Page 25 of Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #1)

25

‘Can’t I come with you?’ Immi asked, in an annoyingly whiny voice that wasn’t like her at all.

I twisted the lipstick down and put the cap back in place before giving myself one last look in the mirror.

I barely recognised myself with make-up on, my hair neatly washed, dried and brushed. Not to mention the fact that I was wearing a skirt and a rather nice shirt. Who, I asked myself in wonder, was this woman who looked passably attractive for a change?

‘Mum!’

‘Sorry.’ I blinked and turned to Immi, feeling another rush of guilt. She was sitting on my bed, kitten in her arms, watching me with an undisguised plea in her eyes. ‘You know you can’t, sweetheart. It’s a pub quiz. You’re not allowed in there. You’re far too young.’

‘Bet I could answer more questions than you,’ she said sulkily.

‘You probably could,’ I admitted. ‘It doesn’t alter the fact that eleven-year-olds aren’t allowed in the bar of The Quicken Tree. I’m sorry.’

‘But we’re allowed in the restaurant part,’ she pointed out.

‘And I won’t be in the restaurant part. I’ll be in the bar where the quiz is being held. What part of that aren’t you getting?’ I sighed, seeing the resentment in her eyes. ‘I’m really sorry. Look, how about I take you there for your tea tomorrow night? We can spend the whole evening together if you like. I’ll even take you to the cinema after we’ve eaten.’

She gave me a dubious look. ‘What’s on?’

I bit my lip. ‘Er, Mrs Miniver .’

‘Who?’

‘It’s a wartime film. But,’ I added hastily as I saw the disgust in her face, ‘it’s not about battles. It’s about a family and how their lives change during the war, and how it impacts the community they live in… It might be useful for your school project.’

‘Don’t you think I’ve seen enough about the flipping war?’ she groaned. ‘What have I done to deserve this?’

I realised I wasn’t selling it to her. ‘Well, it’s an excellent film,’ I finished.

‘I’d rather watch Percy Jackson ,’ she said coldly.

‘You’ve seen Percy Jackson .’

‘I’d like to see it again.’

‘We haven’t got Percy Jackson .’

‘It’s probably on Netflix. When are we getting Netflix?’

‘Soon. Hopefully. I’m sure we’ll find something else to watch,’ I soothed.

‘Well, anything will be better than Mrs Vinegar,’ she said, pouting.

‘ Mrs Miniver and… oh, never mind. Look, Mia’s going to sit with you while I’m gone, and I want you to promise you’ll be in bed by nine. School in the morning, remember?’

‘As if I could forget.’

‘I’ll be back before you know it,’ I promised her, feeling a pang of guilt as I saw the disappointment in her face.

‘Don’t do me any favours.’

She shuffled off the bed and went to her own room, cradling the kitten in her arms.

Mia popped her head round the door. ‘That went well.’

‘You heard?’ I sighed. ‘I feel so terrible about it. She’s right, isn’t she? I’ve hardly spent any time with her at all since we moved here, and I shouldn’t be going out tonight.’

‘You deserve a night off,’ she said. ‘Okay, you haven’t spent much time with Immi, but you’ve been busy getting to know the estate, poring over Brodie’s Idiot’s Guide and Lawrie’s endless notes, as well as the accounts and other admin. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up just like Brodie.’

‘Brodie?’ I asked, startled. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You know what they say about all work and no play,’ she said. ‘It makes Brodie a dull boy and Callie a dull girl.’

‘Brodie’s been working?’ I asked, surprised. ‘At night, I mean?’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘You didn’t know?’ She whistled. ‘Wow, Brodie’s always working. If he’s not doing odd jobs for the tenants, he’s organising repairs or pricing things up or working on the accounts or updating the website. He’s busy every day and every evening. What did you think he was doing, holed up in that study all the time?’

I had to admit, I hadn’t realised he was in the study all the time. I rarely used it myself and never thought to check if anyone else was. I was busy during the day and hadn’t given much thought to where Brodie was, and in the evening, knowing Lawrie was in bed by eight, I tended to retire to the sitting room in the west wing, struggling with the Idiot’s Guide while Immi watched television or did her homework.

‘I had no idea,’ I said feebly. Wow, Brodie never ceased to surprise me.

‘This last couple of weeks, he’s also been making a list of all the jobs he does so that Mr Eldridge can find someone to take over when he’s gone. Though it’s looking as if you’re going to need at least two people to take Brodie’s place. I doubt many accountants would be up for doing all the other stuff he does.’

‘I thought he was making excuses,’ I admitted, remembering the bitter disappointment I’d experienced and tried to dismiss when he’d declined my hinted-at invitation to the pub quiz.

‘Excuses? For what?’

I shook my head, a little embarrassed. ‘Yesterday, I sort of asked him if he’d come to the pub quiz with me and he said he was too busy. I thought…’

‘That he was fobbing you off.’ Mia grinned. ‘So, you wanted him to accompany you, eh? Interesting.’

‘Just as a friend,’ I protested hotly. ‘Nothing more than that.’

She clasped her chest dramatically. ‘I thought I was your friend, yet you didn’t ask me? I’m wounded.’

‘Only because you’d already offered to mind Immi,’ I said quickly. ‘I’m really sorry, Mia. I never?—’

I broke off as she burst out laughing. ‘Don’t worry, sweetie, I’m only teasing. I can think of many ways I’d like to spend an evening but sitting in a pub answering questions about songs from the 1970s and South American football players, while grown men swill beer and women moan about their hot flushes, really isn’t one of them.’

‘Have you ever been to a pub quiz?’ I asked doubtfully.

‘Not in person, but I saw one once on a television drama. It was truly appalling. It’s an experience I’ll happily pass on, thanks very much.’

‘You will let me know if she’s any trouble?’ I asked quietly, jerking my thumb in the vague direction of Immi’s bedroom.

She smiled. ‘She’ll be fine. Once you’ve gone, she’ll be all sweetness and light again. I’ve baked cookies and I’ve brought a game for us to play.’

‘Immi hates games,’ I said.

‘She likes this one,’ she told me confidently. ‘We’ve played it before. It’s a bit naughty.’

I stared at her. ‘She’s eleven!’

‘I said a bit naughty, not frighteningly filthy!’ She shook her head. ‘Stop worrying and have a bit of faith. Go and enjoy yourself before I change my mind, and you’re condemned to spend the evening sitting here watching your daughter sulk.’

‘Okay, okay, I’m going.’ I managed a smile. ‘Thanks, Mia. I’m really grateful.’

‘My pleasure. Now scat!’

* * *

The room at The Quicken Tree where the quiz was taking place was heaving, which came as quite a surprise to me. Clara had told me that the bar was closed to tourists on Thursday evenings, though they were welcome in the restaurant, so I’d expected to find the room almost empty, not jammed to the rafters with locals. Evidently, the pub quiz was popular.

Clara and Jack were sitting at a table in the far corner beside a few other people who, it turned out, were the other members of The Travelling Boffins – the pub quiz team consisting of various bus and train staff.

They all made me very welcome, and Jack got me a drink while Clara explained about the other teams.

‘Over there, they’re The Smart Cookies – they work at the Victory Tearooms, Mrs Herron’s Teashop, and the Blighty Bakery. Then at that table in the other corner are The Rowan Brainiacs. They work?—’

‘On the farm,’ I finished for her, recognising the two ‘land girls’, the two ‘prisoners of war’, and Nick and Betty.

‘That’s right. Now, you see that team nearest the bar? They’re The Clever Clogs. They work in the Victorian shops.’

‘I recognise one or two of them,’ I told her. ‘And that’s Lucy and Sam – though it’s funny to see them in modern clothing – so I presume that table’s occupied by the Swinging Sixties staff?’

‘Yep. The Bright Sparks. And the final team, sitting there looking so smug and sure of themselves, is The Mill Crew. Cos they work in the Mill Museum they think they know everything, but they don’t.’ She raised her voice and said, ‘Pretty sure they cheat.’

There was a whoop of laughter, and a red-faced man shouted out, ‘You wish what, Clara?’

At least the insults and accusations that followed and which eventually involved every single team in the pub seemed to be nothing more than harmless banter, with no real malice involved. I began to relax and even started to look forward to the evening at last, where up until that point, I’d been too nervous to enjoy myself.

After all, I was their new boss, and I wasn’t sure how they’d react to me socialising with them. I remembered Betty’s suspicion when I’d mentioned the tractor, and I didn’t want to be faced with hostile expressions and mutterings that I should defer to Brodie or Lawrie whenever I ventured to answer a question.

Not that I expected to answer many questions. General knowledge wasn’t my strong point. I wasn’t sure what was.

As the landlady, Penny, tested the microphone and urged us to have our pens and paper at the ready, Clara nudged me, a wide grin on her face.

‘Ooh, look who’s just walked in!’

My gaze flickered to the door and my heart leapt unexpectedly as I saw Brodie looking around.

‘What’s he doing here?’ I murmured. ‘He said he was too busy.’

‘He never comes to the quiz,’ she told me. ‘We’ve asked him loads of times, but he’s always said he’s got too much on.’ She eyed me thoughtfully. ‘Yet here you are. And here he is. Funny that.’

My stomach lurched with something that, if I hadn’t known better, I’d have sworn was excitement.

‘Don’t be daft. He probably just finished work earlier than he expected,’ I said.

‘Hmm. Keep telling yourself that. Aren’t you going to invite him to join us?’

Brodie’s eyes met mine and a smile lit up his face, which was immediately dampened as Betty called, ‘Brodie! Smashing to see you, love. Come and join us. We could use your brain power.’

‘Oh yes! Come on, Brodie. This lot’s useless,’ Nick laughed, waving him over.

Brodie gave me a regretful look then headed over to sit with the rest of The Rowan Brainiacs, and I turned back to Clara with a shrug, determined not to let on how disappointed I felt.

‘Better luck next time,’ she whispered, grinning. ‘You two need to arrive together in future, then there’ll be no more separation.’

‘We’re not… I mean, it’s not?—’

She patted my arm. ‘Course it’s not, love. I wouldn’t dream of suggesting it was.’

‘Right,’ called Penny, ‘are we ready?’

‘Settle down now,’ someone called, and I glanced round, noting a jolly-looking man standing behind the bar, beaming at his customers, who took no notice of him.

‘First question,’ Penny said.

‘Here we go,’ Clara muttered. She winked at me. ‘Now you’re about to find out how woeful our general knowledge really is.’

‘Well, don’t look to me for help,’ I said. ‘I’m useless.’

‘Now she tells us,’ Jack groaned.

I gave him an apologetic smile, my gaze flickering over to the table where Brodie sat among The Rowan Brainiacs. He was sitting between Betty and Rissa, and I felt a sudden pang of jealousy as I saw him saying something to the younger woman and watched her laugh in response then slip her arm through his, for all the world as if they were a couple.

‘On what date,’ Penny said, ‘did Apollo 11 land on the moon?’

‘Apollo 11,’ the barman called. ‘On the moon.’ He chortled. ‘A likely story.’

‘1969,’ Jack whispered as one of our teammates tapped the table with his pen.

‘Think they’re gonna want more than that,’ the other man – a bus driver called Ken – said gloomily.

‘And I don’t just want the year,’ Penny added, as if she’d heard us.

‘Not just the year,’ the barman boomed. ‘And I’ll bet not one of you gets it. I know it. I’ll never forget it and I don’t even believe it happened. The things they tell you. Honestly!’

‘Who on earth is he?’ I asked, frowning.

‘Hmm? Who?’ Clara was barely paying attention. She leaned towards Ken and said, ‘I’m almost sure it was in July, you know.’

‘It was in July,’ he confirmed. ‘Question is, what date in July?’

‘20th July 1969,’ the barman said merrily. ‘And who, I wonder, came up with that bright idea, eh? Biggest hoax ever, I reckon.’

I stared at him then glanced around. No one was listening. No seemed remotely interested that this person had just given away the answer to the question.

Light dawned.

‘20 July,’ I whispered, leaning across the table.

‘Really? You’re sure?’ asked Andy, one of the bus conductors, or ‘clippies’ as they were known in their roles.

I nodded. ‘Sure.’

‘Wow,’ Clara said admiringly. ‘Get you!’

‘I can’t take credit for that, I’m afraid,’ I said regretfully. ‘Look, I’m really sorry. I’ve just got to…’

‘Ghost?’

‘Yeah, sorry.’

She smiled. ‘No worries. I’ll look after your bag.’

I eased my way between the tables and headed to the bar, where I plonked my glass on the counter and faced the startled barman.

‘Good evening.’

‘Blimey,’ he said, clearly taken aback. ‘You can see me. You must be the new owner.’

‘I am indeed, and yes, I can see you,’ I told him. ‘More to the point, I can hear you, which means you just gave me the answer to the first question. Thank you very much.’

‘Oh, heck.’ He sighed. ‘Well, if I were you, I’d keep that quiet. I can tell you the rest of the answers if you like. I can see her notes from here.’

‘That,’ I said sternly, ‘would be cheating. I’ve withdrawn from the team, just in case. So, who are you? You weren’t here when I called at the pub before.’

‘I was changing a barrel,’ he said. ‘Well,’ he added, ‘I was supervising someone else changing a barrel. Well, strictly speaking, I was just watching, but you know… I was proper upset when I heard them all talking about your visit and I realised I’d missed you. I’m Isaac Grace,’ he said. ‘Landlord of this fine establishment since 1685.’ He nodded at Penny. ‘Whatever it says above the door. Callie, isn’t it?’

‘That’s right.’ I held out my hand for him to shake, then realising what I was doing I hastily dropped it. ‘Callie Chase.’

‘Callie Chase. Isaac Grace. Grace and Chase. We were made for each other.’ He gave me a wide grin, revealing several gaps where teeth should be. ‘So, what are you doing here then?’

I frowned. ‘Well, I was taking part in the pub quiz, but with you calling out the answers, I feel honour-bound to withdraw, so I guess I’m just having a drink and people watching.’

‘Same,’ he said, propping his chin in his hand as he leaned on the counter. ‘Well, not the drink part, obviously, but people watching. You could call it my thing. I’m a student of human nature, and by heck, I’ve seen it all in here.’

‘I should imagine you have,’ I said, smiling. ‘I’d love to know more about it. The pub, I mean.’ I gazed around, admiring the thick, oak beams, the inglenook fireplace, the latticed windows, and the polished, wooden bar. ‘It’s so lovely and clearly very popular.’

‘Always was,’ he said proudly. ‘Finest coaching inn in these parts, you know. Our stables were second to none. We had a coach house, and ostlers to care for the ’osses, and the people who stayed here all complimented us on our facilities.’ He sighed. ‘Course, the buildings have all been converted into blooming holiday accommodation now. Got tourists lounging around where the ’osses once did their business.’ He chortled again. ‘If they only knew.’

‘I’d like to know more,’ I said, genuinely interested. ‘I’ll bet you’ve got so many stories you could share.’

His eyebrows shot up. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?’

I blushed heavily as Brodie arrived at my side. He smiled.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘Thought you were too busy to attend the quiz?’

‘I changed my mind,’ he told me. ‘After all, I’m going to be leaving here soon so I thought I should make the most of the place before it’s too late.’

Of course. Nothing to do with me, whatever Clara wanted to think. I’d suspected as much of course, but it still stung a little. ‘Friend of yours?’ I asked, a little frostily, as I nodded towards Rissa, who was looking daggers at me.

‘Hmm.’ Was it my imagination or did he look awkward suddenly? ‘They all are. Sorry if this is a ridiculous question,’ he said, ‘but who are you talking to?’

My face scorched. I’d completely forgotten that I was standing in full view of the entire bar. I’d been so engrossed in my conversation with Isaac Grace that it hadn’t entered my mind that the locals had probably been watching me converse with thin air.

I risked a glance around, relieved to see that, although a couple of people were watching me with curiosity, most – including Penny – were just carrying on with their business. I supposed everyone knew I could see ghosts, and since ghosts were fairly commonplace in Rowan Vale, it was probably no big deal to them. I still couldn’t quite believe that.

‘I’m talking to a former landlord of the pub,’ I told Brodie. ‘His name’s Isaac Grace.’ I turned back to Isaac. ‘Are you the only ghost in The Quicken Tree?’

He nodded gloomily. ‘That I am, and no one can see me in here which is a bit boring. It’s proper brightened my evening having you to talk to.’

‘Isaac Grace?’ Brodie frowned. ‘Name doesn’t ring a bell.’

It didn’t with me either, although I had a sudden memory of seeing a figure outside The Quicken Tree in the model village that could well have been the jovial landlord.

‘Grandpa’s never mentioned him,’ Brodie added.

‘Well,’ Isaac said, shaking his head, ‘he wouldn’t, would he? I’m irrelevant to him.’

‘I’m sorry?’ I said. ‘Irrelevant in what way?’

‘Sir Lawrence Davenport,’ Isaac said heavily, ‘has never entered this pub in all his years as head of the estate. Can you believe that? Hates the place, and there’s no wonder I suppose, given what happened here, but that’s hardly my fault, is it?’

‘What happened here?’ I said, puzzled. ‘What did happen here?’

He hesitated. ‘He hasn’t told you? Ah, well, not for me to say, that’s for sure. But look, I’ve got rights too. Visits other ghosts in their place of work and habitation, but me! No chance. Discrimination, I call it. And that one,’ he added, nodding in Brodie’s direction, ‘isn’t much better. I know he can’t see us ghosts, but he can see Penny all right, and the rest of the staff, and he never comes in here for a drink or anything. I think it’s a disgrace. He should be supporting local businesses. Suppose he drinks in The Royal Oak in Kingsford Wold,’ he added with a disparaging sniff.

‘I don’t think he drinks anywhere,’ I said carefully, mindful of Brodie listening closely beside me. ‘He’s far too busy for that.’

‘Are you talking about me?’ Brodie asked.

‘Sorry,’ I said. ‘Isaac was just saying that you rarely come in here for a drink.’

‘ Never comes in here for a drink,’ Isaac corrected me. ‘I said “never”. Like his grandfather.’

‘Do you ever go up to Harling Hall?’ I asked him. ‘Only, I’ve never seen any of the ghosts anywhere in the grounds, let alone in the house.’

Isaac looked deeply shocked. ‘Certainly not! It just isn’t done.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because… because… it just isn’t! Besides, we’ve never been invited,’ he added.

‘Do you need an invitation?’

‘My dear young lady, of course we need an invitation! Sir Edward would have had a fit if we’d all turned up unannounced, and Sir Lawrence wouldn’t like it either, I’m sure.’

‘Well,’ I said, feeling a sudden spark of mischief, ‘it’s my house now, isn’t it? So what if I invite you?’

Beside me, Brodie straightened. ‘Are you inviting a ghost to the Hall?’ he asked.

‘What if I am?’

‘Well…’ He hesitated. ‘I don’t know. I’m not sure Grandpa would like it.’

‘Why not, though?’ I asked. ‘Why has he never done it before, anyway?’

‘To be honest,’ Brodie admitted, ‘I’ve never asked him. It just didn’t occur to me. Maybe it never occurred to him either.’

‘Or maybe,’ I said darkly, ‘it’s because his precious Agnes would disapprove.’

Behind the bar, Isaac tutted. ‘Oh, her. I remember her. Proper dragon. Not seen her for years, now you mention it. Yeah, she’d definitely not approve if I turned up at the Hall uninvited.’

‘She wouldn’t, would she?’ I said, giving him a sly grin.

‘Callie, what are you doing?’ Brodie asked suspiciously. ‘It sounds to me like you’re inviting this Isaac Grace fella to the Hall just to annoy Agnes?’

‘Not just Isaac Grace,’ I said, barely able to hide my amusement. I turned back to Isaac. ‘Could you spread the word? I’d like all the ghosts to come to the Hall tomorrow afternoon after lunch. I’ll give you a tour of the Hall if you like?’

‘Callie!’ Brodie gasped.

Isaac scratched his chin. ‘I could,’ he said slowly, ‘but what for? What’s the point? Just to annoy that old harridan in the big house?’

‘Not just for that,’ I said, although I couldn’t deny it would be a bonus. ‘I want to meet them all – well, as many as I can anyway. And more than that, I want to find out exactly what they’d like from me as new owner of the estate.’

Brodie nudged me. ‘What on earth are you talking about? Just carry on doing what Grandpa’s been doing and you’ll be fine.’

‘But I’m not your grandpa,’ I said. ‘Isaac’s just told me that Lawrie’s never visited the pub since he inherited the estate, and he’s quite put out about it. I want to know if any of the other ghosts have grievances, and if so, what I can do to put things right for them.’

Isaac beamed at me. ‘Well, aren’t you a star?’ he said.

‘I’m not so sure about this, Callie,’ Brodie said nervously.

‘I’ll spread the word,’ Isaac boomed. ‘We’ll be round at yours tomorrow afternoon, so you’d better warn the old bat.’

‘Callie…’

‘Too late,’ I murmured, as Isaac disappeared into another room, perhaps already on his way to invite my guests.

Brodie sighed. ‘I suppose I’d better warn Grandpa.’

‘Never mind your grandpa,’ I said sheepishly, already wondering if I’d made a huge mistake. ‘I think someone had better warn Agnes.’