3
Moving quickly, and feeling reluctant to leave William alone with Ann, Isabella followed Henry down some long, narrow corridors. They continued into the thirteenth bedchamber, where no light flickered, and the thick drapes were fully drawn. Once inside, they rested their worry. Lady Pennington would never enter such a room alone, especially on this floor. Henry knew full well what she was capable of because he’d known her for many years. Not only did she claim to be clairvoyant, she’d been known as a medium to some, and this terrified him. What she was doing there, he could not determine.
She was quite plump. Her wooly hair folded to meet her pale, round face. She wore an ill-fitted, green dress, that barely covered her bosom. Honestly, who wanted to see that? She had no attractive features. None, whatsoever. Whatever bachelor should approach her would certainly be a desperate one, Henry thought.
Meanwhile, William stood cautiously in the midst of the candlelight as lady Pennington warbled toward Ann. “Why is there need for a doctor?” he asked himself. He flattened his palms against the darkness, examining them, longing to feel Ann’s soft fingers against them. He gave no thought to what Henry had said about Pennington. Not at this moment. He stood there gawking instead. Like a scared child who’d been separated from his mother and knew not the way to go. He turned a careful ear to this chubby lady who began to speak.
“Dear girl,” lady Pennington told Ann. “You must be completely devastated.”
“Why yes madam Pennington. I have spent several hopeful months on this man. Now he is motionless before me.” Ann explained. “I shall not leave his bedside, not until he wakes, that is.”
Lady Pennington nodded. “I can’t say that I blame you deary. He is quite charming. A fine specimen of a man.” Not that she’d ever land such a man. She’d do good to charm a cat.
And, as swiftly as she spoke them, Ann’s words confirmed his suspicion. William swallowed hard, choking back his anxiety. He suddenly felt nauseous. Her statement had been clear. Now his understanding was also. She’d promised not to leave unless he awoke. It was all clear to him now. I am not dead, he thought, I’m alive, partly. But, a few things troubled him. He continued with internal deliberation. How could he be alive and be watching all that was happening? Why could no one hear him? And, how could he be speaking to the dead, if he was alive still? These things he could not comprehend. His frustration forced his back against the wall, where he continued to listen as lady Pennington attempted to comfort Ann.
“Blast!”
His antsy hands had caused a slight vibration in his elbows. He bumped into a corner table, causing a brass candelabrum to plummet, and it smashed against the bedroom floor. He gasped, remembering what Henry had said to him. His eyes widened as he turned them to the plump lady Pennington.
Ann’s heart sped up. She stood, trilling to face the murky corner. Her hand went to her lovely chest. “What on earth was…?”
Her words were cut short by lady Pennington who seemed quite breathless. Rubbernecking, and casting her beady, black eyes on the candelabrum, she whispered. “Someone, or something else, is here with us, my dear.”
“What on earth do you mean madam?”
“Don’t you feel it dear?” She crossed her arms and blew out a breath against the cool air.
“Feel what?”
Lady Pennington stepped away from the bed and neared the corner. She held out her palms glancing at Ann.”Here my lady, come closer.”
“Oh dear,” William whispered. “What have I done now?”
With reluctance attempting to hold her back, Ann stepped forth anyway, joining lady Pennington. She held her hands out in front of her. Her eyes went wide with fear. “I feel it,” she uttered. “It’s insanely cold here.”
“Yes dear.”
“But why?”
“Don’t you see deary?” lady Pennington questioned. “There are ghosts here, in this house. The cold spot only confirms it.”
“There can’t be,” Ann said, lowering her palms and backing up cautiously.
“There must be,” lady Pennington argued with determination. “If one should know it is I.”
She was a shell of a woman, stubborn and proud of it. Most people tried to avoid an extensive conversation with her because in her mind she was always right. The temperature dropped more as she inched closer to William. Flattening himself against the wall, he slid further away.
“Damn it,” he uttered.
He stood very still, holding back his breath, thinking it might sway her in his exact direction. He feared she’d bump into him. Finally, he believed Henry. This woman has heard me, he thought. Worry began to tug at him. If she had this ability, she may possibly be capable of removing him, if she spotted him. Henry certainly seemed convinced of it. What a tragedy that would be!
Knowing he could not afford to take chances, he pushed passed her quickly. The cold that surrounded him raised goose bumps on her arms and she gulped.
Tensing up, she cut her gaze toward Ann. “What a strong chill!”
William, who felt violated by this woman, stepped outside the room and exhaled. Relieved to be away from her, he smiled.
“That was close.”
“It is gone dear,” lady Pennington told Ann. “Warmth returns when they leave. The heaviness has lifted”
“With all due respect,” Ann said, curling her lips into an aggravated smile. “I am quite skeptical when it comes to ghost tales, fairytale, most tales for that matter. I believe what I can see and touch. That is all”
She was a humble woman, honest and straight forward. She wasn’t afraid to share what was on her mind, and she certainly wasn’t going to get caught up madam Pennington’s foolishness. In fact, she wasn’t willing to hear anymore of it.
“If you’ll excuse me milady, it is getting quite late, and I’d like some time for thinking.”
“Of course,” lady Pennington murmured. She chose to avoid the argument since the hour was now midnight and her journey home would be tiresome. But, she had no intention of letting this idea go, no intention of it at all. Sharpening her gaze, she turned one last time to the corner.
“I’ll return,” she said, aiming the words at whatever spirits were lurking there.
“Good evening milady. Safe journey,” Ann bobbed an arrogant half curtsy and watched as lady Pennington warbled out of sight.
The obstinate lady Pennington hadn’t granted her much credit; however, Ann was just as stubborn and gutsy. One more minute in the room with her, listening to her babbling might have pushed Ann’s limit. The audacity of that woman to try and frighten me, Ann thought, I hope she never returns. She tried desperately to enjoy this time with William, but, could not. Her worry would not allow it.
She had no idea William was watching, listening, and calling out to her. Fearing he might not regain consciousness, she inclined her sleepy head, resting it on the bed beside his forearm. By some miracle, if he did awake, she meant to be the first to know. But, the late hours weighed on her and she drifted off to sleep as William strode the floor behind her. He felt torn, divided between two worlds, and two women. Each one meant something to him and he needed to come to terms. As he paced slowly, Henry and Isabella rejoined him.
“She has gone I see,” Henry said, cautiously scanning the room.
With an assuring nod William promised. “She has gone.”
Isabella raced to him. “Oh William, you had me worried.”
“I worried you?” he asked. “How do you think I feel? I mean, I stand here before you, yet, my body is over there.” He pointed at his bloody torso.
Henry stepped forth, hoping to calm him. “It is not unheard of sir that one’s body turns up after death.”
“Maybe not,” William agreed. “But, I’m alive Henry. I’m not like you.”
“What do you mean, you’re alive sir?”
“I’m alive but I’m trapped outside my body. That’s what I mean. All of these people know I’m not dead.”
“You have heard them say this?” Isabella questioned. Secretly, she hoped not. After all, she’d waited such a long time to reunite with him. She didn’t want to lose him now.
“Yes,” he exclaimed. “Now my only hope is to find a way to get back into my body.”
“Now that is unheard of,” Isabella said, waving a finger in the air. “Perhaps, you’re in the half-way, almost dead, and you will pass soon. Then we’ll be together.”
It shocked him, that Isabella seemed more comfortable thinking he was dead, than alive. Granted, she was stuck in the afterlife, but he wasn’t certain he wanted to be. He’d seen Ann, her devotion to him, her tears, her loyalty. Now he found himself wanting a second chance. One more attempt to have a life of happiness. This was all he needed, yet, he didn’t want to betray Isabella. After all, she had been loyal long before Ann. He knew not what to do but he felt that Isabella would approve if she loved him. If she truly cared she’d support him.
“My dear Isabella,” he took her hand in his. “I need time to think.”
Swiftly, she withdrew her hand. He could see the anger igniting flames behind her piercing eyes. “How dare you say you need time for thinking!”
“But…,”
“No,” she exclaimed, stomping circles around him now. “I’ll hear no excuses William.”
He attempted to comfort her but his efforts were useless. His heart was barren. She’d shown her true colors and he could hardly believe this was the same woman he’d married. The way she paraded around, attacking him with hateful stares and crudity, nothing like the wife he’d known. She tugged at her hair, shook her fists when she shouted and acted childishly. It was clear that death had changed her. He was certain of it now.
“Calm down Isabella,” he said in a harsh tone. “You’re out of control.”
She stopped that second, taking offense to the statement. “Out of control, you think I’m out of control? “ She shoved him and, like a volcano, the anger erupted within her. “Honestly, William. Do you really think this was all just an accident? And, how dare you say you love me and show desire for this Ann?” William jerked at the sound of her barking voice.
Henry lunged forth. “Please control your voices.”
“No,” she shouted, bringing her palms to her waist. “I’m tired of this nonsense. I’m tired of being trapped behind these walls and being lonely.”
William threw his palms out, looking distraught. “Wait. What did you say Isa? What do you mean when you say it was no accident?”
Henry brought his hand to his forehead. “Oh dear.”
Suddenly, William felt the weight of his anguish baring down on his shoulders, as if he were being hammered into the ground by some unseen force. All of the years he had loved her seemed to be in vain now. He looked at Isabella, into her fiery eyes, wishing he could read all of the loathsome thoughts in her mind. He cuffed her shoulders with his palms.
“If you ever loved me Isa, I demand that you explain yourself.” His tight lips sank into a frown.
She yanked loose, swatting back the hair from her shoulder. “You heard me William. I declare you’re dim at times.”
“I’m waiting,” he said, arching a disappointed brow to her.
Isabella fired an unfettered glance at Henry, then returned it to William. “It was me. I was tired of being here alone, so I followed you yesterday, and I…”
William cut her off. “You what?”
“I darted past the carriage and spooked the horses. I didn’t plan for things to turn out like this. My only intention was to be with you. But, that was before I learned of this woman.” She extended her flattened palm, aiming in Ann’s direction.
“What about the gunshot then?” How did you manage that?”
“That, my love, I had nothing to do with,” Isabella said, raising her chin, as if she was happy about it. “I saw it happen though. Henry wrecked the carriage before the robbery occurred.”
“I remember,” Henry whispered, stepping lightly from the shadowed corner. “It’s all fuzzy but I remember now.”
“Go on then,” William told him.
“I was quite dazed when the thieves approached us sir. There was two of them,” Henry continued, batting his eyes, trying to remember all he could. “Only one man carried a gun.”
“Yes,” Isabella said. “And that man shot William first.”
“I remember,” Henry told her. “Then, he came to where I was and he…”
Isabella finished. “He beat you over the head with the gun.”
“And, when I awoke, I saw…”
“You saw me,” Isabella reminded. She returned her eyes to William.
“He saw me and I brought him here. But, you, I left.”
“Why?” William asked.
“I wanted to surprise you and I had no doubt you’d find your way home.”
Regret speared William. “I must say Isa. I’m shocked.” He’d been loyal to her for so many years and he found himself doubting the entire relationship. He wondered, what kind of woman, dead or alive, would try to kill the man she claimed to love. Not the kind he desired. He stared at the floor. “I don’t know what else to say.”
In an attempt to touch his cheek, Isabella extended her hand. “Well don’t you see, William? I did this all for you.” She’d walked the fine line that shifted toward evil, and crossed it.
“You did this for yourself,” William said bitterly, jerking away from her. “Don’t touch me woman!”
“Well I’ve heard just about enough from both of you,” Henry said, tightening his lips. He cuffed his hands behind his back. “We have bigger things to worry about now. I’m telling you. That woman saw me earlier tonight, she sensed us, and I have no doubt she’ll return.”
“Who cares?” Isabella smirked as she paced back and forth in front of the window. “There are plenty of rooms here. I’m sure we can avoid her.”
“It may not be that easy,” Henry told her, blowing out the candles.
William had no words for Isabella now. There was no magic vibe when he brushed her shoulder in passing. Certainly, no desirous beat in his heart for her. It was replaced with numbness. They had settled for the evening, and there was dead silence within the house, especially in Williams gloomy bedchamber. He relaxed in the velvet cushioned seat adjacent from his body. The hour was approaching 5 AM. Dread settled on him like a heavy weight as he watched Ann sleep.
Suddenly, he could hear Bolshie speaking to someone as he rounded the corner to his room. He sprung up. “Doctor Templeton?”
Henry and Isabella swayed back toward the shadows as the plump, old man took ample steps toward Ann. His silver hair curled away from his round face. His nose cherry from a recent cold. He gripped a wooden cane in his right hand and walked with a limp. After a few seconds of dry coughs, he rubbed his chubby stomach and tapped Ann’s shoulder. He cleared his throat.
***
