Don't Look Back

by Ben Cheetham

“I felt curious as to why they were built.”

  Rozen nodded as if she’d expected that answer. “All I can tell you is what was handed down to me by word of mouth from Mother, who in turn had heard the stories from her own mother. Walter Lewarne was reputed to be something of a recluse, but as is usually the case the truth was more complicated. For the most part he preferred his own company, but when the mood took him he threw lavish parties – masquerade balls where the high-society of London drank endless champagne and danced to an orchestra until the sun came up. Locals weren’t invited. Nor were local servants employed to tend to the guests. Somehow a rumour started that drinking wasn’t the only vice indulged in at the parties.” Rozen’s eyes gleamed like grey gems. “It was said that in the small hours of the night guests danced in the moonlight naked except for their masks.”

  Adam thought about Faith’s moonlit face, her eyes and mouth wide with pleasure. He became conscious of Rozen looking at him intently and resisted an urge to blink away from her gaze. “So Ella was right. She thought Walter might have been a bit of a…” pervert was the word Ella had used, but that didn’t seem appropriate, “libertine.”

  “I’m merely telling you what I know. You may draw your own conclusions. As you can imagine, in a small community like this the rumours caused quite a scandal. Perhaps because of that, over the years, Walter came down into the village less and less. Even so, the rumours persisted. There was talk of strange characters coming and going from Fenton House and a light was often seen burning in the observatory tower all night long.”

  “What sort of characters?”

  “I couldn’t say. But it was said by those who saw Walter at the time that his face had grown haggard and his once black hair had turned grey.” Rozen rested back in her armchair sipping tea to indicate she’d finished her story.

  “Is there anything else you haven’t told us about Fenton House?”

  Rozen smiled coyly. “Let me ask you something, Adam? Why did you come to Treworder?”

  “You know why. To make a fresh start.”

  “That’s part of it, but I don’t believe it’s the whole reason. I believe you’re searching for something that was stolen from you.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “The same things the world steals from most of us long before childhood ends – mystery, wonder. You want to believe there’s more to the world than your eyes can see.”

  Want to believe. Those words made Adam think of Jacob’s funeral. He wanted to believe what the vicar had said was true – that there was there was a light beyond life – but when he thought about death all he saw was darkness. A sigh swelled his chest. “Doesn’t everyone want to believe that?”

  “No, I don’t think they do. There are those who spend their entire life afraid of anything beyond their understanding. My brother was one such person. He would rather have destroyed himself with gambling than accept the possibility that this world is only a passageway to something else.”

  The mention of George reminded Adam of the other thing he wanted to speak to Rozen about. He took out Heloise’s book. It was obvious from way Rozen’s mouth dropped open that she recognised it. “Where did you find that?” she asked, her voice hushed as if it was a sacred artefact.

  Adam told her, handing over the book. She trailed her fingers tenderly down its cover. “I gave this to Heloise on her twelfth birthday. I never expected to see it again.”

  “I thought you might like to see her drawings. They’re really quite beautiful.”

  “I taught Heloise to draw, but she soon proved to be a far more talented artist than me.”

  As Rozen turned the pages, her smile took on a sad quality that made Adam reluctant to mention what he’d found in the back of the book. He knew though that Ella would follow through on her threat if she didn’t get the answers she wanted. “There’s a page torn out. Heloise wrote you a letter.”

  Rozen found the missing page. The sadness in her smile deepened as she read the shaded-in words. When her eyes lifted to Adam they were filmed over with tears. “It’s as I always suspected. George’s past finally caught up with him.”

  “So you didn’t know about the letter?”

  “Heloise never gave it to me. I imagine that she couldn’t bear to worry me with it. She was the sweetest little girl you could ever hope to meet. I don’t have much money, but I would have done anything in my power to help her.” Rozen’s gaze returned to the illustrations as she continued, “She used to come to visit me most days. We would sit for hours chatting about the things she’d seen on the peninsula. And she would bring me pressed flowers, shells, fragments of serpentine. I’ve still got some of them.”

  Setting aside the book, Rozen stood and approached a sideboard. She took a metal tin from a drawer and opened it. Inside was an assortment of objects that could be found on the peninsula’s beaches and cliff tops. As Adam pored over the tin’s contents, Rozen said, “Heloise was fascinated by what things are made of. I had another pug back then. Victor. One time I found her poking around inside his mouth. When I asked what she was doing, she said she was looking for what made his bark. We used to talk about Fenton House too. Heloise started to see Mother not long after moving here. Mother would come to her at night and they would talk. They became very close. Heloise grew to love Mother just as much as I did. It was Mother who showed Heloise the passageways. Heloise used to hide from George in them when he was in one of his drunken rages. George loved to drink Champagne. That was another of his vices.”

  Falling silent, Rozen sat misted by memories for a moment. Regaining her bright-eyed smile, she passed the book back to Adam.

  “Ella thinks I should give it to the police,” he said.

  “What good could possibly come of that?”

  “That’s what I said to her.”

  “I would prefer not to reopen old wounds, but you must do as you see fit.”

  Adam looked uncertainly at the book. Another question sprang to mind. “Why do you think George didn’t sell the house?”

  Rozen spread her hands. “Another mystery. I know this. Heloise loved Fenton House. Perhaps he held onto it for her, but she never came back for it. Don’t worry, Adam, the house is yours. Nothing will change that now, unless you break the conditions of the contract.”

  Adam rose. “Thank you, Rozen. I think what you’ve told me will really help put Ella’s mind at rest.”

  “It was my pleasure. I always enjoy our conversations.” Rozen walked him to the front door. “Will you do something for me, Adam?”

  He hesitated to reply.

  She laughed softly. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask for another kiss. When you get back to the house look in all the mirrors. Look as closely as you can. And next time we speak, tell me what you saw.”

  Chapter 16

  As Adam climbed the steep valley side, he thought about Rozen’s request. He hadn’t looked in the mirror much since Jacob’s death. He didn’t like what his reflection revealed – features marred by grief and guilt. As he entered the garden, a tiny red-breasted shape fluttered to the path. He smiled at it. “Hello.”

  The robin flapped a few metres towards the house and landed again, swivelling its head to eye him beadily.

  “What is it? Do you want me to follow you?”

  As if in reply, the robin opened its black beak and trilled at Adam. He stepped towards the bird and it fluttered away.

  “Where are you leading me?” he laughed. “Do you want feeding? Is that it?”

  The robin landed on a peak of the orangery’s glass roof. Ella was kneeling on the terracotta tiles inside the open door, pressing earth into a plant pot. She looked up at Adam, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

  “What a clever little thing you are,” said Adam.

  “Who me?”

  “No, the robin. It led me to you.”

  Ella glanced at the bird. Her gaze returned to Adam. “So what did Rozen have to say?”

  “Appare
ntly her mother didn’t want her to tell us about the passageways.”

  “Why?”

  “She didn’t say. Basically, it was more of the same supernatural claptrap. I think she just enjoys being mysterious. You were right about Walter Lewarne.” Adam recounted Rozen’s story about Walter’s wild parties and the ensuing fall-out.

  Ella shook her head. “That’s what too much money does to you. It makes you think you can behave however you want.”

  “Since when did you become such a prude?”

  “I’m not, but when you start perving on people through two-way mirrors I think it’s time to stop and take a good hard look at yourself.”

  Adam chuckled. “I think you’re probably right.”

  Ella glanced at Heloise’s book. “And I see you were right about Rozen not wanting the book. What did she say about it?”

  “She says Heloise never gave her the letter.”

  “And you believe her?”

  “I don’t see any reason not to. She was genuinely upset when she read the letter.”

  “Either that or she’s a good actor.”

  “Why would she lie?”

  “I don’t necessarily think she is lying. I just think she’s being economical with the truth.”

  Adam nodded agreement. “Exactly. Like I said, she gets a kick out of being mysterious. Rozen’s not crazy or dangerous. I’ll tell you what she is – she’s a sad, lonely old woman looking for something to liven up her last few–”

  He fell silent as the robin broke into a high-pitched seee-seee, seee-seee. “It sounds frightened,” said Ella, looking up at it curiously. “Maybe there’s a bird of prey nearby.”

  Adam’s eyes searched the sky. There was nothing to be seen, not even a gull. The robin continued its urgent warbling cry. “I think it’s hungry,” he said. “I’ll get it some–” He broke off as the bird took flight and fluttered in rapid circles towards the lawn.

  “What’s it doing now?” wondered Ella, stepping outside.

  “Let’s find out.”

  They followed the robin along the side of the house. It landed on the windowsill of The Lewarne Room. Its seee-seee grew even more insistent.

  Adam frowned. “Where’s Henry?”

  “He was over by the pond a while ago.”

  Adam looked towards the pond. “He’s not there now. Henry! Henry!” he shouted and received no reply. He glanced at Ella. They both looked at the robin again, then at the window. “You don’t think he’s…”

  “Yes, I think that’s exactly where he is,” said Ella, hastening towards the front of the house.

  Adam knew his hunch was right when he saw that the door to The Lewarne Room was open. The secret panel was open too.

  “I thought you wedged it shut,” said Ella.

  “I did.” Adam poked his head into the passageway. The wooden braces lay dislodged on the flagstones. There was no sign of them having been bent or broken. Pursing his lips in puzzlement, he straightened to fetch matches from the kitchen. Upon returning, he lit both candelabra and passed one to Ella.

  Ella went left, Adam went right, each of them calling for Henry. Shadows played like overexcited children as Adam hurried through the passageways. He found himself imagining what Walter might have seen through the mirrors – naked bodies contorting as they murmured dark secrets of desire. He shook off the images. The passageways had a power alright, but it had nothing to do with the supernatural.

  He quickened his pace as an orange glow flickered on the walls at the top of the final flight of stairs. He frowned disappointedly when Ella stepped into view and shook her head at him. He replied with a shake of his own head. They briefly split up again to search the uppermost passageway. Henry was nowhere to be found.

  “If he’s not in the passageways, where the hell is he?” wondered Ella, worry ratcheting her voice up a notch.

  “I’ll check out the attic,” said Adam. “You search the bedrooms.”

  They exited the passageways via one of the latched mirrors. Adam worked his way through the gloomy, stuffy attic rooms. No Henry. “If you’re hiding up here, Henry, you’d better come out right away or you’re going to be in big trouble,” he warned.

  Silence.

  He returned to the first-floor. Ella threw her arms wide in exasperation. “He’s nowhere.”

  They hurried downstairs and searched the ground floor in vain. “I’m starting to get really worried,” said Ella.

  “Let’s just stay calm,” Adam replied, although his stomach was churning. “We haven’t properly searched the garden yet.”

  Ella’s gaze darted past him as the kitchen door opened. “Henry,” she exclaimed, relief and anger blending in her voice. “Where have you been?”

  Henry’s freckly face was a picture of innocence. There were cobwebs in his hair. “I was playing outside.”

  Adam brushed the cobwebs from Henry’s hair and displayed the evidence to him. “Where did these come from?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “There’s no point lying, Henry. We know you’ve been in the passageways. How did you force open the panel?”

  Realising the game was up, Henry gave his parents a look of wide-eyed appeal. “I didn’t force it. I just put my hand on it and it opened.”

  “You shouldn’t have been anywhere near that panel,” reprimanded Ella. “You promised, remember?”

  Henry nodded, lowering his eyes contritely. “I only went a short distance into the passageways.” His voice dropped as if he was admitting something shameful. “Then a noise scared me and I ran outside.”

  “What noise?”

  “The bell.”

  “What bell? I didn’t hear a bell.” Adam looked at Ella. “Did you?”

  “No.”

  “It was really loud,” persisted Henry.

  “Where was it coming from?” asked Ella.

  “I don’t know.”

  “It was probably the grandfather clock,” said Adam. “But whatever it was, it doesn’t change the fact that you broke your promise. I want you to go to your room and stay there.”

  Henry pushed his bottom lip out. “Aww, for how long?”

  “Until I say you can come out.”

  Henry looked pleadingly at Ella, but she folded her arms. He turned and sullenly stamped up the stairs.

  A smile played over Adam’s lips. “I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m sort of happy he’s being naughty. I feel like I’ve got my mischievous little boy back.”

  “Just so long as he doesn’t make a habit of breaking his promises.”

  “He won’t. I’ll give him a little time to think about what he’s done, then go up and have a word with him.” Adam glanced towards the shuttered window. The robin was gone. “What about that robin? Do you think it was really trying to tell us Henry was in the passageways?”

  “Who knows? Robins are clever birds.” Ella eyed the secret panel curiously. “What I’d like to know is how Henry got that open.”

  “This is an old house. There’s bound to be movement in the walls as they heat up and cool down. That’s most likely why the braces came loose.”

  “And what about the bell? It must have come from inside the house otherwise we’d have heard it.”

  “Like I said, it was probably just the clock.”

  Ella made a doubtful noise.

  “What does that mean?” asked Adam. He chuckled in realisation. “Oh come on, Ella, don’t tell me you’re starting to believe Rozen’s ghost stories? We’ve already been through this. Rozen’s a lonely old woman. I’m not entirely convinced that even she believes all the nonsense she comes out with.”

  “Oh she believes it alright.”

  “Does she though? What if that’s why we’re here? Maybe she needs us to make it real for her. Well I for one choose not to play that game. And as for this,” Adam motioned to the secret panel, “there was no harm done.”

  “This time. Forget the supernatural crap, you said it yourself, Adam, old houses can be dange
rous places.”

  “There won’t be a next time. I’ll nail the panel shut.”

  Ella wrinkled her forehead, accepting Adam’s answers but clearly not satisfied by them. “Where are you going?” he asked as she turned to head upstairs.

  “To see Henry. I don’t want him cooped up in his room.”

  “We need to punish him, Ella.”

  She gave Adam a sad sidelong look. “He’s made so much progress in the past few days. Are you willing to put that at risk?”

  Adam thought about it briefly, then sighed and shook his head. Ella was right. Henry had been through more than any child should ever have to. So what if he’d broken his promise? The most important thing was that he didn’t get sucked back down into his grief. That was where the real danger lurked.

  Chapter 17

  Adam fetched a hammer and nails from the outhouses. As he was returning to the house, Henry came pelting out of the front door. Adam called to him. He wanted to tell Henry how much he loved him, let him know he’d only been angry because he was worried. Henry put his head down and sprinted off in the opposite direction. Adam decided against going after him. Henry was probably still sulking. They would talk later when he’d calmed down.

  Adam nailed the lengths of wood across the panel from the inside and exited via the library again. The nails protruded into The Lewarne Room. He bent them down with the hammer. Ella entered the room.

  “How was he?” asked Adam.

  “Fine as soon as he realised he wasn’t grounded. I’m going shopping in Helston.” Ella kissed Adam on the cheek. “I shouldn’t be too long.”

  He waved her off and returned the hammer to the outhouses. He caught sight of something that made him frown. The nest had been dislodged from its crook and was upside down on the floor. A robin lay motionless beside it. There was no visible sign of injury, but when he picked the bird up its head flopped brokenly backwards. A cat must have come in through the open door and killed it, he reasoned. It wouldn’t have been difficult for a cat to reach the nest which had been built perilously close to the floor. Another thought occurred to him – Henry knew where the nest was. Could he have killed–