Castle In The Clouds (standard:drama, 2363 words) [1/21] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Updated: Jan 13 2011	Views/Reads: 4457/2445	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Chapters one and two of my recently completed story revolving around an island off the Northumbrian coast. The precise location is never mentioned owing to the religious significance of the island.

Castle In The Clouds 

Early Twentieth Century 

An Island off of the Northumberland coast 

Chapter One 

To Thomas Llewellyn's unaccustomed ears the sudden noise sounded like a
firework cracking the May air, disturbing the peace of an island and 
the small sixteenth century castle he'd just bought. It seemed idyllic, 
he hadn't counted on unruly elements shattering  the rustic charm. 

But then striding along the castle's upper gallery and glancing through
a window, Llewellyn saw the reason for the disturbance, as an orange 
flare from a sea-going vessel ripped through the grey sky. 

He trod a flight of stairs, opening an oak door leading onto a former
gun battery which now provided a roof garden with a spectacular 
panorama. 

But it was the sight of the sinking ship which caught his eye. 

Viewed from a distance it seemed small, its stern largely submerged in
the high seas while the bow appeared marooned above them; and then as a 
klaxon sounded repeatedly he watched the island's lifeboat crew 
assemble before setting out to sea. 

Llewellyn felt a hand on his shoulder and smelled his sister's cologne
blasting across his nose. 

'Is this what possessed you to buy the place Thomas? So that you could
watch real life dramas unfold? No theatre can adequately portray the 
real thing, isn't that a fact?  Prey – let us take a seat and watch.' 

'Shame on me should I ever consider such a thing, shame on you that you
actually propose it.' Llewellyn removed his sister's heavily jewelled 
wrist, 'Come Dorothea, if there is nothing we can do to assist, there 
is little point in witnessing some wretched soul's demise – we shall go 
inside.' 

'Do so if you wish Thomas, but you are not my keeper, nor am I one of
your City pawns.' 

Dorothea gave Llewellyn a defiant dark-eyed stare. 'I intend to watch
the show unfold.' 

Llewellyn met that stare momentarily; dressed in her black cape, its
hood veiling her dark curly hair, her prominent nose the only 
distinctive feature, Dorothea seemed every inch the sorceress. There 
were times when her support was invaluable, but there were occasions 
when her behaviour was insufferable. Such a time was now. 

Llewellyn closed the door on her, took the gallery steps and made his
way down to the lounge where he stood by a Gothic window and stared out 
across the island, surveying the scenery, wild now in the developing 
storm. He reflected on his decision to purchase the castle as a second 
home, and how it would fair under the auspices of his sister, to whom 
he'd entrusted the day to day supervision. 

The plan was for Dorothea to manage his staff of three which consisted
of David Hambleton, the butler, who had made the move from London to 
undertake the task, Mrs. Simms, who had been recruited from amongst the 
Northumberland island's residents as cook, along with John Gibbings, 
the young gardener cum handyman, who he'd been assured was both a 
gifted gardener and industrious worker. 

The acquisition had been at considerable expense, but as a prominent
banker it provided him with a prestigious residence to dine, 
accommodate and impress his influential clients. They could not fail to 
be so. 

With the wind buffeting its stout walls Llewellyn commenced a routine
evening inspection of a castle that had been expertly redesigned by a 
leading architect to resemble a fortified house. Its many rooms were 


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