Page 29 of Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #1)

29

It was the following evening when the things that had been nagging away at me finally slotted into place. When they did, I couldn’t imagine how I hadn’t noticed them before.

I was sitting in my living room, idly watching an old episode of Midsomer Murders while dipping into a packet of chocolate digestives when, for some inexplicable reason, my thoughts slid to various recent scenarios involving Mia and I sat up straight, excitement bubbling away in me. How had I been so blind?

The next morning, I sought her out. She was in the kitchen, passing on my instructions to one of the cleaning ladies, so it was bad timing really, as Angela gave me a filthy look and said, ‘The schoolroom? Are you serious?’

Walter had decreed that lessons would commence properly the following week and had gently suggested that I get my act together in the meantime, finding books and a way for the children to actually read them.

I still hadn’t figured out a way for that to happen, but I was determined that at least the schoolroom would look better, so I’d decided to ask the cleaners to give the room a good scrubbing and vacuum it over, and that I’d hang up posters and maps and even bring in fresh flowers to brighten the room up, particularly as Aubrey had told me that the ghosts’ sense of smell was stronger than it had been even in life.

‘If you wouldn’t mind,’ I said meekly.

‘But no one uses the schoolroom,’ she said. ‘Have you spoken to Lawrie about this?’

I bit down my impatience. ‘As a matter of fact, the schoolroom will be in use in future, and as for Lawrie – it’s nothing to do with him, is it? I’m in charge now, and I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d do as I asked, Angela.’

I wanted to be polite, naturally, but I had to let everyone know, in no uncertain terms, that they couldn’t keep bringing up Lawrie whenever they disagreed with me. The fact was, Lawrie would be gone very soon, and I had to have exerted my authority by then. I couldn’t afford to faff about any longer.

Angela gave me a dark look but nodded. ‘As you like.’

She scuttled out of the kitchen and Mia grinned at me. ‘Well done. Coffee?’

While I was in an assertive mood, I pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Maybe later. Right now, I want you to sit too. You and I have to talk.’

‘Sounds ominous,’ she said, slipping into the chair beside me. ‘What have I done wrong?’

‘It’s not what you’ve done wrong,’ I told her. ‘It’s more what you’ve done that you really shouldn’t have done.’

She frowned. ‘Isn’t that the same thing?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘It’s not. This is about things you’ve said that make no sense – unless they totally do.’

She burst out laughing. ‘Callie, that’s as clear as mud! What on earth are you talking about?’

‘Okay.’ I held up one hand and began counting my fingers. ‘One. Florence goes to push Immi down the stairs. You let out a cry of alarm and drop the tray. You say you tripped.’

She paled. ‘I did. I already apologised for that.’

I held up a second finger. ‘Two. And this only dawned on me last night, which I can’t believe. You knew exactly what I’d agreed to when I made that bet with Florence. But I’m almost 100 per cent certain that I didn’t mention what the wager was. It was Florrie who talked about the kitten, so how did you know? And thirdly, when all that kerfuffle was going on with Pillory Pete on Monday, you asked if anyone had gone after Florrie. How did you even know Florrie had left? No one had told you that.’ I held up the three fingers in triumph, ‘One, two, three. There might even be more, but that’s what I remember. So how do you explain that, eh?’

Mia swallowed. ‘I… I?—’

‘You can see the ghosts, can’t you?’ I asked. ‘Why did you keep quiet? You could have taken over the entire estate if you’d let Lawrie know.’ I frowned. ‘I’m presuming he doesn’t know?’

‘No! I mean, no, I can’t see ghosts. Well, not all of them.’ She sighed. ‘I can see Florrie, that’s all.’

‘Florrie? But how? I thought people could only see the ghosts they were related to. Oh…’ I stared at her, seeing the stricken expression in her eyes. ‘You’re related to Florrie? How?’

‘Okay, but you mustn’t say anything, right? Promise?’

‘If that’s what you want. But Mia, why on earth are you keeping it quiet? Does Florrie not even know? How are you related to her?’

She ran a hand through her dark hair, her expression troubled. ‘She’s my great-aunt,’ she explained. ‘My grandma was her little sister. When she died, five years ago, I decided I’d find out what happened to Florrie. I wished I’d done it earlier, when Grandma was alive, really. She was always curious about the place Florrie was sent to during the war, but never came here to see for herself. She said she thought it would be too painful, you see. All the memories tied up here.’

‘So you came to Rowan Vale, why? Were you hoping to see Florrie?’

‘Good grief, no! I had no idea about the ghosts or anything like that. I certainly wasn’t expecting to see her. I booked into the pub and then went up to the Hall where I met Lawrie. I was hoping he wouldn’t mind me having a bit of a look around the grounds, that’s all. I never expected him to be so helpful. He invited me in. Showed me the records there are of when the Hall was home to evacuees. Even pointed out her photo.’ She shook her head. ‘Looking back, it was obvious there was something odd about it. The photos weren’t even labelled with the children’s individual names, so how did Lawrie know which one was Florrie? I suppose, at first, I just thought he was being kind. Fobbing me off with any old photo, but then I took out the photo Grandma had given me of her, and I realised he’d picked the right child. It seemed incredible.’

‘And then what happened?’ I asked, caught up in the story.

‘I was about to go back to the pub. I thanked Lawrie and he opened the living-room door, and then this, this child came running down the stairs.’ She shook her head. ‘Little plaits flying, those ridiculous wellington boots, that thin little cotton dress and knitted cardigan… She was Florrie. I knew it immediately.’

‘Bloody hell, Mia. I can’t imagine how much of a shock that was! What did she say to you?’ I didn’t like to imagine, knowing Florrie.

‘She didn’t even notice me. She went skipping down the hall and through the front door. The closed front door. I practically fell back into the living room, babbling away to Lawrie about seeing things.’

‘What did Lawrie say?’

‘He poured me a stiff drink then called for Agnes and Aubrey. I had no idea who they were and obviously couldn’t see them, but it was apparent that he was having some sort of conversation with someone. Quite a heated conversation. I barely took any of it in. I just gulped down the brandy and helped myself to another.’ She laughed. ‘What a day that was!’

‘So how did it end up with you living here and keeping it quiet that you can see Florrie?’ I narrowed my eyes. ‘She doesn’t know, does she?’

‘No. It was down to Agnes,’ she admitted. ‘Apparently, she was quite distressed that someone from Florrie’s past had turned up. She was afraid that it would bring back terrible memories for Florrie and begged Lawrie to send me away. Well, I wasn’t about to do that. In fact, once the shock started to wear off and I realised what had happened, I started asking questions. Lots of questions. Agnes didn’t like it one bit, but Lawrie was very understanding.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘You must think this is all crazy, but at the time, it seemed to make sense. Lawrie got Agnes to agree to my staying here, on condition that I never let onto Florrie that I could see her. In return, he gave me a home and a job so that I could be around her, get to know her. To be honest, I think it was only ever intended to be temporary, but I settled in here and got to like it. I got to like Lawrie. I loved the job and the village. And I—’ she hesitated, then added, ‘I love Florrie. I know she can be a little madam, but I do see a lot of Grandma in her, and she’s not always so bolshy, you know. When it’s just her and she’s not playing up… There’s a lot more to her than you’d think.’

‘What do you mean, when it’s just her?’

She gave me a sad smile. ‘She comes to see me. She doesn’t realise I can see or hear her of course, but she often follows me into the kitchen and sits at the table while I cook. She’s said some very complimentary things about my cooking! Oh, the times I’ve wished I could feed her up. She’s really taken to the kitten too.’ She nodded over to the blanket in the corner where Kitty/Tux was sleeping. ‘He doesn’t even hiss at her any longer. He’s so used to her. When Immi’s at school, Florrie spends so much time here with him. She talks to him. She tells him things.’ She paused and I was astonished to see her wipe away a tear. ‘She’s a good girl at heart. She’s just lost her way a bit. I think she’s lonely, even though she’s got Agnes and Aubrey.’

‘But it might make all the difference to her if she knew you were related to her,’ I said, feeling quite dazed that I’d missed the signs which, thinking about it now, were so obvious. ‘Surely it’s up to you whether you tell her, not Lawrie? And certainly not Agnes.’ As a thought struck me, I said hesitantly, ‘Does Brodie know about all this?’

‘I don’t think so. I’ve never mentioned it to him, and he’s never brought up the subject, which I think he would if he knew. And you know what those two are like,’ she said. ‘They can be very persuasive. Agnes can wrap Lawrie round her little finger, and if she doesn’t want me to talk to Florrie then he’s not going to allow it.’

‘But what if you ignored them both and talked to her anyway? How could they stop you?’

She nibbled her thumbnail. ‘I thought of that, but what if Lawrie had sacked me and sent me away? I’d never get to see her again. At least this way, I do have contact with her, even if she doesn’t realise it.’

‘You know what,’ I said, feeling my anger resurface. ‘This just about takes the biscuit. Those two! They’re really getting on my nerves. I’m going to have a word with Lawrie about this.’

‘No, don’t, Callie!’ Mia urged. ‘Don’t rock the boat. I don’t want any bad feeling between us.’

‘Lawrie will be gone very soon,’ I pointed out. ‘He can’t sack you or send you away. You work for me now, and I say you can talk to Florrie all you like. This has to stop. This entire estate doesn’t revolve around Agnes and her demands and I’m going to make damn sure he knows it.’