Moorcroft The Possession

by Sandra Callister

  Richard laughed. “You had better be careful you’ll have the village talking.”

  She laughed back. “Let them talk, I don’t care.” She squeezed his arm. “I’ll see you later then.”

  She waved as she left the stables and he waved back. He walked to the door to watch her walk away but she had already disappeared.

  Richard shaved and showered and waited all afternoon for Charlotte to arrive but dinner came and went and she had not appeared. He sat and watched the flames flicker in the grate and his thoughts wandered back to Sarah and her son. How his life would have been so different had Victoria lived, perhaps he would have had children of his own by now, a son to carry on the Gardener name. There was a tap at the door and Richard turned just as Charlotte entered the room. He smiled, pleased to see her.

  “I did knock at the back door, but you must not have heard me, I hope you don’t mind me coming in?”

  He stood and crossed the room to her and took her hands in his.

  “I didn’t hear, I’m sorry, please come and sit by the fire, you’re frozen.”

  She loved the feel of his arm as he guided her towards the settee.

  “Really I’m fine I don’t seem to feel the cold.”

  He sat down beside her and held her hand. “Perhaps I could get you a drink, I’m about to have one myself.” He walked over to the drinks table and poured himself a large whisky and drank it down in one then poured himself another. He turned and looked at her and saw the smile on her face. He smiled back. “What would you like to drink?”

  “I’ll have whatever you’re having.” He poured another whisky and carried the glasses over to her. They sat side by side in front of the fire; an awkward silence filled the room. Sensing his discomfort she leant forward and placed her hand on his knee.

  “Thank you for inviting me back here I’ve always loved this house.”

  “Really, have you always lived in this neighbourhood?

  “I’ve lived here all my life I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

  “I know how you feel, I’m the same about Moorcroft, people tell me to move on, find something smaller, but I can’t leave this house, something holds me here, a presence, I don’t know what it is.” He laughed. “Does that sound crazy?”

  Charlotte smiled and looked at him lovingly, wanting to take him in her arms. “It sounds like you love this house as much as I do.”

  “Listen, now that you’re here would you like a tour?”

  She smiled. “Not just yet, perhaps later.” He wasn’t ready just yet for what she had in mind.

  They sat by the fire enjoying each others company talking. Richard talked about growing up at Moorcroft and the pranks he got up to while at college, how Charles became his best friend and how he fell in love with his sister and moved away. Charlotte talked about the changes she had seen happen at Moorcroft, how the outbuildings had been utilised and how the gardens had been landscaped. While Charlotte still held her original drink, Richard had refilled his glass several times and he was beginning to slur his words. He looked about the room. “It was here, in this house, where I found love, she had been under my nose for years and I had never noticed her. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. I thought I would die when she was killed.” It was only when he mentioned Victoria that he noticed a change in Charlotte, the smile had gone from her face and she remained silent.

  “I’m sorry have I said something to offend you?”

  She rested her hand on his knee, she could feel the heat radiate to her fingers. “It just makes me feel sad talking about Victoria.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking. Would you like the tour of the house now?”

  “I would love that, but isn’t it getting late?”

  “Oh, do you have to go I hadn’t really been watching the time?”

  She smiled. “I suppose a few more minutes wouldn’t matter, but are you sure you can manage, you have had a lot to drink?”

  He stood up and reached for her hand. “Nonsense, I’m as sober as a judge, walk this way.”

  They entered the great hall and faced the stairs. He looked down at her.

  “You don’t really want to look at my study again and I’m sure the kitchen isn’t so appealing to you.” He gripped her hand and they walked over to the right of the stairs and opened a door. He stood to one side and she walked into the room. “This is our dining room; it hasn’t been used for years. Notice the marble fireplace and the ornate coving.” He waved his arms in the air and almost fell over. Charlotte laughed and took his arm and he looked down into her eyes, she was quite lovely he thought. Back in the hall, still holding her hand, they slowly climbed the stairs. Charlotte had to steady him as he wavered from side to side. He pointed out the mahogany hand rail and the chandelier. Walking down the corridors he opened doors one after the other and waved his arms about pointing out cornicing and light fittings and four poster beds.

  Charlotte stopped outside one door they had not looked in. “What’s in here?”

  Richard leaned against the wall to steady himself. “Ah, now this is my domain, I’m sure you don’t want to look in there.”

  Charlotte turned the handle and opened the door. “I’d love to look in your room; it will show me what kind of man you are.”

  Richard groaned. “So be it.”

  She walked into the bedroom and noticed the array of clothes thrown over the chairs and floor. Richard staggered forward, picked up what he could and threw them onto a chair. He grinned. “Sorry about the mess but I wasn’t expecting visitors.”

  He watched her as she moved around the room looking at pictures and picking up his hair comb and brush. She walked towards him and reached up and brushed her lips against his. A shock ran through him, it had been so long since he had had female company. He sighed heavily trying to stop the urge to take her in his arms. She stood so close to him he was scared to move. She smiled and slid her hands up his body and round his neck and pulled him towards her. He closed his eyes as their lips met and a shiver ran through him. I shouldn’t be doing this he thought, but it feels so good. She leant into him, he could feel her body pressing into his. His arms went round her waist and he pulled her closer and he could feel himself getting aroused. She undid his shirt and she kissed his nipples, he threw his head back and groaned. He held her at arms length and looked at her.

  “I think we should stop before I get carried away.”

  He watched as she slowly unbuttoned her dress and let it fall to the floor, she stood before him naked. He gasped. A smile crossed her face as she kicked the dress away.

  “But I don’t want to stop.”

  She pushed him backwards until he was up against the bed. She removed his shirt and ran her fingers through the fine hairs on his chest and squeezed his nipples. Richard groaned and closed his eyes. She threw back the sheets and lay on the bed her arms outstretched to him.

  “Come Richard, make love to me.”

  He removed the remainder of his clothing and lay beside her. His hands roamed her body and she moaned as he took her nipple in his mouth, she ran her hand through his hair and pushed him down, she didn’t want him to stop. His lips left her breasts and he kissed and licked her stomach, his hand roamed up and down her thighs, she opened her legs to receive his caresses. She had never felt such excitement.

  He whispered in her ear. “Are you sure about this?”

  She sighed. “Yes, oh yes, I’ve waited so long for this.”

  He nibbled her neck as he rolled over and entered her, they both cried out in unison, both lost to their passion. They made love several times that night until Richard lay exhausted. He put his arm round her and pulled her to him.

  She laid her head on his chest. “I’ve waited so long for this Frederick, I never realised making love could be so exciting. I love you so much.”

  Richard lay beside her already asleep.

  Richard woke the next morning feeling relaxed but with a bad taste in his mouth. He s
tretched and rolled over and looked at the crushed pillow and the crumpled sheets. He sat bolt upright as memories of the previous night’s passion entered his head. He slowly lay back and put his head on the pillow and smiled, he hadn’t felt so good in years but where was Charlotte, if she was in the kitchen how would he explain her to Mary. He shot out of bed and pulled back the sheets, he could still smell her and their love making, he would have to get the sheets washed. After his shower he dressed quickly and rolled the sheets into a ball and carried them downstairs. He could hear music coming from the kitchen. He opened the door under the stairs and pushed the sheets into the washer, now to face Mary. In the kitchen Mary was busy cooking his breakfast, she looked up and smiled.

  “Breakfast will be ready in five minutes; do you want it in here or in your study?”

  He looked around the door into the room; there was no one else there. “In my study please Mary and a strong cup of coffee; I have a thick head this morning.”

  Mary had already seen the glasses and the empty whisky bottle; it must have been some night.

  Richard moved the papers on his desk to the side as Mary placed the breakfast tray down.

  “I delayed making your breakfast this morning, because you haven’t taken your horses out yet. It must have been a heavy night for you to sleep in so late.”

  He smiled remembering the night’s high jinks. “Yes it was some night alright. By the way I spilt something on my sheets so I’ve stripped the bed and put them in the washer, I’m sorry Mary if I’m making more work for you.”

  “No bother, it’s nice and breezy outdoors, get them dry in no time at all.”

  When the door closed behind her he looked down at his plate of eggs, bacon and sausage and for once he felt ravenous.

  After breakfast he crossed the yard to the stables and led the horses to the paddock, they were both happy to be free and running around. Back in the stables he began to clean out the stalls but on a full stomach he just didn’t feel up to it. He heard movement behind him and turned to find Charlotte leaning against the wall watching him. She walked towards him and he straightened up and leant on the fork.

  “Listen about last night, I’m sorry if I took advantage of you, I was very drunk, can you forgive me?”

  Charlotte laughed and looked up into those lovely blue eyes. “If anyone took advantage it was me and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

  Richard smiled before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and hard. Charlotte was euphoric, she had won the battle, and he belonged to her now. Charlotte backed off when she heard singing in the yard.

  “It’s okay it’s only Mary, she’s probably hanging out the washing, come and say hello to her.”

  She backed further into the stall. “No really, I’m not ready to meet anyone yet.”

  Just then Mary popped her head through the door. “Would you like a cuppa, I’m just going to put the kettle on?”

  “Yes, thanks Mary, I’ll be with you in a minute.”

  “Right you are.”

  He turned and looked at Charlotte. “Why don’t you come inside and have a drink of tea with me, Mary makes some lovely cakes.”

  She moved closer and tilted her head up to kiss him gently on the lips.

  “As much as I would love to join you, I have things to do, another day perhaps.”

  He kissed her again and he longed to take her here and now in the stables, on the straw. He pushed her up against the wall and nibbled her neck as his hands explored her body. He took a deep breath. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you?”

  She laughed and gently pushed him away. She could feel his hardness against her. “No, I must go.”

  She looked around as she left the stable; there was no sign of Mary. He stood by the door and watched her walk through the gate, he raised his hand to wave to her but she had already vanished.

  Mary heard him whistling as he crossed the yard and entered the kitchen. He sat at the kitchen table and flicked the pages of a magazine. She sat opposite him and placed a cup of tea in front of him.

  “My, you’re in a good mood this morning, it must have been a good night last night.”

  She watched him closely as he lifted his head to look at her. He was grinning from ear to ear.

  “I had a great night, a wonderful night last night, thank you Mary.”

  He picked up his cup and whistling left the kitchen. Mary sat thinking. She hadn’t seen him this happy since before Victoria died. He had a definite glint in his eye. She sat back and took in a breath. My word, Master Richard has found himself a woman friend. She scratched her head. Now how on earth did he meet her, he never goes out anywhere, unless it’s someone from the town when he’s been out on business or perhaps it’s someone from the village, she must keep her eyes and ears open, one way or another she would find out who this mystery woman was.

  Charlotte followed him around the house and grounds, occasionally he would stop and she would see him smile and hear a little laugh. He was happy and she was responsible, she wanted to be with him but she knew she must bide her time, soon he would want her and no one else. Richard took care of the horses and mucked out the stables and pottered about in the garden, all the time he was looking and hoping to see Charlotte. That evening he was certain she would come. He paced the house until after midnight but she did not arrive. Finally he took himself to bed but his sleep was restless. Charlotte watched as he tossed and turned, she longed to be beside him to feel his arms around her but she must make him wait, make him realise that she was the only one who could make him happy.

  Over the next few days Charlotte would visit him but only when she knew that Mary was in another part of the house and out of earshot. That woman was becoming a thorn in her side but Richard still needed her for the moment but the time would come when he would want only her. She kept their evenings of passion to a minimum, she wanted him to long for her and when they joined in the throes of passion he would know only her, his mind and body would be hers.

  Weeks passed and Mary noticed that on some days Richard would be walking about on a cloud and others he would be edgy and he would snap at her. Was the love affair over? She had also noticed that things had gone missing or placed in different cupboards from normal, again she wondered if this was the doing of the mystery woman. Mary’s temper flared when she arrived one morning to find that tea had been poured over her nice clean washing. Without a second thought she went in search of Richard. She found him in the stables and rushed in to confront him. Holding a tea stained sheet in her hand she pushed it under his nose.

  “I have put up with a lot over the last few weeks with you and your moods but I draw the line at mischief like this.”

  Richard looked down at the sheet. “What on earth are you talking about Mary?”

  She opened the sheet so that he could better see the marks. “This, just look at my nice clean washing ruined. Well, who do you think has done it?”

  He looked down at the white cotton and frowned. “I haven’t got a clue, it wasn’t me, I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

  “Well if it’s not you who else has been in this house moving things about so that I can’t find them, turning the oven off when I go upstairs so that my cakes spoil, who dislikes me enough to want me gone?”

  Richard took her arm and steered her towards the door. “Now steady on Mary, no one wants you to leave, I don’t know who is doing these things but I’ll try and find out and put a stop to it.”

  “Well you better had because I’m not putting up with this for much longer, now I’ll have to wash these all over again.”

  She was still grumbling as she crossed the yard to the back door.

  Richard heard laughter behind him and swung round to see Charlotte leaning against the stalls laughing.

  “Charlotte, how long have you been there, tell me you’re not responsible for upsetting Mary?”

  She stopped laughing, had she overstepped the mark? She moved up to him and tried to kiss him but he cau
ght her hands and looked down at her, a serious look on his face. She drew back.

  “Oh dear, did I do something naughty?”

  Richard sighed. “How could you do such a thing, why?”

  She was beginning to get angry, why was he defending that silly woman?

  “She gets in the way. We can never be together when she’s around.”

  He took her hand. “Don’t be silly, Mary would love you. Let’s go and explain that it was an accident and we’ll all make up and be friends again.”

  Annoyed she pulled away and temper took over. “I will not apologise to the hired help. If she wasn’t here I would have you all to myself. Richard we don’t need her.”

  Richard was shocked in the sudden change in Charlotte. “I beg to differ. Mary has been with this house as long as I can remember, she cooks for me, cleans the house and does my washing, are you prepared to do those things?”

  She looked startled. “Me, you would expect me to do menial jobs like that?”

  “But if Mary wasn’t here who else would do them?”

  Reason took over, she could see his point, she didn’t need those material things but he did.

  “Well okay but does she have to be here every day? Can’t she come in just to make your meals and take the washing home with her, I’m sure that between us we could manage the cleaning and making the bed,” She leaned against him. “If we ever get out of it.”

  Richard frowned. “I don’t know Charlotte; I will have to think about this. Now are you coming into the house to make it up with Mary?”

  Charlotte bristled. “No I don’t have the time, I must go now, I have somewhere to be.” She pushed past him and was out the door.

  Richard stood in the yard and watched her walk away. How was he going to solve this little problem?

  ####

  CHAPTER 17

  Summer with its golden crops and long lush grass and fragrant meadows soon turned into autumn with its damp morning mist and the changing leaves from green to orange and yellow. Richard was reasonably happy with his life but was constantly agitated with Charlotte’s behaviour. Although she visited Moorcroft on a regular basis and they had great sex she refused to move in with him, her excuse always being Mary. As he walked through the little wood behind the house he breathed in the morning air and thought about last night’s argument.