Peavley Manor (Or, Introducing Macalley): Peavley Manor, #1

By Robert Dahlen

Alice Peavley was a sales clerk in a book shop, until her rich uncle left her his estate in his will. She moves to the manor, meets her new tenants and neighbors, and adjusts to life in the eccentric town of Darbyfield with the help of her valet, a sardonic gnome named Macalley. Alice gets mixed up in misadventures involving a concert gone askew, a chaotic baking competition, and a mischievous squatter, but there is a more sinister plot afoot to steal her land and her fortune. Can Alice get to the bottom of the conspiracy and save Peavley Manor? Find out in this comedy of manners, mayhem and magic!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Dahlen
• Release date: Aug 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393093992

Robert Dahlen

Fantasy novelist, all-around wisecracker and penguin aficionado, Robert Dahlen lives in northern California with his wife, numerous aquatic waterfowl, and a tablet loaded with e-books and works in progress. He is hopefully working on another Monkey Queen book even as you read this.

Book preview

Chapter One:

That Fateful Tuesday

I showed up for work on that fateful Tuesday wearing my second-favorite outfit, a yellow ankle-length sundress with navy blue trim. Had I known it would be my last day of employment at the Thorn Harbour Book Shop, I might have chosen something different to wear.

Monday had been a bit of a rough day, as the new Skybright book had just been released. We had people coming in all day to obtain their copy, and in some cases buy the three earlier books or catch up on another series or two. While Mabel, who owned the shop, was grateful for the business, a few customers had been somewhat willful, and I had been blessed, or perhaps cursed, to deal with all of them.

As a result, I had needed a bit of self-pampering that Tuesday morning, and I had just enough shillings set aside to do it. I dressed a bit fancier than I usually did for work, and stopped off along the way at my favorite bakery for a cup of tea and an apple tart. By the time I arrived at the book shop, I was almost back to my usual level of chipperness.

Mabel, however, was not very chippery. She was pacing around the store, her pale face creased with worry as she ran her fingers through her curly blond hair. As usual, she wore an abundance of jewelry along with a swirly green dress, and s0 she rattled as she walked, startling more than one customer. Anything? she asked of anyone who would listen as she finished yet another circuit of the shop floor.

The Thorn Harbour Book Shop had been in the doldrums until Mabel Blissbottom had bought it a decade ago. Since then, she had worked hard to turn its fortunes around. Many other elves looked down upon her for her career choice, but she paid them no mind, as the shop’s daily operations gave her more than enough to fret over as it was.

One would have thought that a splendid day of sales on Monday might have briefly set Mabel’s mind at ease, but she had found another thing to worry about, and this one was with some justification. We were almost out of the new Skybright book, and we still needed to get the orders customers had placed by mail packed and posted, but the additional copies the publisher had promised us hadn’t arrived.

Not yet, I said as Mabel passed a table near the front door.  Before her nerves had driven her into the incessant pacing, Mabel had stacked the remaining Skybrights on the table in an attractive yet wobbly arrangement.

They have to get here soon! Mabel clutched herself in a fit of melodrama. We’ll be ruined if they don’t!

Perhaps I should I prepare my CV, I said with a grin.

There’s a library hiring somewhere, Alice? Priscilla Wentworth said as she walked past, carrying a small stack of Dilly Dell books. Or is it serving beers at the pub for you?

I cocked my head as Priscilla set her books on the counter. My, aren’t we cheeky today! I said to my co-worker.

Just today? Priscilla winked as she smoothed out her black and red dress. She and I had become fast friends at Thorn Harbour College, where I had majored in library studies. She had graduated two years before me, and taken a job at the book shop; I visited there frequently, and usually left with a book or two. When it was my turn to graduate, Priscilla persuaded Mabel to hire me, as an opening had come up in the shop’s staff.

I had told myself that it would only be until I had found a position in a library. I was still there, three years later.

That reminds me, Priscilla said to me as she sorted through the Dilly Dells. How is your Uncle Clarence?

My face reddened. I haven’t heard from him in a while. He mentioned in his last letter that he hadn’t been in the best of health of late. Priscilla nodded and glanced away.

I had been born and spent my earliest years in Odgley, but my parents passed away when I was in my early teens. I was swiftly placed in a year-round boarding school in Thorn Harbour. This was due to my uncle, Clarence Peavley, who lived on the outskirts of the nearby town of Darbyfield. He preferred to not have company in his residence except for his wife, my dear Aunt Loretta; he chose to make up for it in my case by financing my education.

I was an only child, an avid reader and a regular visitor to Odgley’s library. In spite of the sad circumstances that brought me to Thorn Harbour, it worked out as well as it could. There was a splendid library there, and fellow readers at my school who became friends, and a college that was the only one on the Crescent Sea to offer a degree in the profession of my dreams.

Clarence made it a point to keep up with how I was getting along. He would make regular visits to the boarding school, and then Thorn Harbour College when I started classes there.  He was always a welcome sight, showing up with some little thing to make student life a bit more pleasant, some baked goods or a new gadget for my room. He always came to visit me and never invited me to his manor, which struck others as odd. I was fine with it, as it allowed me to see my dear uncle without the expense or hassle of travelling to do so.

I hadn't seen Clarence since I had graduated from college. Shortly after that, Aunt Loretta had died of a sudden illness. Clarence retreated to his manor, and within himself. His letters to me, which had been pleasingly long and frequent, dwindled to a few short notes. I still persisted in writing him often, because I held out hope that the next letter, the next anecdote I related, the next joke I had to tell would be the one that stirred him from his melancholy.

My train of thought was derailed when the shop’s front door opened. Mabel swooped towards the entrance, shouting, They’re here! but stopped when she saw it was a customer. He glanced at her, raised an eyebrow and hurried towards the adventure books.

Well, at least he wasn’t scared off, Priscilla murmured.

They’ll never get here! Mabel grabbed her forehead and spun about dramatically, whirling close to the table with the Skybright books.

Careful, Mabel! I said quickly. She veered away from the table at the last moment.

Alice! Priscilla said sharply to me.

I raised an eyebrow. How have I caused offense?

You might have startled Mabel. If she backs into the table, it’ll come down like a house of cards!

And we wouldn’t want that. I smiled. At least, not until tomorrow.

Why tomorrow?

Cybelle told me about your wager.

Priscilla rolled her eyes. "Bloody tattletale, she is. Do be careful around that table, would you?

I chuckled as the front door swung open again. A man carefully shepherded his charge inside, a girl with black bangs who couldn't have been more than four. Priscilla retreated to the counter as I hurried over to the little girl. I adore children, at least for the first half hour of our acquaintance. After that, their welcome wears thin, and I look to hand them off to their guardian and escape silently. Hello! I said to the man. How can we help you today?

Well… He gestured down at his daughter. Today is Lenore’s birthday, and I promised her that we would pick out a new picture book for her bedtime story.

How marvelous! I exclaimed. May I?

Please.

I squatted down and smiled. Hello, Lenore! I'm Alice. It's a pleasure to meet you!

Lenore looked up at me with wide eyes as she silently chewed on a mitten. She's a bit shy, her father said.

I like the shy ones, I told him. So, Lenore, what do you want to read about? Puppies? Bunnies? Princesses?

Her father discreetly cleared his throat. She likes adventures more.

Oh! I said. With heroes and elves and automatons and dragons?

My smile widened when Lenore nodded very slightly. I like dragons, she said in a voice I had to strain to hear. But I’m a little bit scared of them.

I think we have just the book, then, I said. If you could wait here for a moment? The father nodded and patted Lenore’s head. She continued to look around at the store and the other customers, acting as if everything was remarkable and magical and frightening all at once.

I hurried over to the shelves that held our selection of children’s books. We had several that were about dragons. The one I chose told the story of Bashfa, who was rather shy and always tried to hide in places where she wouldn’t quite fit.

I brought it back to the father, who thumbed through it carefully. Are there dwarves? he asked.

Here. I flipped towards the back of the book.

He looked at the drawing on that page and chuckled. I didn’t think a dragon could hide behind that wheelbarrow.

Does Lenore like dwarves?

She does, but she’s a little bit scared of them.

Of course, I said. There’s another book where a group of dwarves gets into trouble, and a brave princess has to rescue them.

Could I take a quick look?

I’ll get it for you. Did you want to show this one to her?

That’s probably a good idea— He glanced down. Where did she go?

I looked around the store, and I was completely unsurprised by what I saw. Lenore had toddled over to the table by the front door, and was staring at the books plied there. Oh dear, I said very softly.

Lenore! the father said. Come over here, my sweet.

She wasn’t listening. She started to reach slowly towards one of the Skybright books. I was caught for a moment, trying to choose between letting the table fall or seizing Lenore before that happened and risk having her scream in my ear as a reward.

Well! I saw Mabel emerging from the shelves, all a-rattle, smiling at Lenore. What do we have here?

Lenore froze in place. Does she like elves? I asked her father softly.

She does, he said, but she’s—

—a little bit scared of them, I finished.

Mabel stopped in front of Lenore, hands on hips, asking, So what can we do for you, young lady? Lenore lowered her hand and started to chew on her mitten. I breathed a sigh of relief. I had no interest in cleaning up a book spill, and Priscilla would be rather peeved to lose her bet in this manner.

The front door started to open. All of us, including the father, turned our heads to face it. Please let that be the delivery, Mabel said softly as she hurried past Lenore. She reached the door and threw it open. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. You’re not who I thought you'd be, she said.

Yup. Grenzalt the troll stepped through the door, his tools swaying from where they hung on his belt. Sorry I’m late, ma’am. Had a bit of an issue with a touchy spice rack. Lenore stared at him with wide eyes; she probably liked him but was a little bit scared of him.

But why are you here? Mabel said. I didn't call you, did I?

I did, I said quickly.

Mabel glanced with narrowed eyes at me. What for?

The table by the door.

Priscilla spun to face us. Alice! she said.

It's been needing repair for a while, I said carefully. Dear Priscilla could have quite the temper at times.

Mabel nodded. Well done, Alice. I'd let that slip my mind. I've been so worried about the Skybright delivery.

But… Priscilla bit her lip. If the table gets fixed, the wager is off.

Wager? Mabel glared at Priscilla.

Grenzalt cleared his throat. What table am I supposed to be fixing again?

I turned towards the wobbly table. This— I started to say, stopping at the sight.

While the adults had been distracted, Lenore’s attention turned again towards the copies of the Skybright book on the rickety table. Just as all of us remembered she was there, she reached up with her soggy mittened hand.

Wait! Priscilla shouted, seeing that she was about to lose her wager. She startled Lenore, who waved her arm and struck the stack of Skybrights.

The books toppled over, sliding into the other stacks, sending them all to one side of the table. The extra weight caused the wobbly leg to give way.  The table collapsed, and the books all tumbled off, piling up on the floor in front of Lenore.

She was unhurt, physically, but the shock proved to be too much. She started to cry, stopped, ran over to her father, wrapped her arms around his leg, and resumed her bawling at a rather high volume. I quickly dropped to my knees and covered Lenore’s ears with my hands. Why are you doing that? her father asked.

I nodded towards Priscilla, who was taking a deep breath. She launched into a string of loud, detailed curses that would make a drunken goblin wince. From where I was kneeling, I could see that even Grenzalt was blushing. She reacts that way every time she loses a wager, I said with a sigh.

There was one positive to the whole situation from my perspective. By the time I had finished reassuring Lenore that we weren’t mad at her and everything would be fine, then reassuring her father that we weren’t mad at him and everything would be fine, and finally calming down Priscilla and cleaning up the spilled books, it was time for my lunch break.

I walked over to the fountain near the shop. There was a small plaza that surrounded it, and food carts, one of which had the sausage roll I purchased. I took a seat on a bench near the fountain, in the part of the plaza that was shaded by the nearby airship docking tower, and dug into my lunch with gusto, though sadly without mustard as the cart had run out.

I was surrounded by the familiar sights of Thorn Harbour as I ate. Omnibuses, carrying workers to the site where the new train station was being built, passed taxis rushing tourists to and from the airship terminal. Across the plaza, the old tea houses and pubs battled for customers with the new coffee shops. The fountain itself, which had been commissioned to commemorate a dragon-slaying knight, featured a brass dragon statue, breathing water instead of fire, due to an epic miscommunication, and that thrilled the children who played there, though there seemed to be not as many of those as in the past.

As had been happening more and more recently, there were fewer laborers, fewer families, and more professionally dressed people strolling by during lunch. The cities of the Crescent Sea had been growing more prosperous, and one of the results of that increasing wealth was that those with lower incomes had been pushed to the outskirts of Thorn Harbour, or out of the city entirely. I was facing an increase in next month’s rent myself.

I was starting to feel, in an odd way, imprisoned. I kept sending out CVs every time there was a rumor of a librarian’s position being open, but when there was a return letter, it was always to notify me that the post had been filled. Since I was unable to find the job I truly wanted, I had to stay with the book shop, and even though it was a suitable job and I liked my co-workers, Mabel couldn’t afford to pay us too much, which meant I was living on an ever-tighter budget.

Part of me was wondering if I could move somewhere, start over. But where could I go? And what could I do? I was actually grateful when I saw the delivery wagon go past, as it took my mind off that path of thought. I quickly finished my sausage roll and hurried back to the shop, to help with unloading the extra copies of the new Skybright book.

Cybelle had come in to work while I was out at lunch. She had waited until I returned to cheerfully collect her winnings from Priscilla, who silently fumed all the while. I was relieved when Mabel sent me to the stockroom to work on posting the mail orders, for while it might have been long and tedious work, it was preferable to facing Priscilla’s withering glare for the next several hours.

We didn't know when the post would be picked up, so I worked as quickly as I could. I wrapped each book in white paper and tied it up with string. I then started to paste our return address labels on each one; the labels with the recipients’ addresses would be added later.

I was almost halfway done with the shop labels when Mabel peeked into the stockroom. Alice? she said cautiously. As I looked over, she continued, There's someone here for you.

Mabel stepped away, and a middle-aged man walked in. I thought for a moment that he was there for the post, as he held a letter, but I saw he was wearing a business suit instead of a postal uniform. Alice Peavley? he said.

Yes? I sat up straighter.

My name's Troutal. I'm here on behalf of Beadle & Smoot.

What can I do for you? I tried to keep my expression calm, but my heart started to pound. Beadle & Smoot was a legal firm, with offices across all the cities of the Crescent Sea and beyond.

I've been asked to deliver this to you. Troutal handed me the envelope he held.

I glanced down at the envelope,