Authors: Jane Jordan
“Well, I am not going anywhere,” I replied and still holding my hand, Darius began.
* * *
“The man who once owned this house was Theophilus Shaw, born around 1788, although to everyone he was known as Theo.”
“Shaw,” I repeated. “A relation to me?” Darius stared at me, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of caution, he was choosing his words carefully.
“If he was, he would have been your great grandfather about seven generations back,” Darius said, “but I should begin this story a long time before his birth. It will give you an insight into his corruption.” As Darius continued speaking, I drew closer to him, as if pulled by some unknown force. His voice became sultry and addictive and my mind was transported back in time.
“In England, early in the seventeenth century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, ships were chartered under her command, to purchase the finest quality Indian opium and transport it back to England. I cannot recall from my own historical knowledge how much opium came into the country before that, but after that period it became widely used for medicinal purposes.
Around the year 1680, a well known English apothecary by the name of Thomas
Sydenham introduced a compound he had made up of opium, herbs and sherry wine. This compound was a revelation of the time, it became known as Sydenham
’s Laudanum and was guaranteed to cure numerous ailments. It made the opium trade into England a viable business enterprise.
By 1793, the British East India Company, a well known trading company at that time, established a monopoly on the opium trade. Theo’s father Philip had worked with the British East India Company and had earned a well-established reputation within that industry. He successfully managed the dangerous task of getting large quantities of opium into England.
By then the demand had increased substantially not only for medicinal uses, but
increasingly
for recreational ones. Philip had built up many contacts, and driven by his ambition formed his own company. That business mainly consisted of smuggling opium out of both India and Turkey. He brought it via the Bristol Channel and Exmoor, here to Ravens Deep, the centre for his business. He took legitimate business away from his former employer and set up his own black market enterprise. For years he maintained a monopoly on this portion of the smuggling trade.
I am sure you know that the Exmoor coast is famous for its smuggling history, but most people think of tobacco and other contraband from the American Colonies. The opium trade was guarded well and Philip bribed and threatened many politicians and officials when his business was in full force, but you didn’t engage in that type of activity without making dangerous enemies.
Philip was not unaware of the risks of his business, and his growing son Theo was
exposed
to the entire depredation that went with the lifestyle. Ravens Deep became a notorious opium den. Many a famous word was written by poets or authors of that time staying here whilst in an opium haze. This house became a hangout for many rich, easily corruptible young gentlemen.
Philip had an acquaintance by the name of John Aston, an American from New York, who was notorious himself for smuggling opium to China, but with the problematic opium wars in China taking their toll, John Aston left the Chinese opium trade and sold solely to England. Philip trusted John and several business transactions passed between them. Over the years that followed vast amounts of money passed between these two men.
By the time Theo was a grown man, he was eaten up with jealousy of the relationship his father had formed with John. Theo believed John took more than his fair share of the profits. In time Theo manipulated John from any connection with his father's business, but by doing so he made an enemy of his father.
Theo was greedy and selfish. He had learned from his father how much profit could be made in the black market trade and he was eager to gain all the profits for himself. By the time Theo was thirty, he was a dangerous force in his own right. Philip disappeared one night and then weeks later his decomposing body was found floating in the Bristol Channel. It was not a surprise. Hushed stories circulated that Theo had committed the murder. Theo inherited everything from his father and that made him the most powerful influence in these parts, whatever anyone thought, they kept it to themselves.
Philip had been corrupt, but Theo made that corruption appear mild. He worked
intently
to rid himself of any rivals in the trade, lest he should meet the same fate as his father. Not only would Theo murder, but he maimed, kidnapped and tortured rivals, seeing them as a conceivable threat to him and his business. He even travelled with armed personal servants and a huge array of weaponry.
By the year 1830, the British dependency on opium and its demand was at an all time high. I believe that year, some twenty two thousand pounds of opium found its way into England from Turkey and India and it would be nearly forty eight years before Britain passed the Opium Act to reduce the consumption of opium. In the meantime, Theo had free rein and a booming business.
There was also another side of life that fascinated Theo. An even darker side. He was a true believer in the occult, it is said he partook in strange and disturbing ceremonies, even gaining the loyalty of corrupt priests of the day. Local people were terrified by the sounds they heard coming from the woodlands in the middle of the night. So it is no wonder fantastic and strange writings appeared connected with this house. In turn, the dark stories got passed down from generation to generation and they have become the myth and lore of legends.
When Theo was in his early thirties, a merchant coming ashore sought counsel with him. A matter regarding a cargo lost to pirates. Theo was convinced that the merchant was lying and had already sold the cargo to a rival. As Theo was about to slit the unfortunate merchant's throat, a gold locket the merchant wore around his neck opened, revealing a picture of a young girl.
Theo seized the locket and demanded to know the identity of the girl. The terrified merchant, in fear of his life, revealed that she was his daughter. Theo was mesmerized by the girl in the locket and he struck a bargain with the merchant: his life and the lives of the rest of his family in return for the girl. The merchant had no choice and he obeyed.
Her name was Anna and she was very beautiful with her jet black hair and striking eyes. Theo and Anna were married quickly, much to the girl’s horror. The ceremony took place at the church you found in the woods and it was presided over by a corrupt priest, whose loyalty lay with Theo. But Theo did not treat Anna well. She was a little better than a servant to him. But a year after the marriage she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, James and Madeline. As time went on, Theo turned even more violent, fuelled by his own illicit drug use and opium addiction. When the children were about four years old, Theo, became so enraged one night that he threw Anna down the staircase and left for the city.
Anna was knocked unconscious and badly bruised, she survived, but feared that both her and her children’s lives were in terrible danger. The very next day she made a journey to a county far away in the north, where she left her children with a distant cousin. She knew they stood a better chance of anonymity if she did not remain with them, as she believed Theo would track her down.
She left a large sum money for them, stolen from Theo’s desk and thought it was
probable
that he would kill her when he discovered what she had done, or even worse, force her to tell him where the children were. Anna would not allow him the satisfaction of that certainty and took a huge opium overdose. She was found dead in her garden.” Darius turned to look at me. “It was this garden, here at Ravens Deep.” I suddenly shivered as my mind returned to the present time.
“So does Anna haunt this house?” I asked.
“Well maybe the garden,” he smiled, looking amused. Darius stared into the fireplace and continued. “As far as I know, James and Madeline had a happy childhood far away from their father. But he had obviously not forgotten about them and for several years searched in vain for them. Anna had been a clever woman. She hid them well and the distant cousin she left them with remained loyal to Anna’s memory and her wards.
Theo did find them though many years later. I do not know how he finally managed it. I believe, a great deal of money was involved. Someone, somewhere was probably bribed or blackmailed. James had already married a girl, called Eva. They had a young son, John.”
“John Shaw,” I repeated, “that would be my great, great, great, grandfather, I said
slowly
. “So I am related.”
“Yes,” Darius agreed, “it would appear so.” He continued, “However, James would have nothing to do with this father, being of a good moral character himself and he had well connected friends. Theo. quickly realized that James was not someone to be manipulated easily. So he went looking for his daughter Madeline instead.
Before James could send word and warn her of the impending danger, Theo found
Madeline,
kidnapped her and brought her here to Ravens Deep. Madeline, was not as well connected as her brother. She had been working as a seamstress in a private house and was engaged to John Chamberlayne, the son of the house. When John learned that his fiancée had been taken, he tracked Madeline down to Ravens Deep and confronted Theo.
By all accounts, Theo placed a terrible curse on John and his family. Whatever it was that happened here, John fled in such fright that he fell from his horse and suffered a severe blow to the head. He was discovered bruised and bloody two days later in the woods close to his home. He had survived, but only just.”
I gasped, “How awful.”
“Yes,” Darius agreed. “It truly was a tragedy, for Madeline was heartbroken. But she was strong, she realized quickly that she would never be free of Theo or the horrors that may lie ahead for her. Then three days later, Theo fell ill. Madeline refused to let anyone near him. The seemingly dutiful daughter nursed her dying father for two days and nights. On the third day Theo was dead. The cause appeared to be an opium overdose.
There was speculation that she had poisoned him, but nothing could be proven. He was already an opium addict. Her brother James with his good connections quickly silenced any talk of foul play and James and Madeline took care of all the funeral details. They did not allow anyone near the body. Theo was buried in an unmarked grave, lest anyone ever tried to exhume the remains.
Madeline and John married and they had two children, but that blow to John’s head was more serious than anyone imagined. For three years he suffered headaches and some days had to be confined to his bed, from the pain in his head. He died when his children were two and three. Both children were sickly children and Madeline believed that her father’s curse was indeed taking vengeance.”
“What happened to them?” I asked. Darius was quiet, he seemed lost in thought.
“They grew up here, but I do not know any more.” He paused for a few moments. “Madeline lived for a while, you can see that from her tomb.”
“What a sad story,” I said. “It’s amazing to think how one person can ruin the lives of so many.” I thought for a few moments. “Do you believe in curses?” Darius looked at me oddly.
“I think there are things that cannot be explained,” he said, “and it all happened such a long time ago, I can barely remember.” I had the weirdest feeling when he said those words, but then, as if forgetting himself he quickly added, “I heard the stories when I was very young.”
“Who told you these stories?”
“I knew Mr. Chambers when he lived in this house,” he replied without hesitation.
“So if Madeline murdered Theo. in this house, he could be the presence and not a good one at that?” I summarized, feeling suddenly chilled even though the air was warm.
“I shouldn’t’t worry about that,” Darius said, lightening the mood. “Theo is long gone, exorcised by the various occupants of this house.” Darius looked at the old French clock on the mantelpiece, it was close to midnight. “I should go, it is late. It would like to see you tomorrow night,” he said giving me an enquiring look.