‘No, just your friends and your ex-husband,’ Lara pointed out.
‘Well, I don’t think Antony will pay another visit.’
Lara laughed. ‘You can say that again – I’ve never seen anybody run so fast. Or look so pale.’
‘Like he’d seen a ghost,’ Hannah repeated the joke we’d been telling all over Christmas. ‘Like Scrooge.’
‘Just like Scrooge,’ Lara agreed, and Hannah buried her nose back in her book. I was struck anew by the way Hannah seemed to cope so well with such strange and frightening events. Yes, she was terrified when these things happened, but within a day she’d accepted it as normal. I envied her.
‘Anyway, I have to check out today, the room isn’t free again until after New Year. Apparently there’s a big do on in the village and they’re booked up already.’
‘I just wish Jayne had been able to stay longer,’ Lara said, and I looked at her in surprise.
She shrugged. ‘We may not agree on everything, but we do agree on looking out for you.’
I nodded and Hannah looked up from her book again and said, ‘And Grasper could have looked after you too, Auntie Verity.’
‘He certainly could, Hannah. What are you reading?’
Hannah showed me the book – a history of Haworth. ‘It has all the ghosts in it,’ she explained.
‘Hannah woke up on the floor this morning,’ Lara said. ‘Seemingly, it’s because of the ghost of the balloonist.’
‘Yes, Lily Cove,’ Hannah explained. ‘She parachuted out of her hot-air balloon, but the parachute didn’t open and she just fell.’
‘And you’re not scared?’
‘No. I was at first, but she just wants to tell people what happened to her and it’s difficult because she doesn’t have a voice or a body any more. That’s what Mum says. Maybe that’s what your ghosts are doing, Auntie Verity, trying to tell you what happened to them.’
‘You could be right, Hans,’ Lara said. ‘Have you finished your breakfast?’
Hannah nodded, put a large black feather into her book to mark her page, then closed the book.
‘Where did you get that?’ Lara asked with a shiver.
‘Outside Auntie Verity’s house. There are lots on the ground from those big black birds.’
Lara and I exchanged a glance, then I threw my napkin on to the table. ‘Right, come on. I need to get my stuff and settle my bill, then once I’ve spoken to Vikram and the build team, the rest of the day is ours.’
***
‘What’s that lot for?’ I pointed at the bag of crystals, amulets and other odds and sods Lara had bought from the new-age shop on Main Street.
‘If you’re moving back into that place, you’ll do so with some protection,’ Lara said.
‘Stones, herbs and symbols?’ I scoffed.
‘I’m willing to try anything,’ Lara said. ‘And don’t mock this stuff, used properly it can be very powerful.’
‘But you’ve already cleansed The Rookery. That didn’t do much good.’
‘How do you know? You’ve no idea if things would be even worse without that cleansing.’
I stayed silent, but knew my apprehension was clear in the set of my face and shoulders.
‘We’ll cleanse again tonight after the builders have gone, then every evening – and you need to carry on doing it after Hannah and I go home.’ She stopped in exasperation at the look on my face.
‘Look at it this way, Verity, it can’t hurt and you’ll keep me off your back.’
I relaxed. ‘You’re right, Lara, sorry.’ I gave her a quick hug. ‘I guess I’m a bit freaked out by it all. When the stuff in the kitchen started smashing, well ...’
Lara glanced at Hannah, who was peering into shop windows and not paying us any attention.
‘It must have been terrifying,’ she said. ‘But no one was hurt – and they could have been had the spirits wanted to. They’re clearly capable of it.’
‘They?’
Lara shrugged. ‘Well, yes, there were two orbs, remember?’
‘My dream man and the Grey Lady,’ I said.
‘I don’t think so – I don’t think the Grey Lady has anything to do with this. But whoever they are, we need to make sure you’re safe.’
‘I don’t think they want to hurt me,’ I said. ‘If anything, I think Hannah’s right, he – they – want to tell me something.’
‘Maybe, but to be honest, they’re going to a lot of trouble and energy to merely tell you a story. No, there’s something more going on here, and I’m not sure we want to find out what.’
‘I doubt they’ll give us the choice, they’ve been pretty insistent so far.’
‘That’s what’s worrying me so much,’ Lara said. ‘How much further will they go to make you understand?’
I hesitated, then said, ‘Okay, I’ll do whatever you want: spells, potions, rituals, the works. Even dance naked in the graveyard under the full moon if that’ll make you happy!’
Lara laughed with me. ‘We don’t need to go that far, Verity, not unless you really want to.’
‘I’d rather not – even if it appeases the ghosts, which is unlikely, I can’t see my new neighbours taking kindly to that spectacle!’
‘Why are you laughing, Mum?’ Hannah had grown bored of window shopping and re-joined us.
‘Oh, just picturing Auntie Verity dancing around the gravestones with no clothes on.’
Hannah looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Why would you picture that, Mum?’
I joined in Lara’s laughter. ‘Yes, why would you picture that, Lara?’
‘I wish I never had,’ she spluttered. ‘Shall we get on with the shopping instead? Didn’t you want to have a look at the art gallery?’
Still laughing, I linked arms with Lara, Hannah taking her other side, and we made our clumsy way over the cobbles.
3.
‘Auntie Verity!’ Hannah bumped into my back and I managed to put one foot in front of the other to make slow progress into the art gallery. The man behind the counter stared at me as intently as I stared at him, but neither of us spoke.
‘Hi,’ Lara said with a concerned look at me. ‘We’re interested in local landscapes ...’ she tailed off, glancing between me and the man, then plonked her handbag on to the countertop with an audible thump and broke the spell.
The man diverted his attention to her and finally smiled. ‘Over here.’ He moved towards the far wall of the shop. ‘They’re my speciality – if there’s a local landmark you’re thinking of in particular and it isn’t here, just let me know and I’ll paint it for you.’ He shot another glance at me, his colour high.
‘Oh, you’re the artist too?’ Lara asked.
‘Aye, William Sutcliffe. At your service.’ He gave an awkward bow, the blush in his cheeks undiminished.
‘How wonderful,’ Lara said.
I still could not form words of my own and thanked my lucky stars that we’d done this today and Lara was here to speak for me.
‘Do you paint people too?’ Hannah asked.
‘Aye, sometimes, if someone takes my fancy.’
I met his eyes again then looked away just in time to catch Lara’s smirk.
‘Have you ever had your portrait painted, lass?’
‘No, only photographs,’ Hannah said, deadly serious. ‘I’d love a painted portrait, though. Mummy, can I have one?’
‘I think that might be a bit too expensive for your pocket money, Hans,’ Lara said, with a smile.
‘Ah well, you’ll just have to save up, lass. I’ll do you a good deal.’ He winked with a smile.
‘Or I could get a job, just like Aunt Jayne.’
‘Maybe in a few years. Come and have a look at these,’ Lara said. ‘Which do you think would look nice in Auntie Verity’s hotel?’
‘The spooky ones,’ Hannah answered promptly. ‘So the ghosts feel at home.’
I laughed – finally finding my vo
ice. ‘They already seem to feel quite at home, Hannah, don’t you think?’
Hannah shrugged as the man – William – said, ‘Ghosts? You’ve bought in Haworth then, there’s barely a house without a ghost story on this hill.’ He smiled at me as I gave another nervous laugh.
‘Yes, we’re getting that impression.’ I stuck my hand out. ‘Verity Earnshaw,’ I said as we shook. ‘I’ve bought The Rookery – the place on West Lane with the skip outside,’ I added as I remembered that nobody but myself, Jayne, Lara and the build team knew the building by that name at the moment.
‘Ah, the old weaver’s cottages. Aye, I know the place. Have you seen the Grey Lady yet?’
‘Auntie Verity has, and one of the builders did. He ran away scared, didn’t he, Mummy? I’m not scared though, not any more, not of her or the man. Or the ghost in our room at the hotel. I’m not, am I, Mummy?’
William looked rather taken aback by this, but rallied valiantly. ‘It sounds like you’re a very brave girl – that’s a lot of ghosts not to be scared of.’
‘It is, isn’t it, Mummy? A lot of ghosts. They don’t scare me though.’
‘Okay, Hannah, how about we look at these pictures?’ Lara tried again to distract her daughter.
Hannah’s babbling had at least given me time to recover my wits, and I turned my attention back to William. ‘I’m looking for a couple of dozen landscapes,’ I started.
‘Prints or originals?’
‘Prints – preferably related to the Brontës and the village.’
William nodded and I realised he’d hear this criteria from most of his customers.
‘They’re to go in the guest rooms as well as the public areas,’ I continued, ‘and be available for sale to guests, so I was hoping we could make a sale or return arrangement.’
‘Sale or return,’ he repeated. ‘And when would you return them if they didn’t sell?’
I stayed quiet, unprepared for this question, but he took pity on me and broke the silence.
‘I can’t do that I’m afraid,’ he said. ‘If I did I’d have prints hanging in every guesthouse and hotel in the dale, but I’d have no money coming in. This is how I make my living, I do need to sell my work.’
He sighed and rubbed his hand over the dark stubble on his chin. I wondered if the growth was from overnight or if he had indeed shaved that morning, then caught myself and brought my mind back to the business at hand.
‘As you’d like a bulk order, I can offer you a 25 per cent discount on the lot, or you can buy half at full price, and I’ll let you have the rest on sale or return – but only for six months. If you don’t sell any, I’ll take them back, or you’d need to buy them.’
‘At 25 per cent off?’
He shook his head. ‘One or the other, I’m afraid. It’s up to you and how many you think you can realistically sell.’
I stayed silent, thinking.
‘And if she buys them at the discount, then sells, what would you offer at that point?’ Lara asked.
William smiled, but didn’t take his eyes off me. ‘If you’re making sales, then we can definitely renegotiate.’
He stared at me a moment longer, his colour rising once more. ‘When do you open?’
‘Easter,’ I said.
‘So you wouldn’t need them straight away,’ he mused, then met Hannah’s eyes – big, grey and round, staring back at him, full of hope – and his face softened, then hardened once more as he returned his attention to me.
‘Earnshaw did you say your name was?’
‘Yes, my father grew up in Keighley, but his ancestors came from this area. He always joked one of his relations inspired Emily Brontë’s Cathy.’
‘But you’re Verity.’
‘My middle name’s Catherine.’ I blushed; I hated admitting that.
William nodded. ‘Well, you’re a local then.’ He smiled. ‘Tell you what, if you let me hang the pictures and have my card in the frame, I’ll let you have them for three months after opening, on spec. Then you decide which deal you want. Can’t say fairer than that.’
Hannah clapped her hands, but was silenced by her mother’s hand over her mouth.
I considered for a moment, then held my hand out. ‘Deal,’ I said. ‘Nice doing business with you.’
He took my hand and I jolted at the sensation of our palms touching again. By the look in his eyes, he had felt it too.
We let go at Lara’s cough and I wondered just how long we’d been standing in the gallery holding hands. I was surprised to hear myself say, ‘When would you like to pop in to have a look around The Rookery? We’ll be in tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow it is then, as soon as I’ve shut up shop.’
‘See you then.’ I hesitated, unwilling to leave, but eventually followed Lara and Hannah back out on to Main Street.
Hannah ran on ahead up the steep hill and Lara linked her arm with mine as we followed far more slowly.
‘What was all that about? Why were you acting so weird in there?’
‘That,’ I said, ‘was the man I’ve been dreaming about.’
4.
‘I clear this space of all negative energy and call in angelic light and love to fill this place,’ Lara intoned yet again, then held the smouldering bundle of sage under the tap before putting it into a bowl.
‘When it’s dry you can relight it and do the same again,’ she said.
‘Uh huh,’ I replied, my arms folded and my nose wrinkled in scepticism.
Lara glanced at me, frustrated. ‘I thought you were going to try this, Verity.’
‘We are trying it.’
‘No, you’re watching me try it – again. This is your home, you need to embrace it or the intentions have no power.’
‘It’ll only work if I believe in it, you mean?’
Lara sighed. ‘Essentially, yes.’ She held up a hand to forestall my mocking harrumph. ‘It’s all about intention. If you believe and mean the words, that gives them the power to manifest – become true.’ She paused and looked at me in exasperation.
‘Have you ever lost something?’
‘Of course I have.’ I laughed.
‘And what do you say to yourself while you’re looking for it? Say for example, you can’t find the TV remote, what’s running through your head while you’re searching?’
‘Um, where’s the bloody remote? I can’t find it anywhere. Something like that.’
‘And do you find it?’
‘Eventually.’
‘But not while you’re telling yourself you can’t find it, right?’
I thought for a moment and relaxed a bit. ‘Well, usually I’ve given up, gone to get a cup of coffee or glass of wine, come back into the lounge and then I find it.’
‘Probably somewhere you’ve already looked, right?’
‘Well, yes, usually. That could just be age though.’ I laughed.
Lara smiled. ‘Or it could be that you didn’t see it because you were telling yourself that you couldn’t find it, and you believed that.’
I shrugged. She was starting to make sense.
‘Next time you lose something, instead of telling yourself you can’t find it, tell yourself it will be in the next place you look.’
‘If I tell myself that often enough, it will eventually be in the next place I look.’
‘But I bet you find it long before you give up, get a drink, then find it somewhere you’ve already searched.’
I said nothing. I’d have to try it first.
‘It’s the same thing here – the cleansing we’re doing with the sage and candle is about setting your intention. In the same way as telling yourself you will find what is lost, you are telling yourself and anything listening that you want only peace here.’
‘Okay, I guess that makes sense,’ I admitted, ‘but do I really have to wave burning herbs around? I can’t imagine my guests enjoying the smell, it stinks like a doss house!’
‘How do I do that?’
‘I’ll show you, we’ll do it now.’ Lara dug into her shopping bag and pulled out a small votive candle in a glass holder. She lit it and handed it to me.
‘I want you to move it in continuous clockwise circles,’ she said. ‘Get into every corner of every room, and spend a bit of extra time in the well-used places like I did with the sage: over your bed, the dining table, sofa, that kind of thing. And keep repeating the intention.
I nodded and started. ‘I cleanse this place of all negative energy— I feel like a right wally,’ I interrupted myself, self-conscious again.
‘No one’s laughing at you, Verity, and being a right wally may not be the best intention to set, no matter how apt it is at the moment.’
I narrowed my eyes at her and she laughed.
‘Keep going. I did it and I’m none the worse for wear.’ She smiled to reassure me. ‘It doesn’t feel so weird after you’ve done it a few times. Trust me.’
I held her gaze for a moment, then nodded. I did trust her, and I had no better ideas.
I raised the candle again and started to move through the rooms, circling and chanting – with the odd prompt from Lara.
‘I cleanse this place of all negative energy and call in angelic light and love to fill this space.’
We moved through the rooms, pausing in my bedroom to check on Hannah – fast asleep on my bed, exhausted from her insistence on running up Main Street ahead of us, then returning to chivvy us along up the steep slope.
‘Downstairs too?’
‘Every single room on every single floor,’ Lara said. ‘And every single day, too.’
‘What?’
‘You need to keep doing it until you fully believe in what you’re saying, until the intention of light and love is as much a part of you as the blood that runs through your veins. Then you’ll be safe.’
‘How long will that take?’
Parliament of Rooks Page 12
