Excerpt from The Governess -- Chapter 16 continued and finished:
As for Lord Huntington, he had mistakenly refused new bedding upon Lady Blakemore’s bed, thinking it silly for his one night stay, but now could not sleep because of it. Her gentle fragrance filled his nostrils with a heady sensation that enveloped him with feelings he tried best to ignore.
But sleep would not come.
Finally, he stalked from the room to seek relief in the library.
Frustration mounted as he thought about what Lady Blakemore had experienced tonight. She had been quite upset, and he had felt responsible for it! He did not wish to see her so unhappy again. It had troubled him greatly. To the dark room, he stated, “I cannot help myself.”
This incident would be investigated at all cost. Someone was up to no good, and he would not sleep restfully until this mystery was solved.
*******
That uncomfortable sensation of being watched grew as Carly walked the grounds. Figuring that it was the Study window, she looked.
No one.
Searching the windows, she gazed up towards the attics and shivered all over upon seeing a distinct figure.
She was being watched.
But not by Lord Huntington.
Curiosity took hold. She must visit the attics.
As she mounted the final staircase to her destination, she felt an eeriness creep over her. Freezing mid-step, Carly worried over the strange sensation that had stopped her. Out of a dark corner of the staircase, Carly sensed again that she was being watched.
Horrified, she wondered what to do?
Go back? But then she would not know who it was watching her.
But did she really want to know?
Petrified, she wondered, indeed, if it was a ghost. It was almost as if the darkness had hands reaching out to her throat, cutting short her breath. After an insanely tense moment, she laughed at herself for her ridiculousness. She gingerly took another step forward only to let out a terrified scream.
Ethel stood disturbingly silent in the darkness, watching Carly.
Trying to catch her breath, Carly demanded, “What…what are you doing?”
Ethel stood staring. It was thoughtless. Unhuman. In a monotone whisper, the indistinct figure said, “I might ask you the same thing.”
Indignant, Carly insisted, “What is your purpose in these dark attics? Surely you have not been asked to clean them alone…and without light?”
“Such a know-it-all! So ‘aughty!” Ethel’s expression was not kind.
Carly would not be bullied. “Why do you always look at me from the windows when I am walking the grounds?”
Snorting with disgust, Ethel said, “You think I ‘ave nothin’ betta to do than watch the likes o’ you? You must think you are mighty special, milady.” Her sneer showed an ugly side to this girl, her mocking curtsey demonstrating her dislike.
“No. Just annoyed with your rudeness.” Carly’s brow crinkled with newfound insight. “I wonder if you are the one who has tried scaring me in the night,” Carly reasoned aloud. Her limbs froze when she thought of the bloodied, shattered mirror. Might she be in danger? Here in the dark? Away from anyone else in the house?
A wicked smile spread upon the servant’s face at the governess’s fear. Her insight.
Watchful, resentful, especially if her assumptions were correct, Carly asked, “Are you guilty?”
They stood staring at each other in the dark stairwell, questions unanswered.
With disturbing composure, Ethel stated, “I ‘ave work to be done. Please excuse me.”
Carly leaned against the wall, unwilling to be close to the servant girl as she stepped down and around her.
Ethel only laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls in her plunge into the darkness. Unkind thoughts and feelings roiled around in her breast.
Carly was disturbed.
Perfumed sheets and scary stairwells? The best kind of romance/suspense. I hope you enjoy today's excerpts!
Ellise
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