner. The water flow was regulated in such a clever manner. Water by night dry in the day. It was so complicated and it was said many racked their brains but no one had topped the moat maze. Now the Holt's biding their time and conspiring came up with a grand idea. The castle had been built near the river grange and what do you know they sat at the middle of the river. Building the circuit at the source would have been close to impossible the flow was intense. Building it at the foot would not cause a stir. The middle was perfect. The rivers flow was neither fast nor slow. However it's force was strong all the same. The ambitious Holt of the time a Mr Richard I've heard called in the best architects. He wanted a whole maze built in the middle of the river. 'A crazed idea. ' He was told, there was not a way round it. He wanted it in the river they said near it was the best they could do. An architect came up with the idea of building the maze in two great halves. One on land and on the river. It wasn't what Richard Holt wanted but it seemed a suitable idea. They began constructing it. I can not begin to explain to you the arithmetics they used for it bore me to tears to listen to all those figures. As well as the material and the clever ploy of how the half built on the river was made to easily float but would be pulled back by the half in land. It was made in such a way it was hard to see the half on the river drift and it being pulled back more so to its actual appearance and not look disheveled in the least. It didn't amuse Richard at first but with the people all cluttering to see it even the Queen made her way to that castle to cast her eyes on such magnificence, it pleased Richard. He was beside himself with pleasure. It was named the most remarkable maze and still remains so. It's not just how it's built on both land and water, the castle in the middle adds to the zeal for its on both land and water built with different materials to keep it afloat at the same time grounded. Finding the path to it adds the cherry on top of the pie. It's so difficult you see. It was believed the path to the castle was by using the half to the land but one always ended up on the other side. Even more terrifying was one loosing their path. Let me show you. "

She unfolded a paper and I looked. I saw nothing but spirals and absolutely no outlet.

"when you think you have found your way you see its barred with a wall or a trap. The traps are either gates that shut themselves the second you walk in or seesaw planks, the second you step on them you slip into the water. If you're not quick to swim or no one is nearby you'll be a corpse for the force of the water is strong. "

" the Holt's seem to have an evil streak in them. "

" I'd say it's ambition. But that very maze has saved their lives. During the grand war, the Holt men had left to join the battlefield when their enemies aware that they had left their house unguarded marched to claim fleamstead cast and it's belongings. The mistress was notified and as she had known the path to the castle in the circuit she led the servants and her children there. They stayed until they men left. They had found no amusement so it seems for they took no loot. The turquoise jewellery was still secure in the strong room. Most importantly the Holt's were safe. "

"it sounds like something surrealist captured in the wild imagination of his subject and made it to life in his art. "

"but it is also true. The circuit also came into guise as the lovers crest. The Holt men are quite hot blooded beasts I've heard and there have been many love affairs there. Only one ended tragically. One ancestress discovered the affair of her husband with a lowly maiden. Her pride felt so sorely stepped on. She knew the atime of their meetings so she sought her husband and gave him wine, unbeknownst to him that she had put herbs to lull him to sleep. She made her way to the castle and waited for the maiden to make her appearance. The said gun room I've heard stands between the hall and the path to the stairs leading to the rooms. It was all too easy. The maiden came and the ancestress managed to coax the maiden at the very spot she wanted her to. It is said she gave her an order to stand and explain her escapades. With that, she pulled the lever. The maiden was unable to swim and she died. Her body was found a day after floating near the mouth. "

I shivered. What a way to end someone's life.

"it's all so interesting. "

"and worrisome. You must make sure you don't get involved with either of the Holt's. Who knows if they should discover and cajole you to go to either the dungeon or the circuit. "

" but I have an advantage Victoria. The Holt men well currently are unmarried. Loft Holt is a bachelor and Terence Holt is a widow. "

"you must not try your wicked charms on them. Remember your post. "

She laughed.

"oh Vicky. I shan't. I am yet to see Terrence and Loft does not appeal to me. They are an awkward lot. Terrence has a son his name is Maximilian. I like to call him Max. He is sort of like your Susanna. "

It hadnt occurred to me how much information I had poured.

" he is remote but very intelligent. His mother Magdalene, was an unhappy woman. Do not rebuke me, the servants were kind to part with this information. I couldn't shut them out when they spoke could I? "

" not a logical explanation Cathy. But do go on. " I couldn't help it but I wanted all the information down to the last detail.

"you see I'm entertaining you and even you have become so intrigued you thirst for more. "

"shall you keep me waiting? "

" calm it will you? Ah yes. Magdalene and Terence weren't happy. She was too weak to handle it all and so she threw herself by the river. "

" how gruesome. Did she not think of her child.?"

"who knows what goes on in the mind of others. Max was affected by all that and his father is an aloof man. He pays no attention to Max and goes on voyages. His seen only once a year. It's inevitable that such a child could get away unscathed." "If his father could pay him little attention it would help. "

"perhaps yes Vicky. Loft tries to fill the gap Terrence leaves. He tries to be a father to Max. It does help to some extent. I haven't told you that Loft is the cousin to Terrence. It should have been Terrence who should be Lord of the house but there was a will written by an ancestor rather the great grandfather of Terrence. The castle would be inherited by the first born son only by preference. For should he not wish to take up the responsibility of the castle he would choose an eligible person mostly a cousin or sibling to take over it. It was signed and sealed by the Holt's. Terrence wished not to take charge of the castle so he passed it to Loft. Loft is quite fond of the house. He was the one who told me about the circuit and it's history. He had an animated look one that depicts how taken they are. "

" it seems to me Terrence's irresponsibility began somewhere. But maybe there's a reason? Say a deeper reason. "

She had a glint in her eyes. " even with your prim manners there's one side of you that couldn't be subdued. Your appetite for mystery. It's a good thing we share that for it would be glum to share nothing at all. You can trust me to uncover the secrets. But I don't know Vicky. I have a feeling that the secret I will unravel will come to me all on its own. Infact I believe I know who my subject is but I shan't dive into it until I'm given a little nudge by the gods. "

"I pray that you will. Say does it have anything to do with the circuit?"

"it has everything to do with the circuit. I also go to the roof of the west wing to catch a glimpse of it. See it in the night and master it. "

"isn't it dangerous, surely the roof is quite far from the ground. It would be a nasty fall. Be careful will you. "

"oh I am careful. It's not like I dangle my legs as I sit on the edge. Though.. I have done so when I want a clear look at the circuit. "

I was alarmed. "Cathy! "

"now you are pale. Then I promise I shan't do that anymore. I shall drag up a chair and sit far from the edge. Does that soothe you? Come we must see the church, I have been itching to do so and I know you have to. "

I felt quite unsettled. We paid our compliments to the proprietress by the name Mrs Harmsworth and made our way to the church.

" it was built after the Holt's built flemstead. The aristocrats brought their wealth together and The lowly built it with their hands, stone by stone. "

I felt suddenly exultant looking at how grand it was. A rose window recently installed with stained glass of scarlet and sky blue. It was vast. The pews on either side and I noticed the first few pews had family names engraved on them. How disconcerting and prejudiced. The mullioned windows were a feature to smile upon and each had stained glass of scarlet and sky blue. The cross stood erect in the middle of the altar and on its immediate left there was a cabinet which I assumed held the essentials needed for the church service. It must also have records of families that traced to centuries backward.

"from what I've gathered Vicky the first church before this grand one was built was an adobe church. Built in haste and lacked lustre. "

"you've engaged in too much tattle Cathy. "

" and you have not that's a cause of concern. Surely though the Markham's are not a source of amusement you must find something to do so. Else how should you kill all the spare time. "

"I do believe things will take an interesting toll once Dolche arrives. "

"ah, the nuisance. "

I flushed, how unwise of me to include that in the letter.

" she seems to be in everyone's bad books. Even her mother can't handle her. "

"in this case I shall say enjoy your peace while it lasts. Meanwhile I shall ask the gracious Loft Holt to allow me to host you when things take a turn and you become overwhelmed. "

"you think I'm incapable of handling her wickedness."

"I'm afraid the prim Victoria wouldn't be capable of handling Dolche. But the wild Victoria can. "

"what confidence you bestow on me. "

"I think that is my queue to say Victoria I daresay you haven't seen the church crypt have you? Neither have I? Shall we? "

The priest had not made his appearance perhaps he was busy listening to the confessions of a sinner. We went down the winding steps.

It was empty but quite a sight to see. Our church had not the eloquence as this one had.

"have you asked about Edward Compton or have you settled on never finding him? "

"I have asked Mrs buttercup but she knows not of him. But I'm guessing she's forgotten. He must have come at the Markhams at one point to notice the iron gate before it became bronzed. But I doubt it's near impossible to forget someone like Edward, he makes quite an impression. "

"as he did you? You must forgive me I have been so caught up with the fascinations of the castle and have asked nothing about a Mr Compton. Tell you what, I shall try my best to get some information. I always manage to get it you know I do. If fate is kind and I'm sure it will be, you shall be reunited. "

I hoped it was so. But it had not escaped me that if he were in need to see me he knew where to find me. It was of utmost importance I should see him again. He had filled my hours with thoughts of him and the kiss. I should find him and if I were nothing but a flame for the night I should know then what to do but it was important I saw him first. We made our way out and I loathed our goodbyes. I took an oath from Cathy that she shan't be careless sitting on the edge. It was a clear invitation of death though she said it in a light hearted manner. The only thing that consoled me was I knew Cathy took oaths seriously. When we were younger I took an oath from her to refrain from sweets until her teeth ceased to ache. I had thought she would lie she hadn't but would eat them anyway. But to my surprise I caught her in the kitchen looking at the biscuits. She was itching to take one and I watched how she refrained herself. Slapping her hands from not taking even one. She eventually turned around and left, not wanting the temptation to override her determination. It amused me. Even when I told her a secret that involved someone else say perhaps a crush, I would watch how she would gnaw her lips and refrain from speaking. So I knew she would drag up a chair and look at the circuit a clear distance from the edge.

As I rode Cecily, I began to imagine flemstead castle. The ghost castle. It was plausible Cathy would stumble on more than one secret. How I wished I would have been by her side to enjoy the revelations. As the Amber house of the Markham's came into vision I felt my spirits dampen. For some unfathomable reason I found myself wishing that Dolche should arrive soon. Then I should be more than entertained.