12
“O kay everyone, settle down.”
I look at all the faces staring back at me. “Now that everyone’s here, we’d like to officially welcome you all to the Ashton-Drake’s Legend of Lovers Hollow Valentine’s Weekend Ghost Hunt!”
There’s a small round of applause.
“Most of you should have had the chance to introduce yourselves already at the meet and mingle, but I’m just going to do a quick round of the room. So, over here on the left, we have Mina, Sieg, and Ans. Just by them, Mr and Mrs Taylor-Jones. Then we have Haruto and Amelia. Mr Victor Clutterbuck is seated by Mr Cedric Ashton-Drake, who owns our lovely hotel. Morgan Ashton-Drake, his grandson, is over there, and next to him is his brother, Warren.”
I smile at my boyfriend as he leans against the bar, sipping his coffee.
“We also have Essie and Martha and Mr Pennington, who’re all permanent residents here at the Ashton-Drake.”
The twins give a little wave and Mr Pennington lifts his cup in a bit of a pompous toast.
“But we’re very honoured to have some special guests with us this weekend,” I say happily as I glance at Thad. “Dr Thaddeus Dalton and his team, Bez, Jules, Kem, and Faiz. They have a very popular online show, and they travel all over the world investigating cases and gathering proof of the paranormal. This weekend they are going to be investigating the legend and hoping to catch sight of… the ghost of Lady Clare .” I drop my voice to a spooky whisper for the last few words and wiggle my fingers for dramatic emphasis.
I know Lady Clare’s ghost is definitely not wandering around the hotel, but the guests don’t know that, and it certainly won’t hurt to feed their imagination, especially after this morning’s antics courtesy of our actual resident ghosts.
“Now, those of us who are local are well-versed in the Legend of Lovers Hollow, but Dr Dalton and his team have conducted extensive research on the subject, so I’m going to hand the floor over to him. He’ll be telling you all about the tragic love triangle of Lady Clare, her husband, and her lover. Afterwards, Rosie and I will be running you through the itinerary for the rest of the weekend.”
I move back as Thad pushes himself up from where he’s been perched on the arm of one of the sofas and steps into the place I’ve just vacated.
“Hi, it’s great to meet you all.” He smiles and I can see several of our audience swoon dreamily as he takes a moment to look around the group. “As we’re all going to be hunting ghosts together, I think we can dispense with the formalities, so please call me Thad. My team and I are going to be filming throughout the weekend, so you may see Kem wandering around with a camera and Faiz with a sound boom.”
He points to each of them in turn and they give a little wave to the assembled guests.
“Bez, you can’t miss her”—she also gives a wave—“is our editor and producer. She’ll be on hand if you have any questions. Lastly and most importantly, we have Jules. He’s my assistant, but don’t let the title fool you. He keeps us all ruthlessly organised and we all do as he says.” Thad gives a little chuckle.
“I brought some merch with me, so if anyone is a fan of the show and wants a free Deuce Dalton Ghost Hunter T-shirt or anything, let me know.” Jules points to a box next to him.
“Oh, me. Me. Me!!! Please!” Haruto bounces up and down with his hand in the air. “Amelia wants one too, please.” He turns to his new friend, who blushes.
“Um, yes, please,” she says shyly. “I uh, I’m a big fan of your show.”
“Well, thank you.” Thad’s mouth curves. “I’m an even bigger fan of your work.”
“What?” Haru blinks, turning to Amelia. “What work?”
“I told you I’m an artist, right? Well, I suppose I’m a writer too,” she replies. “I have a graphic novel series.”
“Oh!” His eyes widen, and I can see the click as he comes to a realisation. “Amellia Alchemy! I knew you looked familiar. You created the series about the kick-ass trans girl who has all these cool dark supernatural powers! Oh, she’s you! You based the character on yourself! That’s so awesome.”
Amelia’s smile is one of pleased surprise, and she gives a small shrug. “I guess Amellia’s who we all wish we could be deep inside. Strong, brave, fearless.”
“You’re totally all those things!” he says excitedly. “We are definitely going to be besties now! I’m cosplaying Amellia at London Comic Con later this year. I chose one of the outfits from your last book, when she was trapped in the Shadow World with the wraiths. I’ve been working on it for the last couple of weeks, wanna see how it looks so far?”
Haru pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through his photos.
“Haru?” Thad pulls his attention back. “Why don’t you show Amelia later? I’d love to see it to, I really enjoyed the last book.” He gives her a wink, and her smile widens.
“Oh, sorry.” Haru laughs. “It’s my ADHD, sometimes my brain bounces all over the place.”
“No worries.” Thad turns back to the rest of the guests. “So, as we were saying, we’re going to be filming throughout the weekend. If you have no objection to appearing in the episode, you’ll need to sign a release form, which Jules will pass out.”
Jules waves some pieces of paper, then hands out a couple of small piles. “Take one and pass it along, please. It’s completely up to you, but if you prefer not to appear, let us know and we’ll edit you out of any footage we use. Also, we’ll have various equipment set up in some of the rooms. If you could please not touch them, we would be very grateful. Some of them are very sensitive.”
Once all the forms are given out, Jules accepts a mug of cocoa from Rosie and sits down next to Bez.
“Right,” Thad continues. “Before we dive into the story of Lady Clare and her lover, does anyone have any questions?”
Thad chuckles when Haru’s hand shoots up in the air.
“Are you single? Do you have a girlfriend? Or… boyfriend ?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment,” he says with a chuckle, and I don’t miss the way his gaze lands on Warren. “I travel a lot, not much time for relationships.” He turns his attention back to the room. “Any questions about the ghost hunt?”
When everyone shakes their heads, he takes a seat on the arm of the sofa behind him.
“Let’s dive in, then.” He rubs his hands together eagerly. “I first stumbled across the tale of Lady Clare about six months ago, and something about it just caught my interest. Her story goes back three hundred and thirty-nine years. In fact, it begins slightly earlier than that, with her father. August Ashton was the third son of minor nobility. By all accounts, he was a ruthless, ambitious man. He rose quickly through the ranks of Charles II’s army and was instrumental in the king’s restoration to the throne. King Charles was so pleased with August that, in 1661, he made him a Lord in his own right, rewarding his loyalty with this estate and a vast fortune.”
I glance around the room and smile at how enraptured everyone is by the story. My gaze lands, as it always does, on Morgan. He’s listening to the story along with everyone else, even though he already knows it because I told him. As if sensing me, he looks away from Thad and his beautiful dark eyes lock on me.
We stand there staring at each other, and for a second, I wish the whole world would disappear so it could just be the two of us. We’ve barely started as a couple and there are so many things I want to learn about him, so many things I want to tell him about myself. Things I’ve never had the chance or inclination to share before now, before him.
There’s just something so perfect when we’re together, like this is meant to be. I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but I feel like he’s someone I could fall deeply in love with, who I’d want to spend the rest of my life with.
Warren suddenly nudges Morgan in the ribs with his elbow and smirks, whispering something to his brother, and the moment is lost. So I turn back to Thad and try to concentrate.
“However, by 1686,” Thad continues, “August, a notorious womaniser and spendthrift, had gambled away most of the fortune bestowed upon him. By that point, Charles II was dead, and August had fallen out of favour with the new King James II, who was Catholic. In an attempt to refill his coffers and restore his standing with the royal court, August arranged for the marriage of his daughter Lady Clare to the second son of one of James’s most favoured lords.”
There was something quite mesmerising about Thad, and not just because he’s insanely good-looking. I suppose you could call it magnetism. Even now, recounting the beginnings of a story that could be as dry and dusty as a school history lesson, he has all the guests riveted.
“Lady Clare was barely twenty-two years old and dead set against the arranged match. Although Clement St. John had wealth and status, he, much like Lady Clare’s own father, had a reputation for gambling and womanising. There were also accounts of Clement being a cruel drunkard. As if that weren’t reason enough, Lady Clare already had a lover. With her father insisting upon the marriage, and given no alternative, she and her lover had made plans to run away together to France. August, upon learning of their plan, moved the wedding forward and declared that she had two choices—either marry Clement and her lover would live, or refuse and her father would find him and kill him.”
Haru gasps loudly and clutches Amelia’s arm.
“Needless to say, the wedding took place, but that night, Lady Clare refused to be bedded by her husband and fled their bedchamber. He gave chase, catching her at the top of the staircase. A fight ensued, and in a blinding fit of rage, he threw her down the stairs, breaking her neck. Upon seeing what he had done and fearing retribution from her father, Clement fled into the night. However, hearing about his beloved’s forced marriage, Lady Clare’s lover was already making for the house to save her and take her safely to France. But he arrived too late, finding her cold, lifeless body at the foot of the stairs. Flying into a murderous rage, he gave chase, intent on revenge for his love. Clement, being unfamiliar with Ashton lands, became lost in the woods and ended up at the Hollow, where it is said Lady Clare met with her lover in secret.”
Haru is practically on the edge of his seat now, and honestly, he’s so cute.
“Lady Clare’s lover caught up with her husband at the Hollow and a fight ensued. Clement was dealt a killing blow, but in a twist of fate, the lover was trampled to death by Clement’s horse. Thus ends the unhappy tale of Lady Clare, and the birth of the Legend of Lovers Hollow. To this day, the story goes, Lady Clare’s lover waits by their tree, hoping that they will be reunited, while her furious husband stalks the woods.”
“What about Lady Clare?” Haru asks, his eyes wide.
“She wanders the corridors of this hotel, weeping for her lost love.” Everyone breaks into a polite round of applause at Thad’s final words.
As far as I know, there is no such thing. According to Roger and Bertie, not one of the three ghosts have ever been seen. But still, if it gets people through the doors and helps to save the hotel, I’ll nod and smile and play along. Thad might be disappointed that he won’t get a sighting or proof that Lady Clare’s spirit haunts the hotel, but he won’t go away disappointed. Bertie and the others will definitely make it worth his while.
“Right, so there you have it.” I smile my thanks to Thad and step in front of everyone once more. “Now for the weekend’s itinerary. All events are entirely optional, of course. Rosie?” I turn to my best friend, who moves to my side, a clipboard balanced on one arm and pen clutched in the opposite hand.
“Hello, everyone,” she greets them. “The weekend’s itinerary has a little something for everyone, we hope! Tomorrow morning, I’ll be hosting a tour of the actual house. We’ll go to the locations where several deaths have occurred, many of which were definitely not from natural circumstances. I’ll also take you to the upper portrait gallery, where you’ll be able to see what some of the ghosts who reportedly haunt the hotel look like. I’ll warn you now, there will be a lot of stairs involved. For anyone interested, the house tour begins at ten a.m. in the dining room after breakfast.”
“Thank you, Rosie.” I nod. “There will be a short period afterwards when you’re free to have a look around. Thad and his team will be conducting their investigation and filming during that time as well. From twelve to two p.m. a hot buffet lunch will be served. Straight after that, Morgan and I will be hosting an outdoor tour, providing it isn’t snowing too heavily.”
“We will?” Morgan blinks in surprise, then coughs. “I mean, we are.” He nods and I send him a smile.
“The tour will cover the chapel and graveyard, and conclude at Lovers Hollow,” I continue.
“Oh.” Haru frowns in disappointment. “I don’t have any boots with me.”
“That’s not a problem,” I assure him. “We have plenty of spare wellies.”
“What is ‘wellies’?” Mina asks.
“They’re rubber boots,” I tell her. “To stop your feet getting wet. Although they don’t keep your feet very warm in the snow, but a couple of thick pairs of socks and you should be fine.”
“ Nein , we have winter boots. I just did not understand this word… wellies .” She laughs. “Is a funny word, ja ?”
“Well, we won’t be going into the woods.” Mrs Taylor-Jones frowns.
“Why?” Mina asks. “You come for ghosts?”
“Well, yes, I mean, no… sort of. It was a bit of a whim.”
“You come on tour,” Mina announces and looks at Ans and Sieg, who are nodding in agreement.
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Mrs Taylor-Jones shakes her head.
“You will come join us. We will keep you company, ja ?” Mina says, in a manner that’s not so much asking as telling, but in the nicest possible way.
“Oh no, we couldn’t possibly–” She blushes.
“We’d love to,” Mr Taylor-Jones blurts loudly.
“Francis!” his wife exclaims.
“What?” he says, his voice softening. “We came here to have new experiences, remember? A fresh start? A bit of excitement, that’s why we chose a ghost hunt, because it’s something neither of us has ever done.”
She stares at him for a few moments longer, then nods slowly. “Okay, yes.” She looks over at the Sch?fers. “Thank you, we’d love to accompany you. I’m Ellen and this is my husband Francis.”
“Mina, Sieg, und Ans,” she introduces them. “My partners.”
“Partners?” Ellen blinks, her cheeks colouring slightly.
“ Ja .”
“I know you don’t look alike, but I assumed you were siblings since you have the same last name,” Ellen says.
Francis coughs, having witnessed their earlier kisses. “Definitely not siblings.”
Sieg, who has been silent up until now, speaks, his voice warm and a little gravelly. “We change name to same because we choose to be together. Lovers, partners. You understand?”
Ellen nods, her cheeks pink.
“Well,” I interject before they decide to educate the Taylor-Joneses on the variations of a polycule. “Anyone else who would like to join me and Morgan, just meet us in the dining room at two. There will be more cocoa and cookies in the bar after the tour, plus we’ll light the fire so it’s nice and toasty and everyone can thaw out and chat. Then there’s dinner from six til eight. After that, we have a special performance for you in the ballroom, a reenactment of the Legend of Lovers Hollow, written by our very own Mr Pennington.”
He stands and takes a bow to the accompaniment of an awkward and sparse clapping.
“And it will be performed by the staff,” I add.
Warren snorts loudly and Morgan elbows him this time. I want to laugh—I can only imagine what these two were like growing up. It makes me a tiny bit wistful. Not that I didn’t have a brilliant childhood with a whole hotel to run wild in, but a part of me wishes I’d had a sibling to bond with.
“On Saturday, which is, of course, the fourteenth, you will have most of the day free to enjoy yourselves. Then, from eight p.m. onwards, there will be a Valentine’s ball in the ballroom, followed by the midnight ghost hunt.”
“That’s past our bedtime,” Ellen mutters.
“Oh my gosh, it all sounds so exciting!” Haru claps his hands happily. “I hope we see some real ghosts!”
No one has mentioned the chaos in the lobby this morning, and for that, I’m actually grateful. Because it was so over the top, I’m certain everyone assumes it was fake. I think Morgan and I will have to have a very stern conversation with Bertie and the others about toning down their antics.
We do want to build our reputation as a haunted hotel to bring in the guests, but it won’t work if everything looks like a tacky hoax. I know that Bertie and the others are trying to help, but we’re going to have to rein them in. In the case of hauntings, less is more.
“Don’t think I’ll be venturing out into the woods,” Mr Clutterbuck grumbles. “I leave that to the young ’uns. I’ll be in front of the fire with Cedric and a nice brandy.”
“You not joining us to search for your ancestor then, Mr Ashton-Drake?” Thad asks Cedric.
“Call me Pops,” Cedric replies.
“Hey!” Warren complains loudly. “That’s what I call you! Why’s he allowed to?”
Cedric huffs out a laugh. “Because it will annoy you. And in answer to your question, ghost hunter, no, I bloody well will not be. But Victor and I will try to leave some brandy for the rest of you.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Your legs will get cold.” Thad winks. “Love the sarong though. Great colour.”
“There is one more thing,” I interrupt quickly, seeing as Warren is looking somewhat homicidal himself. I’d rather he didn’t murder the famous ghost hunter before he can entice in more business for us. “Tonight after dinner, Thad will be hosting a seance at the scene of Lady Clare’s murder.”
There’s a collective gasp and a lot of talking amongst the assembled guests.
“As before, it is entirely optional. If you’re not comfortable with it, you are under no obligation to attend, but if you are interested, we’ll be meeting in the lobby at ten p.m.”
“Everyone looks quite enthusiastic,” Rosie says to me quietly.
“They do, don’t they?”
“There is just one thing. You might want to have a word with Bertie.”
I turn my head towards her. “What for this time?”
“Because I overheard her and Edwina earlier. I think they’re planning to have one of them roaming the hallways masquerading as our murdered Lady Clare. I’m also certain they’re planning to reenact the whole grisly three-way murder scene.”
I sigh. “Oh, dear.”