Chapter 12 #2
‘I have no idea, but it sounded like it came from the back of the house.’ Her heart was pounding, her chest heaving and she had the overwhelming urge to run from the cottage as fast as she could.
‘It did.’ He strode to the door that gave access to the room behind. ‘Hello,’ he called out.
They stood looking at one another as they listened, but were met with nothing more than an ominous silence.
Nate gave a shrug of his shoulders just as a hushing sound filled the room and an icy breeze rushed in, circling all around them.
It lifted the stray strands of hair that peeked from beneath Lark’s hat and skimmed over her cheeks, making her gasp and sending a rash of goosebumps prickling over her skin.
As quickly as the breeze arrived, it was gone.
From the baffled expression on Nate’s face she could tell he’d felt it, too.
‘That was seriously creepy,’ she said with a shudder. As used as she was to sensing the atmospheres and energy of a whole host of different places, Lark had never experienced anything like that before.
‘I know what you mean.’ He circled his shoulders as if shaking the feeling off.
‘Surely there must be some explanation for it, like a sudden draught from an ill-fitting window or summat like that. I mean, it was getting pretty blustery out there before we got here.’ He disappeared into the back room, the dull thud of his footsteps on the floorboards, Lark hot on his heels.
After what had just happened, she didn’t fancy being left on her own in the room.
The pair of them took their time to look around, checking for anything that had been knocked over and could explain the loud slamming sound, or any gaps where the wind could have sneaked in.
But they found nothing. Yes, the windows were a little old and rattly, but there was nothing that would explain the strength of the gust of air they’d just experienced.
Nate glanced down at his feet, his thick brows drawing together. ‘Maybe it’s a draught coming up through the floorboards.’
Lark followed his gaze. When they were at Crayke’s Cottage yesterday, it had escaped her attention that this floor wasn’t flagged like the other downstairs rooms, but that was probably because the cold had stopped her from thinking clearly.
She contemplated Nate’s suggestion. ‘Good point. These little cottages are full of places where draughts can sneak in and make doors slam. I know Seashell Cottage has its fair share, which is why the wood burner’s been such a godsend. ’
‘Aye, my place is the same.’ He strode over to the back door that gave out onto the yard and tried the handle, but the door didn’t budge. He turned his head to her. ‘It’s locked.’
‘Okay,’ Lark said slowly, glancing around her. ‘So where did the slamming sound come from?’
‘Good question.’
‘I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a bit creeped out,’ she said.
‘Aye, it’s a bit odd but I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Maybe it was something blowing over in the yard?’ he suggested as he rubbed at the grimy windows with his gloved fingers, peering out through the small circle he’d created.
‘I suppose it could’ve been. Though wouldn’t the snow have muffled the sound of anything falling over?’
‘S’pose it might’ve done.’
But they both knew the sound came from inside the cottage and, in particular, this room.
‘Why don’t you have a look at the stuff in the suitcase, then we can decide what to do with it and leave?’ Lark was keen to get done and get out as quickly as possible.
‘Yeah, I have to say, things seem to have gone a bit weird here today.’ He moved closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze, the warmth of his body seeping into her. ‘We’ll get sorted as quick as we can, then we don’t have to come back again.’
‘I like the sound of that.’
Back in the living room, Nate reached into the case, picking out each item one by one, examining them as closely as he was able in the dim light. ‘The stories these things could tell.’
The same thought had crossed Lark’s mind when she’d first seen them, and she couldn’t shake the feeling these stories wouldn’t all be good.
‘As sorely tempted as I am to look inside this, I’m going to refrain. The leather looks too fragile and I’m worried it might crumble if I open it.’ Nate was turning the leather-bound book over in his hands. ‘Best save it for folk who know what they’re doing and how to handle such delicate items.’
‘That’s what I thought, too. The thin piece tied around it looks like it wouldn’t take much for it to break into pieces.’ Lark watched as he placed it back in the case.
‘Right then, what’s hiding under here?’ he said, lifting out the tin. Anticipation and unease started swirling in Lark’s stomach as he carefully unwrapped the piece of eiderdown, lay it on the suitcase and focused his attention on prising open the lid.
‘It took a while to loosen it last night,’ she said, watching him have the same struggle.
‘Aye, it doesn’t seem keen to budge.’
The words had just left his mouth when the lid finally conceded defeat and opened with a loud rattle of the metal objects inside. Before Nate could utter another word, the room filled with an icy rush of air followed by an urgent banging at the front door.
The pair froze, eyes locked on each other. Lark could feel her pulse pumping in her ears as fear prickled over her skin.
‘What should we do?’ she whispered, her teeth chattering from fear as much as the cold.
‘I’ll take a—’
His words were sliced off as an ethereal cry echoed around the room.
‘What the bloody hell was th—’
The thudding at the door resumed, more urgent this time. Another cry filled the room, followed by a second icy gust of air and a crashing sound from the back room.
Lark’s heart leapt up to her throat. She’d never been so desperate to leave a place as she was right now.