The Ghost Who Loved Me (25 page)

The man seemed to consider his impassioned words for a moment. “Annabelle encouraged me quite convincingly of her loyalty while she was on holiday in London. She searched your room at Carlisle Place. She found the land agent’s stationary hidden in your desk. Did you think we wouldn’t find out you were working against us in that? And now your reluctance to bed Edward’s wife?”

“Annabelle planted it there! You have to believe me! I did nothing to stop the sales. She sees more in this for herself, I tell you. And for another, I don’t trust her. Anyone who would jump at the chance to betray their mistress as she has cannot be trusted. You are blinded by greed! I know for a fact she has been taking monies from Edward for years, informing on his wife’s activities. Poor Miss Weathers got sacked for doing nothing. It was Annabelle all along.”

“My understanding is that Edward was paying Weathers off for her information. Annabelle claims it was the reason she was dismissed.” The man seemed to consider all he said thoughtfully.

“No! I am the only one who paid Miss Weathers, and just that once. Her mother was ill and needed care. I already handled Edward’s affairs by then. She wrote to him asking for help. I knew he wouldn’t help her. Don’t you see? Annabelle plays us! She’s been working for Edward from the start.”

“To what purpose?”

“You would have to ask her that for yourself,” Simon snapped harshly. “She is quick to point out my guilt in this with no regard to her own. The fact she’s been taking money from Edward for years should tell you I’m right. I handle his books now. It’s almost five hundred pounds he’s paid to her in as many years to inform against Her Ladyship. Did she cut you in on that when she joined with us?”

Wesley paused to consider all he heard. “She discovered Elizabeth has a lover already, Simon. What do we need you for now?”

“A lover? Here? Who might that be? I can assure you the lady has no lover. What lies has Annabelle told you now?”

“She claims Her Ladyship is sleeping with a footman in her employ.”

Simon laughed uproariously. “She should give Elizabeth more credit. I can assure you she is very much a lady. You don’t know her as I am beginning to. She would never do such a thing. Annabelle makes it up to turn us against one another.”

“Be that as it may, it is time for you to go, Simon,” Wesley said softly and smiled sadly. “Don’t make this harder than it is. Come with me now, and none need ever know what you were doing here, especially Edward.”

Simon could see the man made his mind up, fighting the panic within him. “Please! Just give me a bit more time! Edward is ill and needs care. None would believe me callous enough to run off on him in the night.”

“Annabelle already thought of that, Simon,” Wesley whispered softly and before Simon knew it, a long gleaming knife snaked out and plunged deep into his chest.

Simon gasped and stared at the man in shock, his lips parting but no sound emerged before he crumpled to the dirt floor of the stable.

Wesley worked very fast, picking Simon’s inert body up and hefting it over the back of a horse. He kicked away the signs of blood in the dirt and made ready to leave. He mounted his own horse and led the other mount away, careful to keep to the rear of the estate as he headed towards the village.

The man stopped deep in the woods and dumped the lifeless body into a fast-running stream, watching it ride the top of the water for a time before going under. He remounted his horse, taking the other with him as he made his way out of the dense underbrush.

~ ~ ~

They all assembled in the clearing around a huge bonfire. Elizabeth watched as Daniel and Percy strived to recreate that night from James’ memory of it. The servants were all bemused to don the dark robes they provided them with.

James looked about waiting for Isabelle. He told her to be on her guard at all times. She shivered as she put on the dark robe over her gown. Daniel and Percy were arguing over the need for a goat mask.

Finally they compromised on a deer mount they took from the wall of the lodge. Percy carved it out and tied a string around it, beaming at his own creativity.

“Do you think she will come?”

James looked around grimly. “She won’t waste this chance. She knows she won’t get another. But look for her to try something, Elizabeth. Stay close to the others. I don’t trust her.”

“I worry more about Percy being chained to the rock. Is that truly necessary?”

“We don’t want to alert her suspicions. I’ll look after Percy. She won’t see Daniel with the box until the spell is done and it will be too late. Once he throws it into the fire, it should be over. Are you ready?”

Elizabeth shivered despite the warmth of the evening. “I’m scared for you, James. What if this should fail? What if we only make her stronger?”

“It is the chance we must take, Elizabeth. After Edward is gone, we will lose this opportunity.”

At the mention of her husband, she frowned. “Mr. Pettigrew says Edward has not roused since dinner. He wants to send for a physician at once.”

James looked away sadly. “The curse is hurrying his death. I’ve seen it happen too many times before him. He should have never come back here. There is nothing that can be done for him.”

Elizabeth knew they had several moments until midnight. She smiled as she looked up at his ghostly image. Tears brightened her gaze. “I shall miss you forever, James.”

“We will meet again one day, Elizabeth,” James said gruffly, his voice thick with emotion. “I shall be waiting for you, my love. Live your life well. You are free of this place. Never look back or long for what cannot be. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

Just then the circle formed around the bonfire. All joined hands as Daniel and Percy recited the spell until all knew the words. They began to chant it over and over again. Elizabeth smiled through her tears and joined them, grasping a maid and a footman’s hand in the circle around the fire.

James stood by Percy, his face taut with worry as he scanned the tree line, wondering where Isabelle was. Daniel wore the ridiculous deer mask, complaining he couldn’t breathe under it. James grinned at his antics as he wagged his head under the mask.

Suddenly the air seemed to tighten around them. The fire seemed to grow higher. A smell of Isabelle’s cloying perfume was detected in the air, making James stiffen with a sense of fear for a moment, recalling that horrific night and what she did to him. He shook off the terror of it. She couldn’t hurt him again. He would be damned forever before she would harm another.

A breeze was suddenly felt and they all saw her, appearing suddenly at the center of the circle. Daniel moved around the circle, warning the others not to be afraid or break their hold on each other’s hands. They were terrified, some whimpering to see the witch standing before the sacrificial rock.

Percy mumbled a prayer under his breath, not seeing James standing behind him, his eyes never leaving the hideous specter that walked towards him. She held a long gleaming blade in her hands.

“You make this far too easy for me, James,” Isabelle said in a hissing voice, her eyes narrowed as she looked about. “You can’t want this, husband!”

“I want to be free of this place and of you, Isabelle,” James said coldly, eyeing her in distaste. “If I have to help you to do it, so be it.”

Isabelle cackled evilly and gazed down at Percy unmercifully. “And this is what you would offer me, James? Not much to look at, is he?”

Percy smiled weakly up at her in encouragement from where he was chained.

“You wanted an innocent and you have one,” James replied cryptically.

“Oh but I can do so much better I think, James,” Isabelle snarled under her breath and before they knew what she was doing, she moved with lightening fast speed and had Elizabeth by the throat, yanking her free of the circle.

Daniel ordered them all to clasp their hands and continue chanting, despite his panic to see Elizabeth dragged screaming towards the rock.

James lunged at her. Isabelle flung him backward with an upraised hand, sending him flying across the clearing. She laughed throatily as her long talon-like fingernail caressed Elizabeth’s throat. She held her in a vice-like grip as she forced her to her knees. James ran back only to be stopped by her far greater power, keeping him frozen there.

“Don’t do this, Isabelle! She can’t help you!” James struggled to free himself from his invisible bonds.

“It’s not her but what she has that I want,” Isabelle growled roughly and yanked back her head, holding the blade to her throat, reciting the spell.

Elizabeth was paralyzed with fear and couldn’t move, mumbling a prayer under her breath, her eyes clinging to James who fought to get free from Isabelle’s hold. Daniel ordered the others to maintain the circle, pulling the wooden box from within his robes.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, her hand seeking the lock of braided hair in her pocket, clutching it tightly, whimpering as the blade nicked at her throat leaving a trickle of blood that trailed down her chest. James fought hard to free himself, his eyes clinging to hers desperately.

Percy fought against his chains, seeing all was going awry by the second.

Elizabeth never took her eyes off James, even when she felt the burning in her hand. She gasped as suddenly a bright light filled her palm, scorching her skin. She cast the braid away with a cry. The bright light suddenly filled the clearing, outlining the form of a woman in pale blue robes who walked as if down from the heavens, her glowing eyes filled with fury. 

Isabelle snarled as she saw the vision, screeching at the sable-haired woman who held out her hand, making the knife move away from Elizabeth’s throat to be poised at her captor’s heart. Isabelle fought and screamed. Daniel ordered everyone to continue chanting the verse, his hand clutching the box near the flames.

James watched with a stunned expression as he saw her. “Lenore? Is it really you?”

Lenore smiled serenely over at him. “Don’t be afraid, James. The light waits for you. Your days of suffering are over.”

He glanced to where Isabelle was frozen with the knife poised at her sunken skeletal breast, relieved to see Elizabeth on her knees rubbing her neck, crawling away as the woman of light approached. She had no pity in her eyes as she stared at Isabelle.

“Where is your master now, Isabelle? What has he done for you but curse you for eternity?”

“My master awaits me in hell! I shall be rewarded! You think you’re so much stronger than me! I knew it was you from the start! All along you stopped my magic! But you couldn’t save James! I might be cursed, but so is he!”

Lenore looked to James, love shining in her eyes. “You will not make him suffer another day.” She looked back to Isabelle, her eyes glowing with inner fire. “You have failed yet again. This magic is to be used for good. You use it only for evil. You fail to see it but it’s true. And now it is over.”

Elizabeth hastily returned to the circle, taking the hands of the others and chanted along with them. She watched in awe as Lenore held out her hand and a fiery stream of light came from it, driving the knife through Isabelle’s heart.

Isabelle screamed as her whole skeletal form infused with fire as she crumpled to the ground. Her bones turned to dust before all of their stunned eyes. Daniel dropped the box into the fire where it began to blacken as the flames ate at it greedily.

Elizabeth sobbed quietly as she watched Lenore approaching James, taking his hand in hers and guiding him towards the light. She watched him turn back to meet her gaze, love shining in his eyes. They both disappeared into the void. The light disappeared at once. All looked around, stunned expressions on their faces.

~ ~ ~

James found himself standing by a stream watching his horse drink its fill. They were deep in the woods. He could smell the earth, fresh from the recent rains.

He could feel the sweat and grime that coated his skin from days in the saddle. He suddenly felt his chest and arms in alarm, feeling his own solid form under his hands. He looked around warily, spinning about in alarm to look about him.

He looked at himself warily, unsure of where he was. He looked down and saw the same attire he wore the day he rode into Westerleigh. He wondered where he was when suddenly he heard what was being said only a few yards away in muted whispers, his power of hearing still as well as it was within the castle.

His men were all sitting around a campfire discussing him. Sir Edmund Sheffield was suspicious, saying he was acting strangely since they left London.

“He knows something, I tell you,” Edmund whispered in a harsh tone. “This doesn’t feel right to me.”

“Feeling a bit of guilt, are you? You should.” It was his steward, Marcus, who spoke in a low angry tone. “It’s a bit late for all of this, Edmund! You can’t turn back! None of us can now!”

“I’m not changing my mind. She asked he be brought to her and I’m doing it, aren’t I?” Edmund angrily tossed a stick into the fire. “I’m just telling you that I fought beside this man for years. I know him well. Something is amiss. He keeps looking at me strangely as if he knows.”

“The lady promises us riches beyond our dreams after tomorrow night,” Marcus said coldly. “We have all seen her power. Quit questioning everything, Edmund. This will be over in another day and you will be His Grace for the rest of your days just as she promised you.”

James froze at those incriminating statements, his hand going to his sword hilt, knowing he was now back in precisely the same spot he was in three hundred years before. He was looking backward all that day in the saddle questioning his leaving London.

They had just arrived here at this site where they rested before continuing on to Westerleigh. He wandered away to see to his mount while they all plotted his death. It was the last day before they arrived at Westerleigh. He was thinking of Lenore all that day they travelled here, thinking only of going back and saying to hell with all of the consequences.

The desire to kill these men that betrayed him kept him rooted there in indecision for a brief moment. To know what was planned for him upon his arrival at Westerleigh made his hands itch to strike them all down with his sword.

Suddenly, James recalled all that happened within the clearing just moments before. He was released from Isabelle’s spell and back in his own time prior to the horrors of Westerleigh.

The second chance he prayed for was well within his grasp. All he need do is escape his own men.

Fleeing from a fight was never his first choice. James frowned darkly, grumbling over the only option left to him. He had little arrogance in realizing he stood no chance against these six men he personally trained in battle.

He smiled readily to know he wasn’t willing to take such heroic risks with his life anymore, even to avenge what hadn’t happened yet. Not today. Not now. Not ever.

James knew what he had to do. He patted his stallion’s neck fondly, feeling the soft fur under his hand and its familiar textures with a sigh of pleasure to know this was all very real. He walked away from the stream and headed deeper into the woods towards the roadway.

Once James reached the road, he mounted his horse in all haste. He looked back in the direction towards Westerleigh, thinking of Elizabeth and all he left behind. Indecision filled him once more, not wanting to leave her but feeling compelled to follow his heart as he should have centuries ago.

James turned away with a resigned sigh, knowing this was what he was meant to do. He headed back towards London at a dizzying gallop, a wide smile on his face, feeling the wind whipping at his hair. He rode hard, knowing his men would realize very soon he left their company and give chase. He was confidant he had a head start upon them and would elude them once night fell.

He smiled widely to think of Lenore’s stunned reaction when he strode into the queen’s household, snatched her up in his arms, and claimed her as his to one and all.

And that was when he heard the hoof beats pounding behind him, glancing over his shoulder to know they realized he was on to them.

Once he reached London and told of Isabelle’s crimes, the king would send soldiers to Westerleigh to deal with her and her followers. He laughed to think of her horrified reaction when she was arrested for witchcraft and kicked his horse into a full gallop.

~ ~ ~ 

“Is James gone? Is it done?” It was Daniel who asked, taking off the deer mask and looking around questioningly in the now vacant clearing. The servants wandered back to castle moments before, leaving Percy and Daniel alone with her.

The bonfire still blazed brightly, illuminating the tears that streamed down her face. Elizabeth sat upon the sacrificial rock, her shoulders shaking with her sobs.

“He’s free now, Daniel,” Elizabeth breathed hoarsely and covered her mouth, sobbing in utter desolation despite her happiness for James.

“Let’s go back inside, Your Ladyship. We did what needed to be done here,” Percy said quietly, urging her to stand up. “The curse is now broken. Isabelle is gone.”

Elizabeth walked back to the castle with the two men feeling lost to know James was gone too. Isabelle failed at her magic once more. She went after her instead at the very last moment, and not Percy as they planned it. It was Lenore’s own lock of hair that protected her life, turning to fire and bringing Lenore’s spirit to their aid.

Elizabeth wondered depressively what it was that Isabelle wanted from her so desperately that she would veer away from Percy and seek to take her instead. She would never know, just grateful James finally found his rest.

Tomorrow she would deal with Edward and his illness and what all that meant to her future. For tonight, she just wanted to think of James, the ghost who loved her.

~ ~ ~

Elizabeth was exhausted when she returned to her room, wondering where Annie was, wanting only to lie down. Suddenly, sleep was the last thing she wanted. She dearly wanted company, deciding to seek out Simon and learn more about what he started to tell her before they left for the clearing to do battle with Isabelle.

She went to his room and knocked lightly upon the door. She opened it and peered inside. Mr. Pettigrew served as valet to both men during their stay. He laid out Simon’s nightclothes on the bed. They were neatly folded and untouched. She stepped inside the room and called out to him.

Elizabeth intended to leave and go check Edward’s room when she spied the piece of paper on top of the bureau. She knew it was wrong to invade Simon’s privacy but she shut the door and hurried forward, taking the note and reading it.

Elizabeth read the note proclaiming Simon’s guilt. She crumpled it in her fist, her eyes narrowed in outrage as she stalked back to her room. She was about to ring for Annie when she noticed the letters stacked upon the tray for the outgoing post.

Annie wrote to her sister every week. The letter sat on top of the stack. She stared at the writing on the envelope, confusion evident as she unfolded the note in her hand and compared the writing, realizing both were written by the same hand.

Elizabeth slid down onto her vanity chair, staring at her own reflection with a look of shock, thinking of all she shared with her maid these last five years.

Annie was hired by Edward after they married. She was good at her job. Elizabeth saw no need to hire her own ladies maid, pleased with the girl’s work.

She cringed to recall Annie encouraging her to take a lover all of these years. And all the while, she was giving all of that information to some unknown man who intended to blackmail her with such knowledge.

Simon was in on it too, going to the stable to meet the man tonight while they were in the clearing. He disappeared from the castle since, she soon realized. She went down to Edward’s room at a dead run. She found only him there sleeping soundly.

Simon was nowhere to be found.

Elizabeth went below and found Daniel and Percy getting into the spirits with high enthusiasm. Both said they had not seen Simon since after dinner. She went out to the stables, breaking into a dead run, pushing open the wooden doors and realizing no one was there.

~ ~ ~

The next day, they all searched the grounds for Simon in vain. A footman went to the village and another to Tregaron to see if Simon Ives took the coach back to London. None saw him there.

The most damning evidence of all was when Elizabeth realized several pieces of her jewelry were missing from her vanity case.

Despite her desire to find Simon innocent of the theft, he was in her room that night before she came upstairs after dinner. He had ample opportunity to take the jewels and run. And more disturbing of all, Annie was also gone, all of her things missing from her room down the hall from hers.

Elizabeth knew she didn’t dare send for the constable. She couldn’t report the theft of her jewels, a feeling of sickening dread in her belly when she realized she had been cruelly tricked by someone close to her. All she could do now was to wait for their demands to come. She knew they would arrive for certain.

She and Edward were both cruelly used by those they trusted the most, sharing damning truths with both Simon and Annie. They would come back to haunt them.

Annie must have realized she would be the first to be questioned over the theft of the jewels. She opted to leave with the unknown man who summoned Simon to the stables.

Elizabeth was too sick with regret to ring for another house maid to help her undress. Sudden exhaustion made her do so on her own, slipping into her cold lonely bed and struggle to find sleep. Her dreams were confusing, recalled vividly the moment she opened her eyes the next morning.

She saw James riding his huge black stallion through the gates of Hampton Court as if the hounds of hell were at his heels. She saw him running inside the palace, seeing him brush past guards outside the queen’s household. Tears filled her eyes to see the girl he loved standing there in shock, dropping a stack of furs in her arms as James approached her with a wide smile on his face.