The Ghosts at Pemberley

by Fenella J Miller

  ‘Is Doctor Bevan within? He is needed most urgently at Pemberley.’

  ‘Yes, he is here. Tell me at once what the emergency is.’ Adam stepped aside to allow the doctor to dash past and scramble into his gig. He snapped the whip and his horse took off at a canter with tail flying and ears pricked. No doubt the beast was used to racing around the countryside in this way. Fortunately the lane between the Rectory and Pemberley was without potholes, unlike the stretch in the other direction to Bakewell.

  The groom seemed reluctant to speak but Adam pressed him for an answer and he eventually divulged the reason the physician was needed. Miss Bennet had been taken seriously ill, but the man appeared to know nothing more.

  Bingley and his wife must not know about this second disaster, at least not until he had discovered for himself exactly what was wrong. He roared at his butler. ‘Have my horse brought round immediately. No word of this must reach my guests – is that quite clear?’

  Vernon nodded. The man was not stupid and understood that, like the rest of the staff Adam had inherited, he was still on trial and could lose his position if he did not fulfil his duties efficiently. ‘I shall be back in time for dinner, there is no need for Cook to delay on my account.’

  He was already dressed in breeches and boots, all he had to do was don his riding coat, beaver, gloves and collect his whip and he would be ready. He took the stairs three at a time and erupted into his apartment half scaring his manservant to death. Hobson rose to the occasion and within a minute or two Adam was ready and hurtling back downstairs.

  A waiting footman flung open the front door as he approached and he was delighted to see his horse prancing at the bottom of the steps. The reins were already over the animal’s head, he grabbed them and vaulted into the saddle then he too was cantering down the drive and out into the lane.

  It would be quicker to go across country, jump hedges and ditches then he could gallop, which he could not do on a public highway, however remote it might be. He turned Courtier’s head towards the gate at the side of the lane, kicked him and his stallion soared over with feet to spare.

  The fact that he would arrive mud-spattered and dishevelled from his ride was of no concern. For some reason he knew his presence was needed. His urgency was not because of any warm feelings he held towards Miss Bennet, she was a stranger to him, but because he sincerely believed he would be able to help in some way.

  He sailed over the final gate, and galloped across the park that surrounded Pemberley dislodging huge black divots from the pristine grass. He sat back in the saddle and his horse skidded to a halt. A startled stableboy rushed out to greet him. Adam had arrived before the doctor or the groom. He tossed his reins to the lad and ran beside the brick wall that he hoped would lead to the side door.

  He paused before knocking to quickly rub the worst of the mire from his boots. His summons was answered immediately, and the footman who admitted him showed no surprise at his unorthodox and precipitate arrival.

  ‘Adam King, to see Mr Darcy, if you please.’

  The man bowed and without further ado led him down the passageway and into a flagstone corridor that after a while opened into an even more spacious stone passage that appeared to bisect the house. They turned right and then his guide halted in front of some tall, double doors. They were open and he could hear voices inside.

  ‘Mr King to see you, sir,’ the footman announced in a loud voice.

  Adam stepped into a vast chamber that must have been all of forty yards in length and thirty yards in breadth. Good grief! One could entertain a regiment in here. Darcy stepped forward to greet him, he was accompanied by a young lady who could only be his sister, Georgiana.

  ‘My word, we did not expect anyone from the Rectory to be here so soon. Is the doctor on his way?’ Darcy nodded politely. The man looked drawn, if he was not mistaken there was a distinct smell of smoke about the place.

  ‘I came across country, Bevan will be here shortly. Has there been a fire? Is Miss Bennet burned?’ The thought of such a pretty girl being disfigured filled him with horror.

  ‘Yes, we had a small fire but it is put out and the damage not too serious. Kitty was not injured by the flames but has suffered some sort of collapse and is in a coma.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘We are not exactly certain, but from the evidence it would appear she dropped the lamp and this ignited a curtain, causing the blaze. We are at a loss to understand why we found her collapsed in the schoolroom on the nursery floor.’

  Miss Darcy was red-eyed and obviously bitterly distressed but said nothing, although she caught his eye as if she wished to speak to him in private. Was he misreading the signs? He raised an eyebrow and she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

  ‘I am here in my capacity as a minister, if I can offer my prayers or support in any way, please do not hesitate to ask. By the by, Bingley has made a remarkable recovery and will be able to travel here tomorrow.’

  ‘Excellent news. I can hardly comprehend that within twenty-four hours my family has been entangled in two catastrophes. I am bracing myself for the third event.’ Darcy summoned up a weak smile to accompany his attempt to lighten the mood.

  ‘Miss Darcy, perhaps you would be kind enough to direct me to the chapel so that I might pray for Miss Bennet’s speedy recovery.’

  The girl glanced at her brother for permission and the look bestowed upon her demonstrated his deep affection for his sibling. ‘Go with Mr King, my dear, I think a while spent in contemplation and prayer would be beneficial for all of us. I shall join you in the chapel as soon as I have spoken to Doctor Bevan.’

  ‘If you would care to come this way, Mr King, our chapel is on the west side of Pemberley.’

  Adam nodded to Darcy and followed her down what seemed like hundreds of yards of passageways and through a dozen doors until they reached their destination. She had made no attempt to talk to him, just hurried him along.

  He pushed open the heavy door and stepped into an ancient and peaceful place. He paused for a moment to drink in the atmosphere. There were two handsome stained-glass windows, a dozen tall, ornately carved chairs set out on either side of the chapel, and a raised stone altar upon which stood a tall golden cross.

  After a few moments of quiet prayer he was ready to discover why the girl had wished to speak to him. She was sitting quietly beside him with her head lowered and her hands clasped in her lap. ‘Miss Darcy, how can I be of assistance?’

  Immediately she swivelled on her chair, her expression earnest. ‘I must tell you something about this place that you might not know as you have so recently arrived in the neighbourhood. The East Wing is abandoned and has been so for a hundred years or more. My brother told me Pemberley is so vast the family has never had any need for those three floors with their low-ceilinged rooms and inconvenient staircases.’

  She fidgeted in her chair and plucked at her skirt as if reluctant to speak. ‘You can tell me anything, Miss Darcy, I give you my word it will go no further.’

  Reassured by his words she swallowed and for the first time raised her head and looked him directly in the eye. ‘A few weeks ago I discovered an old diary written by an ancestor of mine, a girl of about my age, in which she gives another reason entirely for the empty East Wing. She says this wing was abandoned because of ghosts.’

  Whatever he had expected her to say, it had certainly not been this. ‘Ghosts? Are you trying to tell me that the events here have been caused by supernatural powers?’

  She nodded vigorously. ‘Indeed I am, sir, Kitty and I had decided to investigate these claims. I think that somehow she encountered one of these spectres and the shock has sent her into a trance. Please, I beg you, come and pray over her.’

  ‘I shall do so, but pray for her, not over her. What makes you think she has had contact with the spirit?’ He could hardly credit he was discussing something so ridiculous, as if the existence of the supernatural was a fact, but in his capacity as a priest he m
ust do his best to comfort and not criticise.

  ‘I believe something drew her to that door, it leads to the East Wing, and then terrified by what she saw she dropped the lamp and this caused the fire. I cannot fathom how she ended up in the schoolroom.’

  ‘Miss Darcy, I think you are correct in your assumption that she went to investigate behind the curtain and then dropped her lamp. However, is it not more likely that being so upset by the accident, she fled and somehow struck her head?’

  She jumped to her feet so suddenly her chair crashed noisily to the flagstones. ‘You must come at once and see her for yourself and then you will understand why I am so certain it is terror that holds her in a coma.’

  When she ran from the chapel he had no option but to follow her. This time she took him by a different route and across the central passageway, which he recognised, through the vast hall in which their feet echoed on the polished floor.

  ‘Kitty is in her chamber which is on the first floor. I expect the doctor is with her by now, but no one will think it odd of you to wish to offer your prayers for her recovery.’

  He followed her through a large double door at the far end which led into another huge room holding the most ornate and elaborate marble staircase he had ever set eyes on. He was given no time to admire the ceiling paintings, the frescoes or anything else as she dashed up ahead of him.

  With her skirts flying about her ankles with no regard for decorum, she scurried along the corridor and straight into what was obviously a private sitting room. Dr Bevan was conversing gravely with Darcy and his wife stood by the window. Matters must be serious indeed to cause such long faces.

  ‘I beg your pardon for intruding, but Miss Darcy wishes me to pray with her for Miss Bennet’s recovery.’

  They barely acknowledged his presence, Darcy gestured towards the bedchamber and he took that as permission. There were two maids hovering by the bedside, they curtsied and stepped back into the shadows.

  Miss Darcy spoke. ‘Leave us, we wish to be private with Miss Bennet. Quickly, you must exorcise the spectre before they come back in.’

  Adam had no intention of doing any such thing, but he would pray for the girl and hope the Almighty would hear his words. He stepped to the end of the bed and for a moment was too shocked to do anything but stare. This girl looked nothing like any patient he had ever seen – and he had seen plenty of those in his years as a soldier.

  It was as if a block of ice had formed around his heart; a malevolence pervaded the room. Without conscious thought he raised his hands above his head and asked for God to intervene. His prayer was silent, but his words were heartfelt. His fingers tingled and he pointed them at Kitty. Slowly her colour returned and she was no longer a living corpse but a being of this world.

  *

  Kitty was aware someone else had entered the chamber. She strained to hear who the new visitors were. For some strange reason she was now able to recognise Georgiana, but her companion had yet to speak.

  Something was changing, the darkness was fading, a greater power was bringing her back into the light. The evil that had held her captive slipped away and she was free. She opened her eyes, sat bolt upright in bed. She was not surprised to see a man of God praying at the end of her bed.

  ‘Mr King, you have saved my life. How can I ever repay you?’

  Chapter Seven

  Kitty’s sudden awakening sent Mr King backwards as if stabbed by a sharp hatpin, and Georgiana, who had been standing beside the bed, shrieked with excitement. The resulting noise and confusion brought the doctor, Lizzy and Darcy running into the room.

  ‘Dearest Kitty, I cannot believe you are so suddenly recovered,’ Lizzy exclaimed as she dropped beside her on the bed and took her hands.

  ‘Mr King did it, Lizzy, he prayed for Kitty and there was a miracle.’

  Georgiana had tears trickling down her face. Indeed, when Kitty looked around, everyone, apart from Mr King, appeared overwhelmed with joy at her recovery. Why was he staring at her in a most particular way?

  ‘I dropped my lamp and started the fire, Mr Darcy, I am so dreadfully sorry to have caused—.’

  ‘We shall not say another word about it, my dear girl, the fire was put out quickly and the damage can soon be repaired.’ He moved closer not looking at all forbidding or austere at this moment. ‘How did you get up to the schoolroom? Was it fear that caused you to run away?’

  Doctor Bevan cleared his throat noisily. ‘I think Miss Bennet has had more than enough excitement for one day. It would be wise if she was left to rest and questions and answers kept until tomorrow.’ He smiled at her. ‘You gave us quite a fright, young lady. Never have I encountered a patient so deeply unconscious, and I have certainly not seen anyone recover so quickly.’

  Lizzy took charge. ‘The doctor is right, we must leave Kitty to rest. Is there anything you need before we go?’

  What she really wanted was for them all to stay, for some reason she had no wish to be alone. Then inspiration struck. ‘I should like Mr King to stay and pray with me – I believe that I should give thanks to the Almighty for my recovery.’

  He nodded as if pleased by her suggestion. ‘I should be delighted, Miss Bennet, as long as your family is happy for me to do so.’

  Darcy replied for all of them. ‘I never cease to be amazed at the power of prayer. Perhaps you would be so kind as to lead us in a short service in the Chapel when you have done here, Mr King?’

  After a chorus of wishes and farewells the bedchamber emptied, although Lizzy had carefully left both the door leading into the passageway, and the one that led into the sitting room, wide open. Even the rector must observe the proprieties.

  He waited until the sound of voices and footsteps had faded before fetching a chair and placing it beside the bed. From his expression he had no intention of praying, but of asking difficult questions.

  ‘Miss Bennet, can you tell me exactly what transpired? However extraordinary, however unbelievable, I wish to know.’ His expression was deadly serious, he looked determined to get answers.

  She closed her eyes and clenched her fists trying to still the rapid beating of her heart. She didn’t want to talk about it, but having him sitting there, so calm and strong, gave her the confidence. Once she started the words tumbled out and she described exactly what she had experienced, missing out not a single detail.

  When she finished her tale she was shaking, but relieved she had shared her terror with someone else. To her astonishment he took her hands in his, the warmth and strength of his grip calmed her. She raised her eyes to find him watching her sympathetically.

  ‘Did I imagine it? It is too fantastical to be true.’

  ‘Miss Bennet, I’m quite certain that you believe what you experienced is genuine, but in your terror the actual incident has become confused.’

  Kitty snatched her hands back. He was humouring her, he thought her a silly, hysterical young lady. She was about to remonstrate with him but then recalled how, a few moments ago, he had called her back from the brink of oblivion. Her head swam and his image blurred – she could not fight the waves of blackness that were swirling around her.

  *

  Adam cursed under his breath. His maladroit handling of the situation had caused the poor girl to swoon. She was not comatose as before, her colour was good and her breathing regular. There was no need to alarm her family this time, better to leave her to rest.

  He sat up and bowed his head, he had been asked to pray and would do so before he left. He believed in the power of the Lord, that there was both good and evil in this world, that there was a heaven and hell, but before today he had never considered there might be a third state of being.

  Today he had come across indisputable proof that there were indeed spirits inhabiting a place somewhere between heaven, hell and this world. Logically one must assume that, as in reality, there would be both benign and evil spirits in this place.

  His intention had been to reassure the girl, try
and allay her fears, give her time to recover from her appalling experience before she was obliged to adjust her perception of this world, as he had just done. Instead she now thought he had dismissed her story and that was definitely not the case.

  Although he believed her version of events, he was still of the opinion that she had not actually been behind the door and then magically transported to the schoolroom. The evil miasma must have invaded her mind and, in trying to escape from the terror, she had taken herself to the nursery floor before succumbing to the black spirit in her head.

  He quickly murmured a fervent thank you to the Almighty and asked for his guidance and support in his fight against the dark powers. For he was in no doubt at all, that Satan was directing whatever lurked in the East Wing.

  The others were waiting a few yards down the passageway, not near enough to eavesdrop, but within earshot if they were needed. The physician was no longer with them; he must have gone about his business. He had no wish to alarm Mr and Mrs Darcy further with his disturbing discovery so decided not to reveal what he had been told.

  ‘Miss Bennet is sleeping, but she has had an uncomfortable experience.’ He hesitated, not sure if they would take it amiss if he made suggestions as to the disposition of their household. ‘Perhaps she might feel more comfortable if someone were to stay with her? I believe she might well suffer from night terrors if she is on her own in a strange place.’

  ‘We had already decided Kitty should move in with me today,’ Miss Darcy said.

  Mrs Darcy nodded. ‘Kitty has always been frail, although these past few months she has been much recovered. After her collapse this morning I should be much happier if she was sharing with you, Georgiana.’

  ‘Georgiana, can you arrange for her belongings to be transferred? Do we need to have a second bed moved into your chamber?’

  ‘Absolutely not, we shall share. After all, we are sisters and that is what sisters do, is it not?’ Miss Darcy looked at her sister-in-law for confirmation.

  ‘Indeed it is, my love, Jane and I were together until our marriage five months ago. Kitty shared with Lydia until she left Longbourn. I am certain she will be more comfortable with you at her side.’