Within a month the house was running like clockwork. The meals Mrs Shaw produced were homely and delicious and the girls she had employed were polite. It turned out that one girl was Mrs Shaw’s daughter Mary, quite a bright young girl and keen to learn. The other was not so bright, just a slip of a thing, but well capable of peeling vegetables and washing dishes and pans. John had employed a butler, Mr Howard, he would oversee the daily running of the house, keeping a check on the household staff, but he was told not to interfere with Mrs Shaw and her kitchen. Mr Howard a respectable gentleman and a butler for many years, soon realised that the Gardeners had never had a butler before, or run such a large house, but he liked the couple and decided he would do his best for them.
The children were enrolled into the local school, but Emily soon realised this was a mistake, living at Moorcroft was a stigma for the children and they were soon both bullied. Instead she arranged for them to attend private schools, Sarah to a girls only school and Richard to a boys and they were both home each evening. Richard settled down well at school and soon found himself on the schools athletic team and made many friends. He saw the house as one big playground and often invited his school friends to stay over. Sarah, on the other hand, rather shy and subdued found it hard to make friends and had become rather quiet and withdrawn. Emily often found her in the kitchen talking to the young girl Mary.
The family soon settled into a routine and it wasn’t long before the wives of the local land owners nearby paid them a visit, Emily felt uneasy in their company and found the ladies to be nosey and ill mannered. John had bought a couple of horses and took to being the lord of the manor and would ride round to all his tenant farmers. It wasn’t long before he knew them all by name and was often invited into their homes for a bite to eat. Emily seemed satisfied that the house was running smoothly, her husband had become a new man since acquiring the prestige of becoming the owner of a country estate, Richard was bright and chirpy and excelling at school, her only worry was Sarah. She had become clingy, following her around the house like a lost sheep and she always looked tired, when Emily had asked her about it she had said that she didn’t like her room so they had decided to have it redecorated for her in the hopes that she would settle. Sarah soon came to realise that Moorcroft was haunted, but who could she confide in, if she mentioned it to anyone they would think she was insane and lock her up, the best thing she could do was to avoid being in the same room as the woman who tormented her, pretend that she hadn’t seen her then perhaps she would go away. John was a generous and caring man and during their first Christmas at Moorcroft he held a big party in one of the barns, just for his staff and tenants. There was plenty of good food, and drink, music and dancing and presents for all the children. Charlotte sat in the background laughing and clapping her hands listening to the music and the laughter, happy to have people around her again.
Charlotte felt that she and the house were alive again and would busy herself listening to the young maids chatter as they made the beds and laid the fires. She often watched the cook and her girls as they pottered around the kitchen making delicious looking meals and she laughed at the pompous Mr Howard as he ordered the servants about. When the house settled in the evening she tried to make friends with the young girl Sarah, but she would run away whenever she had approached her, but she delighted in Richard as she watched the pranks he and his friends got up to, he was such a mischievous boy but seemed unaware of her presence.
As Richard got older he remained over active, full of surplus energy. Although his grades were good his teachers felt that with more discipline they could be excellent, he became disruptive in class and was constantly in trouble at school so John decided that he should be sent to boarding school. Emily wasn’t too pleased but John insisted it would make a man of him. After a tearful farewell the household settled back into normality. Charlotte missed him terribly; she had watched him grow up and admired his character and spirit, now she would be left with the girl who was sulky and timid. Sarah also missed her brother and hated being left alone anywhere in the house and spent more and more of her time in the company of Mary and Mrs Shaw, this worried Emily, so after talking it over with her husband she took her daughter into town to buy a pet. It was love at first sight the minute Sarah saw the wagging tail and looked into the droopy eyes, and a generous kiss sealed the deal, Sarah now had a Springer Spaniel puppy all of her own. They became inseparable, the puppy would follow her everywhere and after school and at weekends Sarah would take him on long walks through the woods and fields. The puppy was allowed to sleep on her bed and Sarah would smile when she heard a low growl, knowing that the ghost was in the room but having Brandy by her side made her feel safe. Emily relaxed once more, Sarah was getting more colour in her cheeks and Richard wrote every week and seemed to be more settled. Now she decided she needed a distraction herself and thought it would be a good idea for herself and Sarah to take up a hobby and they both enrolled for art classes at the local night school. Sarah loved it at first and found she was quite good at it, but it was mostly attended by people of her mother’s age group, she wanted to mix with younger people, she longed for company her own age. On their way out of the college one evening, she noticed that a class was starting for shorthand and typing, she knew that when she left school she wanted to do something interesting but her grades were not as good as Richards and there were not so many opportunities for girls, this class might just be the answer.. She made enquiries and found that there were still a few places left and enrolled. On the first evening Sarah stood by the door looking in, everyone seemed to know someone else and she wondered if she had made the right decision to enrol. As she hesitated by the door fear of the unknown gripped her, she was about to turn and head off home when a girl stopped beside her.
“Are you going in?”
Sarah looked at the girl and nodded.
“Me too, it’s a bit nerve racking don’t you think, shall we go in together?”
Relief spread across Sarah’s face. “Yes please, my names Sarah, by the way.”
“And I’m, Victoria. Right shoulders back, chin up and a deep breath and in we go.”
They enjoyed their first class and chatted away to each other and soon found they had similar backgrounds. They laughed and enjoyed each others company and become great friends. Victoria was an only child and lived with an aunt when her parents travelled the world. Her life had been boring until she made friends with Sarah, now she looked forward to their meetings and was overjoyed when Sarah asked her to her home.
Emily took to Victoria at their first meeting and soon began to look upon her as another daughter. Victoria often came to stay at Moorcroft; her aunt was getting on in years and was happy that her niece had someone of her own age to befriend her. Emily would hear the girls’ laughter as she passed their bedrooms and once more relaxed knowing that Sarah was happy again.
Charlotte watched the two girls chatting and looking through magazines. Each time she tried to get near, Sarah would turn her back on her, keeping her out and ignoring her. Charlotte became more and more angry with Sarah, she would have to teach that girl some manners meanwhile she needed a distraction.
Each Monday morning Emily would sit in the drawing room with Mrs Shaw and discuss the week’s menus, she was sat at her bureau when she heard raised voices coming from the hall, she opened the door and the noise stopped. Before her stood Mr Howard, Mrs Shaw and the two house maids, young Polly was crying and Mrs Shaw reached out to try and console her.
Emily frowned. “What’s the matter here?”
Mr Howard looked at the girls and back to Emily. “I am sorry to have to mention this Mrs Gardener, but several items of silver are missing from the dining room. I was just asking the girls if they may have misplaced them.”
Mrs Shaw always outspoken and unable to hold her temper butted in. “Oh no you weren’t, you were accusing these poor mites of stealing. Just look at them Mrs Gardener, do they look like thieves to you?”
“I am sorry Mrs Shaw but this matter must be taken up with my husband.” Emily looked at the butler. “Mr Howard I would suggest you do that now. As for you girls I think you had better stay with Mrs Shaw until Mr Gardener sends for you. Mrs Shaw we will discuss the menus later this afternoon.”
In the drawing room she could hear John’s angry voice coming from his study.
“I pay good wages, Mr Howard, why would they steal from me? Bring them here at once and let us see what they have to say for themselves.”
John to be fair gave the girls every opportunity to explain, but they both insisted they were innocent. He ordered the house to be searched, when nothing was found he gave the girls a day to put the silver back, after that they would be dismissed without references. Emily groaned at the thought of interviewing more girls. The silver did not return. Mrs Shaw saw the girls off from her kitchen, making sure that both their baskets were full of leftovers. She knew in her heart that those poor girls were not thieves.
Charlotte had watched the snivelling pair as they stood before John Gardener in his study. Only she knew where the silver had been hidden. She was lonely and angry that Richard had been sent away, she just wanted to have some fun. She had tried to approach the girl, Sarah, but each time she had, the silly girl rushed off and had gone in search of the kitchen help. Fancy anyone preferring the company of a working girl to herself, well, she would get her own back, one day she would teach this young woman some manners.
Richard wrote often to Sarah telling her of all his exploits. How she envied him, he had made so many friends and he was having so much fun. He would come home for the summer holidays full of his tails of adventure, each time looking more grown up and handsome. Sarah’s dog Brandy could feel his energy and would wag his tail at the sound of his voice. He was introduced to Sarah’s friend, Victoria; he was polite but had no time for silly girls. Victoria thought Richard was wonderful and bored Sarah senseless with her incessant questions about him. From boarding school he went to university and he would write to Sarah telling her of his nights out in nightclubs and the university pranks he got up to. Soon with all his exams finished he was due to come home for good, and he was bringing home a friend from college and everyone was excited. Both Sarah and Charlotte watched from the upstairs windows waiting and hoping he would soon be home. The day had finally arrived and a taxi travelled up the drive and stopped at the front door and there he was. Each year he seemed to have grown in stature, but now the boy who exited the car was no longer a boy but a fine tall young man. He took Charlotte’s breath away, was this Frederick returning to her after all this time? Sarah felt herself being pushed to one side as Charlotte hastily made her way to the stairs, she must be the first to greet him.
Sarah felt uneasy, she knew that all was not right in this house, things were moved around her room, she felt herself being pushed and always the feeling of being watched, but what could she do, who would listen, who would believe she had a ghost in her room? She pulled herself together and went to greet her brother.
Richard was barely through the door when his mother and father were there beside him. He threw his bag to the floor and hugged his mother. He looked to the stairs, a grin crossed his face. “Who is this beautiful young woman I see before me?” Charlotte held her breath.
Sarah, trying her best to be ladylike could not contain herself and ran down the stairs and into his arms. Richard swung her round.
“My, my, you’ve put a little weight on since I was last home.”
Sarah couldn’t stop laughing and pushed him in his chest. “You’re a horrid brother, you haven’t changed a bit.”
Charlotte watched from the stairs, how dare she monopolise Richard’s attention, how she hated that girl.
As Mr Howard ordered the young footman to carry the rest of the cases from the car, everyone moved from the great hall into the drawing room. It was only then that Richard introduced his friend. “I am so sorry, may I introduce my mother and father. This is my good friend, Charles Wesley.”
Greetings were made and hands were shaken. Richard turned to his sister. “And this, my friend, is my little sister Sarah. Sarah this is Charles.”
Richard laughed as Sarah held out her hand and stared, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
“My goodness, this must be the first time I have seen my sister speechless.”
Sarah could feel the colour reach her cheeks and looked away. Charles noticed her discomfort and shyness. “I am very pleased to meet you Sarah, Richard has told me so much about you.”
Sarah smiled, but found she was unable to speak her mouth felt dry and her tongue felt like it was permanently stuck to the roof of her mouth. She nodded and cautiously moved to the window afraid she would stumble and embarrass herself. She looked out of the window her back to the room; she had never felt so breathless, her chest felt tight, what was wrong with her?
Emily moved to her chair and smiled as she looked at her family. She watched Sarah as she walked across the drawing room and stood by the window, she was looking quite flushed and then she looked across at Richard. Each time her son had come home she had noticed how handsome and grown up he was becoming and now before her stood a fine young man. Charles Wesley stood beside him head bowed in conversation with John. She smiled as he lifted his head and glanced towards her daughter. Emily looked across at Sarah, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, but she hadn’t noticed, until now.
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CHAPTER 3
Sarah sat on the sill of her bedroom window and looked out over the drive and the gardens. Her mother was busy dead heading the roses and would lift her head now and then to talk to the gardener who was busy weeding the central roundabout in front of the house. She was bored; Victoria had gone abroad with her parents to visit friends and relatives and wouldn’t be back for another five days. She had been away just six weeks but it felt like a lifetime to Sarah. Both she and Victoria now had a job in a local office, typing and filing, she found that boring too, thank goodness for the weekends. Her thoughts wandered to Charles Wesley, these days she thought of little else. He was so handsome with a caring manner and a smile that lit up his face. Her father had taken to him at once and after only a few weeks had offered him a job overseeing the tenant farms alongside Richard. That meant that he would be living at Moorcroft and that she would see him everyday. In time she knew her father would retire fully and leave Richard to run the estate. She loved her father dearly but he was set in his ways and Richard was adventurous and had outrageous ideas to modernise the farms, his father couldn’t understand why he would want to change things, the estate was running smoothly, why spoil a good thing. This caused constant friction between father and son. Charles on the other hand listened to both sides and seemed to have an inspired quality to sort things out leaving everyone happy.
In her peripheral vision she saw something move. She turned to the side and saw the curtains flutter even though the window was closed and there were no draughts in the room. Brandy let out a low growl and sat fully alert, the hairs on his back bristled. Sarah knew she was not alone. She shivered as it suddenly went cold.
“Sarah.” Her name was whispered by her left side.
She turned, but saw nothing.
“Sarah.” There it was again.
The room seemed to dim, was it her imagination, was she going insane, this had happened so many times over the years but now it was becoming a weekly event. The corners of the room were in shadow, she squinted, trying to see beyond the gloom.
“What do you want? Why can’t you leave me alone?”
There was a hint of humour in the voice that answered. “Are you frightened Sarah?”
“I’m not scared of you.” She shouted.
There was a whooshing sound and Sarah felt herself being pushed to one side. The girl’s heart was beating faster and she could feel the tears spring to her eyes. She steadied herself and looked into the shadows.
“Just leave m
e alone, get out of our house.”
The voice became stronger, a very angry woman’s voice. Sarah could feel the cold breath on her neck and closed her eyes. Brandy began to bark.
“Your house! Your house! This is my house and I am the one who says who stays or goes.”
Sarah was whizzed round and came face to face with a woman, not much older than herself. She had piecing eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul. The girl shrank away from the apparition.
“Tread very carefully young lady. So far I have been kind to you intruders, but that can change.”
Sarah ran for the door. She took the handle in her hand and turned, but the door wouldn’t open. She pulled and pulled. She could hear laughter behind her, the dog barking. The door suddenly gave way and Sarah ran into the corridor straight into the arms of Charles Wesley.
Charles caught her as she careered into him. “Hey, what’s up? Have you seen a ghost or something?”
Sarah looked up into his face. “You’ve seen her too?”
Charles looked through the open door and saw an empty room. “Seen who?”
Sarah still clinging to his arm ventured a look into her bedroom. No one was there just Brandy sat looking up at her his tail wagging. What did she expect? She relaxed a little and straightened her clothing. Her hand automatically went to her hair. She must look awful.
Charles smiled. “You okay now?”
Moorcroft The Possession Page 3
