Moorcroft The Possession

by Sandra Callister

  She lent forward and they kissed passionately, she felt him release her from her bra. He lifted her jumper and took her soft nipple between his lips, he could feel it harden. She gasped once more and ran her fingers through his hair pushing him down. “Richard, I’ll love you until the day I die.”

  His voice breaking he looked into her flushed face. “I need you so much.” Soon their passion was all that mattered. Charlotte watched as his hands roamed Victoria’s body, she was enraged, this woman had to go, and her dying day would have to be sooner rather than later.

  The next morning Richard joined them for breakfast, he couldn’t take his eyes from Victoria. She blushed remembering their night of love.

  Emily watched them noting the sparkle in Richard’s eyes. “Well have you young ones any plans for this weekend?”

  Sarah looked at Charles expectantly, he looked at John.

  “Richard and I thought we might take a run out to the Fletcher place see what needs doing?”

  John looked up from his plate. “Good idea my boy, assess the situation. When you get back we’ll have a talk about it?

  Sarah looked at Charles disappointedly. “I thought we might spend the day together.”

  “And so we shall, the minute we get back from the farm, I’m all yours.”

  Richard looked at Vicky and smiled. “We won’t be long, I promise.”

  Emily looked at the pale complexion of her son. “Are you feeling up to this Richard?”

  He looked at his mother. “You bet, I’m going crazy upstairs in that room, I need some fresh air in my lungs and I want to look in on Dancing Lady.”

  She looked apprehensively at Charles. “You will look after him, won’t you Charles, if he shows any ill affects you will bring him straight home?”

  Charles smiled and nodded. “You have my word.”

  The boys soon left the room, John followed shortly after, off to his study no doubt.

  Emily looked at the two young women. “Well girls what are you two going to do.” Victoria seemed in a daze.

  “I thought perhaps Victoria and I could go for a walk, perhaps take Brandy with us.”

  “Good idea that will leave me in peace to read my book.”

  By the time the girls had got their shoes and coats on the boys were well on their way. As they left the house Eddie was in the yard grooming one of the horses a small boy by his side.

  Sarah rushed to his side. “You must be Ned, how are you little man?”

  Eddie looked down at the shy lad. “The ladies are talking to you Ned say Good Morning.”

  “Good Morning ladies.”

  The girls laughed and went on their way.

  Ned watched them go. “Cor, they’re good lookers.”

  Eddie clipped the boy behind his ear. “Hey, have some respect; they’re proper ladies they are.” He chuckled to himself, the cheek of a ten year old.

  When they arrived at the farm Richard was appalled at its run down condition. “What happened to the man, Fletcher always had a well run farm?”

  “Seems he just fell apart when his wife ran off with another man and took the daughter with her.”

  “She took the girl and left the boy, what kind of a woman does that?”

  “I don’t know but according to Ned, his father turned to drink, let the place run down.”

  They looked in the barn making a note of what farming equipment there was. Next they looked in the house. Richard pulled back when the smell reached his nose.

  “Good God, how do people live like this, do you think there’s anything here worth salvaging for the boy?”

  “You have a look outside, I think they had some hens and sheep, we’ll have to get someone up here to round them up and sell them. Ned’s going to need some money behind him as he gets older. I’ll look around in here; there must be somewhere where they keep documents, birth certificates and the like.”

  A couple of hours later the boys were back at Moorcroft explaining the condition of the farm and its land to John. “Well boys what do you think we should do with it?”

  Richard looked at Charles. “Well, Father, I think we should sell it, there are lots of jobs around the estate that need doing and the cash would come in handy.”

  John pulled a face. “Wouldn’t we be better with a new tenant, regular income?”

  Charles looked at John and raised an eyebrow.

  “That’s one option but there would be a lot of costly repairs and it may take a while to find a suitable tenant but we both know Reg Phillips is after the land, why don’t we let slip to one of his farm hands that Fletcher is dead and see what he offers.”John smiled to himself. Looking at Richard he frowned. “I don’t know, what do you think Charles?”“I think Richard has a good idea, I know Eddie drinks with them in the pub, I’m sure he could leak the information and it would soon circulate.”

  John looked pleased with himself. “Right, we’ll wait a few days and see if Reg Phillips comes to us with a good offer. It would have to be a good price mind.”

  In the hall Richard looked at Charles. “I can’t believe it; I never thought it would be that easy.”

  Charles smiled.

  ####

  CHAPTER 10

  The night of the party was drawing ever nearer and Sarah was getting excited. “Only a week to go and then you will be telling the world that you are going to be married to my brother, aren’t you a little bit excited?” She looked across at her friend. “You look so depressed?”

  Victoria looked up from her magazine. “We are hardly telling the entire world Sarah, just our closest friends.”

  Sarah looked at the pale complexion and the dark circles under her eyes. “You’re not having second thoughts are you, Richard would be devastated?”

  “Of course not silly, Richard means everything to me; I’m just not sleeping well.”

  “Don’t you worry about a thing I won’t let anything go wrong, this party is important to me too.”

  Victoria looked at her. “Are you plotting something?”

  Sarah’s hand went to her chest; she could feel the ring through the fabric. She shook her head.

  “Sarah Gardener I know you well enough to know that you are hiding something, come on, out with it. What is that you keep playing with?”

  “It’s nothing just a necklace Charles gave to me that’s all.”

  “Let me see.”

  Sarah grasped the ring in her hand and shook her head. “No it’s secret.”

  Victoria was taken aback. “We’ve never kept secrets from each other before, show me.”

  “Okay but Charles told me not to.” Slowly she pulled the chain up until the ring fell forward.

  Victoria gasped. “Is that an engagement ring, has Charles proposed, Sarah tell me everything.”

  Sarah’s excitement mounted eager to tell her best friend how Charles went down on one knee and proposed. At the end of her tale she looked at Victoria’s face. “So you’re not angry with us?”

  Victoria smiled and shook her head. “It’s wonderful news, why would I be angry?”

  “Charles thought it might clash with your announcement, he didn’t want you to think we were muscling in as it were.”

  “Nonsense, this is great news now we have two engagements to celebrate.”

  Everyone was happy with the news and Sarah walked around with a constant smile on her face, kissing Charles whenever they met. Richard made his usual funny comments but he was truly happy for his sister, Charles was a good man. Things seemed to be looking up on the estate, Reg Phillips had come through with a good offer and the deeds were being exchanged for the Fletcher farm. The young lad, Ned, had a way with the horses and after school couldn’t wait to sit with Eddie and discuss grooming and tack. John had told the bank manager that some money was coming his way and was given a reprieve, and Emily was just pleased that peace now reigned over the household.

  Only one person was unhappy. Charlotte roamed the house from room to room watching the loving couple
s and feeling more and more unrest. This was her house and she was the only one without a partner, but that would soon change. Richard was back to his old self, tall and handsome. He was her destiny, Frederick may have died but he had returned in Richard. At times when her mind drifted back to better days she became confused, was it Richard or was it Frederick, they were so alike. At night she walked freely about the house, her house, watching and waiting for the time when Moorcroft would once again be hers and her lover’s. She would often visit the girl Victoria whispering in her ear disturbing her sleep, she was weak and easily rattled. Sometimes she would open the windows wide and pull back the bed sheets leaving her exposed to the chilly night. She had been working on the girl for weeks, she could already see a change in her, soon the waiting would be over, Richard would see what a pathetic creature Victoria really was and come to her.

  Charles took Sarah into town to exchange her ring. They walked hand in hand and stopped at a coffee shop. He laughed at the way she moved her hand from side to side watching the sapphires and diamonds sparkle, using her left hand at every opportunity, to pick up her cup or stir her coffee. She dragged him into a dress shop to pick her outfit for the party; he was embarrassed at the looks he received. Sarah was proud, knowing that the women were admiring the good looks of her fiancé. Charles had spoken to his parents and they were to spend the night at Moorcroft after the party. His mother refused to stay any longer than one night; she didn’t like the atmosphere of the house and always had a restless night under its roof. His father had also presented him with a problem, he wanted Charles to take over the family business after he was married, and that would mean leaving Moorcroft, how was he to explain that to Sarah, she loved her home.

  One evening Emily asked Richard to join her in the drawing room; she had something to ask him. She was sat by the fire reading a book, she looked up as he entered the room and he was startled by the worried look on her face. She poured him a cup of coffee and he sat on the settee next to her. “What’s up? I haven’t rowed with dad for a while so it’s not that and the estate seems to be running okay for the moment. Have I upset you in some way?”

  She sighed heavily. “I’ll get straight to the point, is Victoria pregnant?”

  He nearly choked on his drink. “No, what makes you think that?”

  “Richard you must be blind, can’t you see how ill Victoria looks, something is the matter with her.”

  “She looks okay to me, a little tired maybe but I’ve been so busy lately I’ve hardly seen her except to say goodnight.”

  “Well now you must make the effort, you must talk to her.”

  “Can’t you or Sarah do it; it’s probably women’s problems anyway.”

  “If it is I would gladly talk to her, but it’s up to you to find out and now.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now before the poor girl collapses, she is spending more and more time by herself in her room.”

  Richard frowned and looked at his mother’s worried face. “Is she really that bad?”

  “Yes Richard and I for one am worried about her, now go.”

  Victoria was pacing backwards and forwards across her bedroom, what was she going to do? Night after night she tossed and turned. Who was this woman who constantly tormented her with her whispers, what was she saying? She would wake in the middle of the night shivering, the covers on the floor, the windows wide open. Sometimes in the dark she could hear laughter, what did this woman want? Had she opened the windows herself or was it all in her head, had she done it in her sleep or was she going mad? A knock on the door startled her.

  Richard tentatively eased it open. “Okay to come in?”

  She ran into his arms laying her head on his chest. “I’m so pleased to see you Richard; can you stay for a while?”

  He was alarmed at the look of her, his mother was right, she wasn’t well. Her skin was grey and she had dark circles beneath her eyes, her hair had lost its shine and her eyes were dull and worried. She looked lost. He held her tight in his arms and realised how much weight she had lost.

  “What is it my love. Are you ill?”

  She looked up into his face. “I think I’m losing my mind.”

  He sat down and pulled her onto his knee. “Now don’t be silly, tell me what’s bothering you.”

  Nestled in his arms she felt safe. “I’m not sleeping well, I keep misplacing things and strange things happen in the night, I hear noises, laughter. What’s happening to me Richard?”

  He watched as she turned her head from side to side searching the room for someone or something. “Perhaps you’re worrying over this damn party, we’ll cancel if you like?”

  “No it’s not the party, your mother has all that in hand. I don’t know what it is, I just can’t cope anymore.” She began to sob, he stroked her hair.

  “I think you should see the doctor.”

  Victoria sat back and shook her head violently. “No, no doctor, he’ll put me away.”

  “Don’t say things like that, he’ll probably just give you some pills to help you sleep.”

  She jumped from his knee and began to pace backwards and forwards in front of him. “But the nights are the worst, if I sleep she’ll come again with her whispering and her laughing. Why is she doing this to me, why won’t she leave me alone?”

  Richard turned to look at her. “Is it Sarah, is she the one tormenting you?”

  Victoria shook her head. “It’s not Sarah, she wouldn’t do such a thing, she’s my best friend. Richard will you stay with me tonight, she might not come if you’re here?”

  “Of course I’ll stay with you, but I will have to talk to mother about this.”

  “Okay, but just your mother, no one else, promise?”

  “I promise, now I’ll go downstairs and talk to mother and I’ll get Mary to bring up some tea. I won’t be five minutes.”

  “You won’t be long will you?

  At the door he turned and smiled. “Five minutes and I’ll be back here with you.” He gently pulled the door closed and rushed downstairs.

  Alone again she paced the floor. Charlotte watched from a corner of the room and smiled, her plan was working.

  Downstairs Richard sat with his head in his hands, his mother by his side. “Mother she looks so ill, so frail, how could I not see it?”

  “What did she say, Richard, what’s wrong with her?”

  “She’s delusional, hearing things, she can’t sleep, and she’s scared of being alone. She wants me to stay with her tonight.”

  “If it means she gets a good night’s sleep, then you should. Tomorrow we must send for the doctor.”

  “She says she doesn’t want a doctor. I don’t know what to do.”

  “You go back to Victoria, try to get her to eat something and I’ll ring Henry, I’m sure he’ll know what to do.”

  In the kitchen he asked Mary to bring up to Victoria’s room a pot of tea and a selection of sandwiches for two.

  “Is Miss Victoria not well?”

  He could see the concern on the young woman’s face. “She just has a headache Mary, so I thought I would sit with her a while.”

  Mary nodded. “I’ll get onto it right away.”

  Mrs Shaw looked at her daughter. “I knew something was up with that girl, she hasn’t eaten properly for days, get on with those sandwiches Mary, and I’ll brew the tea.” Mrs Shaw put the kettle on the stove to boil. That poor girl, was she ill or was she pregnant, she wouldn’t put anything past Master Richard.

  When Sarah and Charles got back to Moorcroft, Sarah wanted to show off her new ring. Emily hugged her and took her to one side. “I know how excited you must be but Victoria isn’t feeling too well so I would prefer it if you didn’t disturb her.”

  Sarah looked worried. “She hasn’t looked well for days, is she going to be alright, does she need anything?”

  “She’s going to be fine, Richard’s with her now so do try to be quiet when you go upstairs.”

  Charles went o
utside to talk to Eddie and Ned, he somehow felt responsible for the boy and he was glad to see how well he was getting on.

  Sarah took her shopping upstairs and listened at the connecting door to Victoria’s room, she could hear her talking to someone, probably her brother. She longed to see how she was but remembered her mother’s concern. She hung up her new dress and went to the bathroom to freshen up. When she came out Richard was sat in one of the arm chairs.

  “Is everything alright with Vicky?”

  Richard looked at her. “She’s fine for the moment. Have you heard any strange noises in the night, talking or laughing?”

  “No, you hound, have you been visiting Vicky in the night, is that why you’re asking?”

  “It’s nothing like that, it’s just that she’s been having some bad nightmares, I wondered if she had disturbed you.”

  Sarah was full of remorse over her last comment. “I’ve never heard a thing and I’m a light sleeper. Is she okay Richard, can I see her?”

  “I’ve just got her to sleep, I’d better get back in case she wakes up. I’ll sit with her tonight; you go downstairs and join Charles. I’m sure everything will be better in the morning.”

  Doctor Henry Davenport arrived bright and early the next morning and was shown straight into the drawing room. Emily greeted her old friend with a quick kiss on the cheek. He could see how worried she looked and guided her back to her chair. He held her hand. “Emily last night you told me something was wrong with Victoria, can you be more specific?”

  She briefly repeated her conversation with Richard. “The poor child seems demented, is there anything you can do for her?”

  Henry shook his head. “She’s not really my patient; she should see her own doctor.”

  “She goes hysterical at the mention of a doctor. Henry, could you pretend to be checking up on Richard and just assess her at the same time?”