The next day, I decide to go see what the butlers are up to for two reasons. First, they are in charge of receiving guests and I have one incoming. Second, they’ve been suspiciously quiet.


    I know there were a bunch of them before I died. And I understand no one has dared to gripe about anyone’s deaths due to the hurricane of blood that is Jun.


    But there would be complaints about having to do their work because they died. There would be complaints if they fled in fear of Jun. There would even be complaints if they enlisted in Jun’s army.


    Especially if anything happened to the head butler. He is the son of the head chef and the husband of the head housekeeper. If something happened to him, at least one of them should have completely lost it.


    I think if he died, they would be at each other’s throats each blaming the other. But they seem to be doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances.


    However, I haven’t heard anyone talking about a single butler. I’ve only seen butlers around Jun and his squad, but no where else in the manor. They’ve been steering clear of me, which is odd since everyone else is treating me as a Lady.


    Even if I were only a guest for one night, some of them should be around.


    But no, they’ve ignored me. If I were actually a Lady, I would be offended. Heck, I should probably be offended.


    So, I’ve hobbled to the door of their “secret” lounge, the Gentleman’s Gentleman Club. It’s an old storeroom off on the edge of the least used wing of the manor that the previous lord let them hang out in.


    It’s a place where they lounge on unwanted furniture, drink cheap booze and smoke the stubs of the lord’s cigars. In summary, they go and pretend to be actual gentlemen.


    Not bothering to knock, I throw open the door and am not prepared to see what I find. Luckily, the veil covers my shocked expression.


    Inside are almost all the butlers crammed in like sardines. They all turn, see me and freeze in shock.


    The table in the center of the room is covered in open bottles of every sort missing from the cellar. All of them are apparently drinking their breakfast today.


    But that isn’t what’s disturbing. What’s disturbing is that they are apparently playing dress up with the late Lord and his heir’s clothes.


    It would be one thing if it was just trying on a hat or a formal outfit. A couple of them even are.


    However, I had to walk in on half of them enjoying the very expensive silk underwear that Lin had to personally help the late Lady White Fang prepare, so they wouldn’t get “inappropriate thoughts about other women”.


    They are literally standing around in nothing but used undies, day drinking, while hiding from their day jobs.


    The head butler is the first to collect himself. Instead of acknowledging that he was caught red handed in the late Lord’s lucky red dragon boxers, he says, “Milady, for reasons of propriety this is not a place for woman of your stature. Please close the door.”


    As if I was the one at fault. “What in heavens name is going on in here?”


    He adjusts the late Lord’s golden reading glasses on his face and says, “Nothing you need to concern yourself with Milady.” If only mind bleach were a real thing, then that might be true. But this cannot be unseen.


    I say a bit too loudly, “Put some clothes on,” as I step into the room. However, today I am a Lady and there are some things no Lady can let slide.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    He bows and they all step back as if there was somewhere to flee except out the doorway I’m standing in. It’s a storeroom, so it doesn’t even have a window.


    But all they are good for right now is staring in terror, so I say, “Now,” with a stamp of my crutch. The room explodes into chaos.


    After everyone is dressed, I make them leave all the evidence in the room, lock the door and then nail it shut. All I have to do is hold out my hand and the key is given to me.


    The now appropriately dressed head butler shows me to a sitting room and has only the nicest of teas brought out for me. I’m sure he can feel my stare through the veil, because he’s very careful to keep his eyes on the floor.


    Since I am now confident that I know what happened to all the loot from his mother and wife’s departments, I just move on to my business and let the perv squirm.


    “This afternoon my first guest at this manor will be arriving. Can I trust you to handle this properly or must I make alternate arrangements?”


    With a nervous bow, he says, “It would be an honor to be of service to you, Milady.”


    I spend an enjoyable hour grilling the head butler over all the minutia of receiving a guest at White Fang Manor. He manages to hold in the tears, but by the end of it I think the message of you will give me only the highest quality service or else I might pass this key along.


    By the time of Lady Yan’s arrival, the head butler has rallied over half of the housekeeping staff to ensure that not only will my guest be shown nothing but the highest of White Fang’s hospitality, but I will look damn good as I host her.


    Even the maids are showing a new deference, taking out only finest of china and the good silver has suddenly reappeared.


    When I change into a fresh outfit for tea, one of the late Lady’s dresses is now tailored to be a perfect fit. They even made me a new matching veil.


    It ties under my hair and only covers my nose and mouth. It’s an upgrade over the veil hat Tai crafted.


    Also, I find a long chain to keep the key on my neck under my clothes until I find a good hiding spot.


    I wait for Lady Yan’s arrival at a lovely table in the garden with no less than four attendants doing their best statue impersonations.


    The chef certainly pulled out all the stops on the snacks and they look like the should be on the cover of a fine dining magazine.


    Makes sense that she doesn’t want anything to happen to her beloved son and by extension no staff member wants to be personally responsible for anything happening to the head butler. I certainly know what can happen without the favor of a department head.


    Lady Yan is personally escorted by the head butler and several maids follow behind like little ducklings. She’s a bit over dressed for an afternoon tea, but it some how fits with all the extra attention she’s currently being given by the staff.


    She greets me with a deep bow and says, “I am Lady Yan Su. It is a honor to meet you.”


    I hope she can hear the smile in my voice as I say, “Welcome, Lady Yan. You may call me Lady Ellen. Please have a seat.”


    She sits elegantly and politely waits for me to start the conversation as etiquette dictates. I motion for the hovering staff to bring out the tea and snacks.


    As the tea is being poured, I take a good look at Lady Yan. She’s petite and her dark brown hair is up in a sophisticated bun with a few too many jade hair pins stuck in.


    Her blue silk dress fits well, and the brocade pattern was very fashionable according to the late Lady. She is also decked out in so much jewelry, I’m surprised she doesn’t jingle.


    I take a sip and follow suit. Let’s start this off slowly. I say, “You’re my first visitor since I’ve come to White Fang. I hope you’ve brought me news of what I have been missing.”


    “Of course, Lady Ellen,” then she talks nonstop for several hours about all of the who’s who of White Fang. It’s the crash course in local politics that I had been looking for, so I make sure the tea does not stop flowing.


    She does tell it with several embellishments and a bit of emphasis on recent scandals. Apparently, some of the local men Jun massacred were very eligible bachelors.


    A few were recently engaged and now there has been a shuffling of marriage prospects across the White Fang elites. There is also now a surplus of very eligible daughters.


    Luckily, Lady Yan’s son made good decisions that day and his marriage is proceeding as scheduled.


    Since she has very generously told me everything I wanted to know and then some, I decide to take an interest in why she risked life and limb to say hello.


    As she takes another dainty sip from her tea cup, I ask her, “Lady Yan thank you for satisfying my curiosity. Is there anything you wanted to ask me before you leave?”


    Her polite smile widens ever so slightly, as if she were waiting for this. “I would not dare be so bold. But I would like to thank you for the wonderful tea. I’ve had a marvelous time. Perhaps we could do this again?”


    Ah, she wants to be seen as my friend and probably rub that connection in the faces of her enemies. That’s easy enough for me to arrange at the moment.


    “I like that idea Lady Yan. I hope you have a lovely evening.” With that dismissal, she gives me a polite bow and is shown out.