Beautiful Strangers

by Ellen Dean

  The bedroom lights flashed frantically on and off several times before leaving them in inky darkness. Frozen with fear, both stifled a scream when they felt the bedclothes being pulled away from them. Trying to hold onto the covers, unable to fight the force pulling at them, both women screamed out loud as the bedcovers were whipped off completely, leaving them exposed in the darkness.

  ‘Beth you’re in bed with the wrong woman.’

  ‘Lou, did you hear that voice?’

  ‘What voice?’ Lou pulled the pillow over her head. ‘Can’t hear a thing!’

  ‘Lou can’t hear me, Beth, only you can hear me.’

  ‘You can’t here that?’

  ‘No!’

  Beth focused on the glow, and watched as Hyacinth’s eyes looked out from the centre of the swirling orb of energy. She quickly retrieved the duvet from the floor. ‘Here.’ She threw it across the bed to Lou, and then jumped in beside her, fully clothed.

  ‘What a weird place this is,’ Lou snuggled up to her, pulling the duvet around them both as she did so, ‘I don’t think that I’ll be able to sleep a wink. What did the ghost say?’

  ‘Nothing important.’

  Beth continued to watch the orb. The blue of H’s eyes intensified giving them more life. Breathing deeply Beth focused her mind on those penetrating eyes sending her own thoughts out. Go away, H. I am not prepared to play mind games with you.

  Chapter 37

  Davinia tucked into her full English breakfast. ‘Did you manage to get any sleep girls?’

  Beth muttered into her toast, ‘A little,’ she said watching Davinia shove a big fat sausage into her mouth.

  ‘You should pay your electric bill, Davinia,’ Lou said.

  ‘These electrics! I keep telling my father to get it sorted out. I think we need a complete rewire. But he hates parting with his money for maintenance work.’ She stuffed another sausage into her mouth. ‘Now, if it was another Rolls Royce, that would be a different matter,’ she said, spitting a piece of sausage onto the tablecloth. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t talk with my mouth full.’

  Your mouth’s never empty, Beth thought.

  Petra came in to clear away some dishes while Felicity and Lou were discussing horses, again. Taking advantage of their distraction Petra moved around the table to stand next to Beth.

  Quietly she said, ‘You enjoy the party, yes?’

  Surprised, Beth replied just as quietly, but rather pompously, ‘Yes, thank you . . . we did,’ purposely emphasizing the we.

  Petra made no response. Instead she fussed around the table, kneeling to retrieve a serviette from the floor next to Beth’s chair. As she stood up she ran her fingertips lightly up Beth’s leg.

  Beth’s breath caught in her throat making her cough. ‘Did I hear Hyacinth’s voice last night — was she at the party?’

  ‘Like Cinderella, she disappear at midnight.’ Petra disappeared back to the kitchen.

  After breakfast Beth and Lou decided to go for a walk, ostensibly to clear their heads, but in reality so Beth could phone Lindsay and they could discuss her overheard conversation without fear of eavesdropping.

  Lindsay sounded exasperated. ‘What is wrong with you, have you got a bloody death wish? Why can’t you stay away from those women?’ she shouted.

  Beth held the phone away from her ear. ‘Don’t blow a fuse. You’re deafening me.’

  ‘Deafening you! Get the hell out of there. Don’t make any waves. Just go.’ Lindsay paused. ‘Do you understand?’

  Beth looked at Lou, ‘She wants us to leave.’

  Lou took the phone, ‘What’s going on, Lindsay?’

  ‘This is no joke. Just get yourself and little Miss Marple out of there, now.’

  ‘Will do.’ She flipped the phone shut. ‘Guess we’ve gotta go, hun. Let’s find Felicity and make our excuses.’

  * * * * * * * *

  As Beth and Lou approached the stables they could hear crying coming from inside one of the loose boxes. They stopped and looked at each other. Lou mouthed to Beth, ‘What do we do now?’ Beth shrugged. Lou gestured her over close to the wall where they could here better.

  ‘I don’t like her. She’s a troublemaker.’ Fliss sobbed.

  ‘I know, I know.’ Penny tried to soothe her. ‘She is a pain, but H insisted. You know how she is.’

  ‘Only too fucking well.’ Felicity blew her nose noisily disturbing the horse. It moved into the corner of the box giving Beth and Lou a clear view.

  ‘Come on, let’s get the tack.’ Penny put an arm around Fliss’s shoulders to comfort her, ‘Montanna means nothing to me, but she is part of the group. That’s all it is, I promise you. And you know H is trying to establish a new route . . . Okay?’

  Felicity nodded, but her sobs subdued.

  ‘Now, we shouldn’t even be discussing this. Come on. Let’s give the horses a gallop and forget about it. Dry your eyes, sweetie.’

  Beth nudged Lou. ‘Told you they were together, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yes, you did my little Sherlock Holmes.’ Lou said. ‘We’d better go and say our goodbyes. Then we’ll get the hell out of here.’

  ‘That suits me fine.’

  After a short stroll around the rose garden to allow Felicity time to pull herself together, they went back to the stables. Fliss greeted them warmly, showing no sign of her previous distress. She and Penny were almost ready to ride, she said, and despite Lou’s loud protestations, saddled Bamber and Phantom, insisting they all ride together. Lou and Beth had no choice but to join them. Leaving the stable yard, Fliss led the way along a narrow path towards a giant rockery. The path twisted through the middle giving the impression of riding through the Grand Canyon. The sides were extremely high then gave way to woodland thick with bluebells. Riding in single file had made conversation impossible, which seemed to be exactly what Fliss intended. Unexpectedly, the track led into a wide and well cared for clearing where a waterfall splashed down into a pond filled with carp.

  ‘This is gorgeous.’ Beth exclaimed.

  ‘Isn’t it?’ Fliss acknowledged.

  ‘Look, Lou, over there. Can you see that funny little door?’ Beth pointed towards a group of large rocks.

  ‘It’s supposed to be a tunnel back into the Manor.’ Fliss explained matter-of-factly. ‘I don’t think it’s ever been used. Not in my lifetime anyway, but this is such an old place, as you know. The Manor is riddled with secret passageways, the priests’ old escape routes. I used to play in the cellars during my childhood. I could ride my bike through some of the tunnels. I wasn’t supposed to go into a couple of the cellar rooms though, but I used to sneak in. I loved the smell in there, it was like exotic perfume.’ She sniffed her wrist as Penny shot her a dangerous look.

  ‘I know what you mean. My sister and I used to play in the cellars at home too,’ Beth said, ‘especially on rainy days.’

  The horses were becoming restless so they moved on. Penny set the pace, determined to keep Fliss quiet, she urged her horse forward ensuring the ride was so fast there was no further opportunity for Fliss to indulge in careless talk. After a short fast ride, they were back in the stable yard. Penny dismounted and shoed Beth and Lou away insisting, as they were guests, she and Fliss would tend to the horses.

  Alone Penny rounded on Fliss.

  ‘What the fuck are you playing at, you stupid little bitch? Why did you attach so much importance to the door and the passageways? There was no need. H will go ballistic when she finds out. Have you no common sense?’

  Fliss burst into tears again, ‘Pen, please, I’m sorry. I was only making conversation that’s all. Please don’t say anything to H, please . . . I’d be in terrible trouble, wouldn’t I?’

  ‘Stop whimpering. Of course I won’t tell her. Just stop opening your mouth and letting your brains fall out, if you can.’ Penny felt guilty. Perhaps she was being too hard on Fliss. What the hell. The door was only important to them. Why should Beth or Lou attach any significance to it?

  Wh
ile they tended the horses a guilty voice in Penny’s head constantly nagged her about the consignment that was due. The biggest yet. She didn’t want any cock-ups.

  Chapter 38

  Back in the safety of Lou’s warm, honey-coloured kitchen, Beth sat at the round pine table gazing into space, mentally going over her conversation with Lindsay. She’d told her they were safely home and about the old door set in the stones beside the pond at Melton Manor. She didn’t know why she’d done that, but her intuition told her the door was important.

  * * * * * * * *

  Lou, back from checking the horses, kicked off her boots, walked over to the Aga and poured herself a coffee. She glanced at Beth, concerned.

  ‘You look troubled.’

  Picking up the coffee mug she sat down at the table and reached out to hold Beth’s hands, ‘Hun, I’ve got something to tell you.’

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘You remember Sarah, my agent?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘Do you remember talk of an offer of work in America?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’ve turned it down.’

  ‘What exactly have you turned down?’

  ‘I was offered a lead role in a Hollywood production.’ Lou sipped her coffee. ‘With Universal. I’ve turned it down because I’d rather be here, with you. After all, we haven’t spent a lot of time together and I don’t want to leave you. Especially now, with all of this stuff going on with Hyacinth and her cronies.’ She gripped Beth’s hands tighter, ‘I wasn’t going to tell you, but these things have a way of getting out into the press. It goes with the price of fame.’

  ‘Lou . . . No . . . You should have grabbed it with both hands. Some people never get a Hollywood offer. I don’t want us to be apart either, but you must get Sarah on the phone, right now. Anyway I thought that had gone by the wayside, it was months ago when it was mentioned. We’d only just met, hadn’t we?’

  ‘Yes, it was well over a year ago when they first approached me, but these things can take time to happen. I’m not going. End of.’ Lou shook her head vigorously emphasizing her decision.

  ‘You must go. You absolutely must. I insist. Honest to God, you can’t pass this up.’

  ‘I am not going. And that’s final!’

  Beth was almost speechless, but managed to glean a little more information about the offer. Her questions of who, what, where and when were answered with a simple calmness. As Beth sat looking at this amazing woman she knew she must persuade her to accept the offer. She couldn’t allow her to throw away the chance of a lifetime, a chance most people would give their right arm for.

  So Beth talked . . . and talked . . . and talked. Through her persistence Lou grudgingly agreed to phone Sarah, but only on the condition that Beth promised to take a holiday and go to America with her for the first three weeks. Relieved, Beth leaned back in her chair totally worn out, while Lou made the call from the study.

  Within minutes of Lou returning to the kitchen, Sarah rang back. The film director was ecstatic and wanted Lou in America in two weeks time. Sarah would make the arrangements for them both. Now it was up to Beth to keep her side of the bargain and arrange time away from work.

  Neither of them got much sleep, both were restless, constantly tossing and turning. At one point Beth thought she heard someone outside, but the stable dogs didn’t bark so she convinced herself she was wrong and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

  Lou was up before first light. Beth found her in the kitchen, sitting on the floor by the Aga, hugging a mug of cold tea.

  Beth sat down beside her and started talking. ‘I know you don’t want us to be separated, and neither do I. But, sweetheart, this is a wonderful not-to-be-missed opportunity.’ She spoke with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

  ‘You think I don’t know that?’ Lou said.

  ‘The time will fly over, and after the first three weeks if you want me to, I’ll arrange to take unpaid leave from the hospital.’

  ‘That makes me feel better already, although it makes me feel guilty ‘cos I’ll be working and you’ll be kicking your heels. It’s always long hours, film work.’

  ‘The offer ’s there if you want to take it.’

  ‘I would be selfish if I did. I know how you feel about your work. In a way, it’s like asking you to give it up. I can’t do that. Look what you’ve just made me do.’

  ‘Give me that cup. Now, go and have a shower while I make breakfast. We’ll think of it as a holiday and we’re going to have a great time in LA.’ Beth kissed Lou. ‘Now, come on. Chop-chop.’

  She pulled Lou to her feet and chased her up the stairs.

  * * * * * * * *

  ‘Remind me again why you’ve dragged me to Cornwall in this pissing rain.’ Penny fought with her umbrella.

  ‘Quick, get on board and stop your twittering woman. The forecast was good, this shower will soon blow over.’

  ‘Like hell it will.’

  ‘You wanted to come with me. We always have a good time, regardless of the weather.’

  ‘The weather — it’s not just the bloody weather.’

  ‘Then what is it?’ H fought against the wind to pull the outer doors of The Amethyst shut.

  ‘I’m wet, cold, and there is a storm building. How about that for starters?’

  ‘Penny, you need to be careful, you’re in danger of becoming terminally miserable.’

  ‘What a spiteful thing to say.’

  ‘Come on darling. Don’t be so touchy. You always laugh at my little jokes.’

  ‘Do I look like I’m laughing?’

  ‘No, you don’t. Let’s get out of these wet clothes and have some cholesterol.’

  ‘Cholesterol? What are you talking about?’

  ‘The galley is stocked with Harrods finest fare. I had them deliver a hamper with some of your favourite pastries, and a couple of stuffed chickens.’

  ‘Stuff you — I’m going!’

  Penny grabbed her case, turned on her heel and pushed past H leaving the outer doors banging in the wind, and H standing perplexed.

  What on earth was all that about? H watched Penny fight against the strengthening wind that was sweeping the harbour. She didn’t attempt to go after her, but watched in fascination as Penny flagged down a taxi.

  The crew arrived early the following morning. H delayed sailing until late afternoon fully expecting Penny to come back. She didn’t show. H tried to read her mind and was amazed to find her access blocked. That had never happened before, but it told H that Penny was totally focused on something. But what?

  Might as well do what I planned to do. H left the bedroom to go on deck and find the captain. Just because Penny had gone off in an almighty strop there was no reason why she shouldn’t still enjoy the break. She had planned to surprise Penny with visits to the prettiest fishing villages, including St. Ives, and that would take in a private viewing at the studio of the artist Penny had been raving on about.

  As the forecaster had predicted, the weather turned out to be perfect sailing weather. In between sight-seeing H took the time to clear her mind and decide where she would go from here. Beth was to be conquered and brought into the coven as a matter of urgency. Her untapped attributes were phenomenal, all H had to do was get Lou out of the way. Should be easy enough. Her joy at discovering Beth’s remote viewing ability was clouding her judgment, although she would never admit it, not even to herself.

  The Amethyst docked in St. Ives harbour where she would remain for a couple of days. H left the boat to explore as soon as the crew made her fast. After browsing around the usual mix of seaside shops for a while, hunger pangs drove her into a restaurant. It was almost full, but she was shown to the one available table that gave her a full view of the room. As she studied the menu trying to decide what to have a shadow blocked the light. She looked up.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  H glared at Penny. ‘Sorry?’

  ‘I mean it. I don’t know what got into
me. It’s my hormones — they’re all over the place.’

  ‘There are tablets you can take for that.’

  Penny cleared her throat. ‘May I sit down?’

  ‘Only if you’re ready to stop being a total bitch.’

  Penny pulled out a chair and sat down.

  ‘Are you planning to come back on board?’ H raised an eyebrow.

  ‘Yes please. If you’ll have me.’

  ‘Penny, there are times when I don’t know you.’

  ‘Can we just forget it? I’ve been staying in a little hotel here, waiting for you.’

  ‘I organized a private viewing of that artist’s work that you’ve been raving on about.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Now why would I do that?’ H paused. ‘Because I like to spoil you, darling.’

  ‘I am sorry, H.’ Penny reached across the table and touched Hyacinth’s hand. ‘I feel terribly guilty now.’

  ‘So you should. Here,’ H handed her the menu, ‘choose what you would like to eat. The appointment is for later today.’ H smiled. ‘If you feel so guilty, you can buy me a painting if I see something I like, instead of me treating you.’

  Penny swallowed hard. Hell, I can’t afford to buy paintings. I’ve been selling them.

  Chapter 39

  Trying to keep positive was difficult, and tears kept catching both Beth and Lou out at the thought of their impending separation. Beth knew how long distance relationships could be absolute killers.

  Lou’s arrangements forged ahead at an alarming speed. In the middle of it all, Ascot crept upon them almost unnoticed. In preparation for Ladies’ Day they spent a fun day in Harrogate shopping for outrageous outfits.

  An old friend of Lou’s had generously offered them the use of her house in Windsor during their visit to Ascot. On the morning of Ladies’ Day, after enjoying a full English breakfast cooked to perfection by the housekeeper, the girls prepared for their day at the races.

  They stepped into the pre-booked Bentley, both an understatement of stylish sophistication. The new outfits were perfect, as was the weather, and the hats were stunning.