Chapter 7 #2
Marie forced her gaze off of Edward so she could focus on what Richard was going to say. If she was going to participate in this game, she needed to know the way the story was going.
“Since we are coming upon All Hallows’ Eve, this story will take place on that night,” Richard began.
“Let’s begin with three children. Two girls and a boy.
We’ll make the girls twins. Both are fourteen years old.
Their names are Willow and Mila. The boy is Niles.
He can be thirteen, and he is their brother.
On this evening, the parents didn’t want them to get bored, so they gave the children turnips to carve faces into.
” Richard gestured to Brooke to continue the story.
Brooke shifted in her chair, and Marie couldn’t blame her. That wasn’t much to go on, but maybe that was the point of this game. The way Richard left things, Brooke could take the story in any direction she wanted. Intrigued, Marie waited to see what Brooke would come up with.
After a moment, Brooke said, “I recently learned about the Irish legend of Shifty Jack. Shifty Jack was so awful that he couldn’t get into Heaven, but he was so crafty with the Devil that Hell wouldn’t take him, either.
Because of that, he wanders the earth forever, carrying a lantern with him wherever he goes.
That’s why we have the tradition of carving into vegetables. ”
Diane’s eyebrows furrowed. “Are you telling us this because of what you’re going to add to the story, or is this story going to become a history lesson?”
“What if it does become a history lesson?” Richard asked. “Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No, of course not,” Diane replied, her tone indignant.
“I was only asking so I can get ready for my part.” She glanced Marie’s way, and at once, Marie could tell that Diane considered a history lesson to be boring.
So yes, Diane really did have a problem with it.
She just didn’t want to ruin the mood in the room by saying so.
Brooke cleared her throat. “I do not intend to give a history lesson. I only meant to share something about the legend.” She gestured around the room.
“For the story’s sake.” She paused for a moment and cleared her throat.
“The children are having trouble carving into the turnips. The turnips are dense. Willow wishes they were hollow so that the task would be easier. Niles agrees, but since he’s a boy, he doesn’t want to come out and say so.
Boys, after all, should be strong enough to carve into a turnip without any problems. Besides, he’s well aware of the Irish legend about Shifty Jack and thinks that carving the faces might be a good thing.
The carving will ensure he leaves them alone. ”
Richard smirked at Diane. “There was a point to learning about the legend after all.”
Diane’s eyes went heavenward, but she didn’t offer a retort. She chose, instead, to focus on eating another pastry.
“I don’t know what else to say,” Brooke told Richard. “Can I end it there, or do I have to add more?”
“I can add something,” Edward offered.
Brooke didn’t hide her relief as she gestured for him to continue the story.
“While the children were not inclined to believe in spirits wandering about the earth,” Edward began, “there was something bothersome about the legend of Shifty Jack. How could anyone be so evil that Hell itself wouldn’t take him?
While the children were making guesses as to what terrible things he had done, they heard something tapping on the window.
The drapes had been drawn for the evening, so they couldn’t see who was there, but suddenly, Niles remembers that merely speaking about Shifty Jack will bring him to you.
” Edward pauses as another part of the story comes to him.
“That’s why you must only write down your thoughts about Shifty Jack.
His hearing is so good that if you’re in London, he can hear you all the way from Ireland.
And if he hears his name, he’ll come to you.
Willow drops her turnip and asks if that’s Shifty Jack who is coming for them.
” He stopped again. “Forgive me. We are supposed to keep our portions short so others may add to them.” He gestured for Diane to continue.
Marie hid her disappointment. Having listened to her father read Grimm’s fairy tales to her, she’d gotten accustomed to fanciful tales. She had no idea that Edward possessed such a delightful imagination.
Diane finished eating her pastry then wiped her fingers on the cloth napkin.
“Mila, unlike her gullible sister, does not give in to the nonsense of Irish folklore. She sets down her turnip and pulls back the drapes. It is not Shifty Jack. It is a tree branch tapping the window. The wind is blowing, so the branches are moving with it.”
This time, Marie did not hide her disappointment. She wished Edward hadn’t stopped. This direction took all of the fun out of the tale.
“There was a knock at the door,” Diane went on. Before Marie could think that Diane was going to propel the story in a more fanciful direction, she added, “It turned out to be the neighboring children their age who invited Mila, Willow, and Niles to a party.”
“I’m not sure children would go to a party,” Richard inserted.
Diane shot him a pointed look. “If some people in this room can have Shifty Jack lurking around in this story, then the children can go to a party. And these children are more than happy to toss away their turnips, dress up in their best clothes, and go to a gorgeous townhouse for an evening in the ballroom. Since this is All Hallows’ Eve, we’ll say there are apples and nuts available.
” She gestured to Lord Monheim to continue.
Lord Monheim chuckled. “Since we’re not bound by logic in this tale, I’m going to say that when the clock strikes eight, the children become adults who can stay up late.
In the tradition of All Hallows’ Eve, they bob for apples and they roast nuts.
Willow, Mila, and Niles have a delightful time.
” He thought for a moment then shrugged.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t think of anything else, unless we want them to go home and sleep where they’ll wake up as children.
But then that would be the end of the story, and it’s too soon for that. ”
“It depends on the direction you want the story to go,” Edward spoke up. “Something could happen to them the next day.”
Marie’s eyes widened in interest. Just what could the children wake up to if they had turned into adults the previous evening?
Lord Monheim considered his options then said, “I don’t know. Let’s just say they continue on with the party and are having a marvelous time when something unexpected happens.” He turned to Marie. “I hope you can take it from here because I have nothing to add at this point.”
Marie bit her lower lip. If this were one of those Grimm fairy tales her father was reading to her, how might this particular story go? She considered a couple of options but decided to follow up with what Edward started.
“As it turned out, Shifty Jack had heard the children speaking about him,” she slowly began while she allowed new ideas to form in her mind.
“It just took him a while to find them because he had to come all the way from Ireland. Upon his arrival, the candles all blew out in the ballroom. Everyone stopped dancing, roasting nuts, and bobbing for apples. They were quite frightened. The doors of the veranda flew open, and a cold wind swept through the entire ballroom. Willow, Mila, and Niles ran over to each other. They had said his name. They knew they were the reason Shifty Jack had come.”
Marie stopped and glanced at the others to see how she’d done.
Everyone except for Diane seemed to enjoy the direction she’d taken the story.
Diane just gave a slight shake of her head then turned to look at her fingernails.
Marie’s face warmed with embarrassment. She’d thought her father would have been delighted with the way the tale was going.
Maybe not this new father she had, but the one in her other life would have urged her to continue.
She gave a cautious look at Edward and noted that he gave her a smile of approval.
“I suppose it’s my turn,” Lord Noel said. “I don’t know what an evil creature would do. Can I just say that he terrified them?”
“You could say how Shifty Jack terrified them,” Richard suggested.
Lord Noel shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“It can be anything scary,” Richard encouraged.
“I’m not good at making things up,” Lord Noel protested. “I like the story and where it’s going, but I can’t think of what to add.”
Sharon intervened. “I can think of something.”
Richard indicated for her to continue the tale.
“Shifty Jack materialized in the middle of the room,” Sharon said, her voice low in an attempt to build suspense.
“He searched the room, determined that he would find the one who had spoken his name. When no one confessed, he threatened to burn down the entire townhouse if the person didn’t confess.
To save their friends, the three stepped forward and admitted that they’d said his name.
He asked why, and they said they were making guesses about what terrible deeds he’d done.
Shifty Jack gave them a smile so wicked that it left a chill down everyone’s spine.
‘I’ll show you exactly what evil I’m capable of, my dear children,’ he said.
Then he snatched them, and the four disappeared.
Those left standing in the ballroom never saw or heard from the three children ever again. ”
“I’d like to hear more,” Brooke protested. “Can we have another round of the storytelling?”
Diane grimaced. “Please, let’s not. These silly stories are for children, not adults. I tire of telling stories, anyway. Why don’t we do something more interesting? Like play a game of cards.”
“It was a fun story, but I have no imagination for telling tales,” Lord Noel said. He glanced Marie’s way, as if asking her permission. “I’d like to play cards, too.”
Marie had never thought that people would worry about her reaction to what they wanted. She’d always been used to worrying about what they wanted instead. Thinking of how she’d like someone to answer her if she were to make the request, she said, “I enjoy card games.”
“All right then,” Richard agreed as he stood up. “I’ll have the maids get things ready for some card games.”
Lord Monheim gave Marie a grateful smile to let her know he appreciated her response. She returned the smile to let him know he was welcome.
The group stood up, and Diane went over to her.
In a whisper, she said, “Thank goodness we’re going to play cards.
I was having trouble staying awake. Richard’s idea of entertainment is dreadful.
I only come to his dinner parties because my father would stop giving me an allowance if I didn’t.
He has the utmost respect for Richard and his family. ”
“What is that, dear?” Sharon asked as she approached them.
Diane jerked a moment then said, “I was just telling Marie how fortunate she is to have the attention of all the gentlemen in the room.”
Sharon arched an eyebrow in a way that let Marie know she didn’t believe Diane. “I thought we’d already discussed how Marie has the gentlemen vying for her.”
“Yes, well, there’s no harm in saying it again, is there?” Diane asked.
Sharon let out a sigh. “I suppose the less I know, the better. I’d like to tell your parents that you were pleasant this evening.”
“I have been pleasant,” Diane insisted as she pressed a hand over her heart.
“You insulted Richard.”
“He insulted me, too.”
“He might not have if you hadn’t done it first.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake. I didn’t tell anyone things that would embarrass him.” Diane gave a glance at Marie. “I know plenty of stories, I assure you. I’ve seen just about everything when it comes to him. Do yourself a favor and do not marry Richard.”
“The cards are out and ready, your majesty,” Richard called out, his gaze settling on Diane.
Diane shot her aunt a pointed look then whispered, “I hope you remember how he acted just now when you speak with my parents tomorrow.” Diane took Marie by the arm and led her to the table so they could be partners in the next game.