by Pat Herbert
“Well, I thought I was. We go back a long way and we’re great friends, but there’s nothing more between us than that.”
“I don’t believe it!”
Dorothy was taken aback at the young girl’s vehemence.
“Whether it’s true or not, it’s no concern of yours.” Dorothy got up from the bed and started to walk to the door. “Now, are you coming downstairs?”
“I’m sorry,” said Nova. “I just thought you’d like to know that I’m leaving the field open for you.”
“Well, thank you, Nova. If I want your help, I’ll ask for it.”
Nova shrugged as she followed her down the stairs. If that’s how you feel, it’s up to you. She said this to herself, however, as she could see Dorothy was in no mood to discuss matters of the heart with her. Maybe the age gap was just a bit too wide. I did my best, anyway, she thought. But, at that moment, she would have been delighted to take Bernard away from her, if only she could.
They entered the sitting room where Mike and Robbie were enjoying a beer and chatting as if they had known each other all their lives. There was a white wine and small brandy set out on a side table for the women.
“Let’s hope we have more success tonight,” said Dorothy, sipping her brandy, smiling at the two men.
She didn’t look at Nova at all. What a patronising girl she was. How dare she treat Bernard like he was some kind of trophy to be handed back and forth between them? She had a lot to learn, she thought grimly.
“Now,” she said, trying to concentrate. “Let’s all sit around the table and touch hands. Robbie can you douse the lights, please?”
It was going to be tough, she realised. Her mind was anywhere but on the séance she was about to conduct. There was no way it would be a success if she didn’t clear her mind of these extraneous thoughts. Although she had professed to Nova she wasn’t bothered about Bernard, it was all bravado. She had been secretly delighted by what Nova had told her, but it didn’t make it any easier for her. She had been disappointed once before in that direction. If Bernie wanted her, he would have to do all the running this time.
The room was now in darkness and everyone was silent. The only noise came from up above them in the form of thumps and laughter. Some of the other tenants, no doubt. Mike gave a nervous cough which proved contagious as Robbie and Nova followed suit. Only Dorothy had no need to clear her throat. She was quite calm now. Somehow she had managed to put away thoughts of Bernard, and she was in her element. When it came to séances, she was queen.
The atmosphere in the room became less friendly, eerie. Even the noise from above them seemed to have stopped. Dorothy’s breathing became shallow as the air became even more claustrophobic.
Suddenly Nova’s body slumped forward and her head hit the table with a sharp crack; just as suddenly, she sat bolt upright, eyes staring. The others could only see her outline, but her sudden movements were genuinely frightening. Robbie was terrified, a firm believer in the occult as he was. He knew there was something palpably unpleasant in the room, and it was stronger than he had felt the last time. Much stronger. The spirit they had conjured up seemed angry, angrier than before, almost as if its patience was at a breaking point.
Nova started speaking and everyone soon recognised the deep, uncultured tones. The possession had taken hold of her once again.
“That’s better!” said the voice. “I’m back where I belong. No one else in this blessed house seems aware of my existence. Apart from him sitting next to us, that is. He can see me all right.”
These rambling words meant nothing to Mike. Dorothy seemed unaware of anything. Only Robbie seemed to know what they meant, Mike was on his feet now, ready to go to his girlfriend’s aid but Robbie stopped him, as he saw Nova evaporate before his eyes and another female shape begin to take her place. He looked at the young man, but it was obvious he hadn’t witnessed the transformation. The dimness in the room didn’t prevent the doctor from making out the figure before him now. It was the same one, the same woman he had seen at the previous séance.
Mike sat down as the shape started speaking again.
“I feel as comfy as if this body belonged to me. Maybe I can stay inside this time. I know you can hear me, young man, even if you can’t see me. And, as for you…”
She paused, staring straight at Robbie and giving him a cruel smile.
“You’ve got the gift all right. I need help. I don’t know how many times I have to say it. I want to leave, I don’t want to stay inside this girl forever. Nor in this house. I hate this place.”
Robbie spoke now. “How can we help you leave? Please tell us.”
“I was about to when you interrupted. I need you to find something here in this house and I need someone to find my son. This girl feels like part of me – in more ways than one. I believe that’s why she’s let me in.”
Dorothy began to stir and, as she did so, the female shape, which had materialised into the dark-haired beauty who only Robbie could see, began to fade. Nova was back but, as he looked up, he saw the ghostly female waft over towards the door. She was staring at him and indicating for him to follow her. He got up without hesitation and started towards the door.
The others, meanwhile, continued to sit around the table. Nova finished off her wine as Dorothy came to herself.
“What happened?” she asked. Mike got up and switched on the light, causing them to blink in the sudden glare.
“Robbie went out very suddenly, Dorothy,” he said. “And I don’t think it was a call of nature. I think he saw something. I didn’t see anything, and Nova was out of it.”
He came over to Nova and gave her a reassuring hug. “You all right, love?” he asked with concern.
She was groggy but otherwise unharmed by her latest experience. Dorothy rubbed her neck which she had cricked during the séance. She had never felt so much hidden power in a séance before. The spirit had broken through before she even had time to go off into her trance. She had almost been superfluous, she realised, with Nova taking the full force of the manifestation and Robbie obviously off on another tack. He had seen something. He had seen the spirit again, she was sure, and he had followed her out of the room. But where to?
“I think you’d better follow him, Mike,” she said, “He might be getting himself into all sorts of trouble. I don’t feel strong enough yet.”
Nova, now feeling a little stronger herself, went over to the brandy decanter and poured her another.
As Dorothy sipped the reviving liquid, Robbie came back into the room looking as white as a sheet.
“Robbie!” she cried. “What happened? Are you all right?”
“Let me sit down first,” he said shakily. “My legs are about to give way.”
Dorothy got up from the table and went over to him. He had slumped on the sofa, and she signalled to Mike to get him a glass of water.
“Is there any whisky?” he asked weakly.
“Here,” she grinned. “Finish my brandy.”
Robbie needed no second bidding. Once the glass was empty, he felt calmer. Dorothy, sitting beside him, stroked his hand.
“Now, Robbie, what happened?”
It seemed that the room itself was waiting with bated breath for his answer. Nova sat on the other side of Robbie and stroked his other hand.
“I – I saw this woman... You know, Dorothy, I told you about her before. I saw her at the last séance, I think she’s the one haunting you, Nova. Pretty woman, she is. Black hair and eyes – looks vaguely Mediterranean. She looks like someone out of a Dickens book – Victorian dress and her hair done like Jane Eyre...”
“Yes, Robbie?”
“Well, she was sitting where Nova was sitting – yes, Nova, she’d taken you over completely – you were no longer there. It was horrible.”
Nova shivered visibly.
“Sorry, dear,” he said to her. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, but this thing is bigger than any of us first thought.”
“Come on, Robbie,” said Mike, feeling a little left out as he watched Robbie enjoying Dorothy’s and Nova’s attentions. “Tell us what happened. Don’t keep us on tenterhooks.”
“All right,” he said. “Let me get my wits about me. You haven’t seen what I’ve seen. It certainly took the wind out of my sails.”
“What did, Robbie? You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Dorothy gave him a friendly nudge.
“If you’ll be patient for a minute, I’ll tell you. Anyway, I followed this phantom out of the room and saw that she was heading for the stairs down to the basement. She then turned to me and said, ‘One day you’ll see what there is down there, and then you’ll know the worst’.”
“‘Know the worst’? What did she mean?”
Robbie shrugged. “That was all she said, Dorothy, and then she just disappeared. I was quite ready to follow her but she obviously wasn’t ready – or able – to continue. I think she needs to be inside Nova to give her the power.”
Mike poured them all another drink. “I’m glad you didn’t follow her down to the basement, Robbie,” he said, handing him a generous measure of brandy. “Those steps lead down to the cellar, and no one goes down there because half of them are missing and the rest are very dodgy. I twisted my ankle – you remember, Nova – the first week we moved in here. I was exploring down there and realised that most of the steps were rotten. The wood had completely disintegrated – rising damp, I suppose. I keep meaning to get on to the landlord about them.”
Dorothy stood up and started to pace the room. “So, what do we have? A ghost who has a story to tell but doesn’t seem able to tell it.”
“Not exactly getting us very far,” observed Robbie.
“Oh, we’re getting there, don’t worry,” she said. “Something happened in this house, and this spirit is trying to communicate this to us somehow. We’re getting closer each time.”
Mike sighed. “You say that, Dorothy, but it looks like we’re in this for the long haul. I don’t think Nova can stand much more ...”
Nova piped up suddenly. “Don’t presume to speak for me, Mike. I feel sorry for this lady – whoever she is – and I want to help her if I can. I know she scares me, but I don’t think she means me – or any of us – any harm.”
Dorothy smiled. “No, Nova, I’m sure she doesn’t. That is one consolation in all this. If we can only be a bit patient, I’m sure we’ll find out what’s troubling her. I hope so, anyway.”
It was a hope they all shared.
Chapter Forty-Five
“Hello, Mrs Aitch. How are you today? How’s the new hip doing?”
Robbie was ushered into the vicarage by Mrs Harper, looking almost as good as new. She no longer needed the crutch, and she seemed back to her usual curmudgeonly self, if her answering sniff was anything to go by.
“Mustn’t grumble,” she said.
“You need to come and see me for a check-up, Mrs Aitch, don’t forget. You mustn’t run before you can walk.”
“I’ll ’ave you know I ain’t in the ’abit of running anywhere. I got my dignity.” She folded her arms at him.
“It’s just an expression,” laughed Robbie. “You’re one of the first to have this operation, don’t forget, and we want to make sure that everything is as it should be. And I don’t want you traipsing up and down the stairs after his nibs all the time.”
“Don’t you worry, Doc,” said Mrs Harper firmly. “I know my limitations these days, and the vicar won’t be getting ’is tea and crumpets if ’e don’t come and get them ’isself.”
“I’m glad to hear it. You must be missing the help you used to get from Dorothy and Nova.”
“I miss Dorothy, that I do. But that Nova was a forward piece, if you ask me.” She was still haunted by the sight of Nova emerging from Bernard’s bedroom in that flimsy nightdress.
“Yes, Mrs Aitch, I think you’re right about that. But you must make allowances. The poor girl’s got a lot on her plate at the moment.”
Mrs Harper sniffed again. “I suppose you’ll be wanting some tea?”
“Please, Mrs Aitch,” replied Robbie.
“You’d better come and get it, then,” she said.
Bernard was seated at his desk as was usual at that time in the morning. He had been busy answering his parishioners’ letters, most of which contained complaints of one sort or another. One deaf old biddy had told him he needed to speak up at his services, while another complained his voice was too loud. It was therefore a relief to see Robbie arrive with the tea tray, giving him a reason to break off from his labours for a while.
When the tea was poured, Robbie told his friend the purpose of his visit. “You know we had another séance last night?”
“You did? Why wasn’t I invited?”
“Oh, I think we had enough people without bothering you,” Robbie said.
Bernard looked hurt. “But I would have liked to come.”
“I didn’t think you’d be that interested,” Robbie hedged.
“I suppose because of the Nova and Dorothy situation,” stated Bernard. “I understand. Could have been a bit awkward, I suppose. Anyway, how did it go?”
“Well, to tell you the truth, it gave me the willies,” replied Robbie, helping himself to a biscuit.
“What happened?”
Robbie went on to tell his friend about his experience of the night before, while Bernard listened intently.
“You say she was dressed in Victorian clothes?”
“Yes. That’s right. So, unless she was fond of dressing up, I think she must have been haunting that house since the last century.”
“Goodness! Do you think this is the spirit that’s haunting Nova?”
“Definitely. Not only did she speak out of her mouth, she actually changed into this woman before my very eyes. No one else saw her, though.”
“Not even Dorothy?”
“No. She was in a trance while this was going on. I was very shaken up, I can tell you. This woman seemed to want to show me something in the basement, but evaporated before she could do so.”
Bernard jumped up, fired with enthusiasm. “But don’t you see, Robbie. That must be where the secret lies. In the basement!”
“Yes, old chap,” said Robbie, more calmly. “Do sit down. That had occurred to me, you know. I think I must steel myself to investigate. But I’m worried about the steps. I don’t want to break my leg.”
“Oh, don’t be such a wimp, Robbie. What’s a few steps?”
“Nothing, except a few’s just about right, as half of them are missing or rotting away, according to Mike.”
Bernard grinned. “Oh, I see. We’ll have to be careful, then, as you or I may need a new hip next.”
“Ha ha. No, all right. We mustn’t let a few dodgy steps put us off. Shall we go round there this evening?”
“Absolutely. And Dorothy must come too.”
“Try stopping her,” laughed Robbie.
Later that day, Dorothy was surprised to hear the crackly voice of the vicar of St Stephen’s through her flat’s intercom system. “Come up, Bernie. Just push the door.”
The same difficulty Robbie had experienced on his earlier visit was now being experienced by Bernard, only more so. She wisely decided to go down and let him in.
He was standing on the doorstep, covered in snow.
“Come in, old friend,” she smiled. “You look frozen.”
“There seems to be no let-up in this weather,” he observed, stamping his feet on the mat. “Sorry about the door, I’m no good with technical things...”
Dorothy laughed. “Don’t worry, Bernie. Neither was Robbie. He couldn’t work out how to get in, either.”
“How have you been keeping?” he asked her, once they were both inside her cosy flat.
He stood by the fire while she prepared tea in the small kitchenette leading off from the main living area.
“Oh, just fine, Bernie,” she r
eplied, bringing the tea tray through. “How do you like my little home?”
“Nice.”
He looked around him as he made this less than enthusiastic reply. The impression her surroundings were making on him, like the trouble with the front door, were similar to Robbie’s.
“Do sit down, Bernie, you look like a spare part standing there.”
He did as he was told. He looked nervous.
“Do you have an objection to my flat, Bernie?” she asked him. “Only I get the impression you’re not that keen.”
“No, it’s a very nice flat, it’s just where it’s situated.”
“Where it’s situated? What do you mean?”
“You could have found somewhere in Wandsworth, you know.”
“I know,” she said. She passed him his tea.
“I wish you hadn’t left the vicarage, Dorothy.”
“Well, I couldn’t stay there forever, could I?”
“No, but at least until Mrs Aitch was back in harness.”
“Oh, I see. Is that the only reason?”
“You know it isn’t.”
“And what about Nova?”
“It was nothing. I was flattered, that’s all.”
She smiled and passed him a currant bun.
“Anyway, talking of Nova, Robbie and I want to go back to Common Way this evening and have a look in the cellar. I really called round to see if you want to come, too.”
“Try and stop me,” she laughed.
It was Bernard’s turn to smile now. Wasn’t that what Robbie said she would say?
Chapter Forty-Six
“Your biby ’as gorn darn the plug’ole,
Your biby ’as gorn darn the plug.
The pore little fing
Wos so skinny and fin
It oughta bin barfed in a jug.
Your biby is perfickly ’appy,
’E won’t need a barf anymore
Your biby ’as gorn darn the plug’ole,
Not lorst but gorn before.”
Minty was getting ready for bed as Lydia lay in the bed beside her, singing softly to herself.