She hurried into the pretty sitting room, but found it to be empty. The sound of male voices came from a half-open door on the far wall – they were in there waiting for her. She moved towards it not sure if she should knock or just walk in. While she had been busy with her toilette she had been able to push what happened to the back of her mind, but now she was about to rejoin Darcy and Mr King, and be obliged to go out into the corridor again her fear flooded back.
She could not dither about out here, Georgiana, Lizzy, Jane and Bingley must be beside themselves with worry at this long delay. She raised her hand to knock on the door but instead of a polite tap her fist came down hard and the door smashed back against the wall.
The two gentlemen stared at her in shock and she wished the floor would open and swallow her up. Heat travelled from her toes to the crown of her head and she was struck dumb by embarrassment.
Then Mr King was at her side. ‘Kitty, are you quite well? You startled us by your dramatic entrance and I feared something else had frightened you.’
She hung her head and mumbled an apology. ‘I did not mean to, I’m sorry I have kept you waiting, I am ready now.’
‘You look charming in that gown, Kitty, and you have not kept us waiting, King has only just arrived.’ Darcy walked towards her his expression serious and held out his hand and she had no option but to place one of hers in it. He drew her closer to him. ‘I want you to know, sweetheart, that I think of you as my little sister and will not let anything do you harm. In future I wish you to call me Fitzwilliam.’
Her mouth fell open. It took several seconds to recover her voice. ‘I could not do that – Mama would go to bed for a week with her nerves if she was to hear of it.’
He laughed and dropped an affectionate kiss on the top of her head. ‘Then it is fortunate, Kitty, that she remains in Longbourn.’
He kept his arm around her shoulders and he and Mr King entertained her with light-hearted chatter and before she realised it they were walking through the library and almost at their destination.
‘If I have your permission, Darcy, might I too dispense with formality and call her Kitty? After what we have shared together, I believe we have earned the right to call each other by our given names.’
‘Excellent, it will be far easier if we are on familiar terms.’ He raised an eyebrow and Mr King – no, he must be Adam in future – chuckled.
‘Have no fear, I have no intention of addressing you as anything but Darcy.’
‘That is a relief, for I do not believe my toplofty standing could survive such a thing.’
They entered the drawing room in a remarkably good humour, considering what had taken place, to be greeted by shrieks of excitement and joy as if they had been gone for weeks and not an hour or so.
Chapter Thirteen
‘At last, we have been waiting this age for you to come. I am not sure if the coffee will be hot enough, I shall send for fresh immediately,’ Lizzy exclaimed as she ran and threw herself into Darcy’s arms. (Calling him Fitzwilliam even in her head was going to be nigh on impossible.)
‘We apologise for keeping you, my love, you will understand when we explain the whole to you.’ He returned her embrace in full measure. At that moment Kitty decided if she ever got married then it would be to a gentleman who would love her as wholeheartedly as… as Fitzwilliam loved Lizzy.
Georgiana kissed her on both cheeks. ‘You are wearing one of Lizzy’s gowns, it suits you admirably, but I am curious to know why you are obliged to do so.’
‘Your brother will explain everything, but, if you will forgive me, I wish to sit by the fire and have something hot to drink.’ Kitty surveyed the spread laid out on a large octagonal table. ‘I shall also have piece of plum cake, scones and strawberry conserve.’
She settled on a small sofa and her friend joined her. She glanced up to see Mr King – no – he was to be Adam now – smiling in her direction. She beckoned him over. ‘After all the excitement I find myself quite ravenous. Would you like me to butter a scone or cut you a piece of cake… Adam?’
The shocked gasp at her breach of etiquette coming from beside her, made her want to giggle. He grinned and winked. Even more shocking! ‘I should love both, Kitty, if you would be so kind. Shall I pour us both a cup of coffee?’
Whilst they were occupied with cake and coffee the others joined them around the fire. There was almost a party atmosphere as they chatted brightly and munched the delicious cake and scones and drank the bitter, aromatic brew she had come to love. Then everything changed.
‘If you have all finished eating, we have much to discuss,’ Darcy said putting down his cup.
Each in turn did as he had, and then sat quietly waiting for him to speak. He gave a brief, but detailed, description of what had taken place. Hearing it so boldly put sent tremors up her spine, despite being so closely situated to the substantial fire. When he had completed the terrifying account he sat back and waited for their reaction. Adam was the first to respond.
‘I have a suggestion to make before you start packing to remove from here. I should like to walk around the house and see for myself if the evil has gone. I am of the opinion that they can only reach us if we come into contact with an object that once belonged to one of them, or get too close to a communicating door.’ He paused and looked around to see if his words were being received well or rejected.
‘Whatever you say, King, both Lizzy and the girls have come into contact with them on the gallery several yards from the door.’
‘Would it not be possible to close the gallery and Great Stairs? We could all use the oak staircase in future,’ Georgiana said, ‘rather than move away just before the festivities start.’
‘I was about to suggest that you girls move downstairs, but after this morning’s episode I am not sure that would be any safer.’ Lizzy looked at Darcy for confirmation. ‘I would much prefer to remain here, Fitzwilliam, if you and Adam decide that it is safe to do so.
‘We could move into the West Wing with Jane and Bingley, couldn’t we?’
‘Excellent idea, Georgiana. In fact it would make more sense for Lizzy and I to take an apartment there as well. In fact, I believe there are sufficient chambers to accommodate our guests if we decide to proceed with the Christmas arrangements.’ He frowned and ran his hands through his hair making it stand on end. ‘However, until I am satisfied whatever lurks in the East Wing is not going to be a danger to us I shall not make a decision about closing Pemberley.’
Adam stood up. ‘I am going to patrol the corridors. Unfortunately I do not know this vast establishment and will need a guide if I am not to become lost.’
Kitty found herself on her feet beside him with no clear recollection of having made that decision. ‘I shall come with you, if I can walk about safely I think everybody else will be able to as well. I believe that for some reason they are drawn to me.’
‘Out of the question, my girl, you have endured more than enough today. I will not have you putting yourself in any further danger. I shall come with you, King…’
Lizzy interrupted him. ‘I think that Kitty is right, dearest, she will be perfectly safe if both of you are beside her. Let her come, that way I shall be sanguine about remaining under this roof.’
The gentlemen exchanged glances and then both nodded. Bingley made no move to join them. Was he not brave enough to face whatever spirits haunted this house? Jane was looking peaky; was it possible she too was in an interesting condition? Kitty decided she would make discreet enquiries later on.
‘You shall not go on your own, I shall come too.’ Georgiana rushed to her side and put her arm through Kitty’s in a proprietorial manner as if daring anyone to detach her.
‘Very well, you shall both come with us. Do you have a crucifix you could put on before we leave? The one that Adam has seems to be an excellent barrier.’
‘I believe I have one in my reticule,’ Georgiana said and ran over to snatch up her bag and rummage in it. She held up
the delicate cross and gold chain triumphantly. Darcy helped her put it on.
Immediately Jane began to fumble at her neck. ‘Here, Kitty, I am wearing one. You take mine, you need it more than I do at the moment.’ Bingley removed it for her and brought it over still warm from her neck.
Adam reached out and took it and then gestured for Kitty to turn so he could fasten it securely. ‘There, I believe you will be safer now. You must stay close together and let Darcy and I walk on either side. Is that quite clear?’
Kitty thought it strange Adam was issuing orders when Darcy was standing right beside him. She supposed that being an ex-soldier, and a man of God, gave him precedence in this matter. The thought of her formidable brother-in-law taking second place was a novel one, she was quite certain that before he had married Lizzy this would never have occurred.
The room was subdued as they set off, Jane and Bingley sitting close together holding hands in front of the fire, pale-faced and anxious. It seemed inappropriate to bid them farewell so Kitty contented herself with a smile and a nod of her head.
Once outside and the door closed, they waited for Adam to decide where they should go first. ‘I would like to walk around the guest wing, Darcy, as this is where you will be living if you decide to remain here.’
‘Although we tend to refer to the oak staircase in derogatory terms, it is a magnificent, carved set of stairs and of equal importance historically as the others. It will be no hardship using those for the foreseeable future.’
Georgiana’s fingers were digging painfully into Kitty’s arm. She wished her friend had not decided to accompany them as she had been terrified on the gallery. ‘Your sister should not come with us, we would do better with just the three of us.’ This sounded rather abrupt but she had no wish to say she thought Georgiana too weak-spirited to cope with what might happen.
Instantly her arm was released. ‘If you are sure you can manage by yourselves, I should much prefer to stay behind with Jane and Bingley.’ With an apologetic smile Georgiana rushed back into the drawing room.
‘That was well done of you, Kitty, King and I are in a better position to protect you now.’
She wasn’t sure how they would proceed, in single file or side by side. Adam made the decision for her by taking her hand and placing it through his arm. She stepped closer wanting to feel the security of his warmth through her gown. Darcy took the lead and they fell into step behind him.
The route down the central, flagstone passageway was straightforward and was mercifully free of the icy chill associated with the evil spirits. They passed several footmen about their duties but they ignored them. What they thought of this strange parade she had no idea, but no doubt it would be the subject of gossip in the evening when they had finished work.
By the time they reached the second staircase, that led directly to the West Wing, she was rather breathless but was certain this side of the house was free of ghosts. ‘Have we walked through all the passageways we would be using if we moved here?’ Kitty asked when Darcy finally paused.
He nodded and pointed to a staircase that must lead to a third floor. ‘There are still the smaller chambers, that would be used by the older progeny of our guests, to examine and then we have done. Am I right in assuming that so far you have found nothing untoward?’
‘If there was anything unpleasant I would have felt a strange coldness in my fingers and I have not done so. I was wondering, do the servants sleep anywhere near the East Wing?’
‘No, the men sleep downstairs and the girls in the attics in this wing. Fortunately they will not have come in contact with that side of the house at all – apart from when they clean the chambers that adjoin.’
After a brief inspection of the smaller, but more than adequate, guest rooms on the upper floor, she was convinced this half of the house was quite safe. As they were making their way back to the drawing room something occurred to her. ‘Have you thought of what you are going to say to your staff to explain why we are abandoning our chambers? Also, there will need to be an underlying reason given to your guests.’
Darcy smiled. ‘I have some ideas, but thought we could discuss it when we rejoin the others. Lizzy might well have some pertinent suggestions.’
That was indeed the case as her sisters had been discussing this very subject in their absence. Once they were all ensconced around the fire Lizzy told them what she had in mind.
‘Bingley suggested the closure of this part of the house could be put down to an infestation of some sort.’ She looked at him and he nodded.
‘My sisters and I were once invited to visit a grand house in Herefordshire and when we arrived the place was in turmoil. Insects that destroy the fabric of the building had been discovered and half the house was abandoned until these could be dealt with.’
‘Were you still able to stay there, Bingley?’ Adam asked.
‘Although not as grand as Pemberley, the place was substantial and the family and house guests used the rooms that were free of infestation. If I recall correctly, we had a very jolly time.’
‘If we use the same ploy, Fitzwilliam, I believe we can continue to live here without alarming the staff or cancelling our arrangements. Even if we close the music room, and the reception room holding the Great Staircase we still have more than enough space to entertain a hundred guests.’
He looked thoughtful and didn’t answer for a moment. ‘Kitty, could I prevail upon you to do one more thing? I want to see how far the infestation has spread. I believe that only our apartment, being adjacent to the East Wing, is at any risk. If I am proved correct, then you and Georgiana can remain where you are, and so can Jane and Bingley.’
Adam looked unconvinced but made no adverse comment. ‘I am prepared to come with you, but can we do it immediately, before it gets full dark?’
‘The sconces will have been lit by now, Kitty dearest,’ Lizzy said. ‘However, I wonder why no servant has complained of seeing apparitions or experiencing unpleasantness when they have been in this part of the house.’
‘That is a question I cannot answer, Mrs Darcy, but I sincerely believe anyone venturing there is at risk, although for some reason we are more vulnerable than your staff.’
Adam was on his feet and held out his hand. Kitty took it without hesitation, his calloused palm and strong grip were becoming pleasantly familiar. Strangely none of the assembled company looked at all shocked or put out by this. A warm glow suffused her cheeks as she considered what might be the reason for this acceptance of such a breach of etiquette.
She glanced at him and his eyes held hers for a moment. Her heart skipped a beat and she could not prevent a smile from curving her lips.
*
Adam caught his breath. He had known Kitty for less than a week and had quite inexplicably fallen irrevocably in love with her. He had never thought to meet the young lady of his dreams in such a bizarre fashion. Neither had he expected to give his heart so suddenly to a girl who must be almost ten years his junior.
Her smile was radiant, she was without doubt the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. He was not easily bedazzled by such things, was more interested in what went on inside a person than in their outside appearance. Kitty had proved herself braver than many soldiers he had fought with, kind and considerate and with a lively wit. When this wretched business was over he would speak to Darcy, ask his permission to pay court to his ward.
A surge of happiness and confidence flooded through him. He knew now why God had sent him to Bakewell, not only to fight the demons that had taken root in Pemberley but also to meet the girl who would become his wife. He sent up a heartfelt prayer of thanks. His life was not to be a lonely one, clattering around in a large house on his own, but to have a loving partner to share in his mission and, God willing, the blessing of children to make their family complete.
Buoyed up by this amazing revelation his hands tightened on hers and to his joy she returned the pressure. ‘If you are quite sure you are ready
for this, Kitty, let us get on with it. There is no need for anyone else to accompany us this time, we are now familiar with the layout of the house.’
His host’s lips thinned. Darcy did not like being given orders in his own house, and he didn’t blame him. Before the well-deserved set down could be given Adam raised his hand in a gesture of surrender. ‘That was unpardonably rude of me, I hope you will forgive me, Darcy. Less than six months ago I was still an officer and am still overfond of giving orders. No excuse, I know, but I hope to do better in future.’
Disaster was averted. ‘I am a proud man and find it difficult to take second place. However, in this matter I believe you must be the leader. You have a connection to a higher power and I must stand aside because of that.’
Adam understood his message. He could take the lead in fighting the evil but when this matter was finished he would resume his place if he wished to remain within the Darcy family circle. ‘If you have no objection, sir, Kitty and I will make an excursion to the music room, Great Stairs and gallery. I shall keep her safe, no harm shall come to her whilst she is under my protection.’
Her hand was trembling as he tucked it through his arm and he gave her a conspiratorial wink and was rewarded with a stifled giggle. He guided her to the far side of the room where the door which connected to the music room was situated. ‘Are you ready, Kitty? No one will think the worse of you if you change your mind.’
‘I can do anything if you are beside me. Darcy is right to say you have a strength that none of us possess – but I am not certain if it is coming from within you or because you are a man of the cloth.’
Although the drawing room was less than half the size of the music room it must still measure more than ten yards from side to side. This meant the group by the fire could no longer hear them.
‘Kitty, my dear, there is something most important I must say to you before we venture forth.’ She looked expectantly at him, her beautiful eyes widened as if she guessed his intention.
The Ghosts at Pemberley Page 12