And the family sit down for dinner...

Dinner was roast pork with vegetables and Brandon spoke at length about the well-stocked larder. He'd volunteered to help prepare meals over the next seven days, as had several other family members, so the lack of catering staff wouldn't be a problem.

Liz said she would probably spend the entire week taking selfies of herself around the mansion to make her friends jealous. It didn't sound like a terrible waste of time: From what Vicky had already seen, it would take a dedicated team of photographers a month to canvas less than half of the estate and if it all looked as impressive than this, they'd be having the time of their lives while doing it.

The sudden motion of someone standing drew her attention, and she saw Thomas take his plates, nod respectfully towards Leon and leave for the kitchen. Garnet, meanwhile had taken the meat from both her parent's plates and given them her vegetables and although they were unhappy, they had clearly lost the will to protest years ago.

After finishing, Vicky took their plates, asking Brandon to unpack their luggage and letting Liz wander off. Helena was in the kitchen alone, with much of the family still eating.

"Oh, hello Vicky," she said. "Would you like me to wash that?"

"No thanks, I've got it. Has grandpa eaten already?"

Helena nodded sadly, "He can't have much in the way of solids anymore, but he insisted on staying for dinner so he could see everyone. I'm afraid the turnout has been a little disappointing, but that's to be expected."

"Disappointing?" said Vicky, washing her plate. "Most of my aunts and uncles are here - even a few I've never met. Who's missing?"

"The younger ones," Helena said sadly. "Not his children, but the grandkids. Looks like young people have better things to do than visit an old man before he dies."

Vicky though the wording of that last sentence was odd coming from someone around her own age, but dismissed it. "Well, Garnet certainly looks like she'd rather be somewhere else."

Helena's expression soured. "Little brat. Leon has noticed her, too. He feels duty bound to give her parents something for attending, but I don't think it should be much. They'd rather rob a dying old man than learn how to discipline their own child."

Vicky dried her plate, placing it on the rack by the sink. "Can't be helped, I guess. Anyway, please give grandpa my love. I'll see you in the morning."

Helena nodded goodbye and Leon smiled when Vicky waved to him on her way back to her room.

The en suite was just as welcoming as the room, and after a shower and getting changed, Vicky snuggled up next to Brandon, watching TV for less than half an hour before calling it a night.

As her mind fell into the warm clouds of sleep, she wondered vaguely about what the week would bring.