“So... I’ve been thinking ... I ought to get a place... provide you with a home. It’s what I want to do, Lucie.”
“You mean ... we should live there... mostly?”
“Not necessarily. We’d keep the pied-à-terre for when we were in London... which would be of ten, of course.... And you’d have Manor Grange. I know that’s essential. You feel sentimental about the servants. But this is what I’ve had in mind for some time. The fact is, Lucie, I don’t think this place is good for you. There are too many associations... and tonight has made me feel the matter is urgent. Do think about it.”
“I can’t say, Roland. Manor Grange has always been a home to me... much more than the London house.”
“But this ghost ...”
“It’s true I’ve always heard the place was haunted, but by benevolent ghosts ... a loving mother come back to be with her daughter. It was very different from what I saw ... or thought I saw... tonight.”
“I have wanted to talk to you about it all so much, Lucie. But I did know that you had suffered a terrible shock. That sort of thing has its effect. Even when you think it is behind you, it can leap out and confront you. You married me... and I thought a different way of life would make you forget. But here... you are with a part of the old days. You can’t forget here.”
“And you think ... if we went away... ?”
“I do. I don’t want to rush it. We could rent a place... while we looked round to find something just what you wanted, somewhere where you could get right away from everything that has happened. And as I shall have to be in Yorkshire... well, perhaps we could look for a place near Bradford. Give it a try, Lucie. I think it is the answer.”
I wondered if he were right. He could well be. I had so looked forward to being at Manor Grange, but it had not been quite what I had hoped for; and I could see that Mrs. Emery had taken a dislike to Phillida... and after what I had seen ... or imagined I saw ... in the garden... perhaps we should find somewhere. I was not really sure what I wanted.
I said, “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Of course,” he answered, kissing me. “It was insensitive of me to bring it up now.
It just came out, I’m afraid.”
“It was kind and thoughtful of you. You are always kind and thoughtful. I expect you’re right. I expect it is this house and the talk of ghosts... and all the memories of my father, of course.”
“Yes,” he said. “Just let’s brood on this idea of the house.”
It was a long time before I slept and when I did I had a nightmare. I was going to look at a house with a prospect of buying it. I entered an old place. It was just like Manor Grange and as I stood in the hall a figure came down the stairs. He was dressed in an opera hat and black cloak and, as he bowed, taking off his hat, I saw how the hair grew to a peak on his forehead. I noticed the white scar on his cheek. I awoke screaming. Roland held me tightly, comforting me.
I slept late next morning and was awakened by Phillida at my bedside.
“Lucie,” she said gently. “You’ve had a bad night. Roland told me about it.” I started up and my gaze went to the window. She followed it and I knew that when she said “Roland told me,” she meant that he had told her everything about my hallucination, as he would call it.
“I think you should rest this morning,” she went on. “I’m going to prop you up and you’ll feel better when you’ve eaten. I’ve brought your breakfast. I prepared it myself... coffee... toast and marmalade and a lightly boiled egg.”
“Oh, Phillida, there’s no need. I’m all right.”
“No, you’re not.” She could be forceful. I could see what Mrs. Emery objected to. And there would be trouble about her preparing my breakfast. Mrs. Emery was probably at this moment stating that some people did not seem to know that in a house like this it was the servants who prepared breakfasts.
Phillida insisted on propping me up with pillows and proudly she set the tray before me. Oddly enough, although I did not feel hungry, I found myself almost absentmindedly eating what she had brought. But I did feel a little better. It was surprising what daylight does for fancies. Of course, I was telling myself, I had imagined it. It was an image lodged in the back of my mind and it came out from time to time. It was significant that I had thought I saw him on the haunted seat. “That’s better,” she said. “I’m sorry, Lucie. Roland did tell me. I hope you didn’t mind. He was so worried. He wanted advice.”
“I think I must have been overwrought-though I don’t know why. I was tired, of course.”
“I think it is the talk about ghostly revenants in this house.”
“Is there such talk now?”
“Yes, among the servants. Lady Somebody... long since dead ... is said to come back... and she still seems to be hanging around... according to them.”
“I hadn’t been thinking of that. But I was here so much with Celeste and my father.”
“That’s it, you see. It’s all to do with this shocking business. Roland and I have been thinking seriously about getting away.”
“He mentioned it last night.”
“Well, you see, he has neglected things in Yorkshire quite a bit lately. He really needs to have a place near Bradford.”
“He told me that.”
“This is a lovely house. Don’t think we don’t enjoy being here... immensely. But Roland says it’s living on your bounty. Well, you know what men are. They like to feel that they are the providers.”
“I understand all that.”
“I’m so glad you do. He knows how you feel about this house. You never want to let it go. Roland said something about it’s being in trust ...”
“I’m not sure whether that applies to the house, but it does to everything else.”
“Well, I don’t understand these matters. But I do know how you feel about this place... and you wouldn’t want to upset the all-important Mrs. Emery.” She grimaced. “I’ve got on the wrong side of her somehow. I think that could be straightened out in time though.”
“I’m sure it could.”
“In any case, at the moment she would be rather pleased to see me gone. I know what it is. She feels we are living at your expense. We understand it ... in a way. Do you think we should be more comfortable... somewhere else? Roland’s idea is for you to choose a house... somewhere near Bradford. What do you think?”
“I should keep Manor Grange, whatever happened. You do realize that?”
“Of course. It will be a place to visit often. Then we shall be coming to London for short stays. I’m sure that would placate Mrs. Emery.”
“She likes the house to be full of visitors. When my father was alive ...”
Phillida put her fingers to her lips and shook her head at me. “Well,” she said.
“What do you think? There’d be no harm in looking around.”
“I suppose not.”
“It’s really rather exciting. I love looking at houses, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do think it is rather fascinating.”
“Perhaps you would like a modern place... somewhere where nobody ... or very few people have lived before, so that no secrets or ghosts are left behind.”
“I don’t know. I’ve always loved old houses.”
“Well, won’t it be fun to look? Roland says he wants you to make the choice. He was so worried about you last night.”
“Where is he now?”
“He’s downstairs. He’s had a letter from Bradford. They want him to go up next week. He’s rather upset about it. I think he’ll want to take you with him. I shall go, of course. I’ll have things to do there and he wouldn’t want to leave you in this place without us.”
“He is kind and thoughtful... always.”
“Well, he’s your husband, isn’t he? And I love you too, Lucie. I keep thinking of that awful night... and what might have happened. Why, of course! It’s the shock of that.”