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The Haunting of Crawley House (The Hauntings Of Kingston Book 1)

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by Dorey, Michelle




  The Haunting Of

  The Hauntings of Kingston 1

  Bonus Bundle

  About This Book:

  Each tale of The Hauntings of Kingston is a standalone novel that takes place in the enigmatic city of Kingston, Ontario.

  The promise of a new life destroys a family. And the curse lives on and on.

  “Mommy I’m scared.”

  Five-year-old Sarah doesn’t understand why she’s afraid. But she is. Frightening things are going on in their new home, and she’s mixed up.

  Their new home has a history.

  A century earlier, a servant girl with dreams of fame and fortune collided with the house’s mistress--a British aristocrat bent on securing her place in proper society. The tension between these women began with small things, builds to prickly pressure and then explodes into raging mayhem, ripping through the entire household.

  Fury, vengeance, and hatred infuse the very walls of Crawley House.

  Sarah shouldn’t be afraid. She should be terrified of what is in store for her and her family.

  As reviewers have said:

  “Crawley House, a suspenseful and dramatic ghost story with some nice twists.”

  “Good storyline with well-defined characters. One of the better ghost stories that I’ve read in a long while.”

  “Clever, creepy haunted house story. Very well written.”

  Special Reader Bonus Bundle: Legacy (The Mystical Veil)

  Included in this eBook is a free copy of Legacy.

  Copyright, Michelle Dorey

  ISBN: 978-1-927984-77-2

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  Contents

  The Haunting of Crawley House

  Part I

  Kingston, Ontario

  1928

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Part II

  Kingston Ontario

  The Present Day

  Interlude…

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  A closing word:

  Bonus Book: Legacy (The Mystical Veil)

  About this book

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY ONE

  TWENTY TWO

  TWENTY THREE

  TWENTY FOUR

  TWENTY FIVE

  TWENTY SIX

  TWENTY SEVEN

  TWENTY EIGHT

  TWENTY NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY ONE

  THIRTY TWO

  THIRTY THREE

  THIRTY FOUR

  The End

  Author’s Note:

  Before we begin, a word…

  Please feel free to join my mailing list. I’ll keep you updated about new releases and special offers of my works. In fact, if you take me up on this offer, I’d like to give you one of my books for free— The Haunted Hideout. It’s been a strong seller for me and I think you’ll enjoy it!

  Just click this link for the easy step by step directions!

  Part I

  Kingston, Ontario

  1928

  Chapter 1

  Melanie Crawley perched on the edge of the chair waiting. Her fingers gripped tightly to stop the trembling. It was a struggle to maintain the cool composure a lady must always exercise and she was losing the battle.

  She wanted to scream.

  The door to the office opened and Doctor Evans entered. He held a file folder in one hand and a smoldering cigarette in the other. There was a grim smile on his ruddy face when he took a seat behind his desk.

  Melanie leaned closer to peek at the file folder he opened. But she didn’t need to see it to know what the missed monthly’s meant. Her breath caught in her chest. The bubble of joy at the prospect of carrying Kevin’s son was about to be burst by the man sitting across from her.

  Doctor Evans tapped the ash from his cigarette and turned back to scan her patient record. “My wife instructed you on the use of those feminine napkins, Mrs. Crawley?”

  “Yes she did, Doctor.”

  “And you know the signs to look out for?”

  “Spotting in the morning larger than a shilling, and I’m to telephone you straight away.”

  He lifted his hand and made a small circle with his thumb and forefinger. “I said a quarter.”

  She nodded. “And I’m more familiar with the size of a shilling, Doctor.” With a weak smile she held her fingers in the same position.

  He snorted. “Melanie, you’ve been here in Canada for almost five years—don’t you think you should start being more familiar with our currency?”

  “My husband handles the finances in our home, I don’t have much opportunity.”

  “Very well, as long as we’re in agreement on that part anyway. And for the second part?” His chin lowered and gray eyes peered at her above the spectacles.

  “But Doctor, I have two children at home! How can I care for them from my bedroom?” Her hands knotted as she tried to calculate the additional expense of a live-in maid. Kevin had said that having Mrs. Dowd and Bridget part time was stretching the household finances as it was!

  Doctor Evans leaned across his desk. “Mrs. Crawley… Melanie… I’ve known your husband since The Great War. It’s a wise man who keeps his cards close to his chest with respect to his finances. But take my word for it—your husband has no vices other than a cigar and brandy every now and then. What a major earns as salary isn’t a pauper’s wage. I’m confident you will be able to afford the extra help.�
��

  “How can you be so sure, Doctor?” She and Kevin never discussed the household’s financial affairs. He insisted it wouldn’t be “ladylike.” As if an Irish lad from Canada had the slightest idea of how things were done in such a home. Her mother, Baroness Darcy, knew where every ha’penny in the estate came in from. She also knew what it went out for. Melanie had to admit, it was a relief not having to be concerned about such matters in her own household. Until now.

  “Melanie dear, every other major stationed here in Kingston has at least twice the number of household staff as you.” He tapped his desktop with his index finger. “Full-time help, I might add.”

  She cringed inwardly at the doctor’s familiar use of the word ‘dear.’ Keeping her expression neutral, she replied, “I sincerely hope you’re correct, Doctor.” And the correct term, Doctor, is ‘servants’ not ‘staff.’ Generals have staff; ladies have servants.

  “Bed rest it is, then. Doctor’s orders. No more than four hours a day on your feet.” When she sighed in response, his tone grew sharp. “Mrs. Crawley. This is serious business. When you delivered your daughters, I told you additional pregnancies would be a trial for you.”

  She stamped a foot on the floor in frustration. “My Kevin deserves a son!”

  The doctor sat back in his chair, the squeak of the springs underscoring his annoyance. “Damn it, woman; he has no title to pass on! This isn’t England!”

  She sat forward. “But he has a name to pass on, Doctor! When Agnes and Alice marry, they’ll take their husband’s names. Should Kevin’s name go into the ground with him when he’s gone?”

  “That will not be for a long, long time, Melanie. Kevin’s barely thirty years old.” Doctor Evans smiled as he said it.

  “He’s the most remarkable man I’ve ever known, Doctor. He’s—”

  Doctor Evans cut her off with a wave. “I’m quite familiar with your husband’s heroism, Melanie. I was over there during most of his exploits.” He sighed. “He’s the most remarkable man I’ve ever met as well.” Shaking his head slowly, he continued. “No other soldier ever went from a raw private to his station and rank before.” He looked up at her with a twinkle in his eye. “And for an Irishman like him to win the heart of a baron’s daughter… What a tale.”

  “He had his pick of the London Season I assure you, Doctor. I’m the fortunate one.” Five years after their wedding, and two children at home, and she meant every word. Good Lord she loved that man so! She could and would give him a son!

  “I assume he knows you’re expecting?”

  “I wanted to wait until I was further along to say anything. I’ll tell him tonight.” She wouldn’t have even then, except for the bed rest order.

  Stubbing his cigarette out in the ashtray, Doctor Evans concluded the consultation. “If he has any questions or concerns Melanie, I’m at his disposal.”

  ***

  As the taxicab drove away, Melanie paused in the walkway to examine her dormant rosebushes. They survived the winter easily this year because of dear Kevin’s work at triple wrapping them in burlap last fall. Growing up in England, she loved her mother’s rose gardens, and had planted bushes as soon as the house was built. But here in Canada, a great deal more work was required to ensure survival from season to season. These bushes were her second attempt.

  Hitching up her skirts, she climbed the steps to the veranda and opened the broad front door. It wasn’t a double door as in her parents’ home, but it was a sturdy, solid door nevertheless. Also unlike her parents’ home there was no front door servant to greet her. Her mouth was set firm. Kevin Crawley was not now, nor ever would be a lord with a manor, but that was just fine.

  Were they back home in England, no Irishman would ever, ever stand a chance of entering her social circle. But Kevin had been a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force; despite his brogue, he wasn’t technically an Irishman. His Majesty King George V himself had hung the Victoria Cross on him, and then shook his hand! Even the Times published an etching of the ceremony, captioning the picture “Majestic Heroism.” That single gesture opened the door to every home and salon for Major Kevin Crawley in the empire, let alone London!

  And he chose her. From the first instance of their meeting, neither of them could tear their gaze from one another. She had taken the rule book of proper decorum for a young lady and absolutely shredded it! That memory of six years ago caused her to grin like a schoolgirl. And he, the charming and debonair “Warrior of Ypres,” “Conqueror of The Somme,” “The Victor of Vimy Ridge” and “Lion of Passchendale” to quote the tabloids, was a stuttering schoolboy in her presence.

  To this day, they both laughed at how shy they were with each other when they were introduced.

  “I survived bomb blasts and explosions, Melanie,” he had said later that same evening. “But none of them prepared me for the thunderbolt which is you.”

  To his surprise, and her astonishment, she kissed him right then. The wedding took place six months later. Her mother insisted they wait an acceptable time. It was the most difficult six months of her nineteen years.

  And the last five years have been the most joyful anyone could ever imagine.

  Her lips broke into a smile so large it hurt her cheeks.

  By God, she’d follow Dr. Evans’ orders to the T and give her Kevin the son he deserved!

  From the foyer she could hear the twins chattering at Mrs. Dowd in the kitchen. Agnes must have done something quite saucy, because Alice’s laughter tinkled over Mrs. Dowd’s scolding, which transformed into a chuckle. She quickly strode to the rear of the house.

  Entering the room, she saw Alice standing on a chair in the kitchen, an apron covering her dress like a smock, to her feet and Agnes beside Mrs. Dowd, both of them with flour on their faces, laughing.

 

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