A month or so later, Alberta fell from her bedroom window and died. I’ve been told at least a dozen different stories about her death. People have suggested everything from suicide to murder to explain it, but the coroner ruled it an unfortunate accident. It was widely believed that she was pregnant when she died, but if she was, no mention of it was made in the official reports.
Beyond that, I don’t know what else I can tell you. There have always been stories about Alberta’s ghost haunting Doveby House. I’ve been told she screams during the full moon, but you’d be in a better position to address that than I am. I’ve also been told that the gardener haunts the carriage house, but I don’t believe that at all.
That particular young man ended up securing a position at one of the area’s stately homes. Some years later he emigrated to the US and worked for several wealthy families there. I can’t imagine why he would want to haunt your carriage house. If there is a ghost in the carriage house, and I’ve been told several times that there is, I believe you’ll have to look elsewhere to find him or her.
I hope this letter answers at least some of your questions. I wish I were at liberty to meet with you to discuss the matter further, but unfortunately, that’s out of the question at the moment.
Kind regards,
Winifred Godfrey.”
Janet finished reading and sat back in her chair.
“Well, I suppose that was nice of him,” Joan said.
“I suppose so,” Janet replied. “Nice, but odd.”
“Perhaps he’s bored wherever he is,” Joan suggested.
“At least we know a bit more about our ghost now,” Janet said. “Or rather, one of them.”
“If you believe in such things,” Joan replied.
“If you don’t believe, you can try sleeping in my room during the next full moon,” Janet suggested.
“I’m quite happy in my room,” Joan told her. “Besides, we wouldn’t want to confuse poor Aggie.”
“Aggie gets very upset when Alberta starts shouting,” Janet told her. “In fact, she gets upset before Alberta yells. Last month she woke me up by nudging my face and then huddled in my arms for several minutes before Alberta’s cries.”
“How very odd,” Joan said, looking as if she didn’t believe a word Janet was saying.
“Maybe Aggie should sleep with you during the next full moon,” Janet said.
“I don’t think so,” Joan said. “But you can put her in one of the guest rooms. You can stay in one as well, if you’d like. Assuming we don’t have guests.”
“Maybe,” Janet said. “For now, I’m focussed on our trip to the Isle of Man, though. There will be a full moon while we are there, and poor old Alberta will just have to shout to herself. I’m sure there aren’t any ghosts in the holiday cottage on Laxey Beach, at least.”
“We can agree on that,” Joan said. “And on looking forward to our holiday.”
I’m still hoping to meet with someone from the historical society to talk about Alberta. I’d like to be able to prove to Joan that she doesn’t have any family left so that my dear sister will let me read Alberta’s letters and diaries.
In the meantime, Robert hasn’t yet found any trace of the men who called themselves Norman and Julian and planned the charity event scam. Winifred will be pleading guilty and probably serving a short prison sentence. I understand he’s asked to serve it in a prison near Devon. I’ve taken to calling the entire affair “The Jackson Case” in honour of Alvin. He was my favourite suspect and I’m still slightly surprised that it was Winifred who was the local accomplice.
We will be arriving on the island on Monday the 10th of May and staying until the 16th. Joan and Aggie and I are all looking forward to the visit. See you soon.
Kind regards,
Janet Markham (and Aggie)
Glossary of Terms
bin — trash can
biscuits — cookies
booking — reservation
boot — trunk (of a car)
car park — parking lot
chemist — pharmacist
cuppa — cup of tea (informal)
dear — expensive
fortnight — two weeks
high street — the main shopping street in a town or village
holiday — vacation
jumper — sweater
lie in — sleep late
midday — noon
pavement — sidewalk
pudding — dessert
shopping trolley — shopping cart
tannoy — public address system
telly — television
till — check-out (in a grocery store, for example)
torch — flashlight
Other Notes
In the UK, dates are written day, month, year rather than month, day, year as in the US. (May 5, 2015 would be written 5 May 2015, for example.)
When telling time, half six is the English equivalent of six-thirty.
A “full English breakfast” generally consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, grilled or fried tomatoes, fried potatoes, fried mushrooms and baked beans served with toast.
A semi-detached house is one that is joined to another house by a common center wall. In the US they are generally called duplexes. In the UK the two properties would be sold individually as totally separate entities. A “terraced” house is one in a row of properties, where each unit is sold individually (usually called a row house in the US).
Pensioners are men or women who have reached retirement age.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my readers who make what I do worthwhile.
Thanks to my editor, Denise, who makes what I write readable.
Thanks to my beta readers, Janice and Charlene, who share their thoughts and improve my stories in many different ways.
The story continues in…
The Kingston Case
A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella
Release date: December 15, 2017
Back from their holiday on the Isle of Man, Janet and Joan Markham are ready to reopen the bed and breakfast to guests. Janet is surprised to learn that one of the guests who will be arriving soon is William Chalmers former wife, Alice. But William, who runs a local antique shop, has bigger problems than that.
He’s been receiving anonymous letters, telling him to leave Doveby Dale. While he has reasons for not wanting to involve the police in the problem, once he tells Janet about it, she insists on discussing the matter with Robert Parsons, the local constable.
Just because Robert is on the case, though, doesn’t mean that Janet is staying out of it. William has several business associates who might benefit from driving William out of business. Could one of them be behind the letters? Or could Alice be trying to get her former husband to move back to London? Can Janet deal with American visitors and Alice Chalmers at the same time and help William as well?
Also by Diana Xarissa
The Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Series
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Believes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
Aunt Bessie Finds
Aunt Bessie Goes
Aunt Bessie’s Holiday
Aunt Bessie Invites
Aunt Bessie Joins
Aunt Bessie Knows
Aunt Bessie Likes
Aunt Bessie Meets
Aunt Bessie Needs
Aunt Bessie Observes
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Mysteries
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
Encounters and Enemies
The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case
The Ellsworth Case
The Fenton Case
The Green Case
The Hampton Case
The Irwin Case
The Jackson Case
The Kingston Case
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
Island Christmas
About the Author
Diana Xarissa lived in Derbyshire, and then on the Isle of Man for more than ten years before returning to the United States with her family. Now living near Buffalo, New York, she enjoys writing about the island and the UK.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future under the pen name “Diana X. Dunn” and fantasy/adventure books for middle grade readers under the pen name “D.X. Dunn.”
She would be delighted to know what you think of her work and can be contacted through snail mail at:
Diana Xarissa Dunn
PO Box 72
Clarence, NY 14031.
Find Diana at:
www.dianaxarissa.com
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Author’s Note
Letter to Bessie, part one
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Letter to Bessie, part two
Glossary of Terms
Other Notes
Acknowledgments
The Kingston Case
Also by Diana Xarissa
About the Author
The Jackson Case Page 9