Franklin has been receiving an excellent education at one of the foremost preparatory schools in Brighton, and some weeks ago a package was delivered there by a messenger boy. Unfortunately, the boy had vanished by the time the package was opened and all efforts to trace him have been unsuccessful. The package was addressed to my son and contained a watch — a family heirloom which was once the property of his father who had inherited it from his father before him. Franklin recognised it at once, and the engraving left us in no doubt.
For some years I have been attending meetings with Mrs Barnham the clairvoyant and spirit medium, of whom you may have heard. She is a lady of great wisdom and impeccable connections, having been a prominent person at the court of the late King William. I took the watch to her and when she held it in her hands she knew at once that the owner of it had passed.
This information has done nothing to quell a rising discomfort in the mind of my poor son, who has been afflicted with increasingly disturbing symptoms. He is under treatment from our doctor but has been unable to attend school for some time. The manifestations of his condition are highly unusual, and some of the things he says are such that I cannot commit them to paper. But he does claim to have seen his father’s ghost and heard it speak to him.
Miss Scarletti, all that I have read about you in the newspapers encourages me to think that you will be able to advise me. What must I do? Is there someone I should consult? Or would you be willing to interview my poor afflicted boy and deduce what course of action I ought to take?
Assuring you of my very greatest respect,
Charlotte Vardy
Mina was quiet for a while, then she read the letter again. She looked up. Rose and Miss Cherry were gazing at her very intently, studying her for signs of incipient collapse. She took the deepest calmest breath she could muster. ‘Rose,’ she said, ‘I would so enjoy a nice cup of tea. And could you bring me a small plain biscuit?’ She turned to Miss Cherry. ‘I assume that Dr Hamid has not forbidden tea and plain biscuits?’
Miss Cherry looked pleased and relieved. ‘I expect he would be very happy that you have regained some appetite. This is the first food you have asked for since you became ill.’ She nodded to Rose, who gave Mina one of her expressionless yet meaningful looks, then went downstairs.
‘Miss Cherry,’ said Mina, and the nurse, understanding her confidential tone, drew nearer. ‘This letter is from Mrs Vardy. It is most probably the one she told you she was writing to me, and I believe that the contents will not be a surprise to you. Mrs Vardy has told me a great deal about the difficulties she is facing and is clearly eager to come and tell me other things that she feels unable to write down.’
Mina handed the letter to Miss Cherry who perused it carefully, then nodded. ‘Yes, all of this I have been told or overheard.’
‘Are you, in the light of this letter, willing to tell me more? I ask not out of simple curiosity but because I would like to help this poor afflicted lady and her family. I assume that your attendance at her home was in order to care for the son?’
Miss Cherry nodded again. ‘Yes, it was. His symptoms were most alarming. Sometimes when he awoke there was a minute or two when he could not move and struggled even to breathe. But he also —’ she looked pained — ‘he also had the strangest fancies, which he did sometimes confide to me. He thought the ghost of his father was visiting him in the night. But the thing that most troubles Mrs Vardy,’ added Miss Cherry, sadly, ‘is that her son Franklin believes that she and Mr Vardy were responsible for the death of her first husband.’
Mina glanced back at the letter. ‘But Mrs Vardy has only known Mr Vardy for three years.’
‘That is what she says,’ replied Miss Cherry, ‘but who can prove it?’
When Rose arrived, Mina sipped her tea and nibbled the edge of the biscuit, then, having shown herself capable of reading letters without any harm to herself, she asked for a tray and some writing materials, and as soon as they arrived she composed a reply to Mrs Vardy.
Dear Mrs Vardy,
I am sorry not to have replied to your letter sooner, however I have been very unwell and am at present confined to bed under strict orders not to attempt anything that might prove to be too interesting for my slight energies to tolerate.
I am eager to assist you in any way I can, and hope that in a short while it will be possible to arrange an interview where we might discuss your concerns more openly than letters will permit.
Assuring you of the strictest confidence at all times
Mina Scarletti
CHAPTER THREE
The news of Mina’s improvement brought her mother to the sickroom for one of her rare visits. Now that Louisa Scarletti was less terrified of losing her eldest daughter, she was able to allow her displeasure free rein.
‘You have frightened me so much!’ she exclaimed, sitting at a careful distance from the bedside. Still nervous of infection, she clutched a lace handkerchief drenched in cologne which she held before her face. A comforting maternal embrace was clearly out of the question. Louisa was achingly thin and pale as a spectre, her eyelids flushed rose with sleeplessness and tears, but she was still in her mature years, a vision of porcelain beauty. A widow for more than two years, she had adopted the fashionable demi-mourning colour of deep violet, with a daring hint of white trimming. This allowed her to remain an object of sympathy while at the same time dipping her slippered toes into Brighton society where she best flourished. ‘You were told not to go out in company,’ she said reproachfully, ‘Dr Hamid told you so and I told you so, everyone told you so, but no, you would not listen to good advice, and now see what is the result. You know how much I rely on you, Mina, and you must not upset me like this again!’
‘I promise I will take more care in future,’ said Mina, contritely.
Louisa was unappeased. ‘You cannot imagine how I feel! What with Enid in her delicate condition, and Mr Inskip heaven knows where, and the twins have started teething again, and they cannot be kept quiet and my head aches without ceasing, and now this! I don’t know what I have done to be punished so.’
‘How is my dear sister?’ Mina ventured.
Louisa uttered one of her long groaning sighs. ‘I only hope and pray that she and the child will live. The doctor says we may expect only one this time, and for that at least, I am thankful. But your sister is a torment to me. She complains all the time, of this and that, and who knows what else, and it is as much as I can do to try and console her. Neither of us have any sleep. Neither of us eat. Oh, when will the agony end!’
‘I imagine Edward is a great support to you,’ said Mina, trying to sound encouraging. ‘He is so very sensible, and reliable,’ she added, naming the two qualities in which her younger brother Richard was notably deficient.
Louisa gave a scoff that was very nearly a snarl. ‘Edward has his head in the clouds all the time, he does not see how I suffer. All his thoughts are for the business and Miss Hooper — Agatha as I suppose I must call her, but I cannot like the girl. She and her pretty books of pressed flowers. He praises her all the time, but I have seen her flowers and do not think all of them are as pretty as he likes to make out. Some of them are very strange indeed. I would not dare show them to you, the very sight of them would make you quite ill. Oh, I know she comes from a prominent family and will bring money to the match, but I sometimes think she has bewitched my boy who can see nothing but good in her, and he often forgets he has family of his own. I believe that if she so much as pricked her little finger he would fly to her side at once, while I am left alone to manage as best I can.’
‘Is there to be a family gathering to celebrate the betrothal?’ asked Mina.
Louisa’s look of resignation revealed that the prospect did not please her. ‘I believe so, but I am too upset to even think of it. Edward says he will delay it until you are well, and Enid is recovered from her confinement, whenever that may be. She cannot tell me the date; she seems very vague on that point, but I dare not pr
ess her because when I ask about it, she flies into a temper. And Edward does hardly anything to help me with her. Sometimes he just stands there with a ridiculous expression on his face and says nothing at all, and what good is that to anyone?’
‘Poor Mother,’ said Mina. ‘I will try to get well as soon as I can.’ She reached out to pat her mother’s hand but thought better of it.
Louisa found a dry scrap of lace and carefully blotted her eyes. ‘At least Richard is settled in his career at last. I always knew he would be a success. It was so thoughtful of him to ask to be spared from his London work so he could come here and be a comfort to me. But I have told him that once Enid is well and I am back in Brighton for good he must come and live here all the time to be near me, and he has promised me that he will. It will be no trouble at all for him to travel to the London office when he is needed. What else are trains for, after all? What a good son he is!’
Mina’s heart sank. Richard was the only one of her siblings who in her mother’s estimation could do no wrong. Louisa had always been confident of a bright future for him, and at present these thoughts were the only ones that could gave her any pleasure. Once again, a heavy responsibility had fallen upon Mina’s fragile shoulders. During the current family upheaval, she was obliged not only to protect her mother from the dismal truth about her favourite son, but also to take steps to mend the situation.
Once her mother had left she requested her writing materials and composed a letter to her older brother.
Dear Edward,
I understand that you have been told of my indisposition. You will be pleased to know that I am improving, and Dr Hamid considers me to be out of danger, but I am still confined to bed, and may be for some time.
I have only recently been permitted to read your last letter. Richard, as you correctly surmised is now here, as is Mother. The situation is quite possibly beyond my strength to manage, but I must attempt it all the same. Dr Hamid has arranged for a nurse to tend to me and for that I am grateful.
I cannot think of any message to send to Enid which would not upset her further, but I do think of her constantly and hope that she can find some peace and comfort. I leave it to your judgement of her capacity to appreciate sympathy as to whether or not to pass my words to her.
I send my good wishes to you and Miss Hooper and look forward to knowing her better. I am eagerly anticipating being able to view her collection of pressed flowers,
Affectionately
Mina
Mina’s appetite, which was always moderate at best, was finally returning, if her largely favourable reaction to the scent of cooking dinner was anything to judge by. This was just as well, since the aroma could not be prevented from floating upstairs and became apparent in her room every time the door was opened. She assumed it to be some kind of boiled joint with vegetables which would be reinvented as hash for the following day’s luncheon. Rose eventually arrived with a bowl of meat broth in which a slice of bread was floating. Mysterious things lurked beneath like creatures in a pond. ‘Cook says there’s arrowroot pudding if you want it,’ said Rose.
Mina prodded the bread with her spoon. Dark slivers of onion rose to the surface of the liquid and sank again. ‘I’ll let you know,’ she said.
In the event, she managed most of both the broth and the bread and set the dish aside.
Rose had removed the bowl and Miss Cherry was in her accustomed place when Richard arrived. He had the contented smile of the recently fed and the cheerful step of a man who did not yet know the fate that Mina had in store for him.
He sat on the bed beside Mina, and Miss Cherry gave a soft cough. ‘If you please, Mr Scarletti,’ she said gently, ‘do not sit on the patient’s bed.’
He jumped up. ‘Oh dear, I am so sorry, I didn’t know it was a rule! That is very bad of me, and I promise not to do it again.’ He drew a chair to the bedside, and once seated, fastened all his attention on Mina. ‘How are you, my girl? I hope you managed to eat some dinner.’
‘I did. It was — adequate.’
‘Mother protested that she was unable to eat at all.’
‘Did she eat?’
‘Heartily. And two glasses of wine, which she claimed were for medicinal purposes. But I have come with some news. I was at the benefit performance of Mr Merridew’s Hamlet this afternoon and very splendid it is, too. I especially liked the musical interlude and Polonius’ comic dance. But I took the opportunity of speaking to him afterwards to let him know that you are unwell. You should have seen his face; it was like the two masks — you know — the ones you see in the theatre all the time, one moment distraught to know of your illness —’ Richard made a comically mournful face — ‘and then all smiles —’ he reversed his downturned mouth into a joyous beam — ‘to learn that you are mending. He has another performance tonight, it is the very last one, and he promises to call on you tomorrow. Oh — I hope that isn’t against the rules!’ Richard turned to Miss Cherry. ‘Visitors are permitted, are they not?’
The nurse’s watchful expression had softened considerably, and she smiled. ‘I am sure that a special allowance can be made for Mr Merridew as long as he does not make noise.’
‘He will certainly cheer me up,’ said Mina, and now she thought about it there might be a way in which her actor friend could assist her in the case of the missing Mr Holt. ‘The other thing that cheers me is that Dr Hamid has permitted me to receive my correspondence at last,’ she added.
‘Oh. That is good,’ said Richard. ‘I know how you like letters. Have you heard from Nellie? Is she well? How is Italy?’
‘I have received a letter from her, and she is enjoying the fine weather and the company there.’
Richard was thoughtful. ‘Are there mountains in Italy? I have feeling there might be.’
‘There are, but I doubt that Nellie will be attempting them, although I am sure she would make an accomplished Alpinist if she ever took up the sport.’
‘What about her nasty husband?’ said Richard with a sour expression. ‘It would be very convenient if he was to climb up to the top of a mountain and fall off. I wish he would.’
‘I think that would be a very unpleasant circumstance for everyone concerned.’
‘I doubt it.’
‘But Richard —’ Mina prodded his arm to get his attention — ‘I need to speak to you now on serious family business.’
‘Really?’ he protested. ‘Must you? Serious talks are such a bore.’
‘Yes, I insist.’ Mina turned to the nurse. ‘Miss Cherry, if you could oblige us?’
The nurse understood and departed without raising an objection.
Mina took her brother by the hand. Her own hands, now she looked at them, were almost child-sized by comparison, and both together could not encompass his one. ‘Richard I want you to concentrate very carefully on what I am saying. This is very important.’
‘I always listen to you, Mina, you know I do.’
Mina gave his fingers an affectionate squeeze. ‘You know how much I worry about my family. And there always seems to be so much to worry about. At present, however, Enid is as well as we can reasonably expect, Edward is thriving and looking forward to his wedding, and Dr Hamid has confirmed to me that Mother is in good health, and that I am on the mend, so —’ she paused for emphasis — ‘the only person I need to be concerned about is you.’
‘Me?’ Richard laughed. ‘Oh, Mina dear, I assure you, you have nothing to worry about. I am well and happy.’
‘And prospering?’ she queried.
‘But of course!’
‘Does Edward pay you well?’
He shrugged. ‘Oh, you know Edward, his is ever the closed purse, but actually I am beginning to think that all this business nonsense is starting to suit me. And it is the family business after all, so I will probably be made a partner one day.’
Mina knew that look from Richard — the bland, open-countenanced expression of a soul at peace with his conscience, the look that alwa
ys told her he was lying.
‘Richard,’ she said softly, ‘I know your situation. I know why you are here. I received a letter from Edward. He told me everything.’
It took several moments for denial and protest to cross her brother’s features and scurry away in shame, then his posture slumped. ‘I was going to tell you, really I was.’
‘I assume that Mother doesn’t yet know?’
He shook his head and tried to look at her appealingly. Mina believed that she was one of the few people in the world who was immune to this expression.
She patted his hand. ‘Don’t worry, I will say nothing to her for now. But it is not for your sake. I have no wish to conspire with you to keep your secrets, but Mother has far too much to concern her at present, with both her daughters indisposed, and I don’t want to upset her any more. I will not, however, be silent for ever. I will allow you perhaps three months, to make some significant improvement in your prospects. By that time, I sincerely hope that Enid and her new-born and I will all be less of a trial to Mother. So I suggest that you begin looking for a new career without delay.’
Richard, as Mina expected, did not appear pleased by this demand. He withdrew his hand from hers and searched in his pockets, as he usually did when looking for the small cigars he favoured, but then he caught the look in her eye and desisted.
‘There isn’t anything else I am suited to,’ he sighed. ‘I had hoped to marry well, but the season is done here, so all the rich families with single daughters are gone.’ He rested his elbows on his knees, chin in his hands. ‘Why didn’t Father leave me more money?’
Mina made no compromises with the truth. ‘Because the value of his estate mainly lay in this house and the business. He left you enough to make a start in life, and you spent it.’
Richard gave a little groan and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes. ‘If Mr Jordan would only oblige me by falling off a mountain, Nellie would be rich and I could marry her. I know she’d have me.’
His Father's Ghost (Mina Scarletti Mystery Book 5) Page 4