Parliament of Rooks

by Karen Perkins

  ‘Can’t we have a torch?’ Hannah asked.

  ‘No, ’fraid not. Only the organisers have those – health and safety.’

  Ten minutes later, the procession of tourists and locals, all dressed in a sometimes curious mix of nineteenth-century fashion, began the climb up Main Street, the flickering torchlight reflecting off dark windows and wet slate lending an eerie atmosphere to the walk, despite the mulled wine and music, as Top Hat weaved his tales of the history of each building we passed.

  The pace was slow, and slowed further the higher the cobbled street rose. The distant sound of a brass band urged us on, our feet trying to march in step to the deep beat of the tuba, although with little success, until we neared the church.

  We reached the church; rebuilt in 1879, the base of the tower and the crypt below were the only parts of this building that the Brontës would have known. The sandstone almost glowed in the light of half a dozen torches, and the Haworth Band was arranged on the steps and into the square at the top of Main Street with a full complement of tuba, trombones, and trumpets.

  We paused to listen. There was something almost magical about the music in this atmosphere of biting cold, pitch torches, and centuries-old buildings. I could almost imagine the Brontës enjoying a similar spectacle, and wondered if they had even listened to the same tunes.

  ‘Well, I’ve worked up a thirst now,’ Jayne said, hitching up her skirts yet again after catching the heel of her ankle boots in her extravagant petticoats. I smiled, she’d been very quiet since Jenny had called to say she and her brother Michael had decided to go to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations for New Year, and would call in to see her on their way back south.

  ‘What those women went through,’ Lara said, pulling at her stays. ‘Corsets hurt – and that’s without the tonne of cotton silk and lace we’re hauling about. Everything digs in and pinches, and squeezes. Who thought it would be a good idea to climb that hill in this lot?’ She flared her skirts in a sulk.

  ‘We’ll be at the pub soon, then you can loosen up. Your corsets, I mean,’ I added quickly at Lara’s glare and Jayne’s laugh.

  Lara gave a pretend swipe at my head with her palm, then giggled. ‘I can’t wait to get back into jeans. Even bras don’t seem so bad anymore.’

  ‘So,’ Jayne said. ‘Black Bull, King’s Arms or White Lion?’

  ‘Verity’ll want the Black Bull,’ Lara said.

  ‘William will be there,’ Hannah said, drawing the name out, then her face grew serious. ‘Should I call him Uncle William?’

  ‘No!’ I said, too loudly, then, ‘Sorry, Hans, I didn’t mean to startle you. Just William is fine, he isn’t your uncle.’

  ‘But you’re not really my aunt, and I still call you Auntie Verity.’

  ‘That’s because your mum and I have been such good friends for so long, we’re sisters in all but blood. We’ve only just met William.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘So,’ Jayne said, ‘Black Bull, then?’

  They moved in that direction, but I hung back.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Let’s make tonight about us,’ I said. ‘No men, no ghosts, no dreams, no complications, just us. It’s New Year’s Eve – I want to celebrate with you, not William, or Harry, or whoever he is.’

  Lara and Jayne walked back and linked arms with me.

  ‘Verity, are you crying?’

  I wiped awkwardly at my face, almost dislodging Lara’s arm, surprised to find it wet.

  ‘I-I—’ My breath hitched in a sob.

  ‘Verity, it’s okay,’ Lara soothed.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ I got a tenuous grip on myself. ‘I don’t know what just happened.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it, and there’s nothing to apologise for,’ Jayne said as Lara rubbed my back. ‘You’ve had a lot going on. Getting divorced and moving house are two of the most stressful things you can do. Add to that starting your own business, the renovations, and the hauntings, I’m surprised you’re not having a breakdown!’

  ‘Oh, a breakdown sounds good,’ I said, forcing a laugh. ‘Can I go somewhere quiet and have a rest?’

  Lara laughed. ‘That’s what a guesthouse is supposed to be about – quiet and rest!’

  My chuckle was genuine this time. ‘I suppose you have a point, but that tends to be the guests, not the proprietor.’

  ‘You can always come and stay with us – anytime things get too much,’ Lara said, and Jayne agreed.

  ‘Vikram seems very capable, I’m sure he’d cope if you spent a few days with one of us,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you.’ I gave them both a squeeze. ‘Even the thought of it makes me feel better. Look, no tears!’ I raised my face up and showed them first one cheek then the other. ‘But I am ready for a large glass of something.’

  Arm in arm, we crossed the road and made our way to the White Lion, only now realising Top Hat was standing nearby, awaiting the return of his lanterns.

  13.

  ‘Ah, that’s better, loose corsets and wine,’ Lara said, sinking down on to her seat, her skirts narrowly avoiding knocking drinks off three tables as she did so.

  ‘Saucy,’ I said. ‘Careful, you’ll give people the wrong impression.’ I smiled at the family on the next table.

  ‘Or the right one,’ Jayne said, deadpan.

  ‘I’ll drink to that,’ Lara said, unfazed, and lifted her glass. Giggling, Jayne and I joined in.

  ‘Better?’ Lara asked me.

  I nodded. ‘Things just got a bit much,’ I said. ‘Plus it’s New Year’s Eve, and that always gets me – especially this year with the divorce and everything.’

  ‘Yes, it’s definitely been a year of big changes,’ Jayne said. ‘But you’re moving forward positively. New home, new business, new man ...’ She raised her eyebrows and smirked.

  ‘Ghosts, spooks and nightmares.’ I aped her expression.

  ‘We’ll fix all that,’ Lara said. ‘It’s only frightening at the moment because we don’t understand what’s going on. But don’t forget, the cleansing and protection I did doesn’t work.’

  ‘You say that as if it’s a good thing,’ Jayne said, eyebrows raised.

  ‘It is,’ Lara insisted. ‘It means the spirits, whatever or whoever they are, mean no harm.’

  ‘Is that why one tried to push me down the stairs?’ Jayne shot back. ‘Or destroyed Verity’s kitchen and sent Antony running.’

  ‘Maybe that was the point – getting rid of Antony,’ Lara said. ‘Protecting Verity.’

  ‘And me? Does Verity need protecting from me, too?’

  ‘Of course not. What was going on when it happened though?’

  Jayne paused, then a strange look crept across her face. I remembered at the same time.

  ‘We were talking about my dream man. Don’t you remember, Jayne? You were wondering if he was Heathcliff, and warned me off dysfunctional men.’

  ‘That’s interesting,’ Lara said.

  ‘Enough,’ I said, forestalling Jayne’s reply. ‘Sorry, but can we just have a break from it all tonight, please?’

  Lara nodded as Hannah climbed on to her lap. She stroked her daughter’s hair as Hannah’s thumb found its way into its owner’s mouth. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to go to bed, Hans?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘She’s determined to stay up till midnight,’ Lara said with a smile. ‘First time ever.’

  ‘Sunday tomorrow,’ Jayne said. ‘We can all have a lie in and a quiet day.’

  ‘Actually, I wondered if it would be a good idea to go to church tomorrow.’

  ‘Church?’ I repeated.

  Lara shrugged. ‘Can’t do any harm, and a bit of prayer may help.’

  ‘I’m willing to try anything at the moment,’ I said.

  ‘Talking of willing,’ Jayne said, indicating the door behind me. ‘I didn’t know they were friends.’

  I turned to see William and Vikr
am standing at the door looking awkwardly around the room.

  ‘I almost didn’t recognise him,’ Lara whispered, and I pulled my eyes away from William’s to consider Vikram. He looked more the artist than William did, and without a trace of builder. His chunky black collared sweater hugged his body and suited him almost as much as his black flat cap and dark-rimmed glasses. I smiled; Lara and Jayne would be fighting over him before the year was out.

  My eyes slid back to William. He hadn’t made as much effort as Vikram, but was simply dressed in a white, open-necked shirt and jeans. The ensemble set off his dark eyes perfectly, and his freshly shaved jaw took years off him.

  Thank goodness he hasn’t got dressed up, I thought, shifting uncomfortably in my Victorian-style gown, I’d have thought him to be Harry.

  Vikram led the way to our table, but before the greetings were completed, William escaped to the bar and I stared after him, my heart beating hard, then glanced at Vikram in consternation.

  Vikram shrugged and looked embarrassed. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’

  ‘Of course not, it’s good to see a friendly face,’ Jayne said. ‘Why don’t you sit down, join us?’

  We shuffled round and Vikram squeezed in on the bench next to Jayne.

  ‘Happy New Year,’ I said to him, draining my glass. ‘I’m surprised to see you here, I just expected tourists – I thought you’d be going up to town.’

  ‘No, it gets too much – full of teenagers falling over,’ he said. ‘I’d rather just go down the pub with my mates.’

  ‘I didn’t realise you and William knew each other.’

  He gave me a funny look. ‘Known him since I were a lad. I didn’t know you knew him.’

  I opened my mouth then closed it again. Why had I said that? Vikram was right, I was the incomer here. I was the one who didn’t know anybody in Haworth, who had no ties here.

  William plonked a couple of pints of bitter on the table, then left again, all without saying a word.

  I glanced at Jayne and Lara, who asked Vikram, ‘Is he always so friendly?’

  Vikram smiled and sipped his beer. ‘He’s Yorkshire. Tends to keep himself to himself, but he’ll speak when he has summat to say. Then you won’t shut him up.’ He replaced his pint glass on the table and looked thoughtful. ‘He has been a bit out of sorts, though, lately. He was gutted when you didn’t show up at the Bull, Verity.’ He winked then jumped as a bottle of Sauvignon blanc was slammed on to the table.

  William glared at his mate, then turned to me and said, ‘Tess behind the bar says this is the one you’re all drinking.’

  ‘Th-thanks, yes,’ I stammered, and shifted on my seat to make more room.

  Jayne coughed and I realised she hadn’t met him yet.

  ‘This is Jayne,’ I said with a hand flourish. ‘And this is William.’ I flourished my other hand.

  ‘He’s the painting man,’ Hannah said, proving she was still determined to stay awake. ‘Auntie Verity’s boyfriend.’

  William spluttered into his beer and I shut my eyes for a moment then busied myself pouring wine, unsure what to do or say, and unable to look at him.

  Lara came to my rescue. ‘I think it’s a bit soon to be saying that, Hans.’

  I gulped my wine, still not daring to look at William, yet very aware of him squashed up beside me.

  ‘Yes, the rule is three dates,’ William told Hannah, his voice serious, and Jayne nudged my leg on my other side. ‘You’re not boyfriend and girlfriend before three dates.’

  ‘And by then you’ll know whether or not you want to be,’ Vikram added, laughing, then leaned towards Jayne and muttered something I couldn’t hear.

  ‘Oh, I see,’ Hannah said and paused. ‘Is this a date?’

  ‘This is just friends meeting up to celebrate a new year,’ Lara said.

  ‘So what would make it a date then?’

  ‘I’ll tell you later,’ Lara said, ‘in private.’

  ‘Ah, kissing,’ Hannah said, stuck her thumb back in her mouth and wriggled on Lara’s lap until she was comfortable again.

  ‘How did you enjoy the procession?’ Vikram asked, covering Lara’s shocked silence, Jayne’s poorly stifled giggles, and the matching blush on William’s face and my own. ‘Looks like you went to a lot of trouble.’

  ‘You didn’t fancy the Bull then?’ William spoke softly in my ear as the others discussed the merits of various items of Victorian dress.

  ‘I’m sorry, it was rude of me to stand you up.’

  ‘So why did you?’

  I sipped my wine, then looked up at him. ‘Everything’s just been so full on lately, then with all the brass band stuff, the Bull was heaving, I just felt overwhelmed. I guess I needed a quiet evening with the girls. I’m sorry, it was a last minute decision.’

  ‘You don’t need to apologise,’ he said. ‘Are you okay with us being here? Do you want us to go?’

  ‘No,’ I said, a little louder than I’d intended. ‘No, it’s good to see you, I’m enjoying this.’

  ‘Not too full on?’ he teased.

  I said nothing, my mind whirling.

  ‘I know what you mean, though,’ he added. ‘Something’s going on here – it has me a bit, well, freaked too.’

  ‘Freaked?’ I raised an eyebrow then put my hand on his knee before I realised I’d done so. I moved quickly to hold my wine with both hands. ‘Sorry. Yes, freaked is a good word.’

  He leaned towards me at the same time as I turned to him.

  ‘Ow,’ he said, holding his nose as I rubbed my temple.

  ‘The fireworks are starting!’ Hannah shouted, scrambling off her mother’s knee, and I looked round in surprise to see the bar was almost empty.

  ‘Blimey, is that the time?’ Jayne said, echoing my own thoughts and we grabbed drinks and shawls, then hurried outside.

  ***

  Fully aware of William standing next to me, I did my best to ignore him. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to engage him in intelligent conversation, or tell him to leave me alone, so instead I oohed and ahhed with everyone else at the white, green and red flowers depicted in the skies above Haworth Moor.

  ‘Ten, nine, eight, seven ...’

  My breath froze as I realised what the chant meant. What it was leading up to. It had been so long since I’d enjoyed a New Year’s Eve celebration as a single woman, I’d forgotten about the pressure.

  My heart beat faster and I could feel the warmth spread over my chest and head.

  ‘Four, three ...’

  ‘Verity?’

  ‘Umm?’ It was all I could manage, and I risked a glance upwards, just as an almighty barrage of rockets, Roman candles and mines put everything that had gone before to shame.

  His lips were on mine before I registered he’d leant in, and the scratch of his new stubble tickled my jaw.

  That’s really going to irritate my skin, I thought, before sensation took over doubt, fear and sense.

  I kissed him back, my tongue meeting his, teasing, playing, exploring. My lips allowed him to lead the dance and my misgivings melted away – at least for the moment.

  We parted with a gasp, both of us short of breath, and my flush deepened at the stares of Jayne, Lara, Hannah and Vikram.

  14.

  ‘Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith,’ the vicar of St Michael and All Angels intoned.

  ‘Verity!’ Lara nudged me and passed me a packet of tissues.

  I gave her a puzzled glance.

  ‘Your nose,’ she hissed.

  ‘Live in love and peace with all.’

  I put my fingers to my face. They came away bloody. I fumbled a tissue out and held it to my nose – just in time as blood gushed from me.

  ‘Head back,’ Jayne whispered, then smiled reassuringly at the woman in the pew in front of us who’d turned to see what was going on. I kept my head bowed, not wanting to swallow the blood.

  ‘Lord, have mer
cy.’

  Lord have mercy, indeed, I thought, echoing the vicar’s words. Why now? I had suffered from regular nosebleeds in the early days of my breakup with Antony, but I hadn’t had one for months now. Until today.

  ‘Keep it back,’ Jayne insisted, passing me a fresh tissue.

  I glared at her, but this was not the time to debate the correct head position during nosebleeds.

  The congregation stood to sing a hymn, and I risked moving the tissue away. A mistake.

  ‘I need to go,’ I said as best I could.

  ‘You take her, Lara,’ Jayne said.

  ‘You’re not coming?’

  ‘No, I’d like to stay. Unless you need me, Verity?’

  ‘No.’ It came out more like ‘doe’. ‘I’ll be okay. You stay too, Lara.’

  ‘I’m coming,’ Lara said in a tone of voice I knew not to argue with. ‘But we’d better hurry.’

  Jayne slipped out of the pew to let us out and I hurried out the door, closely followed by Lara and Hannah, grateful we’d chosen a pew at the back.

  ‘Why was that lady staring at us?’ Hannah asked. ‘Couldn’t she see Auntie Verity had a nose bleed?’

  ‘Probably thinks I did something to deserve it or there’s something wrong with me,’ I said dryly, ‘and shouldn’t set foot in a church.’

  ‘Stop that right now, Verity,’ Lara said. ‘It’s a nosebleed, nothing more, nothing less.’

  I handed her the packet of tissues to extract another for me, then placed the fresh tissue to my nose.

  ‘I think it’s getting better, Auntie Verity.’

  ‘Yes, it’s definitely slowing,’ Lara added. ‘Come on, let’s get you home and cleaned up.’

  ***

  ‘Jayne’s taking her time,’ Lara said as she handed me a mug of coffee and took away the now-melted bag of peas to replace them in the freezer.

  ‘Umm,’ I said. ‘She’s up to something.’

  Lara shrugged, sat beside me, and sipped her coffee. ‘How are you feeling?’

  I brushed my fingertip under my nose, and gave it a quick check. Clean. ‘It’s stopped.’ I touched the tip of my nose and winced. ‘All a bit sore, though.’