In the Mayor's Parlour

Nestled in the cobbled heart of Hathelsborough, the market square is a living museum of stone crosses, a medieval church, and the formidable Moot Hall that has guarded the town for centuries. The air hums with the chatter of countryfolk trading butter, eggs, and gossip beneath the ancient arches, while the looming iron gates of the hall keep a quiet, almost reverent rhythm to daily life. Into this timeless tableau steps Bunning, a world‑travelled former soldier now serving as caretaker, whose affection for the town’s stubborn charm is matched only by his keen eye for its hidden corners.

On an April evening, as the curfew bell tolls and the town slips into darkness, Bunning’s routine patrol takes an unexpected turn. A faint sound, a shadow behind the locked gates, or perhaps a whispered clue hints that something long buried beneath the stone walls is stirring. Listeners are invited to follow Bunning’s steady steps into the mayor’s parlour, where history, intrigue, and the pulse of a close‑knit community converge in a mystery that promises both suspense and a deep love of place.