Moorcroft - the Possession: Book One of the Moorcroft Trilogy (12 page)

Richard looked from one to the other. “Is this yours Vicky?”

She nodded unable to speak or look at her friend. Richard snatched the bracelet and pushed it at Sarah. Sarah flinched and drew back away from Richards’s angry stare.

“How come this turns up in your room and hidden in a plant pot?” He growled.

The colour rose on Sarah’s face. “I don’t know.”

Now angry, Richard’s voice became a shout. “So it got here by magic did it? First the dress and now this, I always thought you were a spoilt child, but to steal from your best friend. Are you jealous or something?”

Sarah looked from one to the other. “It wasn’t me I tell you.”

“Then who was it, the tooth fairy?”

Charles hearing shouting pushed open the door. He rushed to Sarah’s side. “What’s going on? Why is Sarah crying?”

Richard held out the bracelet. “She stole this from Victoria’s room and hid it in that plant pot.”

Charles looked at Sarah. “I did not. How many more times must I tell you?”

With his faced pushed into Sarah’s face he scowled at her. “Then who did?”

“You know who it was. It was her.”

Charles’s grip tightened around her waist.

“It was the ghost. I’m telling you the truth.”

Richard looked at Victoria’s startled face. “It was the ghost, have you gone totally insane?”

“But it’s true, I’ve seen her. She’s a little older then me and she lurks in the shadows and whispers at you in the dark, but when she’s angry she shows herself and she screams and shouts.”

Richard took Victoria’s hand. “Come on, we’re not listening to any more of this drivel.”

Sarah turned into Charles and sobbed. “You believe me don’t you?”

Looking into her tear stained eyes he could see how frightened and upset she was. “Of course I do, and so does your mother, remember she has seen her too.”

Sarah suddenly looked up. “That’s right she has, she can tell them I’m not telling lies.”

She grabbed Charles’s hand and rushed from the room, heading for the drawing room and her mother.

In the corner of the room Charlotte laughed out loud, her plan had worked. Now that Victoria no longer trusted the silly girl, she would have no one to confide in. Charlotte could now weave her spell and work on Victoria’s mind.

In the drawing room Emily was stroking Victoria’s hand with Richard pacing the floor, shouting and not making any sense.

She looked from Victoria to Richard. “Will someone tell me what’s going on?”

“Your daughter, that’s what, how she can steal from her own friend, beats me.”

“What are you talking about? What has Sarah done?”

The door flew open and Sarah screamed at Richard. “If you don’t believe me ask mother, she’s seen her too.”

Looking at her mother she pleaded. “Tell him Mother; tell him about the dancers after the party.”

Richard looked at his mother. “Don’t tell me she’s hoodwinked you as well?”

Emily lifted her head high. “I think we should all calm down. Now Charles, can you tell me what all this commotion is all about?”

Charles tried his best to explain, with Richard and Sarah constantly butting in. When everyone was quiet once again Emily looked into the faces of each of these young people. How was she going to solve this problem? She decided to tell the truth and told them of the dancers. Richard poured himself a drink and quickly emptied the glass.

“I just can’t believe this rubbish.”

“Would you rather believe me or believe that your sister is a thief? Richard only you can decide.”

Walking to the door he looked round. “I need to think this through.”

He left the room slamming the door behind him.

Sarah sat beside Victoria and reached for her hand. “I’m so sorry, Vicky, that you should hear all this now.”

Wiping the tears from her face she faced Sarah. “Is this all true?”

“I’m afraid so, and she was the one that ripped your dress, not the dog, mother and I made that up so as not to frighten you.”

Victoria looked at Emily for confirmation.

Emily nodded. “I’m sorry but its true Victoria; someone else lives in this house with us and is bent on mischief.”

Between them, they told Victoria of all the strange events that had occurred in the house.

Later Victoria searched Richard out. She found him in the stables rubbing down Dancing Lady. Victoria stroked the horse’s nose as she bobbed her head up and down. Richard put his arm around Victoria’s shoulders and pulled her to him.

“What a mess.”

Victoria looked up into his face. “Your mother has explained everything to me and I believe her. Richard you have said yourself that strange things have happened here.”

Just then Dancing Lady’s eyes opened wide and she began to stamp her feet. The lights flickered and Richard looked around the stables but could see nothing. Victoria could feel the icy chill and pulled the collar up on her coat. She looked into the shadows. “See what I mean?”

She laid her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

Charlotte watched, rage engulfing her.

At breakfast the next morning Richard made his apologies. “I am still finding all this hard to believe, but I am sorry Sarah. I should never have accused you of being a thief there must be some other explanation. Will you forgive me?”

Sarah smiled at her brother. “Of course, now the best thing is to forget it ever happened and get on with things.”

Richard nodded but knew he would not rest until this mystery was solved.

John looked at his wife. “What’s going on?”

She patted his hand. “Nothing for you to worry over my dear, how are your sausages?”

Everyone laughed. Emily looked around the table; everything was back to normal she hoped.

At the back of the room Charlotte took in the happy scene. Now she must begin her tirade of terror. One way or another she would get rid of the girl Victoria there was nothing more certain.

####

Much to Charlotte’s surprise Sarah and Victoria were soon back into their old routine, only this time they had an engagement party to organize. Emily had relented and allowed the girls to invite a few friends and their partners from work, ‘no more than ten’, was still ringing in Sarah’s ears. Victoria had to decide who she wanted to invite. Richard had asked just a couple of friends he knew from college. When the list was complete it totalled twenty two, would mother agree, only one way to find out. Holding the list in one hand and Victoria’s hand in the other they made their way down the stairs to the drawing room. Emily was sat by the fire sewing and John was in the opposite chair asleep when the door was thrust open.

John coughed and spluttered. “I must have nodded off.” He looked on the smiling face of his daughter. “And what mischief have you two been up to?”

Sarah thrust the list at her mother. “Victoria and I have finally decided who should come to the engagement party.”

Emily looked down at the list. “This looks a little larger than ten people. Are you quite happy with this Victoria, after all it is your engagement party and not Sarah’s?”

“I am quite happy with it Mrs Gardener, but are you?”

“Please, I have always thought of you as one of my children and now you are to become an official member of the family I think it is time for you to call me either Emily or Mother, which ever you prefer.”

A flush of colour touched Victoria’s cheeks. “That is very kind of you, Mother.”

Emily smiled. Sarah and Victoria looked at each other and giggled.

“Now stop behaving like silly school girls, this is a serious matter. This list looks far too long.” She held up her hand as Sarah started to protest. “But it’s not every day our son gets engaged, so go ahead with the invites.”

Victoria smiled and looked at Emily. “Thank you so much Mother, I am so grateful for everything you have done for me.”

“Nonsense Victoria, now go and do whatever you young people do these days.”

When the girls had left the room Emily looked at her husband. “It is okay for us to go ahead with this party; we can afford it, can’t we?”

“Of course we can, my dear. It brings joy to my heart to see them all looking so happy. This is our first child to be married and I don’t think it will be too long before Charles pops the question too.”

Emily sat upright. “Do you know something I don’t?”

John smiled at his wife. “Charles came to see me the other night in the study. He asked for permission to marry Sarah. He is a true gent that boy, a true gent.”

Emily looked bewildered. “Sarah hasn’t said anything to me.”

“That’s because he hasn’t popped the question yet. I think he’s waiting until after the party, doesn’t want to take the limelight off Victoria and Richard. I was going to suggest he does it later on at the party, that way we only have to pay for one do. What do you think?”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea, but won’t Charles’s want his parents there and won’t they want to invite some of their friends?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll have a word with the boy, see what he thinks.”

With that settled John picked up the paper, time to see how his stocks and shares were fairing.

Charles had been visiting the tenant farmers, looking round their farms and asking how things were going. They all complained that the markets were slow and that they couldn’t get good prices for their cattle or lambs, but he was having none of it. The tenants were beginning to realise that the good days of John Gardener’s generosity were over. As he travelled back to Moorcroft in the Land Rover he thought of Sarah and a smile crossed his face. Now he had to decide when would be the right time to ask her to marry him. After talking to her father it must be before the party, but he didn’t want to upset Richard or Victoria. Perhaps he should sound Richard out see what he thought. He looked across the lovely countryside and spotted Richard riding Dancing Lady, that man loved his horses.

Over dinner that night Richard brought up the subject of repairs needed to the barn and the fences and asked his father for more money.

“I’m not made of money you know.”

Richard bristled. “I am aware of that, Father, but we can’t keep the hay dry with a leaking roof and stop the stock from roaming with the fencing down. They have to be repaired and soon.”

John looked across at Charles and Charles gently nodded. “Okay after dinner we will retire to the study and discuss this further. Now can we have our meal without any more interruptions?”

Emily saw that now her husband had lost his appetite, damn Richard, why couldn’t he have waited until after dinner. John put down his knife and fork with a clatter, wiped his mouth and pushed his chair back.

“I’ll see you two in the study.”

Emily watched his back as he left the room. The door shut with a bang.

She looked across at her son. “Did you have to do that?”

Richard sighed. “I’m sorry Mother, I know this was the wrong time, but father doesn’t realise that a farm doesn’t run on fresh air.”

“I am sure you will be letting him know that soon enough. Now can we all finish our meal in peace?”

In the study, John once more looked at the paper. His shares had fallen in value, quite the opposite of his broker’s advice, and he had lost a substantial sum of money. He must see his broker first thing and see what could be retrieved from this calamity. Soon he must face Richard; if he knew of this he would be outraged. Best not to mention it, perhaps his broker could see a way out of this mess. He threw another log on the fire filling the room with smoke just as Richard and Charles entered. John started coughing and spluttering, his face went red and spittle dribbled from his mouth. Richard went to his father’s side and placed a hand on his arm.

“Are you alright Father?”

John brushed his son’s hand away and sat down. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. “Of course I’m alright. Now let’s get down to business.”

Emily left the girls in the dining room talking about fashion and what to wear at the engagement party. As she made her way to the drawing room she could hear raised voices coming from the study. She crossed the hall and placed her hand on the door handle. Should she enter and stop this rowing or should she leave them to it. John may not appreciate her interference. Reluctantly she made her way to the drawing room. She would have some sharp words for Richard later. She settled down in her armchair looking at the flickering flames in the fire. The sooner she got John on a holiday the better.

When the boys had left the study, John leant back in his chair, he could feel his heart beating fast and he was short of breath. He sat forward taking deep breaths. When he felt more relaxed he stood and went to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a large whisky and drank it down in one. He refilled his glass and picking up the bottle returned to his chair. He emptied his glass once more and looked into the fire. Running his hand through his thinning hair he wondered what he was going to do.

Charles shouted for Richard to slow down as he crossed the yard to the stables.

“Don’t say anything Charles, I am too angry and I don’t want to row with you. I have to get away, clear my head, I’m going riding.”

As he entered the stable he shouted to Eddie the stable hand.

“Eddie, Eddie. Where the hell are you? I want Dancing Lady saddled up at once, I’m taking her out.”

“Are you sure you want Dancing Lady, you had her out this afternoon. What about Moonlight or Diamond?”

Richard glared at the young man before him. “I said I want Dancing Lady and Dancing Lady I shall have”

“But, Sir.”

“No buts Eddie get her saddled up.”

Richard pushed past them both and made his way to the house. Charles looked at Eddie and shrugged.

“Best do as he says Eddie; you don’t want to get on the wrong side of him tonight.”

Charles followed Richard into the house and found him busy pulling on his riding boots.