Fury's Ghost

by Sue Perkins

  Cora opened the door and her mother stood behind her.

  “Good afternoon, Mrs Charles,” Fury’s mother greeted the other woman. “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting Fiora to spend the night. I just wanted to check what time I should pick the girls up tomorrow. Would eleven in the morning be suitable?”

  “Can’t Samantha and Fury stay until mid-afternoon, Mum?” Cora pleaded before her mother had time to speak. “We’ve so much to talk about.”

  “Considering you spend all day together at school, I really don’t know how you find so much to talk about. If it’s all right with you, Mrs Laing, I’ll drive them home when they’re ready.” Cora’s mother smiled a sweet smile and Fury could feel her mother’s reluctance thaw.

  “Wonderful. Have a nice time girls and thanks once again, Mrs Charles.”

  Fury’s mother walked down the path while the girls entered Cora’s house.

  “We’ve laid out some snacks in the sunroom. I’ll leave you girls to it. If you need me Cora I’ll be in the lounge.”

  Cora led the way to a pleasant room with glass roof and walls. Despite the cloudy day, the room felt warm and cosy and the three girls plopped down onto soft chairs.

  “Your mum’s nice, Cora. Did she say how her family is connected to mine?” Fury took a slice of cake from the plate on the table.

  “Not yet. She said she’ll talk to us about it after dinner. Have you found out any more about the Carter family?”

  After discussing the futility of Fury’s research, they settled back to talk about how they could help Ellen.

  “Even if we discover what she needs to do, I don’t see how she can do it, or how we can help her do it.” Samantha took a slurp of her soda. “Ellen can’t interact with the living and we don’t have the authority to do anything. I think we might be on the wrong track regarding the Carters. If Lilian or Josephine had survived then there might have been some point in tracing them, but the child died and so did her mother, so there’s no reason to reimburse the Carters’ descendants.”

  “She’s right, you know.” Cora showed more strength in her own home. Usually she followed the lead of the other two as meekly as possible. “It has to be something that can be done easily by us, but is difficult for Ellen to do herself.”

  “Yes, but what?” Fury felt like tearing at her hair in frustration. “We’ve been through Ellen’s stuff from the safe and there’s no lead there. Where else can we look?”

  “Maybe if we didn’t think so hard about it, it might suddenly occur to us,” Cora suggested.

  They decided to enjoy the day and leave the questions about helping Ellen until Sunday. The rest of the afternoon they spent doing their nails and playing music and chatting about school.

  Mrs Charles had prepared a buffet style meal for the evening and after they’d eaten she suggested they gather in the lounge.

  “I expect Cora’s told you our family had a connection with the Mune family,” she commented, as they settled in the soft chairs. “Edward Mune’s father had a sister who married into the Charles family. Edward and his Charles cousins grew up together. Then he fell in love with a paternal cousin of the Charles family. The girl encouraged his attentions. Edward may have been young but he was already on his way to becoming a wealthy man and the girl’s family thought it would be a good match.”

  Fury, Cora and Samantha were listening attentively to the story and they waited patiently while Mrs Charles took a sip of her tea.

  “Unfortunately, the girl loved another man and she met him when her family thought she was with Edward. One of Edward’s cousins helped her, but the rest of her family knew nothing about this other fellow. Edward caught them together in a romantic embrace and from then on he refused to have anything to do with the Charles family. They blamed him for leading her on, and didn’t discover she’d betrayed him. All the blame fell on Edward.”

  “He found love again though. We understand he adored his wife, Heléne.” Fury didn’t really see where this fitted in with Ellen, but it was interesting to hear about Edward’s younger life.

  “You’re right, he did find love again, but his experience with the other woman shadowed his relations with Heléne. He adored her, but wouldn’t let her out of his sight. She couldn’t leave the house unless he went with her. He was so disappointed when she presented him with a daughter instead of a son as a first child, and he allowed this to warp his feelings for the child.”

  “How do you know all this, Mum?” Cora shook her head in amazement.

  “Your grandmother told me, your father’s mother.”

  Cora blinked in surprise, but her mother smiled gently and Cora relaxed.

  “Grandma Charles could trace her family back to the ‘wanton woman’ as she called the ancestress who played with Edward Mune’s affection. Grandma and Granddad Charles met at a family get together and fell in love. She blamed your father’s behaviour on the bad blood of her ancestress. Another cousin married into a distant branch of the Mune family so Grandma heard about Edward’s marriage and unhappiness.”

  “Wait a minute. Dad didn’t leave until I was ten and Grandma died years before.”

  “Your father was unfaithful almost from the start of our relationship. I loved him so much I thought I could change him.” A sad smile crossed Mrs Charles’ lips and Cora rushed over to hug her mother who patted her hand. “Don’t worry, dear. After all these years I’ve at last realised how I’ve wasted my life with regrets. Things will be different from now on.”

  After a few moments of silence Cora’s mother continued with her story.

  “When Heléne fell pregnant with the second child he felt sure this time it would be a boy. During the pregnancy Heléne grew really ill and Edward worried about her survival. Heléne made him promise he would love the child even if she had a girl but she was so ill she didn’t realize she’d forgotten to make him swear the same thing for her older child, Ellen. Margaret arrived and Heléne slipped quietly away. Edward kept his word but never showed any tenderness toward Ellen. It’s illogical but he blamed her for her mother’s death. Margaret looked exactly like her mother which helped him to accept her.”

  When the girls were tucked up in bed in Cora’s room that night, they discussed the information Mrs Charles had given them.

  “So now we know why Edward kept Heléne on a close rein and why he virtually ignored Ellen.” Samantha looked thoughtful. “Do you think he regretted the way he treated Ellen and it’s why he left the house to her?”

  “I would hope by then he realised how greedy his youngest daughter and son-in-law were. He had to choose between Ellen and his grandchildren and apparently he didn’t have much time for kids.” Fury lay back with her hands behind her head. “Still doesn’t tell us why Ellen is still here.”

  “I’ve got a theory,” Cora’s soft voice broke into the conversation. “Fury, you’re Edward’s umpteen times removed granddaughter, right?”

  Fury nodded.

  “Maybe Ellen had to hang around until you showed up.”

  Cora and Samantha both stared at Fury.

  “No, you can’t be right. Other descendants have stayed in the house since Ellen died. Why would she be waiting for me?” Fury shook her head in denial.

  “The house can only be used by Margaret’s descendants, but none of the previous ones stayed long. A few weeks at most. It’s almost as if they were afraid to stay.” Cora smiled at Fury and Samantha joined in with a grin.

  “She’s right, you know,” Samantha insisted. “Your family is staying for a while and you’re the only one who’s ever found out about Ellen. The old girl’s been waiting for you to show up and release her from her mortal coil.”

  “Do you have to be so dramatic?” Fury laughed. “Wouldn’t Ellen know about this though?”

  “Doubt it. It’s one of those mysterious supernatural things.” Samantha spoke in a wobbly voice, which sent them into fits of laughter again, but Fury soon sobered up.

  “What can I
do though? It’s Mum who’s the oldest descendant of the Mune family. Jonah comes next, and then there’s me.”

  “Your mum doesn’t know about Ellen though.” Cora tilted her head to one side. “Maybe we should ask Ellen next time we visit your house. Or you could ask her when you get home.”

  “Ask her what?” Fury sat up in bed. “‘Hey, Ellen, have you been waiting for me all these years? Do you know why?’ Surely if she knew she would have told me what to do.”

  “Asking her might remove the psychic block.” Samantha grinned at the bemused expression on Fury and Cora’s faces. “It’s a possibility you know.”

  “I’m going to sleep.” Fury snuggled down into her sleeping bag. “We can’t do anything until I’ve spoken to Ellen, so there’s no point in worrying about it.”

  The girls rose after nine the next day and had brunch in the late morning. They cleared the dishes from the kitchen table as Cora’s mother entered the room.

  “I’ve remembered something else my mother-in-law told me. I don’t know how true it is, but there’s a rumour Ellen Mune left a letter to be held with her will. It’s not to be opened until the right descendant is living in the house.” Mrs Charles shook her head. “Sounds a bit ridiculous really. How would the lawyer know who the right person is?”

  Fury thanked Cora’s mother and the girls went to the sunroom to discuss this new piece of information.

  “It fits,” Samantha insisted. “When the time is right all will be revealed and Ellen will be free to go.”

  Fury and Cora shook their heads at the hollow tone of Samantha’s voice.

  “You’re an idiot,” Fury told her. “Cora’s mother got it right. One, it’s only a rumour which has probably been blown all out of proportion. Two, there’s no way any lawyer would be able to tell who the right person is without opening the letter and it sounds as if that’s not allowed to happen. Let’s wait and see what Ellen has to say.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  By the time Mrs Carter dropped Fury at home it was too late to visit Ellen. Her mother had dinner ready and then she asked Fury to help her with some posters.

  “Your art is so wonderful and these are for the school fundraiser so it’s only fair you help.”

  Fury didn’t mind, in fact she quite enjoyed decorating the posters, but by the time she’d finished it was bedtime. Ellen would have to wait until tomorrow.

  “Well?” Samantha came up on one side of her and Cora on the other. “What did she say?”

  “I haven’t asked her yet. Mum wanted me to help her with the posters for the school fundraiser so I haven’t had a chance to talk to Ellen. I’ll go up and speak to her tonight.”

  The other girls look disappointed but cheered up when Cora mentioned how she’d enjoyed having them to stay at the weekend.

  “My mother is putting the past behind her, which is wonderful for me.”

  Samantha and Fury hugged their friend, pleased things were going well for her after so many years of heartache.

  Fury had an art lesson in the afternoon and decided to work on her project at home that evening. It would also give her a reason to go to the attic floor.

  Once dinner had been eaten, she helped her mother with the dishes and then disappeared up the stairs, art folder under her arm.

  For thirty minutes she concentrated on her work then, when she was sure her mother wouldn’t pop up to check on her, she slipped the tapestry up and unlocked the door.

  “Ellen,” her voice emerged as a whisper. “Are you here?”

  Slowly the ghost became visible. I’m here.

  “I’ve got a bit of news and some questions. Are you okay to answer them?”

  Okay? What does that mean?

  “Sorry, it means are you all right to tell me what I want to know?” Fury held her breath afraid Ellen might turn awkward.

  Tell me your news first and we’ll see about the questions. Ellen floated across to the bed and sat down. Fury shivered. It seemed wrong to see the ghost sitting beside her own skeleton, even if it remained invisible under the covers.

  “Do you remember Cora, the girl who heard Margaret shouting at you?”

  Ellen nodded.

  “Her mother told us some things about Cora’s father’s family. Their surname is Charles. Apparently before your father met your mother he fell in love with one of the Charles ladies. The woman loved someone else and used your father as a cover for her meetings with this other man. Your father caught them kissing and swore he’d have nothing to do with the family ever again.”

  Oh. That explains why he would never let us visit the Charles family. They kept asking Margaret and I to tea parties and, as we got older, dances, but father wouldn’t let us go. We pleaded saying they were our cousins, but he remained adamant we should have nothing to do with them. He called them a few unsavoury names. Ellen’s grey cheeks darkened and Fury realised the ghost was blushing as she remembered her father’s words.

  “Apparently this was the reason he wouldn’t let your mother go anywhere without him. He trusted her, but wanted to protect her from outside influences which might pull them apart.” Fury waited to see what Ellen would make of this. For several minutes the ghost sat quietly, mulling over the information.

  Did they know why my father didn’t like me? Fury could barely hear the question.

  “Apparently your mother got very sick when she was expecting your sister. Your father had been disappointed you weren’t a boy and she worried he would act the same if the second child was a girl. Your mother made him promise to love and take care of the baby.” Fury saw Ellen’s expression fall when she heard the last words. “Please, Ellen, don’t think your mother didn’t love you. People remember Heléne Mune as a lovely woman who adored her daughter. Unfortunately, her sickness made it virtually impossible for her to speak, which is why she didn’t add you to the request. Think back, Ellen, you know your mother loved you.”

  You’re right. She did love me. Ellen turned to look at Fury. What is your question?

  “A rumour started after you disappeared. People think you left a letter with your will adding extra instructions. We wondered if this is the reason you can’t pass over. Maybe you’re waiting for the instructions to be followed?” Fury held her breath, waiting for Ellen’s answer. Would the ghost tell her or would she just vanish?

  A letter? I don’t think so. It’s probably a rumour started by Margaret and her husband. Maybe they thought it would make my will invalid. Is that all? Ellen turned away from Fury and the girl frowned.

  “Yes, thanks, Ellen. I’ll let you know if we come up with anything else.”

  The ghost disappeared and Fury slipped out the door, locking it behind her and pulling the tapestry into place. She sat down at her desk, her thoughts racing.

  Ellen lied. I know she did. Her answers came too quickly and the conversation ended too abruptly.

  Fury longed to talk to her friends but a glance at her phone showed her it was too late to disturb them. Sure enough her mother’s voice floated up the stairs.

  “Fiora, time for bed”

  “Coming, Mum.”

  *****

  “What did she say?” Samantha and Cora were eagerly waiting for Fury at school the next day.

  “Ellen says she knows nothing about a letter, but I think she lied. Her answer came too quickly and then she changed the subject. I don’t see how this helps us though.”

  “You’re right, I doubt if any lawyer is going to hand over the letter just on the say so of three schoolgirls.” Samantha face took on an excited look. “They might release it to your mother though.”

  “Why now?” Cora asked and the girls fell silent again.

  “She’s right,” Fury stated. “They’d want a reason why the letter – if it exists – should be opened at this time.”

  “Plus you’d have to tell your mother about Ellen and then I don’t think she’d let you go up to the attic floor again. I know my mother wouldn’t be happy about me talking to a ghost
.” Cora shivered, but then grinned. “I think we’ll have to work out something else.”

  “We have to get Ellen to tell us the truth.” Samantha looked stubborn. “If she wants to be released from the attic she’ll have to give us some help.”

  The bell rang and the three girls hurried to their classes but once the school day had finished they promised to think about how they could make Ellen talk more about the instructions she’d left behind.

  “You could always say you don’t see the point in talking to her if there’s no more information,” Samantha suggested. “Maybe she’s lonely and wants to pass on, but doesn’t know how.”

  Fury promised to try again then hurried to where her brother waited to give her a lift home. As soon as she’d dropped her bag in her room, Fury went down to where her mother was baking in the kitchen.

  “Hi, Mum.” She picked up a lemon cake from the cooling tray. “How’s your day been?”

  “Pretty good, how about yours?” Her mother placed another batch of small cakes in the oven.

  “Not so bad. Mum, some of the girls were talking about this house. They say other people have lived in it, but nobody stayed for long. Do you know why?” Fury hunched over on the stool and nibbled at the cake.

  “The lawyer said it had a reputation for being haunted, but I have an open mind about that sort of thing. I think a lot of the reason is because they only wanted to stay a short time, so didn’t bother to add on a new kitchen and bathroom like we have. It must have been pretty grim here with only the facilities of a hundred years ago.” Her mother began to load the dishwasher with the baking bowls and Fury went across to help.

  “I know you told me before, but is that all there is to our being allowed to stay here. You’re descended from the sister of the old lady who disappeared and she left instructions any of the family could live here as long as they didn’t alter the place. Didn’t she put a time limit on it? I mean she died a hundred years ago. Surely the will rules won’t go on forever and ever.” Fury returned to her seat at the table and helped herself to another cake.