Beneath Cornish Skies by Kate Ryder

Author:Kate Ryder [Ryder, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800243811
Publisher: Head of Zeus

24

When I return to the dining room it’s empty, everyone having adjourned to the sitting room for coffee. I join them and sit in a comfortable armchair next to Brian. Amanda, unable to resist, has reintroduced the subject of the haunting of Foxcombe Manor and I listen attentively to the conversation. Without the children present, perhaps I will learn more.

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ Ginny says in exasperation.

‘You must admit it’s interesting,’ counters Amanda. ‘Anyway, the children are safely out of the way and your darling Cassandra is a big girl. I’m sure she can handle it.’

Who does she think she is, discussing me as if I’m not present?

‘Come on, then, let’s get it over and done with.’ Ginny’s sigh is resigned.

Eagerly, Amanda sits forward in her chair. ‘So, exactly how many ghosts are here?’ She glances around the room, as if taking it in for the first time.

‘Three, we believe.’ Gyles helps himself to a chocolate mint from a colourful ceramic dish on the coffee table. ‘Possibly four.’

‘And who might they be? Do they only appear on high days and holidays, or on the anniversary of some tragic event, or do they randomly appear while you’re all having breakfast around the kitchen table?’ Amanda chortles.

I cringe. She certainly likes to have command of the room.

‘It’s not a laughing matter, Mandy,’ warns Luke softly.

‘Oh, I’m not laughing at the ghosts. I know only too well how serious a subject it is. I haven’t lived with you all these years without having had that drummed into my head.’

‘Would you like a chocolate?’ Gyles offers the dish to her.

‘Thank you, Gyles.’ She reaches out and takes one. ‘So, we’ve heard about Mary, the maid. Who else resides here?’ She pops the sweet into her mouth.

‘Isn’t there an old lady?’ June volunteers.

‘Yes. We believe her to be Margaret Venning.’ Gyles confirms. ‘She married Oliver Venning of West Combe, at Moretonhampstead in 1558, but when her husband died twenty years later she returned to Foxcombe. Her final resting place is in the local church.’

‘So, what’s her party piece?’ Amanda persists.

I stare at Luke’s wife. Fired up, her face is full of excited expectation.

I’d hate to work for you, Amanda Metcalfe.

‘We haven’t witnessed her.’ Gyles breaks into a grin. ‘But, apparently, she’s been seen sitting where you are now.’

‘What, in this chair?’ Amanda leaps to her feet.

Ginny laughs. ‘Not that exact chair, Mandy. The furniture has been replaced since the sixteenth century! She sits in a chair by the fire, warming herself.’

As Amanda gazes wide-eyed around the room, it occurs to me that it’s she who is unable to handle the stories. Abruptly, she crosses to the other side of the room and sits down next to June on the couch.

‘Oh, Amanda, honestly. You baby!’ Camilla makes no effort to hide her amusement.

Luke has been silent since I entered the room, but now he speaks. ‘Ghostly appearances aside, it would be interesting to find out why the marriage service took place at Moretonhampstead, on the far side of Dartmoor, and not here in Morwenstow.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.