‘Have you been dreaming again?’ Lara asks.
‘No. Well, no dreams of Harry and Martha anyway, although I have been having nightmares. Probably just thinking about the opening.’
‘It’s no good just thinking about it, you’ve got to do it an’all, you know.’
‘William!’ I stand with a smile, unsure whether I should greet him with a kiss. Before I decide, the moment is over.
‘What’s that?’ I ask instead, indicating the large, slim parcel he’s carrying.
‘Well, when we first met, I promised a certain somebody a painting.’
Hannah squeals. ‘Is it my portrait? Have you painted me, Uncle William?’
I glance at William in consternation at the word uncle, but he’s smiling broadly and offers the parcel to Hannah. As she takes it and all attention is on her, he leans over and kisses me.
I glance up, meet his eyes, and smile. My heart flips as he grins back down at me. At last, I only see William when I look at him and, as far as I can tell, he no longer sees Martha in me.
‘William, that ... that’s amazing!’ Lara says. ‘I can’t thank you enough. What do you think, Hans?’
Hannah is gobsmacked and stares at the painting. ‘You’ve painted Grasper too.’
‘Is that okay?’
‘It-it’s perfect! I love it! Thank you, Uncle William.’ She leaves the painting on the tabletop and runs over to give him a hug. The smile on William’s face expands further, and I step over to the painting to have a proper look.
He has really caught Hannah, not only superficially, but something in her expression that is simply ... Hannah. She’s cuddling Grasper, who is looking at her in adoration; they’re alone on the moors, with a reservoir in the background and a hovering kestrel above.
I glance up at Lara and see she is close to tears. Jayne gives her a squeeze and grins at her, but doesn’t tease her. I can see Jayne is moved too.
‘I’m going to hang it in my room, I can, can’t I, Mum?’
‘Yes, of course you can. Or we can hang it in the lounge if you want, so everyone can see it.’
‘Umm, I’ll think about it,’ Hannah says, and I realise how much she’s matured over the months I was absent. Physically she’s still the same Hans, but she seems much older now somehow. She’s growing up, I realise. Fast.
‘Has everything gone live?’
I glance up at William, aghast. With the excitement of Opening Day, I’d completely forgotten to look.
‘Let’s check now then.’
I nod and cross to the reception desk to boot up the computer, while Jayne and Lara clear the breakfast things. Hannah is fixated, staring at her picture, exclaiming every time she notices a new detail.
I check my own website first, and make sure the booking page is now working as my web designer promised it would, then go to booking.com to check The Rookery’s listing is live. William peers over my shoulder and rests his hands on my hips.
‘Congratulations, Verity,’ he whispers. ‘You’re officially open.’
I turn to check the others are still otherwise engaged, and wrap my arms around his neck. ‘Thank you,’ I whisper back.
‘What for?’
‘Well, you know. Sticking around and helping me after everything, well, after Martha—’
‘Shh. That’s all over, stop worrying. We’re Verity and William. Martha and Harry have gone. Or has something happened?’
‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘These days I only dream about you.’ I stretch towards him and he meets my lips in a lingering kiss.
‘No time for that, you’ve got a business to run.’ Jayne’s voice breaks the spell, and I pull back from him with a rueful grin.
I turn to admonish her, but am surprised to see her proffering two champagne flutes.
‘Bucks fizz,’ she clarifies, as Lara appears behind her with two more glasses.
‘To The Rookery,’ Jayne toasts. ‘May God bless her and all who stay in her.’
I grin at the parody of the queen’s ship-launch blessing, and sip the orange juice and champagne.
‘To good friends.’ It is my turn to toast.
‘And to success and happiness – in all things,’ Lara adds.
‘I’ll drink to that,’ William says. ‘And I have another gift, I think now is the ideal moment.’ He fishes out a brown-paper-wrapped, flat package from his back pocket and hands it to me.
I glance up at him in question.
‘Open it.’
I pull the paper away to reveal a flat board attached to a chain. Vacancies I read, then turn it over. No Vacancies. It’s hand-painted, with a moor-landscape background, and the lettering is picked out in black. I look closer. Each stroke of each letter is styled as a feather.
‘It’s perfect, thank you, William.’ I grin up at him and give him another kiss. A short one this time. ‘I’d completely forgotten about a sign.’
He reaches into another pocket, pulls out a hook attached to a sucker, takes back the sign, and hangs it on the large window next to the front door.
‘Now what?’ Lara says. ‘Is there anything that needs doing?’
I shake my head. ‘Now we wait.’
‘Well, I’ll leave you to it,’ William says. ‘I need to open the gallery, but I’ll pop back at lunchtime.’ He gives me a peck on the cheek and waves to Lara, Jayne and Hannah. ‘Have a good day – I’ll put the word out on Main Street too, let people know you’re open.’
‘That would be great, thanks.’
11.
‘Anything?’ Jayne asks when she returns with Grasper, ready for his walk with Hannah.
I shake my head. ‘Nothing. Five hours open and not a single enquiry.’
‘Don’t look so down, it’s only the first day, it’ll take time for word to get out, we just need to be patient.’
‘Or maybe not,’ Lara says, nodding at the window.
I glance out to see Vikram and Mo walking alongside a young couple and gesturing at The Rookery.
‘Have you any rooms free?’ Mo asks, throwing a wink to Lara. ‘We met Carole and Bob here in the Bull. They’ve come out for the day and have decided to stay on, but haven’t booked anywhere, can you help?’
‘We certainly can,’ I say. ‘Welcome to The Rookery. How long would you like to stay?’
‘A couple of nights,’ Bob says. ‘We didn’t realise how much there is to do around here, and Carole really wants to go to an event at the museum tomorrow.’
‘Oh, the Branwell Brontë talk?’
‘Yes, and Bob wants to see the Flying Scotsman.’
‘Oh yes, that’s very popular – do you have tickets?’
‘Yes, we bought them this morning.’
‘Great – I hope you enjoy it. It’s £100 per double room per night with full, home-cooked breakfast. Can I ask you to fill out a registration form, and also an authorisation for your credit card? You won’t be charged until you check out.’
‘That sounds fine,’ Bob says, and Carole picks up the pen to fill in their details.
‘We also include a complimentary bottle of wine – there’s red in the room, or if you prefer we can change it for white.’
‘Oh that’s a nice touch. Red’s fine, thank you.’
‘You’re in Emily’s Room, which is at the back, so you have a view of the parsonage, and Lara will take you up. I hope you enjoy your stay.’
‘Thank you.’
Lara ushers them to the stairs and upward, and I turn to thank Vikram and Mo, but realise Jayne has already taken care of them.
‘You realise Will’s been up and down Main Street telling everyone about this place,’ Vikram says. ‘Don’t be surprised if you get busy.’
‘Aye, but you’d better let him know when you’re full, else you’ll be turning people away.’ Mo chuckles. ‘The man’s on a mission!’
I colour as they laugh, but can’t help a big grin spread over my face at the thought of Wil
liam herding tourists up the hill to The Rookery.
‘Must want this place to be a success for some reason.’ Vikram winks at me, then steps out of the way as another couple enter.
‘Is this the place run by a real Earnshaw?’ the man asks.
My colour deepens. ‘It is, yes. I’m Verity Earnshaw, welcome to The Rookery.’
‘The man in the art gallery said you could trace your family back to the Brontë era, his too.’
‘That’s right, yes.’
‘And between them, they inspired at least one of Emily’s characters,’ Vikram put in.
I don’t answer, but fill in the paperwork and send them upstairs with Lara as soon as she returns.
When we’re alone again, I turn to Vikram. ‘Don’t do that, please.’
‘What?’
‘Use Harry and Martha like that, after what happened. Just let them rest in peace.’
‘The best way you can ensure they rest is by getting things right. You and William,’ Jayne says. ‘And that includes filling this place. After what you went through, why wouldn’t you take whatever advantage comes from it too?’
‘And anyway, it’s not like it’s a lie, is it?’ Vikram says.
***
‘See, it pays to get in with the locals,’ Jayne says as Lara shepherds another couple up to their room. ‘I don’t think you’re going to have any trouble filling the rooms, not with Vikram and William on the case. You’ll need more rooms at this rate!’
‘Calm down, Jayne, it’s only the first day, and we’re not booked up yet. I’m still taking up the downstairs guest room, and the single room is still free.’
‘Perfect, just what I was going to ask you.’
I turn to see a woman of my own age standing in the foyer, William behind her. I need to install a bell on that door.
‘Welcome to The Rookery,’ I say, and flash a smile at William. ‘I see you’ve met our local artist.’
The woman and William burst out laughing.
‘You could say that,’ he says eventually, oblivious to my discomfort. ‘Let me introduce you. Verity, this is my sister, Rebekah. Rebekah, Verity.
‘Oh!’ I turn bright red with embarrassment. ‘I’m so sorry. It’s good to meet you.’
‘And you. I missed you when I came up to visit William in hospital, but I’ve heard a lot about you. Hello, Jayne, nice to see you again,’ she adds.
I’m confused for a moment but realise they must have met when I was unconscious.
‘So how are you? I keep quizzing this one,’ she links her arm with William’s, ‘but getting information is like dragging blood out of a stone.’
‘It’s a bit difficult to explain over the phone,’ William defends himself.
‘Why don’t you come for dinner tonight? We’ll fill you in on all the details, and we can get to know each other too.’
‘Sounds perfect.’
I check her in, just in time for Lara’s reappearance.
***
I turn the sign over to read: No Vacancies.
‘Full already? See, nowt to worry about,’ William says and embraces me. Stick with me, lass, we’ll be reet.’
I nod. ‘Will you stay tonight?’
‘Sure?’
‘Aye.’ I’m aware of the silly grin on my face but can’t do anything about it.
‘Then there’ll be no keeping me away.’
I grab William’s arm at a tapping sound, and we turn to see a familiar black shape perching on the stone ledge outside the window. The rook pecks the glass again and both of us freeze. It holds my gaze for a few frenzied heartbeats then flaps away.
The End
If you enjoyed Parliament of Rooks, please consider leaving a few words in review. Reviews are very important to an author and do help me understand what people enjoy, as well as guide other readers to books they would like to read.
Thank you – Karen Perkins
For more information on the full range of Karen Perkins’ fiction, including links for the main retailer sites and details of her current writing projects, please go to Karen’s website:
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Glossary of Yorkshire Terms
Allus - Always
An’all – As well
Anyroad – Anyway
Apeth – Idiot/fool
Aw reet – All right
Awd carlin – Old woman
Breeks – Breeches
Fret – Worry
Mesen – Myself
Neps –Clusters and knots of wool fibres
Noils – Short wool fibres
Nowt – Nothing
Ower ’ere – Over here
Owt – Anything
Reet – Right
Shoddy – Lowest quality wool, made from recycled garments and/or the sweepings from the mill floor
Summat - Something
Acknowledgements
Parliament of Rooks is a work of fiction, and is inspired by the work and lives of Emily Brontë and her family, as well as life in Victorian Haworth. All mention of ghosts and hauntings – with the exception of Harry and Martha, who are wholly fictional – are also based on local tales, legends and reported sightings.
I have made the circumstances of the Brontës’ lives as accurate as possible, although have fictionalised Emily’s day-to-day life, words and actions. When the concept of this book started to take shape, I envisaged it as being more about the mills and living conditions than the Brontë sisters, but as I wrote, Emily’s character became stronger, and her part larger – and I am not willing to argue with Emily Brontë! I hope I have done her justice.
The Crow Hill bog burst did occur in 1824. The huge mudslide took place during a thunderstorm after days of rain, and it is believed that Anne, Emily and Branwell were playing on the moor at the time, although with their servant Sarah Garrs rather than a young friend, and took shelter at Ponden Hall. Patrick Brontë believed it to be an earthquake and wrote a sermon about the event.
A number of people and institutions helped me research this book, and my thanks to Mark Mosley at the Bradford Industrial Museum, the Brontë Parsonage Museum, and Haworth Ghost Walks.
The modern village of Haworth is reflected accurately, and I enjoyed the days I spent there researching. The Rookery is a fictional establishment, but is inspired by Wilsons of Haworth, where I stayed during my visits. My thanks to Martin and Dale Wilson for their warm welcome, and for being so accommodating and patient with all my questions and odd requests (including a solitary ghost hunt in their dining room, just in case the Grey Lady did appear on December 19th. If she did visit, I missed her!). Returning to my room hobbling and exhausted from wandering around Haworth’s hills and cobbles, the cake waiting for me in my room was always extremely welcome. They set the standard that Verity aspires to in her own venture, and if you are planning to visit Haworth, I highly recommend booking a room at Wilsons – you will be very well looked after.
Thank you also to Tessa Price who braved Haworth’s ghost walk with me on Halloween, and was even happy to explore the graveyard with me later that night. A brave friend indeed!
I’m deeply appreciative of Louise Burke for editing Parliament of Rooks, as well as all the other help she gives me, and also Cecelia Morgan for designing another stunning cover.
Thank you to Sandy Heydinger, who showed me a video of her dog Lola dancing with orbs, which inspired Grasper’s part in this book.
I’m also very grateful to Christina Robinson, Louise Turner, Tessa Price, and fellow authors JJ Toner and Linda George for reading Parliament of Rooks in the month before publication. Their sharp eyes and the extremely helpful feedback they gave me before release has saved me more than a few blushes!
Finally, but by no means least, I would like to thank you for reading. The support and encouragement – whether through reviews, comments or more detailed feedback – I’ve received while writing this book has been overwhelming, and deeply motivating.
While researching for and writing this novel, I have found a number of books and sites to be extremely useful, including, but not exclusive to:
Aspin, Chris (1982), The Woollen Industry, Shire Publications Ltd, Aylesbury, Bucks, UK
Atkinson E (1998), Haworth in the Brontë Era, B.H. Babbage’s Visit to Haworth, Fretwell Print and Design, Keighley, W Yorks
Barker, Juliet R. V. (1994), The Brontës, The Orion Publishing Group, London
Hewitt, Peggy (1985, 2004), Brontë Country, Lives & Landscapes, Sutton Publishing, Gloucestershire
Lister, Philip (2006), Ghosts & Gravestones of Haworth, The History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Mason, Kate M (1989), Woolcombers Worsteds and Watermills, Addingham’s Industrial Revolution, Addingham Civic Society, Addingham, W Yorks.
White, Paul (2014), The Brontës & Haworth, Whinray Books, Ilkley, W Yorks
Wood, Stephen & Palmer, Ian (2009), Haworth Through Time, Amberley Publishing, Stroud, Gloucestershire
www.bronte.org.uk
churchofengland.org
www.haworthchurch.co.uk/history
www.haworth-village.org.uk/
kleurrijkbrontesisters.blogspot.co.uk
www.ponden-hall.co.uk
www.thecompassmagazine.co.uk/haworth-bog
www.thehaworthband.co.uk
www.victoriana.com
victorianmonsters.wordpress.com
www.weasteheritagetrail.co.uk
For readers not familiar with the iconic Yorkshire Hovis and Ronnie Barker’s trek up that same hill mentioned in Chapter 9, both links are on my website: www.karenperkinsauthor.com/yorkshire-ghosts
Parliament of Rooks Page 28