Page 13 of Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #1)

13

It felt rude, somehow, to enter the dining room without knocking, so I tentatively rapped on the door before leading Immi in.

We’d seen the room earlier, as Mia had given us a whistlestop tour of the main rooms we’d be using, but even so, I couldn’t get over how large and grand it was. Nor could I get over how ridiculous Sir Lawrence and Brodie looked, sitting next to each other at the far end of a long table that could have seated twenty people at least.

Both men got to their feet as we entered the room, and I was relieved to see they were dressed casually.

‘Sit down, Callie,’ said Sir Lawrence. ‘You too, Immi. How are you managing up there? Settling in all right?’

The table had been set for four and, thankfully, we’d all been seated at the same end of it. It would have been pointless for Immi and me to sit at the opposite end, especially as we’d all probably have had to use loudspeakers to communicate if we did.

‘The head of the table is vacant now,’ Sir Lawrence pointed out. ‘It’s your seat, my dear.’

I reddened. ‘Oh no! Please. That’s your seat, if anyone’s, not mine.’

‘You’re the owner of Harling Hall now, Callie,’ he reminded me.

Brodie rubbed his temples, and I felt a sudden compassion for him. For both of them.

‘I really don’t want to sit at the head of the table,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t feel comfortable. Can we swap?’

He nodded. ‘Very well. Maybe when we’ve moved out, you’ll feel differently.’

‘Actually,’ I said, moving into his recently vacated seat, ‘I want to talk to you about that.’

‘Oh?’ He raised an eyebrow, but at that moment, Mia pushed open the door and walked in carrying a tray of dishes.

‘Let me help you,’ I said, jumping to my feet.

‘There’s no need,’ she assured me. ‘I can manage.’

I watched, feeling increasingly uncomfortable as she set out dishes of various vegetables and a jug of gravy then tucked the tray under one arm and left the room again.

It seemed to take forever before she’d finally delivered all the plates and dishes she’d prepared for us. I wondered if it was always like this – Mia fetching and carrying for the Davenports while they sat and watched her.

‘Is she not eating with us?’ I whispered as Mia wished us all bon appétit and left, closing the door behind her.

Brodie shifted in his chair but said nothing, while Sir Lawrence gave me a surprised look and confirmed that Mia ate in the kitchen.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, the kitchen was a lovely room and, if I’m being honest, I’d have preferred to eat in there myself, but even so. I wasn’t sure I liked this set-up. Clearly, I wasn’t cut out to be lady of the manor. I’d never had staff before, and I didn’t care for it.

I had to admit, though, that Mia had done a cracking job with the evening meal. I’d never seen so many different vegetables served at once, not to mention the fluffy mashed potatoes and golden roasties, the mint sauce (which Sir Lawrence assured me was homemade with mint that grew in the herb garden at the back of the house), the roast lamb that made my mouth water just looking at it, and gravy that I was soon to discover was better than any I’d ever tasted before. She’d even made Yorkshire puddings – apparently in my honour. Not the frozen ones either. These were huge and very impressive.

Immi immediately began tucking in to her food, so it was a good job the Davenports showed no signs of wanting to say grace or anything like that.

Brodie ate quietly, making little eye contact with anyone. The only time he spoke was to offer his grandfather the mint sauce.

‘I hope you have room for pudding,’ Sir Lawrence said, winking at Immi, whose eyes positively lit up at the prospect of dessert. I, meanwhile, was busy wondering how much the Davenports spent on food, and whether I should have a chat with Mia about cutting the grocery bill.

My stomach turned over in dread at the thought. Not just of having to talk to Mia about such matters, but at the prospect of facing up to what this little venture was going to cost me, and how the heck I was going to pay for any of it.

I’d been so irresponsible and reckless to sign the contract without reading it properly. I should have asked for help from someone, but I’d always been sensitive about my inability to read as well and as quickly as other people. Now I was paying the price for my pride. There was no way I could afford this place, and now I was stuck with it until I found someone else who could see all the ghosts. How long would that take? I’d be bankrupt long before then. The council tax alone must be eye-watering.

Maybe Immi and I would die of starvation and then we’d become ghosts ourselves and live here forever at Harling Hall. At least it would be rent free.

‘Callie?’

I blinked, realising I’d gone off into my own little world again, and that Sir Lawrence had been talking to me. I caught Brodie’s eye, but he looked away. Miserable swine. He must be fed up with the situation, but he wasn’t the only one with worries, and after all, it had been a different story when he’d tracked me down to beg me to take up his grandfather’s offer. He ought to make up his mind what he wanted.

‘Sorry, what did you say?’ I asked, spearing a roast potato with my fork before shoving it in my mouth.

‘I was asking how you’d settled in. Is everything all right for you?’

‘More than all right,’ I said, then blushed as I realised I’d spoken with my mouth full. He’d think I was a peasant. I chewed frantically then swallowed the potato, feeling a moment’s panic as it seemed to sit somewhere in my throat before finally sliding down where it belonged. ‘I really wasn’t expecting the whole west wing,’ I said, after taking a sip of water. ‘Honestly, we didn’t want to put you to any trouble.’

‘Callie,’ he said kindly, ‘you’re going to have to get used to the idea that Harling Hall is now yours, and although I suggested the west wing for you and Immi, the fact is, you can use whichever rooms you like. This is your home. The only thing I would say is that Agnes and Aubrey, along with young Florence, of course, stay in rooms close to ours in the East Wing, and I do think you’d be unwise to ask them to move.’

‘Believe me, I wouldn’t risk that,’ I said, imagining Agnes’s face if I so much as suggested it. ‘This is as much their home as mine, and I wouldn’t dream of asking them to change rooms.’

He nodded. ‘I knew you were the right woman for the job as soon as I met you,’ he said, leaning back in his chair with a contented smile. ‘I can leave here now knowing that the estate is in good hands. It’s such a relief.’

‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,’ I said, grasping the opportunity while I had the nerve.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘About you leaving Harling Hall,’ I continued.

Brodie made proper eye contact with me for the first time that evening.

‘Wow, you really can’t wait, can you? We’ll leave as soon as possible, believe me, but first there are things you need to know about this place. Or do you think you’re so amazingly capable that you don’t need our help?’

‘Brodie,’ Sir Lawrence said sharply, ‘I’m quite sure Callie didn’t mean it the way it sounded.’

‘For your information, Mr Davenport ,’ I said coldly, ‘I was going to ask if you’d consider staying on here permanently, but if you’re so eager to leave…’

Brodie’s face turned pink, which would have been quite endearing if he hadn’t proved himself to be such an arse.

‘Permanently?’ he asked, somewhat sheepishly.

Sir Lawrence shook his head regretfully. ‘I’m sorry, Callie, but that won’t be possible. It’s very generous of you to offer, though, and I do appreciate your kindness.’

‘But why?’ I asked, genuinely perplexed. ‘The Hall’s more than big enough.’

‘It simply isn’t done that way,’ he said.

‘Rules were meant to be broken. Especially rules that make no sense. Who made these rules anyway?’

He shrugged. ‘Who knows? It’s just the way it’s always been. When the estate is passed to a new family, the old one leaves.’

‘Well, if you don’t mind me saying so, it’s a stupid rule,’ I said. I glanced at Brodie, who was listening intently. It was obvious he didn’t want to leave here, and why should he have to? ‘Look,’ I said, ‘I’m the owner, right? So surely, it’s up to me whether you stay or not?’

‘I don’t think it is.’ Sir Lawrence laid his cutlery on his plate, pushed it away, and steepled his fingers, considering the matter.

‘Is anything written down about this?’ I asked. ‘Is there some sort of guidebook dating back to the Norman Conquest or something?’

He laughed. ‘I wish! I’m afraid not. These things are passed on verbally, and we’ve always continued the traditions.’

‘But why?’ Brodie asked, clearly frustrated. ‘Just because something’s been done a certain way in the past doesn’t mean it has to be that way in the future.’

There was a plea in his voice that was unmistakable, and I thought maybe I could forgive him for being such an arse. Maybe.

‘ I think,’ said Immi, carving up a Yorkshire pudding with relish, ‘that it would be much better for the ghosts if we were all here to help them. Mum’s scared stiff of messing this up, so she needs you here, Sir Lawrence. It would be a bit mean of you to go away and leave her to it, wouldn’t it?’

Sir Lawrence smiled. ‘Call me Lawrie, dear,’ he told her.

‘Okay.’ Immi shrugged. ‘What do you say then, Lawrie? Is it a deal?’

I couldn’t help but admire her. Maybe Sir Lawrence had chosen the wrong person for the job after all. I had no doubt, at that moment, that my daughter would be a far more capable ghost wrangler than I ever would.

‘Are we going to stay here or not?’ Brodie asked, his eyes boring into his grandfather’s.

Sir Lawrence frowned. ‘Is that what you’d like, Brodie? Really?’

‘Of course. Why wouldn’t I?’

‘And how, dear boy, do you think that would help Callie?’

‘Me?’ I asked, startled. ‘Well, from my point of view it would help a lot. What do I know about running this place?’

‘And how would you learn if we were still here to do it all for you?’ he asked reasonably.

‘Probably a lot faster,’ I said without hesitation.

He shook his head. ‘You don’t understand the mindset of the people in this village. Some of them have been here for generations, and they’re fixed in their ways. As for the ghosts… The thing is, Callie, I fear if Brodie and I were still around, our residents – both living and otherwise – would always look to me for help and guidance. They’d struggle to accept you as the new owner, and it would take you far longer to settle in.’

‘Is that a problem?’ I asked slowly. ‘Really? I mean, I don’t mind if they look to you?—’

‘But you should mind,’ he said. ‘You must put your own stamp on this place, Callie. You must let everyone know in no uncertain terms that the Harling Estate is now in your hands, and if there are any problems or issues, it’s you they should come to. Think about it,’ he added gently. ‘You haven’t met many of our people yet, alive or not, and yet you must already be aware that Agnes and Florence are both determined to ignore you and will expect me to overrule you in various matters. If you were to implement some change – however small – they’d be issuing demands for me to stop you.’

That much had become obvious. Neither had said so outright, but their attitudes towards me had made it clear they considered me an interloper, with no right to change anything. They would always think of Sir Lawrence as the true owner.

‘Well…’ I said.

‘Mum!’

I flinched at the shocked expression on Immi’s face.

‘I know, but he’s right,’ I said reluctantly. ‘It’s going to be hard enough to win everyone over. If they’ve always got Sir Lawrence to turn to, it’s going to be ten times worse.’ I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but the thought of him watching and judging me wasn’t a great one either. It would be embarrassing enough when I kept messing up without having him and his grandson there to witness the terrible job I was doing as new owner.

Even so…

‘What if I do something wrong?’ I asked glumly. ‘What if they never accept me?’

‘You’ll find your way,’ he promised. ‘Every new owner has faced the same dilemma, but they’ve all made it work somehow. However,’ he turned to Brodie, ‘having said all that, I suppose it’s different for you. The ghosts can’t communicate with you, so you being here wouldn’t help them. They’d still have to rely on Callie.’ He gave me a rueful look. ‘I shouldn’t ask for favours, but I will ask for this one. If you would allow Brodie to stay on after I leave, I’m sure you wouldn’t regret it.’

‘Grandpa!’ Brodie sounded horrified.

‘What? It seems the perfect solution to me. Brodie is very useful around the estate,’ Sir Lawrence told me, ‘and our living residents trust him. I’m sure he would be an asset to you.’

‘Well…’ I eyed Brodie doubtfully, all too aware that he wasn’t particularly keen on me and wondering what he’d be like to live with if Sir Lawrence wasn’t around to remind him about manners. I didn’t want to take away his home, obviously, and I was sure he’d be a help with the tenants, but sharing a house with someone who doesn’t like you and resents you for being there isn’t the best recipe for a happy life. Besides, how would Sir Lawrence cope without him? I imagined he’d miss his grandson terribly. I’d much prefer it if they both stayed.

Brodie cleared his throat. ‘Out of the question,’ he said. ‘Grandpa’s right. Our time here is done. It’s all on you now.’

I gaped at him. Wow! That was quite a turnaround. Five minutes ago, he’d been desperate to stay. He must really hate me for taking over his home. I felt sorry for him, naturally, but I didn’t think it was fair of him to hold it against me. I hadn’t asked for any of this, and he’d been the one to hunt me down and beg me to agree to the sale.

‘Brodie—’ said Sir Lawrence anxiously.

‘If that’s what you want.’ I shrugged. He needn’t do me any favours. If he felt that way about me, the sooner he was gone the better, as far as I was concerned.

‘It is,’ he said.

I was aware that Immi was giving me one of her hard stares, but I deliberately avoided looking at her.

‘Well,’ said Sir Lawrence dazedly, ‘in that case, we’ll leave together at the end of next month as arranged and make a new life for ourselves.’

‘Do you have somewhere to go?’ I asked worriedly, imagining the two of them turning up at some hostel or something.

‘We’ll be fine,’ he promised. ‘I do have one request, though, if you’d be so kind, Callie.’

‘Go ahead,’ I said, suddenly desperately sad and not a little scared that I hadn’t managed to persuade Sir Lawrence to stay. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Brodie.

‘Will you please take a leaf out of your daughter’s book and start calling me Lawrie? I really don’t like being addressed so formally.’

How could I refuse?

‘Done,’ I said.

Immi glanced round at us all and I followed her gaze, noting the shuttered look in Brodie’s eyes as he pushed away his plate. My stomach churned with nerves.

Oh lord, this was really happening, wasn’t it? Lawrie and Brodie would be leaving this place at the end of June, which would leave me in sole charge. And I knew nothing about running a living history village, let alone how to deal with the two communities who lived here.

Suddenly, I’d completely lost my appetite.