Lord Edward Ayr–Gray drove to the crossroads by the ancient maze, stopped the car, and ran out in a hurry. Ahead of him stood open space. The lush green bushes that made up the walls between the pathways had disappeared, replaced by a mere expanse of soil.
He ran back into the car and used the in-built phone to call back to his wife inside Yelby Manor.
‘Barbara!’ He yelled into the mouthpiece, ‘the maze… it’s gone!’
Lady Ayr-Gray tutted loudly down the earpiece, and said, ‘ooh, Edward! How could you have forgotten about that?’
‘Forgotten about what?’ Edward snapped, ‘the maze? I haven’t forgotten about it, it isn’t there. All there is are two wheelie bins.’
‘We arranged for Esmie and Clement Stalwark to relocate the maze to the east garden so we could open up the view to Yelby.’ Barbara tutted again.
‘We did?’ Edward asked.
‘Yes, last month. They started work straight away and expect to be finished by next week.’
‘Last month?’ Edward asked.
‘Yes.’ Barbara sighed.
‘I was in Portugal all last month.’ Edward fumed.
‘Were you?’ Barbara pondered. ‘Oh.’
‘Oh?’ Edward asked.
‘I’m sure we discussed it, Edward. Oh no, my mistake, I discussed it with Rodney Fairchops.’
‘Rodney Fairchops???’ Edward frowned.
‘Yes, he asked if we could have YELBY spelled out on the hillside. I thought it a splendid idea.’
‘But Barbara,’ Edward sighed, ‘the view to Yelby is on the other side…’
‘Is it…?’ Barbara’s voice trailed away thoughtfully.
Posted for The Unicorn Challenge. A magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, to write up to 250 words based on a photo they provide. Their Lord and Ladyship (my characters, not Jenne and CE!) had their names written all over this one… well, partly… and I just had to show one of their eccentricities… the one where they haven’t a clue as to what the other one’s doing. This will be explored, possibly, in future tales from Yelby Manor!
The Mansionic Perspective 
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