Ghosts from the Past by Jane Charles

Author:Jane Charles
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

19

“…My resentment towards him was done away, when I observed his pale and

altered countenance, and perceived the melancholy which preyed upon his heart.” All

the airy vivacity of his former manner was fled, and he was devoured by unavailing

grief and remorse.”

A Sicilian Romance

Ann Radcliffe

Natalie stared at the bed with longing. As soon as she was out of this gown and into a night dress, all the better. She was exhausted and perhaps tonight she could fall into a dreamless sleep.

She stifled a groan at the scratch on her door but called for the person to enter. Hopefully, it was one of her friends, or perhaps a maid to help her. Instead, Wesley stood at the threshold. “You are needed downstairs.”

Surely she didn’t have another visitor. Not at this late hour.

“It is those three and I thought it best that you deal with them.”

Natalie sighed. Tess and Atwood had long retired, as had Claudia. If the girls had snuck out of the house again she would wring their necks.

With a huff she marched out of her room, down the stairs and was brought up short to find Anton standing in the foyer with the three most troublesome students to ever grace the halls of Wiggons’ School for Elegant Young Ladies.

Natalie pointed to the sitting room and the three girls skulked in, followed by Anton. She entered then closed the door behind her. “What is this about?”

“I found them sneaking about my house.”

She fisted her hands and took a deep breath. “Why?”

“We were looking for an invitation,” Eliza blurted out.

Natalie glanced at Anton. He simply shrugged.

“You see,” Rosemary began. “We thought perhaps Eliza’s invitation to her brother’s wedding had been accidently taken by the Ghost and we thought to retrieve it.”

Natalie sighed and turned away. She had seen the announcement in the paper earlier in the week and had hoped to spare Eliza learning. She was well aware the girl had not received notification of the pending nuptials. Had she, Eliza would have mentioned it. She would have either been beside herself with excitement of her parents thinking of her or forlorn for not being brought home. As Eliza had behaved neither way, Natalie assumed they had forgotten their daughter once again.

If anyone deserved to have their necks wrung it was Eliza’s family for discarding her as they had.

“I am sure that isn’t the only reason you were there,” Natalie said a moment later. She wouldn’t be surprised if they also intended to learn what they could of Anton.

Eliza and Rosemary blinked at her. Sophia turned away, unable to meet her eyes.

Natalie didn’t have the patience to make them tell her what else they were about. She strode to the wall and yanked on the bell pull. Wesley arrived as soon as she let go.

“Yes, Miss Pritchard?”

“I would like the girls returned to their individual chambers and a footman stationed outside each door. They will not leave until I’ve determined they can.”

“Very good,” Wesley nodded.

“We will talk about this tomorrow.” She waited and watched and they prodded out of the room with Wesley following them then turned back to Anton.

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