He nodded. “Okay, but we had better keep it light hearted if she’s as scared as you say.”
Together they entered Victoria’s bedroom, Richard sprang from his chair and glared at his mother.
“Ha, Richard, so here you are. I’ve just been up at Lower Farm thought I would call in and see how you are doing, anymore headaches?”
Richard’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m feeling fine now Henry, thank you.”
The doctor sat opposite the window and watched Victoria walking backwards and forwards across the room twisting a handkerchief in her restless hands. “And Victoria how are you, soon be your party, are you looking forward to it?”
Victoria stopped and looked at Henry. “Oh, Doctor Davenport, I didn’t hear you come in.” Her eyes darted to Richard then back to the doctor. “Have you come to see Richard?”
He observed her pale complexion, the dark shadows beneath her eyes and her nervous disposition; there was something seriously wrong here. “Yes, I’ve come to check up on him and how are you?”
Again she looked at Richard. “I’m fine, tell them Richard, there’s nothing wrong with me.”
Feeling her distrust Henry turned his attention once more to Richard. “Richard how is that lovely mare of yours, Dancing Lady?”
Victoria continued her pacing, looking from side to side, talking quietly to herself.
Richard smiled. “Lady is a beauty, we’ll get some quality foals from her.”
Emily could feel the tears threatening to fall as she watched Victoria’s pacing, she quickly left the room. “I’ll see you downstairs Henry I have things to do.”
He nodded. “Victoria why don’t you come and sit by me, we never have time for a chat?”
She looked at Richard. He gave her a gentle nod. She sat opposite Henry still twisting her hanky.
He lent forward and took her hand. “You must be getting excited about the party, only a few days off now?”
She lifted her head and stared at him. Her face softened. “We’re going to get married, Richard and I, and we’re going to have lots of children and live happily ever after.” She put her finger to her mouth. “But it’s a secret.” She looked around the room and whispered. “Walls have ears.”
Henry stood and looked down at the girl. “I’m sure you’ll be very happy.” He nodded to Richard to follow him. “Now, I really must be on my way, Goodbye Victoria.”
Outside her door Richard looked at Henry. “Well, what’s wrong with her?”
“I can’t say without a proper examination and some tests, but she looks afraid of something, has she had any rows with anyone, is she having problems at work?”
Richard shook his head. “I don’t think so, she’s never mentioned anything.”
“Well, she’s obviously not sleeping; I’ll leave something with your mother, something to calm her down. She really should see her own doctor.” He patted Richard’s shoulder. “I’m sure a few good nights sleep and some nourishing food inside her and she’ll be as right as rain.”
Sarah went off to work as normal eager to show off her engagement ring, but sad that her dear friend was ill and wouldn’t be joining her. John rang the bank everyday to see if the money from Reg Phillips had been deposited, cursing solicitors for taking their time. Emily had tried to get hold of Victoria’s parents, she thought they should know about her condition, but there was no reply each time she tried. Off on some cruise no doubt but they had said they would try to get back for the party, it was so important to Victoria to have her parents there and it was only four days away. If the child didn’t get any better she would have to cancel it, she would need to talk to Richard. Charles carried on as best as he could, checking on livestock and fences, he left the horses in Eddie’s capable hands while Richard was otherwise engaged with Victoria. Mary had started courting so she had turned her affections to her boyfriend and Mrs Shaw took young Ned under her wing and treated him like her own and spoilt him rotten. There was always a glass of milk and a piece of cake ready when he got home from school. He was fattening up nicely and had glossy hair and rosy cheeks. Try as she might she couldn’t get anything out of Mr Howard about the young woman, Victoria, but if she was pregnant she would soon be showing and she felt a quick marriage might be on the cards.
Emily looked up as Richard entered the drawing room, he looked strained.
“How is she?”
He sat down beside her and ran his hands through his hair, something his father did when he was distressed. “The powders Henry left seem to be working, she seems much calmer, she’s sleeping now.”
“I think we should cancel the party I don’t think she will be up to it.”
“I think you’re right, Mother, I don’t think she knows what day it is. Can I leave that with you?”
“I’ll start ringing round right away, Sarah can get in touch with her friends, that’s one person that won’t be happy but she’ll understand.”
“Poor Sarah, I haven’t thought about her feelings at all, she is Victoria’s best friend, she must be worried.”
“Yes, she walks about lost, but she soon brightens up when Charles is around.”
“Thank God for Charles, I don’t know what we would have done without him, is he coping okay?”
“You know Charles, he never complains. He spends quite a bit of time with your father talking about the farms, you needn’t worry.”
Suddenly they heard a scream and Richard ran from the room. He bounded up the stairs two at a time. He found Vicky sitting up, leaning against the head of the bed, the sheets gripped tightly in her hands. She was staring straight in front of her screaming. “Go away, leave me alone, he’s mine, you’ll never have him.”
Richard ran to her side and pulled her into his arms.
She whimpered. “Tell her to go away Richard, tell her to stop shouting at me. Tell her we are to be married that you love me.”
Richard looked around the room, it was empty. “I’ll tell her my darling, now rest, I’m here.”
She was shaking and she looked in every corner of the room, exhausted she fell back against the pillows.
Richard lay beside her, stroking her face. “Shush, my love, I’m here now, I’ll never leave you.”
Charlotte stood beside the bed looking down at the couple, not long now, she thought, and then Richard would be hers.
Sarah couldn’t hide the disappointment when Emily said the party must be cancelled, but she understood. The last time she had looked in on Victoria, she had been sleeping, but she still noticed how unwell she appeared. Richard too was looking ill, strain showing on his face. In the evenings he would come and sit with her and Charles catching up on the estate news and listening for any movement from Vicky’s room. Charles contacted his parents to tell them the party was cancelled. His mother was quite distressed about Victoria and wished her well; his father talked incessantly about the saw mill, the wage increases and the cost of timber and asked when they would next be visiting. Charles explained it may be a while, that he was needed at Moorcroft while Richard was occupied with Victoria. His father didn’t sound too pleased with his answer. Emily noticed John’s edgy behaviour; although he was concerned for both Richard and Victoria it was obvious he had his mind on other things. Now that the party had been cancelled she must find the time to talk with him, she didn’t want him drinking again.
Sarah began to sit with Victoria more and more, giving Richard a chance to look round the estate and see to his precious horses. She was proud of Charles and the way he had coped with the extra work, now things were getting back to normal she hoped they would spend more time together. Victoria was still nervous and constantly looked around the room but the colour was coming back into her cheeks and her strength was returning. They spent most of their time together reading or looking through magazines. Emily too was happy things were becoming easier; she was pressing John to make a decision about a holiday, knowing they both needed a rest from Moorcroft.
While Victoria rested
Sarah sat in a chair daydreaming about Charles. She was just entering the twilight zone of sleep when she was disturbed with shouting. Startled she jumped and looked around the room.
Victoria was stood in the middle of the room shouting. “You’ll never have him, Richard’s mine do you hear, we are to be married.”
Then Sarah heard the laughter and fear gripped her, her chest tightened. She raced to her friend’s side and watched as the woman appeared in front of them. She looked wild her head thrown back in laughter, her long black hair tumbling down over her shoulders, her eyes piercing.
The woman stopped her cackle and stared first at Victoria and then at Sarah. “Ha, so you think you can protect your friend?”
Vicky’s head spun round to face Sarah. “You can see her too, I’m not going mad?”
Sarah nodded unable to speak never taking her eyes of the apparition in front of her.
The woman spoke again. “You are both a pair of stupid silly girls.” She pointed a finger at Victoria and sniggered. “Richard doesn’t want you; he wants a real woman, someone who can take care of his needs. I’ve watched your silly fumbling, a man like Richard needs satisfaction and I’m the woman to give it to him.”
Victoria ran at the woman screaming. “No, you’ll never have him.”
Charlotte moved to one side and gave her a gentle push and Victoria fell to the floor, she looked down on the stricken girl at her feet and laughed. She turned her attention to Sarah, pushing her face up close to hers. “Well, aren’t you going to help your friend?”
Sarah backed away in fear, she stared into the eyes of evil and shook in fear, what was she to do?
Charlotte once more gave her attention to Victoria who was struggling to her feet trying to regain her composure. “I shall have that man for myself, nothing is more certain.”
Victoria stood before her tears running down her face. “He’ll never want a hag like you, he loves me.”
Charlotte laughed. “Does he, you should hear him moaning with pleasure when I lie with him at night, telling him of all the things we will do once we are together?”
Victoria shook her head violently. “I don’t believe you?”
Charlotte sniggered. “Then go and ask him yourself.”
Victoria twirled around and ran for the door. She could still hear the woman behind her laughing and Sarah shouting for her to stop, but she couldn’t stop she had to find Richard, she had to be sure that he still loved her. Down the stairs she stumbled, seeing the startled face of Emily as she came from the drawing room.
“What is it, what’s happened?”
Victoria pushed her aside. “I must find Richard.” She could hear that woman behind her still laughing.
Sarah ran to her mother. “We must stop her, it’s that horrid woman, she’s responsible for all this.”
Victoria ran for the back door, Sarah close at her heels. The door swung open. She looked around the yard searching for the man she loved but there was only the boy there holding the reins of a horse. She ran to him, shaking the boy’s shoulders, screaming. “Richard, where’s Richard?” She turned to look back at the house and saw the woman heading towards her Sarah close behind. “Leave me alone, go away.” She screamed.
Richard came through the gates on Dancing Lady and took in the scene. He dismounted and ran towards Victoria. Still screaming Victoria was looking in the direction of Sarah, Emily stood behind by the open door.
Charlotte stood up close to Victoria and gripped her hair pulling her back. She whispered in her ear. “Here he is, let’s ask him shall we?” Victoria swung round and went to run to Richard but Charlotte clung tight to her dress, stopping her from moving forward. Victoria swung round to face her assailant, arms flailing trying to free herself. The horse stamped his feet in fear and reared up, Ned held tight to the reins trying to hold the horse back as Eddie ran from the stables. Victoria looked once more to Richard before she felt the blow and she fell to the ground. Richard ran to her and scooped her into his arms.
She lay looking up into his face. “You do love me don’t you, tell her Richard, tell her you belong to me?”
Tears running down his face he looked into the eyes of the woman he loved. “I love you with all my heart and soul until the day I die.” She smiled and looked beyond him before she closed her eyes. Richard felt her body go limp and watched her head drop to one side.
Richard held the body of Victoria in his arms and rocked backwards and forwards. He threw back his head and a mighty roar escaped his chest as he cried out her name.
In the kitchen Mrs Shaw and Mary were startled by the shouting and went outside and took in the tragic scene. Sarah was crying and being comforted by her mother, Eddie was trying to calm down the powerful black horse, Moonlight, with the boy clinging to his leg crying. Richard was knelt on the floor holding Victoria to his chest sobbing uncontrollably. Sarah left her mother’s arms and went to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Get away from me.” He screamed at her.
Sarah could hear the anger in his voice. “But Richard.”
“I said get away from me, this is all your fault, your best friend and you’ve killed her.”
Sarah reeled back with shock. “No, no, it wasn’t like that, I was trying to stop her.”
Richard looked up at her, hate in his eyes. “I saw you with my own eyes you were chasing her across the yard, screaming at her.”
“No, it wasn’t like that Richard, I wasn’t chasing her, that woman was, I was trying to stop her.” She looked around the yard, everyone was staring at her.
“Go away Sarah, I’m sick of your lies.”
Emily took her in her arms and drew her back to the house. John appeared in the doorway followed by Charles. “What’s all the noise, what’s going on?” He looked around the yard and back to Emily.
“John, ring Henry Davenport, tell him there’s been an accident and Victoria is dead.”
Emily placed Sarah into Charles’s care. “Take her indoors, she’s in shock, see if she will take a drop of brandy and I’ll see to Richard.” She walked over to him and knelt beside him. He never stopped rocking, his face full of despair tears flowing across his cheeks collecting in his collar. “Come, Richard, come inside.”
He pushed her away. “No, I can’t leave her, she needs me, can’t you see that?”
Mrs Shaw came forward with a blanket and Emily gently wrapped it around her son’s shoulders.
It was some time later that Henry Davenport managed to prise Victoria from his grip. “Come on Richard, we need to get her inside, she’s getting cold.”
Richard looked into the face of the doctor and back on the face of the woman he loved.
“Yes, you’re right; she needs a blanket and a warm drink.”
Richard carried her body upstairs to her room and laid her gently on the bed. Henry mixed a powder with some water and gave it to Richard. “Now I want you to drink all of this, no arguments.” He sat him in a chair by Victoria’s bed; he refused to leave her side. Soon he was dosing. Henry went downstairs and into the drawing room where Emily and Charles were trying to console Sarah. John stood up and looked anxiously at the doctor. “Is he going to be alright?”
“I’ve given him a sedative, get someone to put him to bed, he should sleep the night.” He walked over to Sarah and placed his arm round her shoulders and handed her a glass. “Now Sarah, I want you and your mother to take this upstairs to your room. I want you to be a good girl and drink it all.”
Sarah looked at him questioningly. “What is it?”
“It’s just something to calm you down.” He looked at Emily. She took Sarah’s hand and walked her from the room.
####
CHAPTER 11
The small church was full to overflowing in the small village where Victoria grew up. Her parents sat in the front pew holding hands, Richard and his family across the aisle. Richard sat staring at the small coffin, finding it hard to believe that Victoria was inside, asleep his
mother had said, she’s now asleep, but Richard knew she was dead, gone from him forever and a part of him had died with her. The vicar droned on and on but Richard couldn’t hear his words, his thoughts took him back to Moorcroft and in his mind he watched over and over again the tragic accident. They all stood as the tiny coffin was carried from the church to its final resting place. Victoria’s father supported his wife to the graveside, Charles was holding Sarah’s arm, she sobbed uncontrollably. Richard stood alone, his face grey with grief, in his hand a single red rose. He stared into the gaping hole wanting to join his love, struggling to keep control of his emotions. The vicar opened his mouth, words flowing, but Richard tried to block him out as his thoughts went to Victoria laughing as they walked through the fields hand in hand, but all that came to a sudden stop as he heard the thud of soil hitting the coffin. He kissed the rose and threw it inside; he stumbled and felt his parents by his side, supporting him.
As they left the graveside, Victoria’s father approached their group and stared into Emily’s face. “We should never have left our daughter in your care, but she insisted. If it wasn’t for you she would still be alive.”
Richard caught her as she slipped to the ground. “Mother, are you okay?”
“He blames me Richard; he blames me for Victoria’s death.”
“Don’t take any notice of him Mother, its just grief talking. We all know whose fault it was.” Behind him Sarah sobbed.
Back at Moorcroft Mrs Shaw had made sandwiches but no one was in the mood for eating. Richard excused himself and went off to the stables.
In the drawing room Emily’s face was ashen, John brought her a brandy. “Here drink this; it will make you feel better.”
She looked up at her husband and took the glass. “How can he blame me, I loved Victoria like a daughter?”
Moorcroft The Possession Page 15
