Chapter 36
I wasn’t sure my legs would carry me as we headed towards the woods that night. We were a sombre party. Grace, Charlotte and I, along with Honey, were accompanied by Melissa, Mia and Callie, with the impressive Quintus Severus leading the way.
Callie had told us he’d insisted on being there to make sure no random spirits could harm us, but secretly she suspected he was making sure Charlotte didn’t have another change of heart and make a run for it.
Charlotte and Grace walked ahead of us, just behind the Roman. Both looked remarkably stoic, considering what they were about to face. In fact, Grace looked positively cheerful, as I told Mia, who was by my side.
‘She’s had some good news,’ Mia whispered to me.
‘I managed to track down the details of the memorial in Little Fennington. Her son’s name has been added to it.
One of Albert’s descendants must have seen to it.
She was over the moon when Callie told her.
Callie’s promised to let Silas know tomorrow. ’
I’d heard all about Edmund Alexander and I’d been torn at the news. I wasn’t sure whether to feel worse that Grace had been brought back and forced to remember such awful sadness, or whether to feel better because she’d had some resolution at last.
‘You did a good thing,’ Mia assured me, as if she knew what I was thinking. ‘Silas has never breathed a word about all this to anyone except Aubrey, and he made him promise to keep quiet about it. All those years it was gnawing away at Silas, hurting him. Now he’ll finally have peace of mind.’
‘What about Charlotte?’ I whispered. ‘How do I assuage my guilt about her?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know, but I will say that her return has done Lawrie a world of good. He seems so much happier in himself, even though he had to say goodbye to his mum this evening. It’s like his mind’s at ease. I think he’ll buck up now, so thank you.’
‘See?’ Mel murmured behind me. ‘You did a good thing. So put all that guilt aside and focus on the job ahead. You can do this.’
We reached the pumpkin path, and I couldn’t help but shiver, remembering the last time I’d been here.
Mia had brought blankets and a thermos flask of hot tomato soup to warm me up after the ceremony, because I’d insisted on wearing the same clothes as I’d worn on Halloween, even though I should really have been wearing something much warmer. The November night air was bitter.
‘We’re not having you fainting again,’ she’d told me with a smile. ‘This time I’m going to take proper care of you.’
Callie and Brodie had placed fresh pumpkins along the path, illuminated by the battery candles.
The fairy lights in the trees had been switched on, guiding the way to the stone circle.
Quintus Severus left us to check that all was well on the path and that no nasty surprises were waiting for us at the King’s Court.
Mel and I had decided that only Honey, Charlotte, Grace and I should walk the path, and that everyone else should remain at the start of it until Honey and I returned – hopefully alone.
‘I wish I could go with you,’ Mel told me as we prepared to say goodbye. ‘Even if I could only hold your hand in support, it would be something.’
‘But we both know I must recreate the ceremony exactly, and you weren’t there that night. No one was. We have to give this every chance to work,’ I reminded her.
She nodded. ‘I know.’ Then she pulled me into a tight hug. ‘Good luck, sis.’
Callie was busy saying goodbye to Charlotte and Grace.
‘Thank you for agreeing to do this,’ she told them both. ‘I appreciate your co-operation, and I’m sorry it had to be this way. Grace, it was a pleasure to meet you.’
‘Oh, Callie, dear, it was a pleasure to meet you, too. Thank you for all your help with Edmund. I know Silas will be safe with you.’
‘He will,’ Callie promised. She turned to Charlotte. ‘Well, er, it’s been an experience.’
Charlotte laughed. ‘I wondered if you were going to lie and tell me it had been good to meet me. I’m relieved that you didn’t. You have backbone, I’ll give you that. Take care of my great-grandson. You’d better make him a good wife, or I’ll find a way to come back and haunt you forever.’
‘Anything but that,’ Callie said fervently. ‘You have no need to worry. I love Brodie. We’ll be fine.’
The clanking of armour told me the Roman was on his way back. Sure enough, he soon came into view and nodded as he reached our little group.
‘All is well. There is no one around,’ he assured us.
‘Well…’ I shrugged, realising there was no more putting it off. ‘Here we go then.’
Mia patted Honey. ‘Look after Verity for me, won’t you? I’m relying on you.’ Then she straightened and cupped my face in her hands. ‘You’ve got this. Just believe in yourself,’ she said fiercely. ‘Like I believe in you.’
She kissed me and I heard Charlotte say, ‘Now that’s one thing I never tried, but it looks like fun. What a shame it’s too late.’
‘You are incorrigible,’ Grace told her sternly, and Charlotte chuckled.
‘Right,’ I said, reluctantly pulling away from Mia and taking a deep breath. ‘Here we go then. See you all soon, all being well.’
With their good wishes and love ringing in our ears, Charlotte, Grace, Honey and I headed along the path towards the circle.
My heart was pounding and my pulse was racing as I glanced at the little bag I was carrying containing the cup and the brooch.
If this didn’t work, I had no idea what to try next.
How would I face everyone if I returned with the two ghosts beside me?
The circle was lit with pumpkins between each stone, as before. Charlotte gazed around her. ‘Funny. I don’t remember being here that night you brought us back,’ she said thoughtfully.
‘Me neither,’ Grace admitted. ‘But do you know, some things are finally coming back to me.’
‘Really? So what happened?’ I asked, puzzled. ‘I was standing right here, and I didn’t see you arrive.’
‘There was a mist,’ Grace mused. ‘That’s what I remember.
It was like waking up from a deep sleep but not being able to see properly.
I felt as if I were travelling but I had no idea where to.
What I remember is opening my eyes at last and the mist had cleared, I was in the village by the vicarage gate, and it was Sunday 1 November. All Saints’ Day.’
‘You know, now that I think of it, it was the same for me, except that when I opened my eyes, I was upstairs at Harling Hall.’ Charlotte wrapped her arms around herself and for the first time her face wore a pensive expression. ‘Will it… Will it be like going back to sleep, do you think?’
‘Now, how can this young lady possibly answer that question?’ Grace said gently. ‘None of us knows for certain, do we? And maybe, if it is like a deep sleep, we shall never know the answer.’
‘So, this could be it? These could be our last moments of any meaningful existence? These might be our last thoughts and words? Ever?’
As a note of panic entered Charlotte’s voice, I had a horrible feeling she was going to make a bolt for it, but Grace laid a steadying hand on her arm.
‘Calm yourself, my dear. Remember, you are Charlotte, Lady Davenport of the Harling Estate. Conduct yourself with dignity.’
Charlotte nodded. ‘Of course.’ She straightened and whacked her thigh with her riding crop. ‘Thank you.’
They watched me silently as I headed over to the Queen Stone and carefully set the contents of my bag on its uneven surface.
‘Seems a bit rude to put things on a Queen,’ Charlotte observed.
‘It’s just a stone,’ Grace reminded her. ‘Those three stones aren’t really a Queen and her two children, and neither are the other fourteen stones in the circle their courtiers. It’s a myth, nothing more.’
‘Yes, and there’s no such thing as ghosts,’ Charlotte said grimly. ‘Hey!’ she added. ‘I remember that cup. It’s part of a tea set Edward and I were given as a wedding gift by one of his ghastly friends. I ended up hurling every single piece at him during one of our rows.’ She sighed. ‘Happy days.’
‘And that’s my brooch, of course,’ Grace said wistfully.
‘Silas bought it for me not long after Edmund’s death.
A Whitby Mourning Brooch. I wonder how it ended up at the curiosity shop?
I expect, after Silas’s death his belongings were given away.
He had no one else to leave them to… Poor darling Carrots.
If only I could stay with him and take care of him. ’
I gave her a sympathetic look and wished I could think of something positive to say, but I had nothing. Instead, I glanced at my watch and said briskly, ‘Okay, it’s midnight. Can you stand beside me please and I’ll begin.’
They stood either side of me, Honey settled behind us, and I exhaled long and slow to steady myself before placing my hands on the cup and brooch. I closed my eyes and waited for something to happen.
Please, send these two souls back to where they came from. Let them find peace.
I was just wondering if this was going to be a complete failure when suddenly I felt the heat surge through my hands, increasing in intensity until it almost hurt. I tried to stay still and focus on the thought that Charlotte and Grace must return to wherever they came from.
I’m not sure how long I’d stood there when I realised I could still hear the wind in the trees and the rustling of the grass.
Then I heard a woman’s scream coming from the woods and I jumped in fright, almost dislodging the cup.
‘It’s quite all right, dear,’ a familiar voice said reassuringly. ‘It was merely the call of a vixen. It’s mating season.’
I glanced round and realised Grace and Charlotte were both still with me while simultaneously I noticed the brooch and the cup had gone cold again.
‘It didn’t work,’ I said in dismay. ‘You’re still here.’
‘So we are!’
‘Is that it?’ Charlotte asked. ‘Is that all you’ve got? I must say, it wasn’t very impressive. What a frightful waste of time.’
I could have cried. How was I going to return to all those waiting at the beginning of the pumpkin path and admit I’d failed? And how were Charlotte and Grace ever going to return to wherever they truly belonged?
Honey, who’d been sitting quietly, watching the proceedings with interest, suddenly growled. It started low in her throat, but it grew deeper and stronger until suddenly she let out a fierce bark.
We all looked round, wondering what was scaring her so much.
Then I saw him. A man stood between the trees staring at us, and as I watched he began to walk towards the King’s Court. My heart thudded with fear. It was the shopkeeper.
‘Very well done, Verity,’ he told me as he entered the stone circle. He bowed low, first to me then to Charlotte and Grace. Finally, he patted Honey’s head. To my amazement she didn’t object at all. Now that he’d made himself known to us, she seemed quite accepting of him.
‘You!’ I cried. ‘What did you do?’ I waved a hand at the innocuous looking brooch and cup. ‘You gave me these things, and they brought two spirits back to this world!’
He smiled. ‘Now does that seem likely? How could something as simple as a piece of crockery or a lump of Whitby jet bring back spirits from beyond the veil?’
‘But they did!’ I protested. ‘And you knew they would, or why else would you have pressed me to take them?’
‘Verity, there are things more complicated in this world than you will ever understand,’ he said kindly. ‘Trust me when I tell you that, although those items helped to ensure the correct two people arrived, it was you who brought them through. With a little assistance, naturally.’
‘Who are you?’ I asked, dazed.
He turned to look firstly at Charlotte and then at Grace. ‘Do you know who I am?’ he asked gently.
‘I’ve never seen you before in my life,’ Charlotte said, and Grace shook her head.
‘Are you sure?’
I watched as sudden realisation dawned on the two ladies. I saw it clearly. Their frowns vanished and their eyes widened.
‘Oh!’ they chorused.
Then they looked at each other and, to my astonishment, they burst out laughing. ‘Of course!’
‘Of course what?’ I demanded.
‘How on earth did we forget?’ Charlotte asked.
Grace’s eyes were shining. ‘I rather think we were meant to. But now…’
The man nodded. ‘You know what’s left to do?’
‘We know,’ they assured him.
‘Verity,’ he said kindly, ‘perhaps you’d like to sit down beside your beautiful dog for this next part.’
Too stunned to argue, I sank down onto the ground and put my arms around Honey, glad of her warmth and comfort.
As I stared up at my three companions, I realised a mist was approaching.
It rolled in through the trees and within seconds it had shrouded the courtier stones, leaving only the clearing visible, and then only just. As it continued on its path, Grace, Charlotte and the man became indistinct smudges in the thickness of the mist.
‘Goodbye, Verity dear,’ Grace said cheerfully, her voice already sounding distant. ‘Thank you so much for all your help.’
‘Goodbye,’ Charlotte called. ‘Tell Brodie and Callie that it’s all going to be all right. They mustn’t grieve. All is as it was meant to be.’
I lost sight of them after that and could only just make out the blur of the shopkeeper.
‘Please,’ I said, ‘who are you?’
‘It would take far too long to explain,’ he said gently. ‘One day you’ll understand. Goodbye, Verity, and thank you for your help.’
‘Just tell me!’ I begged.
The blur shimmered and faded, but before it disappeared entirely, I heard a muffled voice saying, ‘The King and Queen had three children.’
Honey barked and my eyes flew open. I was sitting by the Queen stone with Honey beside me, and she was nudging me frantically with her nose. Had I really fallen asleep? That was impossible, clearly. Not after everything that had happened.
Unless – unless I’d dreamed the entire thing.
The mist, if it had ever been there, had cleared. There was no sign of Charlotte or Grace, and certainly no trace of the mysterious shopkeeper.
What had he said?
‘The King and Queen had three children.’
I got to my feet and stared at the Queen Stone and the two smaller stones that huddled beside it. A witch had turned the Queen and her two children to stone. Had there been a third child who’d somehow escaped the same fate?
I started to laugh. What a ridiculous idea! These stones were ancient. It was impossible. And besides, it was just a story. Nothing more.
But then, what had taken Grace and Charlotte? Because it certainly hadn’t been anything to do with me.
I gathered the cup and brooch up and put them back in my bag, then patted Honey. ‘Let’s get out of here,’ I said.
Whatever the truth, whatever the reasons, whoever that man was, the spirits had left. My job was done.