Fur is Murder! (Lady T, Clayton, Maid Marian)

[Elisa Maza]

Elisa sighed as she finished sweeping the main hall. She had been working under Lady Tremaine for a week now, and had yet to find anything good enough to arrest the woman.

She turned to see Edgar coming down the stairs. Elisa had no proof, but she was pretty certain that Edgar knew of Lady Tremaine's dark deeds. The smirk he always got when she sent him to the cellar always creeped her out. He gazed at Elisa, looking down at her from the length of his nose.

"Salli, is it?" He said disdainfully, as if she should count herself lucky that he bothered to learn her name. "Her Ladyship is expecting a gentleman caller tonight, and requires your assistance to make herself ready. She is waiting for you in her chambers."

Elisa gave a slight curtsy towards the stiff butler. "Yes sir."

Elisa put the broom and dust pan back in the closet, and dusted her hands on her apron as she moved up the elaborate staircase. She came to the end of the hall, knocking lightly at the large double doors. Lady Tremaine's frosty voice bid her to enter, and Elisa slowly pushed the door open, curtsying again for Lady Tremaine.

"You sent for me, My Lady?"

[ladytremaine]

Lady Tremaine stood up from the chair where she had been seated, and turned to "Salli".

"Ah, there you are. I am expecting a gentleman tonight, and I want a new outfit to be ready when he arrives. I was thinking something in fur...."

An ice cold smile crossed her face.

"But it shall not be just any fur. It has to be unique, out of the ordinary... something elegant.... with class....."

She turned to Salli and threw an ice cold gaze at her.

"I want you to take care of this now. It has top priority before your other duties."

[Clayton]

[[Do you wish me to join now or later??]]

[ladytremaine]

((Now is fine, my dear. *Flirtatious smile* ))

[Elisa Maza]

Inwardly, Elisa was even more disgusted by Lady Tremaine than she thought was possible. Just how low could this woman go? A poor helpless animal had to make her look good?

"Yes, my lady." Elisa said. "I shall go into town immediately and check the finest stores."

Elisa left Lady Tremaine's room and began ranting quietly to herself about cruel deceitful women.

"Where am I even going to find a coat good enough for her?" Elisa wondered. "There's no minks running around Disneyland."

Elisa walked outside, nearly bumping into a tall muscular man. One look at him told her that he was an outdoors man, and the shotgun slung over his shoulders didn't do much to hide what his favorite activities might be.

(( There's your cue, Clayton. Lady T wants a coat! ))

[esmeralda]

Just how low could this woman go? A poor helpless animal had to make her look good?

Esmeralda: Hah - it takes a miracle to make Lady T look good! *Looks at armed Clayton and holds her hand over her mouth*: Oooops - I'll shut up now! ;D ;D ;D

[Clayton]

[[*raises eyebrow at Esmerelda* I'll pretend I didn't hear that.]]

Clayton approached Tremaine's castle and saw that the building was flooded with light. The hunter smiled, whistling a merry sea tune as he made his way up the steps and knocked on the door. While waiting for the butler Edgar to answer it, Clayton straightened his suit once more.

"Ah good evening sir," said Edgar as the door opened. "How are you this night, Lord Greystroke."

"Very well Edgar," replied Clayton, stepping into the foyer and waiting for the butler to show him to the sitting room.

"Her Ladyship will be down almost at once," announced Edgar as Clayton settled himself on the couch. The hunter nodded in fague reconition, his eye already catching the brandy decanter.

[ladytremaine]

Lady Tremaine brushed her dress for the last time. She was wearing one in apple green silk today, that caught the color of her green eyes. She walked downstairs, looking more regal than ever. With a smile she entered the room and stood before Clayton. The sight of him still made her blush like a school girl and she smiled gently.

"Ah, Lord Greystoke, what a delight to see you again."

She extended her slender hand in a greeting, and at the same time she noticed him eying the brandy decanter.

"Would you like something to drink, my friend? I will soon be ready. There is just one thing I lack to make my outfit complete. A fur coat. Not just any fur coat - it has to suit me. Exclusive, with class and grace. Not just any regular coat."

[Clayton]

Clayton got to his feet when Tremaine entered the room. He did an analysis of her appearance and smiled.

"An honor, Madam," he said, taking Tremaine's slim hand and kissing it as he bowed. He knew how the woman enjoyed flathery.

"Please, do not let me keep you from your preperation," he told her. "I can serve myself. But I see no reason why you need to obscure your beauty with animal hide. However, if you need a fur, I would be happy to furnish one for you. Any that you like."

[ladytremaine]

Lady Tremaine smiled and secretly studied Clayton's appearance. He was just as tall, strong and handsome as she remembered him. She wondered silently how much of her fascination of him that could be blamed on the gypsy girl's potion, and how much was Clayton's own charm. She remembered the boring men at the court. Clayton was new, different - and very exciting! And more peculiar - he made her blush every time he touched her or kissed her hand.

She smiled and looked up at him, her green eyes for once not frosty, and there was a warmth in her voice that certainly wasn't there when she was talking to others.

"It is an honor for me to have you as a guest, my dear Lord Greystoke," she smiled. "It is not every day I am as lucky to have well-mannered houseguests such as yourself."

When she heard him praise her beauty, she blushed deeply and looked down for a moment. He alone could make her feel like a school girl on her prom night.

"You are welcome to take whatever you may like from the bottles. I like to keep high quality of the things I bring to my house."

She smiled and studied his strong-looking features.

"I would be happy to see what kind of fur you could bring me, my dear Clayton. The Queen of England has recently got herself a fur coat in fox. I wish I could get a coat that could outshine hers. I must admit I do not know much about animals - except from cats and horses, that is. What kind of fur would you recommend?"

((Just to skip a step, shall we just pretend that Clayton has seen Maid Marian and Lady Cluck on their walks through the theme parks?))

[Elisa Maza]

(( So now that Clayton is on the job for a fur, what job shall Lady T have for Salli? Perhaps Lady T could send Edgar after Salli, and tell her she has a new job? ))

[ladytremaine]

((Sure, I'll bring him right in. And this can be where you find the second clue for the She Will Burn plot. I PM'd you the riddle and the answer to it. I will soon start a thread where Frollo's soldiers will strike on behalf of Lady Tremaine, Frollo's sister.))

Lady Tremaine gave Clayton a warm smile and looked at him, then noticed that Salli was still in the room, waiting for orders.

"Salli, I want you to clean the office and the bedrooms upstairs. My daughters have been spreading their belongings around again. Children can be so messy."

She smiled and looked over at Clayton.

"I believe you have yet to meet my daughters, my dear Clayton. I look forward to introduce you to the rest of my family."

Though if you dare fall in love with Cinderella, you will share destiny with my two previous husbands. But let's not take the sorrows in advance...

She turned to the door and rang a bell, and Edgar came in and bowed.

"Milady called?" he said.

She straigthened her back and spoke calmly to him.

"Edgar, I want you to bring Salli to the office and to the bedrooms so she can clean them."

Edgar bowed and gestured to Salli as if to invite her to come with him.

"Please come with me, miss," he said, and shuffled out of the room.

He went through the long corridors and opened the door to the office. On a silver thread on the office was a letter for Lady Tremaine, written with a male handwriting: "Your orders are received. We will strike against the theme park tonight. We await your next order with anticipation."

In the drawer of Lady Tremaine's desk, there was a new letter, written in Tremaine's handwriting. Lady Tremaine had finished the letter and it was ready to be sent with the mail next morning.

Restless lies the head that wears a crown,
but humans aren't the ones to tear the country down.

[Clayton]

Clayton took Tremaine's offer and reached for the wine decanter. He listened to her as he poured himself a glass, chuckling to himself.

"Ah, yes, fox pelts," he mused, swirling the wine around the glass thoughtfully. "I have seen a few of those creatures around this place and perhaps I could capture one."

Clayton waited while Tremaine gave orders to the butler and maid girl. He shook his head when Tremaine mentioned her daughters. He had never been good with children, but if he wanted things to work with this woman he would have to try.

"Yes, I would love to meet them," he lied, placing the glass on the table and stuffing his hands in his trouser pockets. Oh, it will be a long night, he thought to himself.

[ladytremaine]

Lady Tremaine looked over at Clayton and smiled warmly. He was big and strong, and she felt safe when he was around. She sat down on the couch, offering him to sit as well.

"You seem to know a lot about fox pelts, Clayton," she smiled. "How old were you when you started hunting? And how do you know what pelts to use, and what pelts are useless?"

She chuckled with laughter and blushed.

"When I was a girl, my father used to take me hunting. I loved it. But I haven't hunted since. I doubt I remember how to fire a rifle anymore. What kind of traps would you use for catching a fox you will use for a fur coat?"

Lady Tremaine watched him while he mentioned her daughters. She remained silent for a moment, then she spoke lowly to him.

"Can I tell you a secret, Clayton? Something I have never told to anyone else?"

[Elisa Maza]

~~ Is filled with intrigue. Tell him, tell him!~~