Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
Unsettled, I wait for the children to arrive home.
I really want their chatter to wash away the memories of the third floor but Jenny has taken them to visit their grandparents.
It’s a regular event that happens every Thursday that nobody mentioned to me.
I stare at Sue in disbelief. “Don’t you believe I should be told when the children are going somewhere? ”
“I’m sure Jenny would have mentioned it.” Sue gives me a dismissive look. “Maybe it slipped your mind?”
This isn’t happening. Are they gaslighting me and, if so, why? I glance from her to Pierre. “I assume you know as well?”
“I do.” He glances at me over one shoulder. “It’s a regular visit.”
A regular visit and Jack didn’t think to mention it?
What’s going on? I can’t believe he or Jenny mentioned it and I was so wrapped up in Laura’s diary I forgot something so important.
Or did I? The question hangs in my mind, unsettling me.
What is it about this house that sends everyone crazy?
No—not everyone—Jack’s wives. Who could possibly benefit by killing his wives?
I see the staff staring at me and passing knowing looks between each other as if I’m just another of Jack’s wives that’s lost her mind.
Dammit, I won’t allow them to get away with it.
I shake my head. “A regular visit, I should be responsible for. I’m their stepmother.
I’ll speak to Jenny when she gets back. What time is she expected? ”
“Before eight. The kids have dinner with their grandparents.” Sue checks her watch. “It’s some time before dinner. Would you like a mug of coffee?”
She’s placating me with coffee. How long will it be before someone starts to drug my food too?
I try to relax. I’m aware someone drugged Laura and I won’t be such an easy target.
I’ll stand and watch her pour me a mug. I nod.
“Yes, thanks.” I can’t ignore the sudden coldness from my two employees and it irks me.
“Is there anything else I need to know about the children’s movements? ”
“You’ll need to speak to Jenny.” Sue lifts one shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “She’ll have all their appointments listed, I’m sure.”
I take the mug and add my own fixings. “I’ll be sure to get a copy to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.” I take my drink and go outside. I find a bench and sit and look at the sea. I need time to think.
When Jack arrives home and asks me what I’ve been doing all day, I tell him about visiting the left wing on the third floor and he is visibly annoyed. I want to explain the reason I went against his advice. “I needed to see for myself, Jack. You know, to put my mind at rest.”
“You should have waited for me to get home.” Jack shakes his head. “Not that I enjoy going up there. It’s better to lock the door and forget it exists. No one has been there for ages. I can’t even imagine what it’s like now.”
I shiver, recalling the harrowing experience.
“There’s dust everywhere and spiders. It took all my courage to step inside the hallway.
I went into the first room and the door shut behind me and I couldn’t get out.
I panicked for a time and almost called someone to come and save me but calling the cops or fire department would be a little heavy-handed.
” I smile. “As you can see, the door eventually opened and I made it out okay.”
“Oh, Willow. That must have been terrifying for you. I’m glad you’re okay.
I’d really advise you to keep away from that floor.
” He slides his phone across the dining room table and looks at me with a serious expression.
“There could be rot in the floorboards or anything. It might not be safe. Grab all the contacts you need from my phone. Did your laptop arrive?”
I smile at him. I’d spent all afternoon playing with my new toy and downloading the software I require.
“Yes, it did. I sent a few messages to my friends in LA, asking them to forward their email addresses, but we do everything by text these days anyway. We’ll chat on FaceTime when they get home.
It seems as if everyone is on vacation overseas at the moment.
At least, they replied with messages like: Busy having fun, will be in touch soon. ”
“Jet-setters, huh?” Jack tucks into his meal.
I finish my meal and collect the contacts I need and then lean back in my chair, staring at my half-eaten food. I notice Jack’s gaze slides to my plate and gives a little shake of his head. “What is it?”
“You’re not eating.” Jack searches my face. “Laura stopped eating too and then she took sick.” His gaze never leaves me. “It’s this old house. It’s depressing. If I hadn’t purchased it, Laura would still be alive.”
I gape at him in disbelief. If she hadn’t died, he’d never have met me.
I’m not sure how to take that comment but I feel as if he’s just slapped me in the face.
I can’t stand his faux feelings for her.
After reading Laura’s diaries, this house was the complete opposite of the Camelot he tried to make me believe it was.
“Well, you did buy the house but I can’t see how this old house caused Laura to fall from your yacht.
This is just one more reason why you should buy another house, a modern house.
Nothing here belongs to your family history; all the portraits apart from Laura’s are strangers.
It’s pointless living here. You really need to consider moving and making a fresh start. ”
“Maybe.” Jack pointed to my plate. “Is this house discussion to take my attention away from the fact you’re not eating?”
I shake my head. “Don’t be ridiculous, Jack. You know as well as I do that the house is unhealthy. Can you imagine a health inspector coming here? It would be condemned. For the sake of our family’s health, we need to start afresh.”
“Okay, darling.” Jack shakes his head and his mouth curls into a smile. “You’ve made a very good point. Now eat your dinner before it gets cold.”
I push my plate away and look at his stubborn expression.
“I don’t clean my plate because the portions are way too large for me.
I’ll need to ask Pierre to make them smaller.
I had a huge lunch and I always leave room for dessert.
” He doesn’t reply so I wait for him to finish eating and sip my water, deciding what else to say about my trip to the forbidden zone upstairs.
“The sixth window, on the third floor of the left wing. Why isn’t it attached to a room? ”
“Why is that window always such an issue?” He leans back in his chair and wipes his mouth on a napkin.
“Laura was obsessed with it and now you go into that filthy hole to look for it as well. As a builder, I’d say it’s there for cosmetic reasons.
In my opinion, the left wing on the third floor makes no reasonable sense.
Why have five tiny rooms? Why not two large useable rooms or one large one like in the right wing?
The ballroom is there and it has six windows.
” He gives me a withering look. “About the sixth window. I figure they added another window on the left side to balance the appearance of the house. It goes nowhere and backs onto the brick as far as I’m aware.
Laura told me she saw a face at the window.
It must be a trick of the light because it’s impossible.
I asked the window cleaner and he told me inside was painted black.
I guess that was done to make it look the same as the others. ”
I nod and say nothing as Amy clears the table.
When she leaves the room, I lean forward.
“It’s spooky up there and if you insist on living here, it needs to be renovated.
If there’s mold it could be spreading throughout the house and that’s a health hazard.
You really can’t risk the health of the children, Jack.
Now I’ve seen it, I really believe you should turn it into a useful space.
Are you aware that Ava loves to dance? You could make a practice room for her up there and maybe an art studio.
Did you know I like to paint? Three windows would give the room a ton of natural light. ”
“Yes, I know Ava suddenly wants to be a ballerina. Jenny will be taking her to dance classes once a week starting in August.” He clears his throat.
“I’m sorry, I should have told you. Although, I’m not sure how long this fad will last. She wanted a pony a few months ago.
I took her riding and the next day she’d changed her mind.
She said her legs were so sore she couldn’t walk properly.
” He grins at me. “I do listen to them, you know. Last year she wanted to be a dragon rider.”
I chew on my bottom lip. I need to talk more about the third floor. “Kids, huh? I wanted to fly.” I pause, staring at my hands. “I must tell you. When I was up there, I could hear strange things. A creaking sound and for a moment there I could swear I heard music.”
“Willow.” Jack rolls his eyes to the ceiling and he barks a laugh.
“All the chimneys in this house are connected, so in any room with a fireplace you can hear things from other rooms. Sometimes voices travel through the ventilation grates in the hallways as well. Someone could have been walking by singing and you heard them.” He waves a hand toward the window.
“Look at the weather; a storm is brewing and it’s windy.
Branches rub against the house, the house moves.
Nobody is there.” He takes my hand. “Has that put your mind at rest? I don’t want you becoming obsessed with trying to find something that doesn’t exist.”
I look into his eyes and see sadness there.
Is he remembering Laura’s mental decline?
Am I mirroring her delusional behavior? I’m sure what I’m seeing and hearing is real, but now I’m doubting myself.
The lunch confusion the other day, the moving flowers, my vanishing phone all make me more than a little confused right now.
How can I tell him I feel trapped inside the house?
Seeing his reaction, I decide not to concern him and shake my head.
“I’m not obsessed with anything but you, Jack, although I would like the ability to explore the neighborhood and make lunch dates with your friends—I mean our friends. ”
“That’s good to know.” He cups my cheek. “I didn’t mean to trap you here. I know how independent you are. We’ll look at cars this weekend—okay? The kids will love it.”
I nod and smile like an automaton but inside I feel something is off-kilter. This house drove Laura mad or was it just a stepping stone? I need to read more of her diary and discover what else she had on her mind.