Page 37 of Mistress of Darkness

Chapter 18

Dredthorne loomed before them once more, but this time Gwen was not alone. She had Robert to keep her company and to keep the darkness at bay. Even so, the sight of the grand old hall sent a shiver down her spine.

Even over the sound of the horse hooves on the brick drive, she heard Robert sigh.

“Me too,” she said, hugging his arm. “I don’t want to be here either. But we’ll get our luggage together, and then we’ll leave.” And get on with our lives, she thought.

“It’s strange to think of how I once scoffed at the curse,” he said, just as the carriage rolled up in front of the house.

In a moment of déjà vu, a footman dashed forward. But rather than help her from her rig, he lowered the footstep and opened the door. Robert got out first, and then helped her down. Arm in arm, they ascended the steps and approached the entry together.

“Miss Archer,” said a familiar voice. “May I be the first to welcome you back to Dredthorne Hall?”

Gwen turned to see Parks among a small army of other servants.

“Parks!” she exclaimed. Though she knew her station and his should prevent a show of affection, she couldn’t help herself. She ran to him, clutched his shoulders, and put her cheek briefly to his. “You look wonderful.”

For several seconds, he could only dither and make sputtering sounds. “Miss Gwen,” he said finally. “It is…um…wonderful to see you too.”

She held him at arm’s length for a moment, examining him. “Have you fully recovered?” she said, looking at the scar on his brow before letting him go.

“Yes, Miss. Thanks to you and the master.”

Robert stepped forward. “How go the preparations?”

“Very well, sir.” He indicated the constant flow of servants carrying trunks, baskets, and bundles to the waiting coaches. “We’ve almost finished.”

“Good,” Robert said. “Gwen and I will just have one more look around the old place.”

“Very good, sir,” he said with a little bow. “Oh, sir, I almost forgot.” He took an envelope from the hall table. “This arrived for you yesterday from Dr. Thackery.”

Robert opened the envelope and unfolded the letter as Gwen went to his side and they read it together.

“A skull fracture is what killed her,” he said.

“Possibly from a fall,” she finished, and looked up at him. “Possibly from a fall that was helped with a little push?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” he said. “She obviously fell hard enough to drive her earring into the wall.”

“He also says there’s no known family,” Robert said. “The usual thorough Thackery.” He folded the letter and tucked it back into the envelope. “But I’d hoped she might find rest with her people.”

“What the doctor can’t tell us,” Gwen said, “is who might have pushed her.”

Slowly they made their way past the stream of servants, stopping at the library. Fresh paint on the ceiling and new drapes at the windows made it seem as though a fire had never happened. Canvas cloths, some worn and discolored, had been draped over all the tables, desks, and chairs. It was like a library of ghostly furniture now. She stood close to Robert, clinging to his arm.

“I can hardly believe this is where I nearly lost you,” she whispered.

“Nearly lost me?” he said. “I’m afraid that would have been in front of the bacon skillet.”

Though she laughed, she heard the tension in his voice. “Come to the dining room,” she said, tugging him along. “I want to see the secret library.”

But as soon as they entered, she wished they hadn’t. Everything had been cleaned up and put away. Like the library, the furniture had been covered. But more than that, all of the journals had simply been stacked on the shelves instead of being properly arranged. She should have known better than to expect more. The servants wouldn’t have known that each had its own place and its own special meaning.

Secretly she’d hoped that she could have one last peek at Mrs. Thorne’s journals. But now, that was not to be. Instead she drifted from shelf to shelf, trailing her fingers along the leather spines.

Robert came to her side and they held hands as she slowly surveyed the little library that had been her solace.

He leaned in close to her, his hand in the small of her back. “I can see to the luggage,” he said. “You can stay here if you like.”