A/N: Sorry that I haven't updated for such a long time but I have just been so busy. Anyway, though it may not seem like it this chapter is part of the story, this is another chapter not from Sophie's POV. Enjoy!

A Manor and a Book

The midnight black horses galloped up the graveled road leading to Winterborne Manor. Their elegant heads were festooned with long feathers as black as their glistening coats. The carriage they were pulling bounced because of their ferocious pace and the gold leaf decorating part of the door threw light into the eyes of the butler who was waiting to take the passenger's coat. The old building that crowned the hill shone in the summer sun but any warmth that it gave was quickly stolen by a biting wind. The driver yelled and quickly reined in the fine horses. Despite the fast pace of the carriage the occupant took time before stepping out, but as his training had taught him, Henry the butler stood as still as the marble statues of the nine muses which were dotted about the courtyard. With steps so precise that they could have been part of a dance a woman with a complexion as pale as the statues emerged. Henry extended his arm to help her down but with a derogatory look the used her delicate gloved hand to push it away. Her dress was of an expensive brocade, heavily embroidered with a pattern of intertwining roses. She wore a widow's black but was young and beautiful. Shiny blonde hair was gathered into a bun with several locks of hair coiled fashionably around it. Her lips were red. Her smile was ever present in a charming way, a way that made an icy tingle spread up Henry's spine.

The woman nodded to the servants and walked smartly up the steps into the house as though it was her birthright. She did not give her coat to be hung or place her parasol on the rack but strolled right across the entrance hall to the ballroom and past a heavy oak door into the study. The bookshelves were filled with heavy old books, all of them falling apart. She sniffed the musty air and sighed.

"This will all have to go." she remarked.
"Ah, my dear widow!" greeted the man who sat in a crumbling armchair in one corner. The woman slowly turned her head to look the man in his pale grey eyes. He raised a white eyebrow and smiled at the widow. She nearly shrank back in disgust, but she was too fashionable for disgust and so gave him an equally chilling smile.
"May I take your coat?" he asked, seeming to take some perverted pleasure in every syllable.
"No."
"Very well, please sit." the man gestured to the straight-backed, unforgiving chair next to his.
"This house is not yours, yet." he reprimanded patting her on the leg like a father would a son.
"What must I do?" asked the woman. He chuckled.

In answer he slid one of the more tattered books across the table to the widow. Grey eyes met sea blue ones and chilled both people involved. She used her still gloved hand to open the book to the front page. 'Greek Myths, Including Histories of the Temples and Rituals, Compiled by Ernest Rotherham.' She looked up, confused but at a nod from the man she read down to the bottom where an untidy scrawl read 'Property of Sophie Carson Beaumier of Winterborne Manor.' with a look of disdain she stood and grasped the cover of the book. With a loud tearing sound the book was ripped apart, she let both halfs fall to the floor and walked out.

?Who is the widow? Who is the man? What's their plan?

Tune in next time to find out kids!

It's not long but it is important, some people must think that I'm crazy introducing more characters and plot but I do have a plan, I swear! Please review and tell me about any theories you have. Also I would like it if someone could find me a good cover image for this story because I have been looking but nothing really captures the essence of Spies and Surprises. Thanks for reading!