From Sabina Heddingham’s Diary
02-03: Summer Solstice
19 July 1767
Our Troupe had performed its second Day on Bray Wick to enthusiastic Crowds. The comings and goings of common Folk, the Chatter of daily Life and Conversations abounded. How different to the bustle of London Town this was. It was as I relieved a stout Gentleman of some Coins that I overheard the Mention of a certain Heddingham House. Naturally, I was piqued by this, and decided to venture forth on Prancer to learn more of this well-named Place.
It was with some Amusement that lo and behold, in the Waterside Inn that I chose to break my Exploration, that I did once again encounter the quarreling Colonels and the amiable Mr Blunt. In their Company was also a Gentleman of the Oriental persuasion by the name of Nripendra Rao, with whom I exchanged a Pleasantry in what I hope passed for his own Tongue.
It appeared that these Men had been called upon by a certain Mrs Sandiman of the aforesaid Heddingham House to investigate the Reasons why she was unable to keep Servants in her employ for long. Suspecting that it was something as simple as bad Treatment, wayward Hands of the Master of the House, or such like, the Investigation so far unearthed the following. First: it was quite obvious that the Vegetation in the Area was not healthy at all, Second: their Daughter, Inana, had been having Visions of a certain Polly who had drowned in the nearby River. Said Ghost would apper when her Husband was gathered with his Friends, some of whom were higher Classes and Lawmen to my Eye.
Our covert observation of the the Grounds (on the basis that Mrs Sandiman was not entirely forthcoming with the whole Truth) enabled us to espy on a lot of Food being taken down to the Lodge by Servants. This Lodge appears to be extended into the Hillside, with some long Passage leading deep within it. The manhandling of a Bull into the Passage was one of the stranger Things I have witnessed these past few Years, I have to say.
To gather more Information we took a trip up to Bray Church where the Vicar was busy polishing a brass Calf, a Gift apparently from Mr Sandiman (the Secretary of the Honourable East India Company, no less). It was around this Time that the curious Mr Rao reported a Conversation with the Weathercock who told him “Future Winds will Blow, Golden is as Golden does.” Perhaps some reference to a Ship? Or some Trade going on perhaps?
We are coming up to St John’s Fires (on the 24th June) where a Bonfire is made of Bones and the Wakefire goes on all Night to greet the Dawn and Meat is served. It is evident that the Day is auspicious for more than just a nocturnal Feast. Another Snippet was the meeting by Mr Blunt of a River Man by the name of Jemmy, it appears that he is in need of some Man-Power to shift a Barge that has drifted on to a Sandbank.
While I naturally stay on the Riverbank to observe, the Men unload long heavy Crates. There appears to be lots of Cries to “be careful”, and “mind that corner” before all are safely on the Bank. Mr Rao tells me he thinks they are full of Mechanicals, and not only that, but they are remarkably similar to another portal Device he has seen elsewhere.
The Driver of the Cart used to do the loading appears to be an amiable Chap, a bit nimble with his Fingers in my Estimation, I’ll have to keep an Eye on him. It turns out I was not wrong as later he gained us Entrance into that Lodge in the Sandiman grounds. Grabbing Lanterns we gain access to a Passage which gives me the Tingles, soon we are in a Maze of rough hewn Passages and are attacked by coldly undead Beings who rush through your Body and cool you.
Pressing on in to the main Chamber we find Sandiman and his Men gathered and the mechanical portal Device mostly assembled. The Fight is brief, but not without consequence as one of their Number manages to slip away down a shadowy Passage. With the Prospect of Others being fetched from the House we set about taking some key Items from the Portal using Mr Rao’s Knowledge. Without the three mechanical Drivers, worth thousands by his Estimation, the Contraption will be inoperable.
It turns out one of the Men is from the Company who made the Devices, Whithurst and Bolton, and he has nothing to do with the rest of the Party. Mr Simon Baner is his Name, and we take him with us to the exit of the Barn before knocking him out cold and setting Fire to the whole Lodge. Making our Escape past the Front of the House we can see lots of Activity, but we get the Horses back to their rightful Owners and check out of the Lodgings in order to meet up in a less obvious Place.
Finally we meet up at Madame Zellig’s where I was brought up to speed with Mr Rao having to drink some river Water to cure him bestowed by Jem who was the Water Spirit of this Part of the River. As an offering, one of the Drivers was tossed into the River, which at least puts it out of Harm’s way for a long Time. The Adventure was not without its Benefits as we mananged to find ourselves with some mechanical Watches, sets of fine Tools, Notebooks and a Pistol. I am sure the arguing over who wants what will last long after I finish off this Entry in to you, my dear Diary.