Amelia and the Secret of Stoney Manor (Amelia Series Book 1)

by Michelle Bradshaw

  Maybe I just imagined it, I deduced. I was good at that; seeing things that normal people wouldn’t see, things that others would think were strange. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of it again. As I turned to look, my eyes caught something shimmering under water. There it was, a locket, peeking out from under the sand. I quickly stuck my hand into the water to grab it. This could be a clue to my past. I pulled and pulled for quite some time trying to get it out of its watery stronghold until it was getting dark and I was about to give up. The moon began to peek through the clouds and I knew Grandmother would be wondering where I was. I will give it one last go and that will be it, I reasoned to myself. As the moon’s reflection began to dance upon the water, my frustration began to grow. “Oh come on out, you stupid thing!” I screamed from the top of my lungs. As I tugged, the locket came flying out of the water, as if a force that was holding it let go, and it landed on the ground. “There you are, you tricky little thing,” I cheered as I swooped it off the ground and began to clean it with the sleeve of my shirt. I began to examine it and saw that it was a heart shaped locket. I didn’t know how long it had been in the water, but the gold still had a shine to it—not a bit of rust on it at all. Though try as I might, I could not open it. Oh well, I concluded as I put it over my head to wear it.

  Meow, came the sound of a cat in the dark, making me jump.

  “Luna, is that you?” I asked trying to scan the dark shadows that the moon didn’t bring to light.

  Meow, went the cat again.

  “Come on, Luna. You win. Game over. Come out of the shadows.”

  Hiss, retorted the cat, scaring me and making me jump backwards, almost falling into the pond. Luna came bolting off the porch as a black cat with dark, glowing, emerald green eyes began to slowly make its way into the light toward me.

  “Nice kitty,” I said with my voice shaking. Not knowing whether to run or dropkick the cat, I froze. All of a sudden, Luna sailed from the dark, pouncing on the black cat. Meeeoooww, screeched the cat.

  Hiss, countered Luna as the black cat got up and ran off into the shadows.

  “Thanks, Luna. I’ve never seen that cat before. It wasn’t too friendly.” I scooped Luna up in my arms and began to pet her behind her ears. Luna meowed in response and began to purr. Not wanting to take a chance that the cat would come back, we hurried on inside, knowing Grandmother would be waiting at the dinner table. As I latched the front door and hurried to the table, to my surprise, Grandmother was not there.

  CHAPTER TWO

  AMELIA

  WEIRD LITTLE AMELIA

  “Grandmother?” I called. No answer. Thinking my grandmother wasn’t at the table because she was upset with me, I apologetically said, “Grandmother, I am sorry for being late to dinner. I know you don’t approve of tardiness, but I found a locket and a strange cat scared me a little.” Still no answer, so I continued to speak aloud as I searched the house for her. “It scared me at the time because I had never seen the cat before and it hissed, but now that I think about it, I guess it was a little funny.” Not really, I recalled to myself and then continued to speak as if she could hear me. “Luna came bolting off the porch and attacked the cat like a ninja warrior.” I spoke no more and searched every room in the house quickly, but no Grandmother.

  Thinking she might still be feeling ill from earlier, I rushed to the sitting room, expecting to find her in her usual place. As I threw open the doors. Nothing. “Grandmother?” I quietly whispered as my eyes quickly scanned the room in search of a clue. This was not like her. Only on special occasions or to get provisions did she ever leave the Manor, but never this late. “Grandmother?” I uttered almost weeping for fear that something was wrong.

  “Get ahold of yourself, Amelia,” I said to myself. “Grandmother would want it that way. She is fine. She will be back. I know she will,” I uttered trying to reassure myself. Luna ran in as the old grandfather clock began to chime, dong, dong, dong, letting me know it was 9:00 in the evening. “Grandmother would have asked me to play her something on the piano now if she were here,” I whispered to Luna.

  Meow, responded Luna as if to say, “Well get on with it then.”

  In an almost subconscious response, I nodded, got up, and went to the large white piano which sat next to the big bay window overlooking the backyard. Grandmother would normally be sitting in her chair next to the window, soaking in the moonlight as she listened to me play. It felt strange for her not to be there, but I began to play her favorite tune anyway, Chopin’s “Nocturne in E-flat major.” Luna curled up by the window, as she always did, as my fingers danced across the keys. I had taken lessons from Grandmother for as long as I can remember. She had always called me her little piano prodigy because I picked it up so quickly. I would spend hours upon hours in front of the keys.

  For a second I imagined I could hear my grandmother, “That was lovely, Amelia. Will you please play it again?” But alas it was only the wind whipping through the trees outside. I played and played until my fingers could take no more. As I turned to pick up Luna I whispered, “Where are you, Grandmother? Please come home,” and quietly walked up stairs and went to bed.

  “Amelia.”

  “Mother? Mother, where are you? Grandmother is missing, and I am

  alone.”

  “You are never alone, my child. She is near and so am I. I love you.”

  “He is coming, child,” sounded the voice of my grandmother to my mother.

  “Be brave, Amelia, and know you are loved.”

  “Mother!” I shouted as I jumped from my bed, sweat beading on my brow. “These stupid dreams!” I shouted making Luna jump from her place of sleep on my bed as well.

  Meow!

  “Sorry, Luna,” I exclaimed petting her gently upon her back. “I just hate these stupid dreams. As if I’m not upset enough about Grandmother,” I said reluctantly sitting back on the bed. “I hope she is okay wherever she is,” I said to Luna a little calmer.

  Meow, answered Luna as she rubbed her furry face against mine.

  “Let’s try to get back to sleep.” And we both lay down and drifted off into a deep, dark sleep.

  “Little, weird girl she is,” remarked a short, stocky boy.

  “Why are you always so quiet, little weird girl?” added the voice of an older boy.

  “Le … le … leave me alone,” stuttered the tiny, black haired girl.

  “Leave you alone, huh? What are you going to do? Go crying to your grandmother?” The two boys echoed in laughter.

  “I bet she is as weird as the old lady,” chimed in the short, stocky boy.

  “Yeah. No one has ever been in Stoney Manor. People say weird things happen there,” noted the older boy in a gruff voice. “Little, weird Amelia. Little, weird Amelia. Watch out or she’ll get ya. Little, weird Amelia.”

  “I’m not weird,” said the little, black haired girl crying. “I’m not weird. I’m not weird,” mumbled the little girl.

  The laughter of the boys seemed to echo and multiply as what seemed to be the whole class surrounded her in a circle and chanted the song again, “Little, weird Amelia. Little, weird Amelia. Watch out or she’ll get ya. Little, weird Amelia.”

  “I’m not weird. I’m not weird,” shouted Amelia as she put her tiny hands over her ears and closed her eyes. “I’m not weird. I’m not weird. Grandmother? Grandmother?”

  “Grandmother?” shouted Amelia, her body almost shaking as she began to wake and remember she was still in her bed with Luna beside her as the morning birds sang their song outside her window. “Luna,” whispered Amelia stirring her from sleep.

  Meow, yawned a still sleepy kitty.

  “Come on now. Wake up. I had another weird dream I have to tell you about. I was a little girl in kindergarten again. All the mean bullies were picking on me. I hadn’t reflected on that in a long time. Don’t know why I dreamed it. I can still remember how it really felt though. I remember closing my eyes and shouting for Grandmother. I reme
mber she got to school early that day because it was my birthday. She ran to me, scooped me up in her arms, and told those mean kids to leave me alone. From that day on I was homeschooled. Of course I didn’t know what it meant, at the time, I just knew the mean kids couldn’t hurt me anymore. I never knew what they didn’t like about me. They treated me like that from day one. Maybe because I live here. I don’t know. Maybe that’s why I don’t have any friends.”

  Meow.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Luna. You are my friend. After all, I just confessed all that to you and you are a cat. I meant human friends.”

  Meow.

  “Now come on, Luna. I need to get dressed,” I announced as I jumped out of bed, grabbed some clothes, and ran to the bathroom to shower. I took my time in the shower—after all Grandmother wasn’t there to tell me I was late to breakfast.

  “Luna? Luna?” I called. “Let’s go downstairs and get something to eat.”

  Meow could be heard from downstairs.

  “Silly kitty. I guess she ran down first. She’s probably just as hungry as I am,” I muttered to myself. As I made my way downstairs, I thought I could smell the aroma of pancakes and syrup, my favorite breakfast. I knew it was only my imagination due to hunger because number one, we hadn’t had them since I was a child, and number two, Grandmother was missing.

  As I was walking past the dining room to the kitchen, a voice called out to me. “You are late, Amelia.”

  “Grandmother?” I shouted running to her and throwing my arms around her neck almost knocking Luna from her lap.

  “Calm down, Amelia. You act as if I have been gone,” joked Grandmother in a very chipper manner.

  “But you have. You were gone, Grandmother,” I almost stuttered. “I was late to dinner last night, and you weren’t here.”

  “My imaginative, sweet child, you are mistaken. I was out in the gardens very late last night. I came in long after you were asleep,” Grandmother assured me.

  “But I came from the gardens last night. That’s why I was late for dinner. I didn’t see you there.”

  “Amelia, you know how big the gardens are. You must have just missed me,” she responded.

  I felt like I was in a daze. Did I dream she was gone? No. I couldn’t have, right? I reassured myself as I gazed at my grandmother noticing she was hurt, stirring me from my thoughts. “Grandmother, you’re hurt. What happened?” I stammered.

  “Do not fuss over me, sweet child. I am an old lady, and I fell. My skirt got caught, and I tripped and scratched my face,” she replied as she gently touched the cut on her face.

  “What about the bruise on your cheek?”

  “Now, Amelia. Trust an old lady. I am fine. Thank you for your concern, but I really am fine. Now, eat your pancakes. I know they are your favorite.”

  As I devoured the delicious pancakes, I began to examine my grandmother more closely. She had an air of beauty masked in mystery about her. She always kept her black hair neatly pulled back with a little, pearl comb to decorate it. Her brown eyes still sparkled from behind her silver, half-moon glasses. She had a caramel colored skin tone that almost looked like it was gently kissed by the sun. Her face only seemed to have a subtle hint of wrinkles. Except for traces of grey in her black hair that had begun to show, you would think my grandmother hadn’t aged a day. If not for the black hair, I would say we didn’t look a thing alike. I know she was older, but even our clothing seemed to be decades apart in fashion. She had worn dresses or skirts for as long as I can remember, so I have never questioned it, but looking at her so close now, I would say they had a Victorian style about them with a somewhat modern twist. On her collar she always wore a crescent moon shaped brooch, which looked to be a family heirloom for it looked older than she did.

  I could tell Grandmother could feel me staring at her, so I focused my attention on something else, my locket. I didn’t notice it the night before, but it had a crescent moon shape on the front which favored Grandmother’s brooch. Maybe she knows something about my locket, I pondered to myself as I finished breakfast and helped Grandmother clear the table. I decided to wait to question her until we were seated in the sitting room, as was our usual routine after breakfast. Luna jumped in Grandmother’s lap, as always, while my grandmother began to knit. She never really made anything, but she claimed it helped her to relax.

  “Grandmother?”

  “Yes, Amelia?” she asked without looking up from her knitting.

  “Grandmother?”

  “What is it, child?” she retorted this time looking me in the face.

  “I found this locket in the garden yesterday, and I was wondering if you had ever seen it before or knew anything about it.”

  “Bring it here please, so that I may examine it,” responded Grandmother as she put her knitting aside on the couch.

  “It is lovely, Amelia. It will look nice on you,” said Grandmother picking back up her knitting.

  “You don’t know anything about it?” I anxiously probed hoping she would.

  “At the moment I cannot recall anything, but I will think about it and let you know if I do.”

  “Okay,” I said rather disappointed. “There was this funny thing that happened. Well, it scared me at the time, but I can laugh about it now,” I disclosed trying to take my mind off the locket.

  “What is that, dear?” asked Grandmother continuing to knit.

  “There was this black cat with emerald green eyes that came after me in the yard last night.” Grandmother nearly dropped her knitting as I mentioned this. “In the dark it looked as if his eyes were glowing, but I know most cats do that,” I laughed.

  “Are you all right, Amelia? It did not hurt you, did it?” asked Grandmother with a look of concern.

  “I’m fine. Luna came bolting off the porch and attacked the black cat, and it went running.”

  “Good kitty,” I heard my grandmother whisper as she began to pet Luna.

  “I’ve never seen that cat before have you?”

  “No,” replied Grandmother quickly. “It is nearing ten o’clock, Amelia. Should you not be getting to your studies?” As I got up to leave to head to my room Grandmother cautioned, “Be careful if you go outside again, Amelia. You never know what is going through the mind of an animal.”

  “Okay, I will, Grandmother,” I promised with a look of confusion on my face. I figured she was probably just being protective as grandmothers are, so I erased any lingering confusion and went upstairs to do my school work.

  Time went by fast and before I knew it, I was done with my schoolwork. I turned to gaze out and there it was sitting on the branch of the tree near my window, a raven, staring at me. “Ah!” I gasped since I wasn’t expecting it to be there. “Hello there, bird. How are you?” I said as I tapped at the window causing it to fly away. “Guess I scared it,” I whispered to myself.

  “Amelia. Are you all right?” shouted Grandmother in a panic, rushing into my bedroom almost out of breath.

  “Yes, Grandmother. I’m fine,” I assured her as I helped her sit down on my bed.

  “Child, you almost gave an old lady a heart attack. I heard you scream. What happened?”

  “Oh nothing. I turned to look out my window and a raven was sitting there staring at me. It just surprised me is all. Nothing ever sits on that branch.”

  “A raven?” repeated Grandmother getting up to go look out the window. “Well, it is gone now,” muttered Grandmother quietly almost to herself. “You will let me know if you see it again, right?”

  “Yes, Grandmother. If that’s what you want,” I responded while thinking to myself, Don’t know what she wants with a bird. Oh well, whatever makes her happy.

  “Yes, Amelia. I would be most grateful if you would call me the second you see one again,” she reiterated turning to leave the room.

  “I didn’t know you were into bird watching, Grandmother? I think there is a robin’s nest in the back yard somewhere. I hear them singing all the time in the morning.” Grandmo
ther just nodded and silently walked out of the room then down the stairs.

  It being lunchtime, I got up and followed her. As if reading my mind, Grandmother almost spun around on her heels to face me, “Do forgive me, dear, but you will be on your own for lunch today. I have things I need to take care of.”

  “Anything I could help you with?” I asked.

  “Oh no, dear. Do not worry about me. I just considered going to the garden shop downtown and getting a few things. I thought it would be lovely to revive the gardens for your birthday. By the way, have you seen Luna around?” she asked with a determined look on her face.

  “The garden idea sounds nice, Grandmother. Ah, Luna, I think I saw her last in the guest room upstairs near the window. She was watching some bird or something.”

  “A bird you say? Okay, I will not bother her then. I will be back in a little while. Do be careful while I am gone, all right? I love you, my sweet Amelia,” she said.

  “I will be fine. I think I’m going to catch up on one of the classics in the sitting room. I know I’ve read them all a hundred times, but you know I love to read,” I chuckled to myself . Grandmother smiled, hugged me, and left for the shop without another word spoken.

  CHAPTER THREE

  MATILDA

  JUST CALL ME BART

  The walk to the shop was a rather chilly one. I was glad I brought my chiffon scarf with me and wrapped it around my neck. I felt at ease knowing my sweet granddaughter Amelia was safe at the Manor. I wish I could I say the same for my own daughter. I made myself not think of that now though. She would be safe again soon. I would make sure of it.

  “Hello, Mrs. Flannigan. How are the little ones?” I asked as I waved. Mrs. Flannigan did an about-face and briskly walked the other way. That was rather rude, I thought, but it didn’t surprise me. None of the townsfolk had ever really cared for me. It had been like that since the day I moved in. Maybe that is why the children were so mean to my sweet Amelia growing up, I pondered to myself. “It is a shame,” I mumbled quietly. “They are missing out on a wonderful young lady. Luna let me know she would really like a friend. I need to remedy that.”