The Fourth Mistress

After having breakfast, Louise left the manor with Graham for work.

In the afternoon, while she sat behind her desk, she pulled the letter she had carried in her pocket. Since Chloe had given her the letter, she could not find the right time to open and read it.

Mr. Winkle was taking his afternoon nap, and she had finished most of the reports that he had given her in the morning. With no one to disturb, she unfolded the letter that had four foldings. The letter read—

'Go back to the place from where you came. Nobody in our society likes you. They mock you, a woman who turned as a third mistress to the widower. You are an outsider and will always be. A dumb woman with mental sickness who is not loved. You are disgusting, with that smile of yours, deceiving others by acting innocent.

My spirit won't let you rest in peace, and I will turn your life into a living hell.'

Louise' eyebrows knit together as she read the words in the letter once again before she put it down on the table. It was hard to tell who and from where the letter came. Because whoever wrote it wrote it in with generic words that could be anyone from inside or outside the manor.

Someone clearly disliked Lisa, and she wondered what the word spirit here actually meant. A person's resolution? Because there was no way, a ghost could write a letter, but could it?

Louise wondered why Lisa had not mentioned anything about this letter to Graham. Folding it, she placed it back in her pocket.

What exactly Mr. Wensley was involved in that had cost him and Elias Latton's life. She knew she would be able to find it when she would go to Mistletoe street. At the moment, Graham was occupied by work, and she had told him that she would wait for him so that they could go together.

Getting up from her seat, she walked to Mr. Winkle's room. Noticing him awake, she knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Mr. Winkle.

"Mr. Winkle, I was wondering if you have the other file copies related to the unusual death in Warlington. Would it be alright for me to take a look at it?" asked Louise, seeing him finish his writing before he looked up at her.

"Which ones are you looking for?" Mr. Winkle raised his eyebrows at her as if already knowing she was up to something. Louise smiled at her employer's words. He then said, "I didn't get all of them and only a few. You will find them in the green cabinet," and he gave a key to it.

"Thank you, Mr. Winkle," Louise went to the storage room where the files were stacked. Walking towards the green painted cabinet, she pulled it open and started to go through the files. "Five years," she murmured to herself, as Lisa had died five years ago.

On seeing the name 'Lisa Graham Reed', Louise pulled out the file and read the papers one by one. There was a picture of Lisa's dead body, and seeing it, she whispered,

"This was not what was told in the newspaper."

Lisa laid on the floor of the attic near the chair. But that wasn't all. The wooden floor of the attic must have been weak because there was a hollowness. The back of the woman's neck had been pierced through the wooden flooring.

One would conclude that it was a freak accident. But knowing Lisa's fears and after reading the note that Chloe had given to her, she came to believe that the death was planned, but who killed her?

Louise continued to read the contents in the files that seemed important. Then she saw a paper that was named Nelson Reed, who was Graham's grandfather.

'To my beloved family, where we have lived together and thrived. After considering everything in my free will and sanity of mind, I have decided that after my death, whatever lands and properties that belong to me, it's ownership shall be transferred to my grandchildren's spouses and then to their children.'

While Louise stood there reading, the light that passed through the window left a shadow on the objects in the room. Once she finished reading the pages, she placed it back in the cabinet, locked it and walked out of the room. But what Louise failed to notice was that the floor had two shadows on the floor. While one left with her, the other that was in the opposite direction continued to stay there.

The remaining day passed as usual, and Louise didn't reveal anything to anyone. With the theatrical play next month, Graham and Louise had decided at night to go out tomorrow.

The following day in the evening, Louise stepped down the stairs, wearing one of the dresses she had stitched from Mr. Brunell's shop. The back of the dress was slightly longer compared to the front. The colour lilac and the sleeves went up to her wrists.

When she reached the end of the stairs, she met Graham standing there waiting for her. But he wasn't alone. His father stood next to him, talking about something.

Graham turned to look at Louise, his eyes drinking in her appearance, and he offered his hand for her to hold and get down. Louise could tell that the dress had done its charm as he stared at her, and she offered him a soft smile. Graham had dressed in a black and white suit. His hair combed back in the style of how some of the noble members of the society had their hair combed.

"You look beautiful, Louise," complimented Robert, and Louise offered him a bow.

"Thank you, Robert," she was still trying to get accustomed to addressing her father-in-law by his first name. The older man nodded his head.

"I hope you both will enjoy your evening at Dove's," wished Robert with a smile. Unlike Lady Viola, his behaviour was much more supportive of her. When he had found out about them going to spend this evening outside Reed's estate, he had made a reservation in one of the restaurants. "Do convey my regards to the Purles."

As Louise got inside the carriage, she noticed her mother-in-law's frame, who stood in one of the front windows. It wasn't her intention to anger and wage war with Viola. But being a married woman, Louise wanted to put in all effort.

When they reached the restaurant, Louise looked at its board and the people who stepped in and out. In the past, she had walked past this place many times, but she had never entered it because she had heard of the overpriced dishes and the people who visited it.

A man stood outside the restaurant and noticed Graham walking with a woman next to him. He bowed his head. "Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Reed. Allow me to take your coats." Once he was done taking them and having them hung on the stands, he said, "Let me show you to your table," offered the man, giving extra attention to the couple because the Reeds were significant people in Habsburg and the nearby towns.

The man led both of them to the quieter side of the place, which had a complete lake view. Louise looked stunned by the breathtaking lake that reflected the sky had started to change colours.

Graham, who sat in front of her, asked, "Do you like it?"

"I love it," replied Louise, tearing her gaze away from the scenery to look at Graham, who was looking at her.

"This whole property around the lake solely belongs to the Purles family. It is why there are fences, to allow only the customers," explained Graham to her.

"How many times have you come here?" asked Louise, her eyes curiously looking at him.

A faint smile appeared on his lips, and he replied, "It is my first time."

"Really? I would have never been able to guess," murmured Louise, returning the smile to him.

"Since we came to settle in Habsburg, I have heard a lot about this place. Even been asked by people to bring them here." On hearing Graham's words, the smile on Louise's lips widened. She wondered if it was just young women or older ladies who wanted to spend their time with him. "This is one of the best places in Habsburg."

"The view is the best I have seen until now," admitted Louise, looking back at the subtle change in the sky and its reflection in the lake.

Knowing she was the first one to be brought here by Graham made her heart warm. When his eyes moved to look at the lake, Louise admired his strong features. It felt as if they had come to attend a soiree, only that this soiree was for just the both of them.

Soon a woman who was in her early fifties, her hair tied in a bun, appeared at their table, "It is good to see you here, Graham. I thought you would never come here to eat."

Graham stood up, and so did Louise.

"Good evening, Mrs. Purles," Graham greeted the woman with a slight bow, and the woman returned it. "I wanted to view the beauty of this place with my wife," and he turned to Louise. "This is Louise."

Mrs. Purles offered Louise a warm smile, "Welcome to the Dove's, Louise and congratulations on your marriage."

"Thank you," Louise politely replied.

"Please sit down," Mrs. Purles urged them, and the couple took their seats before she started to take their order personally while recommending what was good to eat before she left.

The meal Louise had with Graham was delicious, and she enjoyed speaking to him about things unrelated to his past or his family or their work.

"You never thought to publish the book?" Louise asked during their conversation, sipping the water once she felt her stomach was almost full. Graham had generously ordered nearly every dish to taste, and she saw him relax more in her presence.

"I never thought to publish it and it might not be as good as you think," responded Graham, bringing his fork up and taking a bite of his food. "I started writing probably three or five years ago. With just a few words and it was just for fun in the beginning. I have it in the drawer. You can read it if you want to take a look at it."

"I would be more than happy to do that," answered Louise.

When it was time to leave, Louise excused herself to visit the powder room, and as she pushed the door, she saw two women in there.

"Did you hear that, right? The last time someone said Graham Reed got married, it turned out to be false," said one of the women, who was powdering her nose.

"This time it isn't wrong. He's here with his new mistress to have dinner. I walked past the room, but the lady's back was facing me and I couldn't see her face," said the second woman, touching her lips.

"I would definitely like to take a look at who this cunning woman is, who decided to snatch the man and his wealth," laughed the first woman. Louise walked into the room and towards the basin to wash her hands. "Do you know who she is?"

The second woman made a sound in her throat as if she had no idea, "Considering how it was a hushed up wedding, I can only think that the person isn't from the same background. The fourth mistress of Graham Reed, she must have tricked him into marrying her. I don't think anyone has seen this woman before with him. Must be a nutcase."

That was because both she and Graham were busy, thought Louise in her mind. She had finished washing her hands, and she moved her wrists, such that drops of water sprinkled on the two women.

"What do you think you are doing, lady?!" The first woman looked at her incredulously. "There are napkins on the side if you want to dry your hands."

Louise smiled, "My apologies, I thought this was where I was supposed to do it. You did call me a nutcase."