About this story
When your companion spots a trespasser working an old telescope on the estate's disused tower, you climb up to send him off and find Swithin St Cleeve, a young, ink-stained astronomer tracking a point of light that keeps moving where the catalogues say nothing should be. You let him keep the tower on your own terms, but a storm brings the parish parson through the hatch asking who has been burning lights there after midnight.
How it opens
From Welland House, the distant tower interrupted every western sunset like a dark finger.
Your husband had gone abroad again, leaving instructions more often than letters.
Sir Blount ConstantineThe estate requires order, Viviette, not improvements made from loneliness.
Tabitha LarkSomeone has climbed Rings-Hill again, my lady, carrying brass and boxes.
Tabitha LarkThere, he has ducked below the parapet and raised that brass tube again.
Choose
Have the pony brought round. I will ask what business the tower serves.
Send Louis Glanville to learn who has taken possession.