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| Dig into the past... if you dare. |
As promised, some lovely guests! Old houses hold secrets (as shown by Calverley Old Hall in Base Spirits... http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E) If you're reading this blog, you yearn for tales such as these... and so here is a stop on a virtual Haunted House tour... ladies? You have the stage.
This time, on the Haunted House Virtual Tour promoting our ghost novellas Blind and Ungentle Sleep (by V.R.Christensen and B.Lloyd respectively), it’s a bit of a cross-over: characters from one book visit the house from the other… if that doesn’t make sense yet, well, try reading the novellas and maybe it will…
***
‘There have been stories, well, like so many of these old places of course, but nothing you need take any notice of,’ said the house agent smoothly, as he escorted his latest clients around the house.
Newly-weds, he guessed, just back from the continent. She looked ... a trifle nervous, Dark shadows under the eyes, denoting sleepless night. The husband, protective. ‘My wife is in need of somewhere quiet, peaceful. We were in the area, caught sight of it and thought we would see around the place.’
‘What sort of stories, exactly?’ asked the lady.
‘Well, you would need to ask Mrs Beadsley, she was housekeeper to the last occupant and comes in to air the place and keep an eye on things generally. But stories they are and no more, I am sure.’
‘Not a happy house, then?’ pursued the lady.
The agent was a little taken aback by this, but quickly collected himself.
‘It has never remained empty for long – and with the female touch, and a little care, you will find it makes an excellent family home..’
‘Why did the last occupant leave?’
‘I believe he found occupation elsewhere which necessitated much travel and decided to relinquish it as a result. And now, can I show you the dining room? The drawing room? And then perhaps upstairs?’
They viewed the dining room, followed by the drawing room, which was the house agents particular pet and one he particularly like to show to advantage: ‘A rare timepiece, I think you’ll agree – everything kept in the old style, some quite rare pieces, which are becoming increasingly difficult to find …’ To the agent’s satisfaction they reached the upper floor without further questions. Comments were more along the lines of ‘comfortable, spacious, well-lit’ – much more in his line of business.
‘And here is the master bedroom,’ he declared, sweeping the massive oak door back on its well-oiled hinges and extending an all-embracing arm to indicate the painted ceiling, the oriental carpet, the four-poster bed, the curtains, the armchair by the fireplace. A movement by the curtains caused him to purse his lips and he strode across the room in order to close the window.
‘Mrs Beadsley, airing the rooms as I said, no doubt forgot to close the window … ah, this appears to be a little sticky – well, that can soon be fixed …’
He turned to see the husband half supporting his wife who seemed barely conscious. The two men helped her to a chair.
‘Dear, dear, perhaps a little fresh air …’suggested the agent.
‘It’s nothing, it has passed already,’ said the woman, sitting up straight suddenly.
‘Who lived here originally?’ They asked the question together.
‘Well, it belonged to the Tremonton family in the 19th century, but the line died out with the last incumbent, and so it came through a series of hands to be on the market by 1900. Now, if you’re sure you’re quite recovered, perhaps we should …’
The agent felt uncomfortable as he watched the couple walk up the drive. Still, you can’t win them all, he mused briefly, before proceeding to lock up.
Once they were well clear of the grounds, the lady turned to her husband: ‘I knew there was something wrong the moment I stepped through the door – there was a man sitting in the armchair by the fireplace, staring straight ahead; I saw the agent pass straight past him, without a word – and you also did not see him. But what most disturbed me . . .’
‘Yes?’ asked her husband.
‘The eyes. Opaque, sightless. Staring. I think that is what made me faint. Then when I came round – there was no sign of him.’
‘Well, I think after your recent experiences at home, it would be advisable to look elsewhere for a house to live in, my dear, don’t you? I don’t think Tremonton Manor would quite fit the bill, do you?’
‘I suppose not. Although . . . ‘
‘Yes?’
‘I do wonder what become of him. The last of the Tremontons …’
***
What did happen to Tremonton indeed? And what had been the wife’s previous experiences? If you are curious, read these to find out :
Blind, by V.R.Christensen
And
Ungentle Sleep by B.Lloyd
Links :
Blind : US http://www.amazon.com/Blind-a-novella-ebook/dp/B007E3SNJ6
Blind : UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blind-V-R-Christensen/dp/0615598005
Ungentle Sleep : US http://www.amazon.com/Ungentle-Sleep-ebook/dp/B008VIJFLI
Ungentle Sleep : UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ungentle-Sleep-ebook/dp/B008VIJFLI
