Christmas Ghosts at the Priory

by Fenella J Miller

  'I'm glad that you are all here as there is something I wish to ask you.'

  'Where have you been? Why have you abandoned us?'

  'I left because you threatened to kill the man I love. Tell me, why you have not gone to join the Almighty in heaven? You were men of God and will surely be eagerly received by the angels.'

  The insubstantial forms swirled around her, their ghostly fingers brushing her cheeks. Had she misjudged the situation? Or was she no longer exempted from their anger?

  'We wish to go but something is preventing us from leaving.'

  'Then you'll not object when the curate and I do our best to help you pass over?'

  'Many have tried, but none were successful.' The speaker was Brother James. If he was eager to depart from the Priory then she was certain the other three would also wish to go.

  'Have you been able to communicate directly with anyone living here before me?'

  The shapes shimmered and Brother Francis, the monk who had acted as doorman for her, took shape before her. 'No, you are the first and only living being who can speak to us. That is why we don't wish you to leave.'

  'I understand your reasons. I think now is the perfect time for you to cross over to the other side. I believe that I am unique and together we can achieve this if you will cooperate.'

  'If your betrothed were here it would make you stronger and the possibility of us leaving more likely.'

  The conversation was interrupted when the cleric stepped in. Instantly the spirits retreated as if afraid of him.

  'We need to go to the library immediately. I wish to check something. There's a history of the Priory which I've never read and I think there will be something about how the monks were murdered.'

  She led the way through the icy passages glad she had put on her warmest garments. Even with her gloves on her fingers were turning numb. He hurried along beside her.

  'What is it you wish to know, Miss Granville?'

  'I cannot think why this did not occur to me before now. There must have been dozens of monks residing here – why would only these four have remained behind?'

  'Possibly the others left the premises peacefully and died elsewhere. These four must have refused to leave and thus been killed by the King's men.'

  The book she wanted had been written by her great-grandfather who she had been told was a bad-tempered and stern man. For this reason, she'd never bothered to read his account.

  'See, I was right. The monks left peaceably – none were killed – yet there are four here who claim to have been murdered.' The ink had faded over time and the spidery writing was hard to decipher. She flicked back and her knees almost folded beneath her when she saw the reason these ghosts were still here.

  The cleric read over her shoulder and his shocked gasp echoed around the icy room. 'These were evil men, not monks at all. They were incarcerated in the dungeons for heinous crimes against the villagers. All four of them died here. It is small wonder that they refuse to leave as they would be going to the other place and not to join the Almighty.'

  'I fear it's going to be nigh on impossible to make them depart, but we'll do our best. I wish I'd read this before I became entangled with them.'

  'They would have sought you out eventually even if you hadn't moved into those rooms.'

  It had taken them a considerable time to locate the book and read the necessary passages. A sick dread engulfed her when she heard Garrick calling her name in the passageway outside.

  She snatched up her cane and hurried to the door. They arrived simultaneously. He took one look at her face and understood at once something was wrong.

  'Tell me, what has changed so drastically?'

  Whilst she explained the curate sprinkled holy water about them and no sooner had the circle been completed than her fear evaporated. They were safe from harm – at least for the moment.

  'I was almost impaled on a spear as I crossed the hall. I clutched onto the crucifix and recited the Lord's Prayer as loudly as I could and I believe only that kept me safe.'

  'I have the words we need to say to try and force these entities to go. Ecce crusis signum; fugiant phantasmata cuncta. The Latin translated means this. Behold the emblem of the cross; let all spectres flee.'

  They repeated it several times with him until they knew it off by heart. She took out the chain she wore around her neck and held the cross tightly in one hand. Garrick followed suit. The cleric held his aloft in one hand whilst having the holy water ready to sprinkle in the other.

  Her heart was pounding. If anything happened to him she would never forgive herself. This was a foolhardy expedition and she regretted agreeing to do it.

  'I'll not let anything harm you, my love, together we shall prevail.' As soon as his arm was around her waist not only was she steadier on her feet but her fear began to recede and her courage returned.

  *

  The question was not whether he could protect her, but if the holy water, crosses and chanting would be sufficient to keep the ghosts from murdering him. It had been a close thing just now when he'd hurtled through the Priory looking for Eloise.

  'I can feel them in the room. Can you see them, sweetheart?'

  'No, I think the holy water has created a barrier. I can sense them too. Shall we begin?'

  There was no need to go in search of the apparitions as they were surrounding them. They moved forward as one with the curate at the front and they alternated the chant in Latin with the prayer. The malevolence, the evil emanating from these spectres, washed over them.

  As had happened in the gatehouse he began to feel the breath being drawn from his chest by icy fingers. He held tighter to the crucifix, raised his voice and he yelled the Latin words. She copied him as did the curate. Breathing was becoming more difficult. He redoubled his efforts and was then lifted bodily from the floor and thrown across the passageway. The world turned black and there was a fearsome screaming and then he was free.

  Eloise had been torn from his hold. He'd cracked his head on the wall, but the damage was to the back of his crown, not his forehead, this time. He heaved himself to his feet dreading what he might see.

  She was spreadeagled on the flagstones, arms outstretched, her face paper-white but she was still breathing. He gathered her in his arms and held her close. The young curate was staggering to his feet. The flagon of holy water smashed on the stones. The pool of water glowed with a golden light for a moment and he thought he had imagined it.

  'They've gone, my lord, we forced them to leave. They are where they deserve to be and face eternal damnation. The Priory's no longer haunted.'

  He scarcely heard these words so concerned was he about her. Then she stirred and he could breathe again. 'Darling girl, we succeeded. We've driven them away and for the first time in centuries this house is safe to live in.'

  Slowly the colour returned to her cheeks. 'It's as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I cannot believe we managed it.' He helped her to regain her feet and smiled at the young man whose knowledge had saved them all.

  'We have you to thank, we could not have done this without your assistance. Listen, the rain has stopped and I do believe the sun is shining.'

  'It's damn cold in here, I suggest we continue this conversation when we're safely back. I sincerely hope Sir Thomas will not wish to return here – it's far more comfortable where we are.'

  'Grandmama and I will persuade him to remain where he is. However, we can now be married in the chapel rather than the village church.'

  They emerged into the courtyard to find it full of terrified grooms and outside men. His valet was the only one capable of speaking.

  'We've never seen the like, my lord. Terrible screaming, flashing lights and then what seemed like an explosion knocked us from our feet. Then miraculously the clouds vanished and the sun came out. What in God's name happened in there?'

  'The exorcism was successful.' Garrick raised his voice so the men could hear him clearly. 'The ghosts have go
ne; St Cuthbert's Priory is no longer haunted. From now on it will be perfectly safe to reside here.'

  His coachman appeared from the carriage house driving his own vehicle. His valet let down the steps and Garrick lifted Eloise inside. He turned to beckon the cleric to enter next but the young man shook his head.

  He moved closer and spoke softly. 'No, my lord, I have work to do here if you don't wish to lose every man who witnessed what happened.'

  'Good man, do what you can to rectify the situation.'

  He jumped inside and the carriage rocked a second time as his valet clambered onto the back step. He could hardly believe they'd been successful in their venture.

  'I don't think this would have worked if you'd not been there, Garrick. I think they were concentrating so hard on trying to kill you that they were unable to protect themselves from the words and the holy water. To think I've been communicating with murderers these past four years.'

  'And from now on you shall be with me. I had few expectations when I set out and yet here I am neck over crop in love with you and we have just successfully dispatched your ghosts.'

  'Life from now on is going to seem decidedly dull…'

  Despite the fact that the carriage was just rolling to a halt and at any moment the door would be opened he pulled her onto his lap. 'I can assure you, darling girl, your life is going to be anything but dull.' To prove his point he covered her mouth with his and it was a considerable time later that they eventually emerged from the carriage.

  Chapter Ten

  The next few days flew past and, apart from a dozen polite notes regretting the writers were no longer able to attend the celebrations, everything was going smoothly. Eloise had convinced her grandparents to remain where they were as the house was more convenient and far warmer than the vast, ancient Priory.

  'All the guests that we've invited to stay over the festive period are still coming, it is only those who live locally that have refused and who can blame them?' Her grandmother was not unduly bothered so neither would she be.

  'As you're not intending to live here for much longer I hardly think it matters if your neighbours no longer wish to associate with you. I am quite certain that in a few weeks everyone will have forgotten and be eager to renew contact with your grandfather and me.'

  'It will be a sad crush,' Grandmama said, 'when everyone is here, but Bates assured me we can accommodate everyone including their personal staff.'

  'The physician is astonished at the change in grandpapa's health. I'm beginning to suspect it was living in such close proximity to those evil spirits that was making him so unwell. If he continues to improve at this rate then there will be no necessity for you to come with us to Penston or for us to remain here after Twelfth Night.'

  'For the first time in months he has gone out to inspect his lands. He wished to reassure his tenants and villagers that, despite the extraordinary occurrences here, they had nothing further to fear. It's fortuitous that we were overstaffed as so many of them have departed.'

  'As you say, Grandmama, those who have remained are more than adequate for our needs. I cannot tell you how glad I am that we will only be moving fifty miles away. When the weather improves I'm hoping you will both make a prolonged stay at our new home. The journey will no longer be a barrier.'

  'This is a Christmas like no other I can remember. Not only are you to marry the gentleman you have fallen in love with, and my dearest Thomas has made a miraculous recovery – but also the unwanted occupants of the Priory have gone for good.'

  'As I haven't seen Garrick this morning I must assume he has gone out with Grandpapa. I'm eager to have the festive decorations on display. Do I have your permission to ask the footmen to begin the task of putting up the garlands, kissing-boughs, wreaths and other items? I know it's customary to wait until the day before Christmas Eve but I think we should celebrate early.'

  'I am before you, my dear, the matter is already in hand. I think it better the staff that have remained in our employ are fully occupied and have no time to dwell on why the others handed in their notice. You will be married in less than a week and the first of the house guests will be arriving the day after tomorrow. The house must be ready by then.'

  Garrick returned to find the place in disarray and was obliged to pick his way through piles of winter greenery in order to reach the drawing room. She had watched him with amusement from her position on the daybed. She had selected her place as it was the only one that gave her an unrestricted view of the hall.

  'How long is this nonsense going to take, Eloise?'

  'Everywhere apart from here will be done today. They will decorate the drawing room first thing tomorrow morning.' He dropped down beside her and immediately lifted her onto his lap. 'You must not make a habit of this, my love, from tomorrow there will be strangers here.'

  'Are you objecting to my actions, sweetheart?'

  She tilted her face and made it perfectly clear she was as eager as he to exchange kisses. A delightful and stimulating time later they reluctantly parted. She wriggled off his lap to sit a sensible distance from him.

  'Was the ride successful? It would seem that you will not be in charge of this estate after all. What will you do about the man you have already invited to take it over?'

  'Sir Thomas and I have discussed this. My man will come as planned and live in the Priory. Your grandfather has decided to retire and is happy to hand over the reins to me; I shall then hand the estate on to my estate manager. In future your grandparents will live here in a degree more comfort than they ever had at the other place.'

  'This will be the last family dinner we share before the house is invaded. I warn you, my love, they are not friends of mine but of my grandparents. When I looked at the guest list I swear there was no one remotely close to us in age.'

  He chuckled. 'It was the same when we entertained at Penston. There are younger families in the neighbourhood and we will send out cards and invite them to an informal supper party as soon as we're settled.'

  'Would you prefer to wait until I'm no longer lame?'

  'God's teeth! How many times do I have to tell you that to me you're perfect and I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks. However, if you would rather postpone our socialising until your leg has been reset and you are back on your feet, then so be it. The decision is yours.'

  'I wish I could speak to the surgeon who will be doing the operation and find out exactly how long I will be recuperating. It's difficult to make plans without having that information.'

  'I've sent for Doctor Mathews so he may examine you immediately. He might well arrive tomorrow along with the guests. He will not expect to stay here – my valet has booked accommodation for him at The Red Lion.'

  'You are the kindest of gentlemen and I am so lucky to be marrying you. I know I'm inexperienced in the ways of the world, but I'm intelligent and will soon adapt to my new life. I promise that I'll not let you down.'

  His eyes blazed and he took her hands in his. 'It is I that am the lucky one, darling girl, I honestly believe that we were destined to be together.'

  The tall-case clock in the far corner struck the hour. 'We must go and change for dinner. I have no wish to be tardy tonight. I warn you that I shall be wearing an evening gown so I expect you to make the same effort with your apparel.'

  He held out his hand and pulled her easily to her feet and then placed her cane in her hand. 'Might I enquire, sweetheart, what colour your gown will be?'

  'It is duck-egg blue, an unusual shade, but when the seamstress came from London to attend me she assured me it's all the rage there.'

  He kept his arm around her waist even though she was quite capable of walking safely without his support. She loved leaning against him, feeling his strength, his warmth, hard against her softness.

  *

  Garrick burst into his dressing room to accost his valet. 'Do I have a waistcoat in duck-egg blue or something similar?'

  'Eau de Nil? I believe you do, my lo
rd, it's not a colour you approved of so has never been worn.'

  'Excellent. The house will be invaded tomorrow, I wish you to help out in any way you can. If a gentleman has not brought his own manservant you will offer your services.'

  'I shall be happy to do so, my lord. I have already told the housekeeper I am prepared to share my accommodation. The room I have been allocated has two beds so it would be mean-spirited of me to remain in there alone.'

  Garrick lingered in his sitting room flicking through a journal waiting to hear Sir Thomas and his wife go past so he could go in to Eloise. He left it too late as she was in the passageway when he stepped out.

  'Good evening, my love, might I say that look you particularly lovely? That ensemble is a triumph.'

  Her gurgle of laughter made him smile. 'That's doing it a bit too brown, but the compliment is much appreciated. My word, your waistcoat is a perfect match to my gown.'

  He put his arm around her waist as always and dropped a light kiss on the top of her elaborately coiffured hair. 'I aim to please. Although I'm forced to admit I heartily dislike this colour.'

  She glanced up at him with a mischievous smile. 'Then your admiration of my gown is false. You're a charlatan, my lord, and I fear I've made the most dreadful error in agreeing to become your wife.'

  He lifted her from her feet and was about to show her just how wrong she was when she wriggled free. 'Look at that, Garrick. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?'

  She was staring wide-eyed at the finished decorations in the hall below. He had not thought he would like such nonsense but she was right. It did look stunning. 'I don't believe I have – apart from yourself, of course. I never imagined that strewing the place with garlands of greenery, candles and ribbons could make so much difference.'

  'Quickly, we must go down so I can examine it all before we dine.' She breathed in and exhaled with a sigh. 'I can smell the yule log burning and I believe applewood has also been put in with it. I fear you will be most displeased with what I have decided.'