As soon as the wood caught she added more lumps of coal and then some logs from the basket standing beside the fireplace. Her hands were grimy – she needed to wipe them. Perhaps there was something she could use in either the sideboard or the desk.
Her search proved futile, but the worst of the dirt had been removed by her rummage through the furniture. There were several ledgers in the desk drawer and she thought she might peruse one whilst she waited. But first she must discover if there was a bell with which to summon assistance.
Even after a thorough investigation of every nook and cranny she had still not found what she wanted. She was unsure what to do next. Should she remain where she was and hope that eventually someone would find her, or venture out again and continue along the icy passageways until she found a way back into the heated part of the house?
Perhaps she would stay here until she was warm and could feel her extremities once more. She took one of the ledgers over to an armchair and curled up with the book in her lap. She might as well read this as she had nothing else to do. Idly she flicked open the book and at once realised this was no recent record but something ancient.
The writing was almost indecipherable, with so many loops and whorls she could hardly distinguish one word from the next. The page she was studying appeared to be about expenditure of some sort as there were figures amongst the words.
As she read the tips of her fingers began to tingle unpleasantly. There was something about this book she didn’t like. She tried to throw it to the floor but her hands were stuck fast. It was as if ice was slowly travelling up her arms. With a sickening certainty she knew she was holding the diary of one of the evil spirits and it was somehow reaching out through the words to ensnare her for a second time.
*
Adam watched Miss Bennet stalk off and waited for one of the others to call her back, but no one did, before he could do so himself she was gone. ‘Miss Darcy, I do not think Miss Bennet should be
wandering around the corridors on her own at the moment.’
As the girl scrambled to her feet her brother held up his hand. ‘No, Georgiana, King is quite correct. I shall go myself and find her. We should not have laughed at her, she is too young to take that in her stride without embarrassment.’ He turned to his wife who was looking anxious, but made no attempt to join him. ‘Lizzy, I shall not be long, and in my absence could I suggest that together you try and come up with something that might work in this difficult situation?’
‘I should like to accompany you, I believe that knowledge of this vast establishment will hold me in good stead,’ Adam suggested.
Darcy’s lips thinned and he looked every inch the aristocratic owner of the biggest estate in Derbyshire, then he nodded. ‘Very well, King, she cannot have gone far, we should have no difficulty discovering her.’
After a fruitless twenty minutes Miss Bennet was still missing. ‘The temperature has dropped in the past hour, I believe this corridor to be below freezing.’ Darcy pointed at the window. ‘Well I’ll be damned! There are icicles forming inside – I cannot remember that ever happening before.’
‘It’s unnatural, I believe somehow that what lives in the East Wing has managed to migrate to this part of the house.’ His fists clenched and an icy dread squeezed his heart. ‘I can think of only one reason this might be happening, Darcy, they have found access through Miss Bennet. She is in extreme danger. We must find her immediately.’
He stood, unable to decide what to do next. He was an ex-soldier, used to taking charge and making life-and-death decisions. His breathing calmed and he was once more in control. Darcy was watching him, waiting for him to dictate their next move.
Adam made his decision. ‘If we follow the icy chill that is pervading these corridors I am certain we shall find Miss Bennet. She must have taken refuge in one of the little-used chambers in this part of the house.’ He breathed in deeply whilst slowly rotating clockwise. ‘This way, it is definitely colder in this direction.’
Not waiting for Darcy to follow, he removed the large brass cross from his pocket and held it in front of him praying that the power of God would offer him, and the girl in the devil’s clutches, some protection.
The inside of his nose was freezing – he saw frost forming on the door on the right. He skidded to a halt and charged through shoulder first.
Chapter Twelve
Kitty was reciting the Lord’s Prayer over and over again in the hope that this might slow down the inexorable progress of whatever it was. She would not sit here and be devoured by evil. Somehow she would fight back and gain her freedom.
She jumped from the chair and shook her hands frantically but the book did not budge. The fire. If the diary was pushed into the flames she would surely be released. That she might well be seriously hurt in the process seemed of little consequence – better burned than frozen solid.
The power of the book was attempting to drag her to the far side of the room but she fought back. Inch by inch she edged towards the fireplace with her arms unwillingly outstretched, the ghosts were almost wrenching them from her shoulders.
The closer she got to the heat the harder it was to move. Whatever was controlling her understood what she was trying to do and was equally determined to prevent it. The pain was unbearable. With a final heave she attempted to fling herself backwards but the evil force was too strong and instead she tumbled forwards to land face first on the carpet. Winded, she gasped for breath, knowing that every second she lay there brought her certain death closer. She was finding it more difficult to concentrate – but still managed to send up a fervent prayer for deliverance.
The door crashed open and both Mr King and Darcy were at her side. From somewhere she found the strength to whisper. ‘It is the book – take it from me I beg you before it kills me.’
‘God’s teeth! The damn thing is glued to her fingers. How in God’s name are we going to release her? Her hands and forearms are already as cold as ice – if we do not set her free immediately the ice will reach her heart.’ Darcy was trying to tear the book from her hands with no success.
‘Let me try. My cross is more powerful than any devil’s book.’ King slammed the cross onto the book cover and for a moment she thought he had failed. Then the hideous thing dropped to the floor. Immediately King snatched it up and hurled it into the flames.
Darcy put his arms around her and, just as the diary exploded in a shower of red-hot pieces, pulled her clear of danger. The room went black, the candles and flames extinguished instantly. For a dreadful moment Kitty thought she had been transported into the East Wing and was trapped as she had been before.
Then the heavy, warm weight of Darcy pressing her into the boards reassured her – wherever she was – she wasn’t alone.
‘Are you hurt, Kitty?’ Darcy asked urgently. ‘There was some sort of explosion.’
‘I am well, thank you. Why is it so dark? Should there not be light coming in from the window?’
Before he could answer a stream of impolite invective poured from Mr King. She had never heard such dreadful language and hoped never to do so again. This was accompanied by the strong smell of burning.
An unexpected bubble of mirth escaped. ‘Mr King, are you on fire?’
He stopped swearing and laughed. ‘I do beg your pardon, Miss Bennet, barrack-room manners. I am indeed a trifle singed, but otherwise only my dignity is damaged. It’s damned dark in here, Darcy.’
‘Indeed it is, how very observant of you both.’ His snort of laughter made her feel a little less terrified. He rolled away from her and in one smooth movement regained his feet and pulled her up to join him. ‘Are you able to stand up, King?’
‘I shall be on my feet immediately. I must remove my jacket for it is still smouldering, I am puzzled that we cannot see each other.’
Kitty heard him stand and then remove his jacket, but the blackness remained impenetrable. All desire to laugh evaporated. ‘I think we are in the East Wing. It was as bl
ack as this, but when there I could hear nothing. Please, can we go somewhere I can be warm again?’
‘Of course, sweetheart, you will soon be safe.’ Darcy removed his own jacket and draped it around her shoulders. ‘This should help until we are back in the main part of the house.’
There was a thump and she almost lost her balance as Mr King arrived beside her. ‘Here, let me get past, I shall lead the way. Miss Bennet, hold onto my shirt, Darcy stand behind her and put your arms on my shoulders. That way I believe we will all have the protection of my cross.’
They did as he suggested; the feeling of dread lessened once she was parcelled between the two gentlemen. She pressed her cheek into Mr King’s waistcoat and almost choked from the stench of burnt material. There was no time to ponder on this worry as he spoke firmly in the black obscurity.
‘If we are still, as I pray we are, within the chamber we found you, then the door must be a few feet in front of me. Unnatural forces are at work here which is why the door closed behind us. I intend to walk forward holding the cross out. Stay in close contact, we are less vulnerable as a unit.’
‘Get on with it, man, there is something moving behind us. We need to get out of here.’
Her knees almost gave way beneath her at his words. She could hear the hideous shuffling too. They were not alone in this room. Something was looking for them in the darkness.
‘Hold tight, whatever you do don’t let go. Your lives might depend on it.’ He lurched forward and she hung on desperately, Darcy’s arms supported her as they moved rapidly towards the exit. Mr King’s outstretched arms crashed into the closed door and she was cannoned backwards. Fortunately Darcy retained his grip and they all remained on their feet.
‘The door won’t open.’
The shuffling, scraping sounds were closer. The room was colder. The air was being sucked from her lungs and the smell of gunpowder was overwhelming.
‘I demand that you release us in the name of the Father, son and God Almighty,’ Mr King roared.
Suddenly light flooded over them, the door opened and they tumbled head first into the passageway. Darcy was on his feet first and slammed the door behind them. Now they were in his own domain he took charge.
‘Quickly, we must barricade this door, make sure nobody attempts to enter and whatever is in there cannot get out.’
The two men dragged two wooden settles from an adjoining room and stacked them, one on top of the other, against the door. Kitty leant forlornly against the wall watching them in their feverish activity. This was not how things were supposed to be – her new life at Pemberley should have been filled with gaiety and laughter, family and affection, but instead she was in a living nightmare.
She wanted to go back to Longbourn, to safety, to hear Mama complaining and see Papa skulking off to the library to read his books on astronomy and science. She closed her eyes and pressed her fists into her mouth trying to hold back her sobs, but tears dripped unheeded down her cheeks.
Then she was enveloped in a strong, warm embrace. She didn’t have to look up, she knew immediately this was Mr King. ‘Miss Bennet, Kitty, don’t cry. You have been so brave, just hold on a little longer and all will be well. Hush now, I cannot bear to see you so distressed.’ He rocked her like a child, and stroked her back whilst murmuring reassurance and comfort.
‘Bring her to my apartment, King, we cannot hang about here, it is not safe.’
‘Up you come, sweetheart, put your arm around my neck and I shall carry you.’
She did as he bid, too exhausted and dispirited to argue that she was quite capable of walking. She snuggled into his embrace and her eyes closed. She was warm, protected and so very, very tired.
*
Adam followed Darcy through the rabbit warren of smaller corridors until they re-emerged into the central passageway he recognised. ‘Kitty is asleep, I hope this second experience will not prove too much for her nerves.’
‘I shall take better care of her in future. I must admit I was not altogether in favour of her moving here, she had not endeared herself to me on our previous meetings. However, within a few hours of her arrival I had a revised my opinion. She is like a sister to me now and I will protect her with my life as I would any other member of my family.’ He stopped in front of a pair of handsome double doors and pushed them open.
A footman belatedly appeared at their side. ‘Send word at once to the drawing room that we shall be joining them soon. Have coffee and refreshments sent there as well.’
The chamber was substantial and expensively furnished, Adam noted, if a trifle old-fashioned. They were greeted by Darcy’s valet who kept a commendably straight face. ‘Kindly direct me to Mrs Darcy’s room, Miss Bennett is in need of attention,’ Adams said.
‘If you care to follow me, sir, she will be well looked after.’
Darcy spoke from behind him. ‘When you have left Kitty, come through to my room. We are much of a size and I shall find you a fresh shirt and jacket. Will you require the services of the physician?’
‘I think not, the book did not penetrate more than my jacket. I shall be with you directly.’ Adam placed the sleeping girl on what was a bed that was never used. Mrs Darcy obviously occupied Darcy’s chamber full time. He decided at that moment that when he eventually married it would be to a girl like Elizabeth Darcy, someone who could share his life in every aspect and not just be the mother of his children and the chatelaine of his house.
As he turned to leave, Kitty stirred. ‘Please, Mr King, I beg you, do not leave me to find my way alone to the drawing room.’
‘I should not dream of abandoning you to the empty corridors, Darcy and I are going to change and will remain in this apartment until you are ready to leave, however long that might be.’
She sat up and managed to summon a wan smile. ‘I am feeling a lot better and no longer wish to sleep. When I am tidy I will join you.’
‘Do not hurry on our account, Kitty, we are content to wait. We have sent word to the drawing room that you are safely restored to us, so they will not be waiting anxiously anymore.’
He left her in the hands of two maids, one of which must be Mrs Darcy’s dresser. No doubt they would find the girl something suitable to wear – she was about the same size as her sister. He knocked on the communicating door and was bid to enter.
This chamber was the larger of the two, dominated by a massive tester bed, but still leaving room for several groups of furniture. Darcy shouted to him from an adjoining room, presumably the washroom.
‘In here, King, there is sufficient hot water for both of us. My valet is sorting you out some fresh garments. How is Kitty doing?’
‘She is awake and getting changed.’ He joined his host in a commodious bathing room and stripped off the remnants of his ruined shirt, neckcloth and waistcoat. ‘I fear she will not walk about this house without an escort in future. And I cannot say that I blame her after what she has experienced.’
‘I have been thinking about that these past few minutes and believe this house is no longer safe. I have no other option but to close it down and move elsewhere until the East Wing is demolished and the remains of the structure scattered many miles from here.’
‘If you do that, Darcy, then you must give your staff a reason for the evacuation, find accommodation for all of them and then suffer the gossip that will inevitably follow such an action.’ He scrubbed his face and forearms, but needed assistance to do his back. He was about to ask Darcy when his companion swore.
‘God’s teeth, King, your back needs urgent attention. Does it not hurt like the very devil?’
‘I wasn’t aware of it until I removed the remnants of my shirt, now it is decidedly sore. I have no wish to send for the doctor and explain how I came by these injuries. Would your man be prepared to clean me up?’
After several painful minutes Dawson declared him free of burnt material, had liberally spread his back with a noxious ointment, and declared him fit to dress. Darcy had l
eft him to it.
‘Allow me to assist you into your shirt, sir, I have found a voluminous one that will cause you no discomfort.’
In order to tuck the tails of his shirt between his legs he would have to lower his breeches and hesitated for a moment to do this in front of a stranger. Then shrugged and did what was necessary, glad that his buttocks had not been damaged in the assault from the exploding book.
Dawson helped him put on a green silk waistcoat and then carefully slid a dark green jacket across his injured back. His own man, Hobson, never offered to tie his neckcloth for him, but he did not object when Darcy’s man deftly folded his and arranged it.
‘There, Mr King, as good as new. You are broader in the shoulders than Mr Darcy, but this jacket was ill-made and he has never worn it. Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?’
Adam examined himself in the glass and was more than satisfied with his appearance. ‘Thank you, I much appreciate your assistance.’
*
Kitty sat on the edge of the bed whilst a selection of gowns were held up for her inspection. The third one, a long sleeved, high necked dress in a heavy green cambric would be ideal. The lace around the cuffs and hem relieved the plainness. ‘That one will be perfect, thank you. Thankfully my chemise and petticoat are undamaged by my fall so I do not need to change those. However, I would be grateful for hot water so that I may wash my face and hands.’
Despite her wish to hurry, so she would not keep the gentlemen waiting any longer than necessary, everything seemed to take an age to complete. Finally she was ready, her hair was freshly dressed with dark green ribbons threaded through it, her face and hands free of smuts and Lizzy’s gown had been dropped over her head.
‘You look a picture, miss, if you don’t mind my saying so. Green brings out the colour in your eyes.’
‘It is a very pretty gown, thank you so much for helping me.’ They had not asked how she came to be in such a state and she had offered no explanation.
The Ghosts at Pemberley Page 11