March 27. 1860. Thursday

I miss my wife. Why did she have to leave me like this, alone and with a whole castle to take care of? I cannot do this alone. Maybe she would want me back if I was sober? She probably would! Several of Williams bottles are empty now. What a shame. They tasted good. But I’m not going to give you any, diary! Diaries cannot drink alcohol! It would make the reader fall asleep much faster. Francis is here. He says I should go to bed but I don’t want to! I am the master of this castle and I want everyone to wear whatever they want! I want Mia… but I don’t want to wear her! I want her back with me. Francis says he wants me to sleep now, but I am simply reading my diary. Oops, I wrote reading. I meant righting. Sorry, diary, I know you don’t like it when I tell lies… good night, Francis! Dream Mia home. And good night diary! You are a true friend! ... Witch I understand is quite sad.

March 25. 1860. Tuesday

I actually forgot about this diary for almost a week. I am not going to tell Derek about this. The last few days have not been particularly interesting, other than the fact that I have been tasting a lot of the tea’s and liquors. Sometimes, even mixed together. It is fantastic, but I am starting to wonder if some of the tea’s are for medical use. I have been quite distant. Francis told me yesterday. He was also the one to note that my diary needed to be written. As always, that man saves me from even the most trivial things.

March 19. 1860. Monday

Fery was here yesterday. He wanted to know if there was any news concerning Mia. I told him what I have been telling everyone these last few days. That my wife ran away without leaving a trace or taking anything with her.  He seemed interested in just this, but who could blame him? Everyone wonders about this disappearance act of hers.

After a while, we had dinner together and he commented “Jarrod, my friend, you don’t look so good. Have you been eating properly?” as if this short, chubby man could tell me about how to maintain a healthy body. I told him, as politely as I could that it was nothing. That I was not in the best of health. That little man is starting to annoy me, but then again, it could just be my lack of energy lately.

After Fery left, I noticed he had forgotten his cain. I wanted to be nice to the man, so I took it and got my carriage ready. After a short trip, I arrived at his house and rang the doorbell. His wife answered the door. It seemed, he had not yet arrived home. It had now gone four hours since he left my castle, but still he had not gotten home? Even I had gotten there before he did. I waited for him and he arrived about an hour after me. I gave him the cain and he seemed a bit awkward about the situation. We both laughed it off and I went home.

Today, on the other hand, was not as jolly. I received a letter from Derek. It seems, he has started to like coming to the castle, now that it seems to be looking rather presentable. In the letter, he told me that a lot of his friends lives closer to castle Crowley than to his castle, and he is wondering if he could have some sort of party here with some of them. I have not yet responded to the letter, yet I already know I will say yes. I am not to found of big crowds of people I do not know, wondering around my home, without me looking. I am thinking of a few ground rules. One: no entrance to the library, armory or kitchen. Two:… I really only have the one for now, but I will think of more.

Jonahs food can no longer be avoided, it seems. The expense of having your own storage of food is to big, it seems. As you probably already realized, me and Fery ate his food when he visite… (again, Jarrod! The book is not a person!) Good night, dear diary…

March 17. 1860. Saturday

This tea is the best I have ever tasted! Nobody needs to know of this! It will be my secret. I tasted one of the teas that had most content. If that tasted this good, I can’t wait to taste the rest of it!

March 16. 1860. Friday

Today, I went thru Mia’s room again, without it helping anything at all. After sitting in there for a while, feeling miserable and stupid, I went to the library again. Francis was there, reorganizing some books near the west wall. I told him about the liqueur and tea cabinet and he responded by asking me if I had tasted any of it yet. I told him, no, but I was thinking of trying it tomorrow at tea time. I am looking forward to that.

march 15. 1860. Thursday

afte all the paperwork i had to sighn the last few days, i was only lucky i had some time to eat. to take over a castle in this manner is dificult, it seems. Derek has helped me arange it all, even if he is stil concerned for Mia. I can not blame him. after all, she is his sister.

A few days ago, we sat in the library, Derek and I and we stumbled upon something rather amusing. a tea-set and hidden licour cabinet. the things itself was not espechialy strange, but to find it in the library? did William take his tea in secret? no. that was not the case, we quickly discovered. the tea and licour in the hidden compartment is extreamly valuable. there is even tea in there with gold dust in the mix. i could not belive my eyes the first time around. we have decided to take a closer look at it at a later time. Derek has a thing for luxurious drinks.

I dont think i will be sharing this little secret with Fery. it ocured to me that if he knows of it, eventualy, he would ask if i found it yet, and if not, there might be a reason why William did not tell him about it. who knows? i certanly will not show this to a grate lot of people. someone might think of stealing some of it.

March 10. 1860. Saturday

I feel horrible. I have not been eating a lot lately, and none of it has been from the kitchen here. I went to town on the 8. Of March and got myself something I could save up for when I really needed it, but it’s almost gone already.

Also, Mia is still gone. That horrid which ran away from me, I am sure of it! I have called off the search. If she doesn’t want to be around me, then that is her choice. I cannot believe all that this will mean for me, in particular. I now, officially own castle Crowley… it’s all mine. Every room, every floor, every single object in it is now mine. It is overwhelming, to be honest…