Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Author:Elizabeth Fama
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fables, Legends, Juvenile Fiction, Paranormal, General, Myths, Horror & Ghost Stories, Love & Romance, Other
ISBN: 9780374373665
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Published: 2012-09-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

1873

THE OLD PASTOR NEEDED absolute proof that Sarah was possessed before he would speak of performing an exorcism.

Eleanor Ontstaan had already devised a plan.

“Sarah and Ezra are inseparable,” she pointed out. “We must remove Ezra from the scene, or he will interfere.”

“He’s en church alone on Sunday…”

“That’s a week from now, Pastor. Here is what I propose for a more immediate solution: you must think of a project that requires Ezra’s help—he is bookish, it should be simple—and take him to the White Horse Pub to discuss it with him tomorrow night.”

“I am workin’ on a translation of a par-ticularly arduous La’in text…”

“Fine. Perfect. I only ask that you make it believable. While you and Ezra are at the White Horse, my sister’s child Adeline will tell Sarah that he has suddenly taken ill. She’ll take Sarah to the church by the back door.”

“Ah, bu’ Ezra may already have told Sarah tha’ we’re a’ the pub…”

“Very astute,” Eleanor said. “Which is why you must ask Ezra to meet you at the church, but divert him to the pub when he arrives. That should be effortless for you,” she said pointedly.

He pinched his lips together.

She went on. “Do you know the two large sarcophagi that are in the crypt?”

“Reverend Robinson’s an’ Elder Brewster’s, aye.”

“The lid is off Reverend Robinson’s sarcophagus. I shall fill it with water, so that you may see Sarah breathe underwater.”

The pastor was silent.

“You will bid goodbye to Ezra at an appointed time and hurry back to the crypt for the test of water.”

He shook his head solemnly. “Ef wha’ you say es no’ the truth—ef she cannae breathe underwater—this test es too dangerous.”

“Not at all. We shall have complete control. The moment she appears to be in distress, we shall let her up, and a burden will be lifted from our conscience—she will be exonerated. That is the happiest of outcomes.”

“She’ll be destressed from the instan’ she feels trapped with us en the crypt…”

“Come now, you understand my meaning, Pastor.” She smiled patiently. “We will safeguard her life, of course. Our goal is to save her soul, remember.”

* * *

The next evening, little Adeline dutifully knocked on the Doyles’ door, wearing her best Sunday dress—plum-colored, with a square collar, a drop waist, and a wide white sash tied in a large bow in the back. Her fair hair was curled into corkscrew ringlets. The housekeeper answered.

“My name is Adeline Angeln,” she said, clutching her doll. “May I speak with Mrs. Doyle?”

“Mrs. Doyle is reading in the study and not receiving visitors,” the housekeeper said. “May I give her a message?”

Adeline shook her head, confused. “I’m supposed to ask for Mrs. Doyle.”

“Step inside, please, miss.”

The housekeeper disappeared down the corridor.

Sarah came into the foyer a minute later carrying a book in one hand with her index finger holding her place, wearing a lightweight dressing gown over a layered dress. Adeline took a breath when she saw her: she was the palest, most graceful woman she had ever seen.

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