As the carriage moved farther away from the city's sprawl, the scenery shifted. Buildings grew larger, facades immaculate, and stood farther apart, their grounds marked by well-tended hedges, wrought-iron fences, and gates guarded by liveried servants.
"The noble quarter," Samuel muttered, adjusting his spectacles, as he peered out the window. "Feels like another world compared to the rest of the city."
"Another world built upon the backs of the rest of the city," Cecil replied dryly, gaze flicking over a marble statue depicting a triumphant naval hero, of years long past. "But then, Grandport is hardly unique in that regard."
After a while the carriage slowed as they reached a sprawling estate of pale stone and slate roofs, encircled by high fences of stone and iron. Servants in green-and-gold livery hurried about the grounds, their movements brisk, their faces tight with visible tension, even from a distance.
The driver reined in the horses, and the carriage rolled to a stop at the gates. Samuel and Cecil disembarked, the gravel crunching beneath their shoes.
At the gate stood two guards in Terenvale colors, their crests stitched into their jackets. They were speaking with a tall, broad-shouldered man whose sun-browned skin and relaxed posture contrasted the guards' stiffness. He wore polished leather shoes, black slacks with suspenders, and a crisp white shirt. A holster rested at his waist, white gloves covered his hands, and a burnt maroon jacket hung loosely from his shoulders. A fedora shaded his deliberately untidy dark hair.
The guards shifted, hands resting lightly on their sabers as the man turned, his emerald eyes assessed the newcomers.
"Names and Business?" one guard demanded.
Cecil stepped forward smoothly. "Cecil Hollows, and this is Samuel Feathersworth. We've been sent to continue the investigation into Lady D'Amberlin." He turned to the taller man. "You must be Bjorn. Smith mentioned we'd be working on the same team.."
"Howdy," Bjorn said with a wide grin. He extended his hand, and Cecil, after a faint pause, reciprocated the handshake.
Samuel clasped his hands behind his back. "So you're the bounty hunter?"
"Bounty hunter, trader, fixer-upper, sometimes a negotiator," Bjorn said with a wink. "Call it what ya please. Bottom line is, Captain Smith pays, and I deliver."
The guards at the gate exchanged glances, but after a moment one nodded curtly and stepped aside. "You three may enter. The steward, Mr. Howard, will meet you at the door."
The guards opened the gate with a groan and the gravel crunched underfoot as they walked the winding path toward the manor. Servants passed by, not really paying much attention to the three, their eyes betraying unease as they carried buckets, linens, and trays.
Bjorn stuffed his hands into his pockets as he strolled along beside them. "So, what's the play? We pokin' around the garden where they found her, or knockin' on doors first?"
"First the garden," Cecil said calmly. "The Terenvales will be… delicate. Nobility always is. Best to have facts before we speak with them and "waste their time"."
Samuel nodded in agreement as he asked Cecil. "Do you happen to know anything about the House Terenvale or House D'Amberlin that would be beneficial?"
Cecil turned and looked at Samuel, momentarily caught off guard, though the answer was already on his tongue. "And why, pray tell, would you immediately assume that I would know?"
"You seem like the type," Samuel shrugged. "I just thought we should see what we both know before we enter the estate."
"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult," Cecil sighed, as Bjorn laughed. "What I do know of the House Terenvale is limited and my knowledge of House D'Amberlin even more so. As Smith said, they were among the founding families of Grandport. Back when the city belonged to the Empire, they sought entry into the Court of Kings. That alone should tell you where their politics lie."
Bjorn hummed low. "Far as I heard, Lord Terenvale was a mighty big roadblock in Grandport breakin' free from the Empire and joining the Confederation."
"You are correct in that assumption, it was major news among noble families." Cecil said.
"And House D'Amberlin?" Samuel asked as he looked deep in thought, taking in the information.
Bjorn spoke up. "I know 'bout them. One o' those families dead-set on the notion Varethorne Kingdom's the rightful heir to the Lancaster Imperium, and not the Luris Democracy."
"Two peas in a pod, Terenvale and D'Amberlin, it seems." Samuel stated as they reached the polished steps where a middle-aged man awaited, posture ramrod straight, his suit immaculate in green and gold trim. His silvered hair was combed to precision, his expression coolly professional.
"Gentlemen," he said, bowing shallowly. "I am Howard, steward of the Terenvale estate. Captain Smith mentioned your arrival." His eyes flicked briefly over Cecil's fine clothing, Samuel's priestly robes, and Bjorn's half-casual, half-polished attire. A trace of disapproval lingered in his gaze, but his tone never faltered. "Lord Terenvale is occupied. Until such time as he is prepared to receive you, I am instructed to answer what questions I can, and grant you access to the grounds."
"Then we'll begin with the garden," Samuel said. "Where Lady D'Amberlin was found."
"Of course." Howard inclined his head in a slight bow. "Follow me."
The garden sprawled behind the manor, an artful mixture of beds of both native and exotic greenery, trimmed hedges shaped into winding patterns enclosed secluded alcoves of benches and statues. Throughout the garden had many marble fountains, their waters catching the pale afternoon light.
Howard guided them toward a low stone terrace overlooking a bed of white lilies. "It was here," he said, gesturing toward a rose arbor at the far end, its vines thick with late-summer blossoms. The space beneath the archway had been cleared, the stone path brushed, though no amount of tending could disguise the blackened stones and the faint outline of where the body had been.
Bjorn whistled low, removing his fedora in respect. "Damn. That's one hell of a way to die."
"The marks suggest it was contained" Samuel crouched down looking at the marks, pointing at the faint outline. "Look the marks don't go much further then where the body was found and no scorch marks on the arbor itself."
Howard clasped his hands behind his back, posture rigid. "The groundskeepers found her at dawn. From their account, there was no sound and only the faintest of smoke. Only when they came to tend the lilies did they discover her."
"Do you know why she was in the garden?" Samuel asked.
Howard frowned. "That, Father, I cannot say. It is not the place of a servant to question the lady's reasons for a midnight stroll."
Samuel exhaled, rising to his feet. "Then before we do anything else let's begin on the interviews."