Page 60 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

Kate snipped and snipped, working her way through the fronds of green stuff and the hollyhocks and the delphiniums and the larkspur that filled her little corner of Suffolk, until she had an enormous bouquet of flowers that would not look amiss in the Hall.

One positive thing about getting up and ready so early, though, was that she could take the flowers to the Hall and still have plenty of time to search for Millie’s portrait. Cassie had said it was in the dining room — the same place as the bouquet was destined for. It had to be Fate, it simply had to be.

Kate coaxed her hair into the stiff waves the Hall event demanded and painted a slash of red across her lips. If she could just pretend everything was normal, that she hadn’t kissed Theo like that last night, she could maybe get through the day. It was going to prove tough, knowing he was working at the Hall as well.

She wrapped the flowers in some old newspaper to keep the stalks together, and stuffed the bouquet into the basket on the back of the bicycle, then filled the ice-box with Neapolitan flavours and clotted cream. She texted Jenna and told her to remember her key as she had to leave early, then pushed the bicycle all the way to the estate.

Kate knew, with a gutting little twist in her stomach, that Theo wouldn’t be there to help her with transport today.

* * *

Cassie was in the gift shop when, hidden behind her bouquet, Kate pushed open the door.

‘Kate? Is that you or a walking florist’s shop?’

‘It’s me. Sorry I’m so early.’

‘No, don’t be sorry.’ Cassie peered around the bouquet, and smiled. ‘It’s nice that you’re here. You can slip straight through and put them in the dining room, if you don’t mind wandering around an empty house?’

‘It’s never bothered me. The Hall’s got a lovely feeling. Who doesn’t like it?’

‘One or two of the cleaners.’ Cassie wrinkled her nose. ‘I always tell them the ghosts don’t bother you if you don’t bother them.’

‘Some people are a bit sensitive. I’m not.’

‘Really?’ Cassie sounded surprised. ‘I always thought you would be someone who picked our ghosts up. You’ve got such an affinity with the museum and the history — I don’t know. I just thought you’d sense things other people couldn’t.’

‘I’ve never seen a ghost.’ There was no need to let Cassie know the other part — about “sensing” things — or even being a ghost of sorts herself.

‘Okay.’ Cassie shrugged and moved aside. ‘Off you go — see if the Hall whispers any secrets to you when you’re on your own in there.’ She pushed the connecting door open. ‘The vase is ready. I left it on the little table in the window earlier.’

‘Thanks Cass.’ Kate skirted around Cassie and went through the door. It shut, ever so softly behind her and she stood in that familiar servants’ passage, listening out for any secrets it might give up, today, in particular.

Kate bit her bottom lip. She could still feel his kiss on it. Damn.

Hugging the flowers, she padded through the stone-flagged corridors and somewhere, just beyond the usual pitch you can hear at, she was aware of murmurings and whisperings; of footsteps hurrying along; of people brushing past her; bells ringing; crockery clattering in the kitchens.

Kate’s heart was pounding and she stared straight ahead of her, trying not to look left or right, or to connect with any of the shadows she seemed to be sharing the corridor with this morning. She was relieved to reach the servants’ staircase and practically ran up the worn, wooden steps, clutching her bouquet like a talisman. Bursting through the door, she hurried into the state rooms, winding her way through the passages until she reached the dining room.

With a little sob of relief, Kate shouldered open the door and stepped inside. The clock on the mantelpiece began, softly, to strike eight o’clock and her stomach knotted up. She knew what was happening — and she couldn’t face it today, she just couldn’t. There was a horrible, horrible feeling about this and she didn’t want to experience it.

‘But I only came in here to see Millie!’ Kate said into the empty room. The Hall didn’t listen; or maybe it did.

The modern world melted away, leaving her seated at the dining table, whispering with Millie. The real Millie — not the painted miniature she had come to discover. And there wasn’t a thing she could do to stop it all happening.

Chapter Twenty-One

Judging by the empty plates in front of them, they were just finishing dinner. The wind was battering rain against the windows and Millie was frowning.

‘I was hoping to go for a walk after dinner, but that looks a little unlikely now.’ She looked out of the window then turned back to Kate. ‘You could have come with me. The exercise would have done you good. This is inordinately bad weather for July.’

Charles was opposite her, with Philip by his side trying to justify why he should have the last piece of apple pie on the serving dish. Her Aunt was at one end of the table, sighing and chiding her boy to no avail, and Uncle Harry was at the other, discussing something political with Charles. It was a normal family dinner.

Kate couldn’t see the Bath chair anywhere and she was comfortably situated on one of the usual dining room chairs, Hector a heavy, snuffling weight on her foot. She had kept her promise to Will, then. Perhaps her leg had fully healed now. That, plus the fact that Millie had just mentioned the fact it was July must mean it had been a few weeks since Will left. He clearly wasn’t back yet, or Cat wouldn’t have Hector beside her.

Kate knew that, had they gone for a walk, they would have talked about Will and she would have shared her hopes and dreams with Millie. She was just about to suggest they headed out anyway, when Dawson the butler came in with a newspaper.

Dawson bowed to her uncle and murmured a few words to him. Uncle Harry glanced around the table, then leaned over and whispered something to Charles.