Moorcroft The Possession

by Sandra Callister

  Richard drove down the country lane, weaving from one side to the other, as he reached the gate he lost concentration and collided with the gate post sending it sideways. He shook himself trying to clear his head and turned the key but the engine wouldn’t fire up. He got out and leant against the vehicle and felt the blood trickling down his face, he had a cut just above his eye. He made his way up the drive swaying from side to side and singing raunchy songs. Mr Howard stood in the doorway watching him, shaking his head. Richard pushed him to one side as he entered the house.

  “Don’t just stand there in my way get somebody to get the car.”

  He made his way to his study and collapsed in a chair. A short time later Mr Howard entered the study, he dropped the keys to the Land Rover on the small table by the side of Richard.

  “The car is parked in the barn, but it’s in a terrible mess. I know it’s none of my business, but you really must pull yourself together, stop this drinking and get your affairs in order.”

  Richard looked up, another pompous little man; he’d had enough of them for one day. “Get out and leave me alone.”

  “You are just being stupid drinking like this, it really must stop.”

  “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?”

  “I have worked for the family for many years and I am entitled to my say.”

  “Well that can soon be remedied, you’re sacked.”

  “You can’t do that, I have an agreement.”

  “I think you’ll find that your so called agreement was with my father and not with me. I will not have any jumped up servant talking down to me that way, you’re sacked. Now go and pack and leave my house.”

  Mr Howard stood looking down at Richard and began to complain, but seeing the rage on the young man’s face stopped him saying anything more. He turned and left the room, Richard laughing behind him.

  Mr Howard sat at the kitchen table and repeated his altercation with Richard. Mrs Shaw was in shock. “I’m sure things will be different in the morning Mr Howard when he’s sobered up, don’t go doing something you will later regret.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve had enough Mrs Shaw, if it wasn’t for Mrs Gardener I would be leaving first thing in the morning. I feel sorry for that poor woman, she is wasting away and there’s nothing we can do for her.”

  “Well you can rest assured I’ll keep an eye on her, but there’s not much more that Mary and I can do for her, we can’t force her to eat. As for Master Richard he’s a changed man since Miss Victoria died, a changed man. I do wish Miss Sarah would come back, I’m sure that would cheer up Mrs Gardener.”

  Mr Howard looked up. “Now that is a good idea, before I leave this house I will suggest to him that he gets in touch with his sister and asks her to come home.”

  Mrs Shaw gave her daughter a sceptical look.

  The next morning Mary was setting a tray for Mrs Gardener, and discussing with her mother the conversation they had had with Mr Howard the night before. He was now, upstairs packing his belongings. Her mother approached the table to collect the tray. “It’s a sorry state of affairs we have this morning. Now have you done his breakfast, you know what he’s like with a hangover, a bear with a sore head. You’ll have to take it in to him this morning as Mr Howard is busy.”

  Mary frowned. “Must I?”

  Mr Howard entered the kitchen. “Don’t worry Mary I’ll take it in to him, I mean to speak my mind before I leave this house, is everything ready?”

  Mary took the cooked breakfast from the warm oven and placed it on a tray along with toast and marmalade and a pot of coffee. Mr Howard picked up the tray. “Here goes.”

  Mrs Shaw followed close behind, at the study door Mr Howard stopped and looked at the housekeeper; she wished him luck and watched him enter the room. She sighed and then made her way to Mrs Gardener’s bedroom.

  Emily sat by the window looking out over the garden. “Isn’t it a lovely day, Mrs Shaw, I think I may venture out later and do some weeding.”

  Mrs Shaw stared at her in shock. She placed the tray down on the small table and walked to the window. Outside the sky was grey and what was once a rose garden was now a circle of dead plants and weeds. Mrs Shaw poured them both a cup of tea and handed one to Emily. “Here you are a nice cup of tea, now eat your breakfast, it will set you up for the day and when you’ve eaten I’ll clear everything away and I’ll come and help you with the gardening. How does that sound?”

  “I’m sure you have other duties to perform, Mrs Shaw, besides, Charlotte said she would help me this morning.”

  Emily looked into the room and smiled. Mrs Shaw looked around, the room was empty. “Who is this Charlotte, then?”

  Emily sipped her tea. “Why she’s the nice young lady who sits with me at night. We have such long chats, mostly about Richard.” Emily smiled and again looked into the room.

  Mrs Shaw looked over her shoulder, she felt chilled to the bone and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She shivered and tried to encourage Emily to eat. “Our Mary has cooked you some nice scrambled eggs this morning, just the way you like them, now eat them up before they get cold.”

  Emily nibbled on a slice of toast, picked up her fork and moved the eggs around on her plate, occasionally she would lift the fork to her mouth but Mrs Shaw saw that the fork was empty. Charlotte watched from the shadows.

  In the study things were not quite so calm. Mr Howard knocked and walked into the room. As usual Richard was slumped in a chair still wearing the clothes from the night before; it looked like he had slept there.

  “What are you doing here; I thought I sacked you last night?”

  Mr Howard put down the tray. “You did but there is something I need to say before I go.”

  Richard groaned. “Must you?” Richard stabbed at a sausage and took a bite.

  Mr Howard took the seat opposite and stared at Richard.

  “Well get on with it.”

  The butler grimaced. “Just look at you. You were once a fine upstanding gentleman, now you’re just a drunk. Have you no pride? I know losing Miss Victoria was a tragedy but to blame Miss Sarah for the accident is preposterous, she worshiped Miss Victoria and would never, never harm her in any way.”

  “Shut up Howard and get out of here before I throw you out myself.”

  “I think you should ask Miss Sarah to come home for your mother’s sake if no one else’s. It’s your duty as head of the family to pull yourself together.”

  Richard threw down the fork and stood over Mr Howard.

  Only inches away Howard could see the veins standing out in rage on Richard’s neck and smelt the whisky on his breath. He slunk into the chair as far back as he could go.

  “You obnoxious little man, father only employed you because he thought some of that toffee nosed manner you have might rub off on him. You’ve always looked down your nose at us. We may not be gentry but we still paid your wages and a little respect would not have gone amiss.”

  Mr Howard started to protest but Richard grabbed his jacket and pulled him nearer, he could feel the spittle hit his face and he closed his eyes.

  “You’re not good enough to mention Victoria’s name and as far as Sarah is concerned, where is she now when everything is going down the drain, scurried off with that worthless Charles Wesley. I am the only one trying to keep this house going.”

  Richard pushed him away and turned and walked to the window. Mr Howard stood and straightened his clothing. Straight backed he walked to the door and turned. “You may not think very much of me Master Richard, but I was devoted to your mother and father and was the first to defend them against silly gossips. Your mother is the kindest person I know and it grieves me to see how ill she has become since Mr Gardener’s death. Bring Sarah home before it is too late.”

  Richard turned and screamed at him. “Get out of my house.”

  Mr Howard stood tall. “This house is not just yours, it also belongs to your sister, think on that.” He opened t
he door, walked outside and leaning against the wall he took a deep breath. He heard something smash against the door.

  Upstairs the angry voices could be heard and Mrs Shaw was worried for Mr Howard’s safety. Emily sipped her tea and looked over the rim of the cup at the housekeeper. “Oh dear, Richard is arguing with his father again. I wonder what it’s about this time. I’m sure Charles will be along shortly to break them up, such a dear boy.”

  In the last twenty minutes Emily had nibbled through half a slice of toast. Mrs Shaw looked at her plate. “Never mind them you just eat your breakfast.”

  Emily pushed her plate away and dabbed her lips with the napkin. “Do you know I’m feeling quite full. Thank Mary for me. Now go along I’m sure you must have things to do.”

  Mrs Shaw sighed and picked up the tray. As she left the bedroom she looked back and saw Emily looking out of the window muttering to herself. At the top of the stairs she could hear Richards’s shouts but couldn’t make out the words, but Miss Sarah was mentioned. How was Mr Howard coping? She carried the tray carefully down the stairs and glanced at the study as an ashen faced Mr Howard leant against the door, then she heard a smash. “Come on, I think you need a drink.” Without a word he followed her to the kitchen.

  Emily turned and smiled at Charlotte. “Why don’t we take the back stairs and go and do some gardening. Get away from all this rowing.”

  Still in her slippers she made for the door. Charlotte stood up from the bed. “Don’t you think you should change your clothes and your shoes first?”

  Emily looked down at her feet. “But I like the look of these. No I’ll leave these on. Now come on before Mrs Shaw comes back to check on me.”

  Charlotte had become quite fond of the old dear and followed close behind. At the bedroom door Emily looked both ways before she ran to the door leading to the back stairs that would take them to the rear hall and the back door. She beckoned Charlotte to follow with a wave of her hand. The stairs were dark and narrow, her feet scuffed the steps and her nightgown scattered the dust as she slowly crept down them. At the bottom she could hear voices coming from the kitchen. Typical, she thought, they were all in there having tea and biscuits while the house was going to rack and ruin. She would have a few words with Mr Howard when she got back. Emily opened the back door and Charlotte rested her hand on her arm. “Don’t you think you should wear a coat?”

  Emily smiled and looked outside. “But it’s such a beautiful day, why would I need a coat?”

  Charlotte could see the grey overcast clouds and imagined the cold that came with them. Emily charged off across the yard and she had no option but to follow.

  Emily made her way round the side of the house, peaking round every corner like a naughty child. She stopped and looked at Charlotte and clapped her hands together. “Instead of gardening shall we go down to the river and tickle some trout for tea. I used to do that when I was a child, it is such good fun, come on.”

  Charlotte looked around but there was no one to see this frail old woman walking down the muddy track in her carpet slippers. Charlotte begged her to go back but Emily was having none of it, her mind made up. As she left the track she stumbled over clumps of grass and broken tree branches. The brambles caught at her clothing and soon she had scratches on her arms and legs. Emily seemed oblivious to this and plodded on regardless. At the river she removed her slippers and tucked her nightgown into the legs of her knickers, then rolled up her sleeves. She looked at Charlotte. “You stay there and I’ll show you what to do.”

  She cautiously stepped into the water, she giggled. “Oh, that’s cold.” Undeterred she took a few more steps then turned to look at Charlotte. “Now you have to look for an overhanging piece of banking, that’s where the trout hide.” She looked up and down the stream and a smile lit up her eyes. “Over there, can you see the ideal place? Now I have to be very quiet and walk very slowly towards them, that way I won’t scare them off.” She moved carefully through the water, occasionally wobbling on the rough stones beneath her feet. There was nothing Charlotte could do; she couldn’t go in the water. She watched as Emily’s gown came loose and began to trail in the rippling stream. She crouched down and the water almost reached her waist. She lent forward and reached under the banking. Disappointment showed on her face. She stood up and began to make her way back. “There’s no trout there, perhaps I should look somewhere else.” Emily slipped and fell back in the water, she sat there laughing.

  Charlotte shouted for her to come out. Emily shook her head. “But I’m having so much fun.”

  Charlotte knew she had to get help, she decided to run back to the house and get someone, but how was she to raise the alarm without being seen?

  Back at the house she stood in the great hall at the base of the stairs. She must make them aware that Emily was missing. She took a deep breath and screamed. Richard heard it in the study and rushed to the door. In the hall he met Mr Howard, and Mrs Shaw and Mary rushing from the kitchen. He glared at Mr Howard. “Are you still here?”

  “Never mind me, did you hear that scream. Have you checked on your mother?”

  Richard ran up the stairs two at a time closely followed by the others. He threw open the door and rushed inside, his mother was no where to be seen. He turned to look at Mrs Shaw’s stricken face. “Where is she, you’re supposed to be looking after her.”

  He didn’t wait for a reply, pushing them to one side he ran to each room in turn and opened all the doors shouting for his mother. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at the others. “Was she alright this morning, did she mention she wanted to go anywhere?”

  Mrs Shaw was crying. “She was in a good mood, said she wanted to do some gardening. I wasn’t away that long and she never came down the stairs we would have seen her pass the kitchen.”

  “Well, you stupid woman, she’s not here now, is she?” He pushed them aside and ran down the stairs shouting as he went. “Get outside, all of you, start searching the grounds.”

  Charlotte followed Richard, he got to the corner of the house and headed for the barn, he was going in the wrong direction, how could she stop him. She just shouted. “The river.”

  It was enough to stop Richard in his tracks. He looked around expecting to see someone but no one was there. “Dear God, don’t let her be in the river.” He started running as fast as he could towards the river. Over his shoulder he shouted for Mrs Shaw to call Henry Davenport, he knew when he found her she would be in a sorry state, if he found her. Richard had never been a religious person but he prayed that his mother would be okay. He got to the waters edge and looked up and down the stream, which way to go. Charlotte threw a stone in the right direction and Richard heard the splash and ran up stream calling for his mother. He saw her half in the water and half on the banking, she was motionless. He ran to her side and lifted her into his arms, was she dead. “Mother, speak to me.” Tears streamed down his face, he held her in his arms and rocked backwards and forwards. He heard her groan, she was alive, but only just. He picked her up, she was as light as a feather, why hadn’t he seen this happening to his mother, and she was so thin and frail. He ran to the house and carried her straight upstairs and ordered Mrs Shaw to run a warm bath. He stood in the doorway waiting.

  “Perhaps I should remove your mother’s clothing first.”

  “There’s not time, she’s freezing to death. Slowly he lowered his mother into the warm water. She groaned and lent her head on Richard’s chest.

  “John is that you, what happened, did I fall?”

  “It’s okay now; I’ve got you home; you’re going to be alright.” Emily closed her eyes and consciousness left her.

  Between them Mary and her mother removed Emily’s soaking clothes, bathed her and put her in a warm bed. Mrs Shaw sat besides her crying.

  Mary touched her hand. “Mother this is not your fault.”

  Her mother looked up and wiped her swollen eyes. “She was my responsibility, I should have been here watching
over her.”

  “You said yourself, she was in a good mood, and you weren’t to know she would go outside unattended. None of us thought she had the strength to manage the stairs unaided.”

  Henry Davenport rushed in and sat on the bed and looked down on the pale face of his dear friend Emily and sighed. He held her hand and gently squeezed. “Emily, its Henry, can you hear me?”

  Emily gave a long sigh and opened her eyes. “Is that you Henry, is there someone ill?”

  Henry smiled. “You’re the one who is ill and I’ve come to check you over.”

  She giggled. “Does John know about this?”

  Henry nodded as her placed the stethoscope to her chest. Her lungs were rattling as she took small shallow breaths. He moved to her heart and listened. Holding back the tears he smiled at Emily. “What are we going to do with you, Emily, fancy going for a paddle in February.”

  She lifted her hand to her mouth. “Oh did I? That was naughty of me.”

  Henry noticed how thin her arms had become and her skin was almost transparent. “I want you to rest now Emily while I go and talk to Richard.” He patted Mrs Shaw’s shoulder as he left the room.

  In the drawing room Richard paced the floor, what was taking Henry so long? If something happened to his mother that would be the end, he would have nothing left. Henry walked into the room and shook hands. Richard could tell from the look on his face the news wasn’t good. He looked at the doctor questioningly. “I’m sorry Richard but your mother is very ill.”

  Richard sat down and looked into the fire. “She will get better, won’t she?”

  Henry sat down next to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, this time there’s nothing more I can do, she’s given up and is slipping away from us.”

  Richard started to cry. “Oh Henry, what am I going to do when mother’s gone. I have nothing, no one left.”

  “You still have Sarah and Charles, you must contact them, let them know about your mother.”