Chapter 1
Mayson
I was searching for lurid books to read in the Keep’s library late one evening, purposefully waiting until my father and brother had retired to their chambers before making my way downstairs.
My father, Lord Greer Montpellier, was rather strict and vetted my reading list. He didn’t think that I should have access to all the books housed in our expansive library, and I vehemently disagreed with his point of view! He couldn’t vet my thoughts, though, and he would never know what went on behind the façade I’d so carefully cultivated.
Reading was my one and only hobby. I hated needlework, and I couldn’t paint. As a Lady there wasn’t much I was expected to do, except behave like one. My twentieth birthday was a week away and father had already invited more than fifty guests, most of them suitors, he wanted to ensure a union that was advantages for him... My mother's long illness had prevented an earlier union, he couldn't very well marry me off whilst his wife was dying.
I had long since given up hope of meeting a dashing man that I could fall in love with, the only way to satisfy my craving for affection was through books. If I didn't manage to avoid marriage, which seemed likely at this point, I would become the unwilling little wife to some old man with disgusting jowls.
He’d caught me recently reading a book discarded by a guest, which had been quite explicit and erotic, to my chagrin I never finished it as he confiscated it immediately. As punishment he started locking the library, saying I was untrustworthy.
He thought I obeyed him implicitly, little did he know that I sneaked down the double staircase each night, quiet as a mouse, to check if he remembered to lock it. I felt a rush every time I disobeyed him, I suppose you would call that silent defiance... This evening I was lucky, the doors were unlocked, I quickly entered and pulled them closed.
I loved the large rectangular space filled with floor to ceiling books, the dark wood furniture and comfortable armchairs that were made for whiling away the evening, escaping into a fantasy world. The smell of books and their capability of transporting me to foreign lands and fantastic fables. The lighting was muted but during the day the big north facing windows allowed plenty of sunlight.
There was a particular shelf, right at the top, close to the fireplace I had my eye on. I had surreptitiously been browsing in my father’s presence, whilst walking around the library aimlessly– book in hand– pretending to read. It gave me immense pleasure to look for inappropriate books right under his nose. Of course, I could only browse, but now I could examine them to my heart’s content.
I lit an oil lamp and placed it on the table, before moving the ladder into position and climbing up. I was keen to find a similarly erotic book that my father had confiscated. Just the few pages I'd read had aroused me. The first three book titles sounded uninteresting, so I shoved them back and heard a click.
I froze, did someone just open the library door? Oh damn, did my father come down to lock the door? I hastily climbed down the ladder and sneaked to the door, listening... I depressed the handle slowly, sighing in relief when it opened. Closing it gently, I leant against it, imagining my father’s look of outrage if he found me here, I giggled at the image.
I did like riling him occasionally. He thought I was the docile, doting daughter, and truth be told, I fostered that image as it suited my purposes. Better for him not to know his daughter had a rebellious streak. Disobeying him behind his back provided me with singular delight.
What was that click?
Scanning the room, my eyes automatically found what was out of place. A panel next to the fireplace was no longer flush to the wall. I dashed over excitedly, was this a secret passageway?
I pulled the panel open, and darkness greeted me. A musty dank smell wafted up. I hesitated for a split second, but then grabbed the lamp and matches and slowly walked down a set of stairs. It was a secret passageway! My excitement grew when I saw hallways going in all directions. There must be other access points, judging by the many corridors and I intended to find them. Anticipation surged through me, I felt like Alice in Wonderland.
Going through the library wasn’t ideal, the probability of being caught was high, so I walked back up the stairs to see if there was a latch that could be opened from inside. If I didn’t find another way out, I would have to return this way, and hoped that wouldn’t be the case. I wanted time to explore but leaving the panel open could lead to discovery, which could lead to solitary confinement in my room, best to avoid that!
Holding the lamp high, I scanned the wall, and sure enough, there was a lever. I smiled in satisfaction and closed the entryway. I had all night to find another way out, or multiple ways out! Giddy with excitement, I briefly considered changing out of my nightdress, but I didn’t want to waste time sneaking back to my room, or the possibility of a servant seeing and reporting me.
I ran one hand down the rough stone wall, the bricks were large and uneven, ice cold to the touch. I shivered, it was musty and cold down here, dust billowing with every step. I decided to take the east passageway, logic dictated that it would lead under the guest bedrooms.
Holding the lamp up high, I searched for levers. It wasn’t long before I found one, set to the side of an embedded wooden panel. I tugged on it gently and the panel clicked open, my eyes rounded in amazement at the narrow staircase and uneven steps roughly hewn together. I gnawed my lip in indecision before walking a little further till I hit the end of the hallway. More fanned in both directions.
This place was like a maze! I had never heard anyone mention it– did my father even know it existed? Didn’t matter if he did or not, as of now, I knew... This was just what I needed to occupy my time, and I almost laughed out loud. Maybe this was my escape route...
I didn’t want to get lost, tomorrow I’d be better prepared, so I turned back to the staircase and climbed up three flights of stairs, the wood creaked ominously with each step as though they were slowly rotting. I reached a dead end, seeing the lever straight away, I grasped it, the click sounded terribly loud.
I pulled the panel open, finding myself in a small chamber with a chair and table. I had no idea where this chamber was located, I’d never seen it before. I held up the lamp and saw a different type of lever, almost flush against the wall, the handle short with a ring at the end. This one wouldn’t move down, only up, but there was no click.
What was the lever for? I couldn’t see anything, so I disappointedly retraced my steps. It was imperative to find another way. I really didn’t want to go back through the library if I could help it. Besides, it would be impossible to enter the maze from there during the day. I walked to the end of the passageway and turned left. I found a lever not too far from the end and pulled it, again the click reverberated loudly in the empty space, a shiver ran down my spine.
Another set of stairs, this time only two flights. It looked like the same carpenter had been at work here. At the top was a landing, my eyes zeroed in on the lever, hastily tugging on it and this time it led to a room. The opening was so small I had to duck through it, but I recognized it immediately, it had been my mother’s hobby room where she painted before the illness took her.
Excitedly, I stepped through, not closing the panel. I couldn’t wait for morning to explore the maze. I was already making a list in my head. Feigning illness would guarantee I was left to my own devices. Extinguishing the lamp, I left it on the table, the matches securely fitted into the handle. I’d learnt long ago to always have matches on hand.
I smiled in anticipation as I tiptoed feverishly to my room, conveniently located on the same floor and fell into bed, planning my adventure and possible escape. Nothing would stop me now...
