The Wetherby Brides: Second Epilogues

by Jerrica Knight-Catania

  A Gentleman Never Tells

  The Second Epilogue

  Return to Dunbocan

  Jerrica Knight-Catania

  Smashwords Edition

  This book is a work of fiction.

  Names, characters, locations and events are either a product of the

  author’s imagination, fictitious or used fictitiously.

  Any resemblance to any event, locale or person,

  living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  A Gentleman Never Tells, 2nd Epilogue

  Copyright 2011 by Jerrica Knight-Catania

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or part in any format.

  Cover design by Jerrica Knight-Catania

  Return to Dunbocan, 1824

  “No, no, no. Absolutely not. A thousand times no.”

  Phoebe stared dubiously at her husband. Was he really trying to put his foot down on this matter? “You haven’t even heard me out, yet,” Phoebe tried again, but Benjamin held up a hand.

  “It is not open for discussion.”

  “It most certainly is.” Phoebe stood and crossed the room to where her husband glowered. It didn’t matter that he was a good many inches taller than her, she still had every intention of standing up to him and getting her way. He almost always gave in to her desires—this was very unlike him to be such a brute—but Phoebe was not about to back down without a fight.

  “Phoebe.” He drew out her name, his tone laced with all kinds of warnings.

  Phoebe ignored them. “Why are you so against it?”

  “Because…” Bejamin leaned on the chair for support, as if what he was about to say might give him the vapors. “Because that house is haunted, Phoebe.”

  She tried—she really, really did try—to keep her laughter in check. She bit her tongue, she took deep breaths through her nose—but not matter how hard she tried she couldn’t do it. It was too much. Phoebe erupted into hysterics at the preposterous thing her husband had just said.

  “This is not a laughing matter, Phoebe!” he said, but the pout in his voice made her laugh even harder. “Fine. Have your fun, wife, but rest assured, we are not going to Scotland, no matter what. Ever.”

  ***

  As they settled into their carriage bound for Scotland, Phoebe gave her husband a little nudge. “I’m so pleased you changed your mind, darling,” she said, unable to keep the smile off her face. “We will have such a remarkable time in the Highlands with Michael and Elizabeth…and Katherine and Will, of course, but we see them all the time.”

  “Please,” Benjamin said dryly, “don’t remind me.”

  Phoebe swatted him on the arm. “Oh, hush. You know you love your sister, and Will is one of your very best friends in the world.”

  “The latter part is at least true.”

  Ignoring him, Phoebe forged on. She had a mystery to solve. She wanted to know why her husband thought the Scottish home was haunted, and she intended to find out on the five-day journey ahead of them. It would be so much easier, though, if he would just be out with it at the start.

  “Now, about this house,” she said, trying to keep her tone nonchalant. “You say it’s haunted?”

  Benjamin sighed and slumped lower in his seat opposite Phoebe. “I won’t speak of it, Phoebe.”

  Phoebe sat forward. “But why not?” she practically whined. “You can’t say something like ‘the house is haunted’ to a person and then leave them wondering. It simply isn’t fair!”

  “What’s not fair is that you’re dragging me there in the first place.”

  “I’m not dragging you!”

  “Fine, then I wish to turn around and go back home.”

  “Certainly not!”

  Benjamin sighed again. “Are you going to harp on this all the way there?” he asked.

  “Do you really need to even ask that question, darling?” Phoebe replied with a coy smile.

  Clearly, Benjamin couldn’t resist her charms. “Fine. I will tell you about Dunbocan, but I’m warning you…there is no turning back, no matter how afraid the stories make you.”

  Phoebe scoffed. “I’m not afraid, Benjamin. Ghosts don’t scare me.”

  Ben leaned forward and lowered his voice to a husky whisper. “Then what does?”

  Phoebe moved closer to him until they were nose to nose and said, “An uneven dinner party.”

  This sent them both into fits of laughter, and when they calmed down again, Benjamin summoned Phoebe to his side of the carriage. She gladly moved to his side, nestling against him, letting his warmth drive out the October chill.

  “Now…where should I begin?”

  ***

  “Well, why don’t you start at the beginning?” Phoebe said, looking up at him.

  Ben looked down at her, admiring the smattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks—it was one of his favorite things about her. “Yes, yes, that does seem a good place to start, doesn’t it?” He took a deep breath and then opened his mouth to speak, not entirely certain what was going to come out. He couldn’t really remember all the stories from Dunbocan—he was only a child really last time they were there. And it was Katherine who was so obsessed with that ghost. Benjamin wasn’t really afraid of going to Scotland or staying in the house—he’d just not wanted to travel. He much preferred to stay at home in the country with his wife and children than traipse across England and half of Scotland to stay in a strange home. Strange in more ways than one.

  “It all began two nights after we arrived,” he began, not remembering if that was an exact truth or not. “The wind howled through the trees, making the shutters clack loudly against the house. We all sat in the parlor together before a roaring fire. Katherine leaned against Father’s knee as he sat reading to us—”

  “What was he reading?” Phoebe interrupted.

  Benjamin looked at her aghast. “How should I know? It was more than twenty years ago now. Besides, it’s not important.”

  Phoebe shrugged and nestled back into the nook of his arm.

  “Andrew and Michael played a game on the floor in front of the fire—and no, I don’t know what game they were playing—while Mother worked at her needlepoint.”

  “What were you doing?”

  “Staring out the window…unfortunately.”

  ***

  A chill ran down Phoebe’s spine. “What do you mean, unfortunately?” she asked, hoping he couldn’t detect the quiver in her voice.

  “That was where she first appeared,” Benjamin said, a great deal of gravitas to his tone. “I suppose I shouldn’t call her a ghost—I think the Scottish refer to them as wraiths—and I have to admit, that is a better name for her.”

  “Why?”

  Benjamin shrugged. “She just looked like a wraith, with that blood-stained gown and unruly red hair.”

  “Blood stained?” Phoebe sat bolt upright. “Why blood?”

  Another shrug. “Who knows? All I know is that she appeared there, in the window, on that cold, dark night. It was terrifying.”

  Benjamin pulled her back to the safety of his arms, and Phoebe hugged him a little tighter than before. Perhaps she had been too hasty in insisting they go to Dunbocan for a visit.

  “You shouldn’t worry, though, darling,” he said, placing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m sure she won’t bother us while we’re there.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Maybe she doesn’t even live there anymore. Did Elizabeth mention her?”

  Phoebe shook her head. Elizabeth’s letter was short and sweet, a simple invitation to join them at Dunbocan anytime they pleased. Since Phoe
be had never had much opportunity to travel, she seized the invitation. The children were growing up and would surely have a grand time with their Aunt Becky and Uncle Stephen. Not that they were really the children’s aunt and uncle, but they were close enough.

  Katherine and William left their own large brood with William’s niece and her husband. They all would have brought the children, but since Michael and Elizabeth were having trouble conceiving, Katherine feared it might be too difficult for her to be forced to spend time with other people’s little ones.

  “Tell me more. Were there other sightings?” Phoebe asked, half desperate to hear the stories and half desperate to turn around and go back home.

  “Oh, of course,” Ben said. “She mostly appeared to Mother, though, from what I can gather. That’s why we left and never went back.”

  “Then why did you send Michael and Elizabeth to live there if you knew it was haunted?”

  “I didn’t, remember? That was Andrew.”

  “Yes, but didn’t Andrew come to you to ask about sending them there?”

  “A mere technicality. It was still his idea. Not mine.”

  Phoebe shook her head. “Well, I don’t think it was very nice of either of you to send poor Elizabeth there unawares.”

  “Haven’t we talked enough, Phoebe?”

  Phoebe looked up at her husband who stared down at her with hungry, smoldering eyes. His hands tightened around her waist and he drew her up slightly to plant a kiss on her lips. It was long and lingering, the kind that sent tingles down her spine and made her ache in unseen places.

  “We’ve barely been on the road twenty minutes,” she said with a little giggle.

  “Twenty excruciating minutes,” he replied as he ducked his head to kiss the tops of her breasts, held aloft by her corset.

  “Well, no reason to torture you any longer, I suppose.”

  ***

  After five long days of travel, Phoebe and Benjamin finally arrived at Dunbocan. It was breathtaking, just like Ben remembered—like something one only dreamed of. The gray stone fortress was situated in a valley of green, though the leaves of the trees had begun to change. The vibrant reds and yellows and oranges floated to the ground on a lilting breeze, the same breeze that blew strands of Phoebe’s auburn hair across her freckled face. This was a scene Benjamin wanted to etch into his memory for all eternity.

  He could tell Phoebe was breathless, speechless. It truly was awe-inspiring.

  “What do you think?” he asked, sidling up to her and putting an arm around her waist.

  “Magical,” she whispered. “I half expect to see faeries dancing about in the gardens.”

  Benjamin smiled. “You never know,” he said with a wink.

  The front door to the manor flung open to reveal his sister-in-law, Elizabeth. She was a pale woman with hair so blonde it was almost white and bright blue eyes that stood out in stark contrast to the rest of her. The way the sun shone upon her now made her seem fairy-like herself.

  “Phoebe!” she cried as she flung herself down the stairs and across the gravel drive. Phoebe met her halfway in a tight embrace. “Oh, you must be exhausted, but I am so thrilled you’ve come.” She turned to Benjamin and gathered him in a hug as well. “Benjamin, it is wonderful to see you again. It really has been too long.”

  “Two years, at least,” Phoebe said.

  “Well, neither of you has changed a bit. Oh, look! There’s Michael.”

  Benjamin looked up to see his younger brother bounding down the stairs. It was shocking to realize that he appeared to be a slightly younger version of himself.

  Michael first stopped to kiss Phoebe on the cheek and then greeted Benjamin with a hug strong enough to make up for two years apart. “I’ve missed you, brother,” he said.

  Benjamin smiled. It was good to be together again.

  An older couple bustled from the house next—well, as much as people of their age could bustle, that is—and greeted them in the drive.

  “Benjamin, you must remember Mr. and Mrs. Kerr.”

  “I thought I recognized that smile,” he said to Mrs. Kerr. “I trust you are both faring well?”

  Mrs. Kerr smiled wide. “Ay, we are, milord. ‘Tis good to have family back in the house again. We spent too many years here in solitude, but thankfully this house is alive again.”

  A knowing look passed between Mrs. Kerr and Elizabeth…a look that sent a shiver down Benjamin’s spine. He had a feeling there was more to that statement about the house being alive than anyone was willing to admit.

  “Come, let us go inside.” Elizabeth took Phoebe by the hand. “Mrs. Kerr has prepared her famous biscuits and chocolate for you.”

  ***

  Phoebe walked arm-in-arm with Elizabeth into the house. She would have been lying if she had said she wasn’t a bit nervous. Benjamin had told story after story on their journey, and not one of them was comforting in the slightest. Seeing the inside of Dunbocan made her realize it was the perfect home for other worldly inhabitants. It was large and medieval. One might call it cavernous even.

  Elizabeth led her down the corridor until they reached a parlor. A large fire burned in the grate, driving the chill and the foreboding feeling from the room. Phoebe recalled Benjamin’s story about the first time he saw the wraith. Was it here, in this room? Her mind painted the tableau—Katherine leaning against Lord Wetherby’s knee in the great, armed chair. Lady Wetherby with her needlepoint just there, on the settee. The twins on the floor with their game and Benjamin… She turned toward the large set of windows at the far end of the room. They looked out into the valley, onto the vast land dabbled with trees. How frightening it must have been to see that apparition.

  “Come, Phoebe,” Elizabeth said, drawing her from her reverie. “Sit with me by the fire. You really must be exhausted. I know how treacherous that journey can be.”

  “Is that why you haven’t made it in so long?” Phoebe sat and accepted the cup and saucer, complete with a sweet biscuit, from Elizabeth.

  “Oh, no,” Elizabeth replied. “I suppose I’ve just been…afraid.”

  “Afraid?” Phoebe couldn’t imagine being afraid of anything after living in this house for so long.

  “It was so hard—the deception and all—I suppose I just haven’t felt ready to face everyone yet.”

  “It’s been two years, Elizabeth,” Phoebe said softly. “I’m certain no one even thinks of it anymore.” She paused and then, “Do you?”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Not at all…unless Michael suggests we go to London for a visit, then I remember it anew. But I’m not unhappy. Quite the contrary, actually. I know for certain that everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”

  “Then am I to believe you actually care for your husband?”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, yes, of course I do.”

  “And what about this home?” Phoebe asked, looking around the place with a leery eye.

  “Ah, yes…Dunbocan. Did Benjamin tell you what it means?”

  Phoebe snapped her attention to Elizabeth. “No. Why? Should he have?”

  Elizabeth scoffed. “Michael failed to mention it as well before we arrived. I found out the hard way that we had a wraith in our midst.”

  Phoebe swallowed. “Then what does Dunbocan mean?”

  “Ghost house. Fitting, I should say.”

  “Are there still…?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Not now, at least. They do come and go, though. Most of them are just passing through, looking for someone, perhaps. But Margaret…she was the one who haunted this place for years. The one that sent the Wetherbys running back home to England so many years ago.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “Well, we finally discovered she was Mr. and Mrs. Kerr’s daughter. To make an incredibly long story short, Margaret had given birth to a child out of wedlock and so Mr. and Mrs. Kerr gave the baby away to avoid shame on the family. Once Margaret realized her daughter had passed, she vanished.”
>
  “Vanished?”

  “Poof!” Elizabeth made a little bursting motion with her fingers. “But not before we realized that our maid, Bonnie, was Margaret’s granddaughter, which means—”

  “She’s Mr. and Mrs. Kerr’s great granddaughter.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Goodness, what a bizarre set of circumstances.”

  “You certainly don’t have to tell me,” Elizabeth said with a laugh.

  “Tell you what?”

  “Oh, dear.” Phoebe knew that voice all too well. She turned on the settee to see her sister-in-law Katherine standing in the doorway to the parlor. “What took you so long?” Phoebe asked playfully.

  Katherine’s olive skin turned a slight shade of pink. “We were delayed at the inn this morning, that’s all. Elizabeth, it’s been years!” She crossed the room, her skirts swishing loudly with every movement, and enveloped Elizabeth in her arms. “Whenever are you going to come back home? Scotland is such a rustic place—don’t you miss London?”

  “I certainly thought I would,” Elizabeth replied, seeming somewhat stymied by Katherine’s exuberant energy. “But now I like it here very much.”

  “Even with the…” Katherine leaned in and lowered her voice “Ghosts?”

  “Yes,” Elizabeth replied, matching Katherine’s grave whisper. “Even with the ghosts.”

  “Well, there’s nothing to be done with you then. You’ve lost all sense up here.”

  “Probably all the fresh air,” Phoebe said, not bothering to hide her sarcasm, but Katherine still agreed with an emphatic nod of her head.

  ***

  That night at dinner, they all gathered around the great mahogany dining table to a veritable feast. The Dunbocan staff certainly knew how to entertain. A large ham was the centerpiece to the meal, accompanied by massive bowls of potatoes, greens, turnips, platters of fruit and some of the most delicious bread Benjamin had ever tasted.

  It was almost like old times, dining with Katherine and Michael, though it would have been nice to see Andrew at the table as well.

  “Will you and Elizabeth ever come back to England, Michael?” he asked, sending a hush over the dinner table.