“Beth…”
It felt as if she were hearing her name from a distance,as she vaguely became aware that she was no longer standing,but instead laying down.It was a struggle to open her eyes,the soothing comfort of the darkness holding her firmly in its grasp,offering her a sense of peace and sanity.
She imagined herself floating on a cloud,the warmth of the sun caressing her on a beautiful summer’s day,but the same voice from before called to her again,more urgently than before.
Ethan,yes,it was Ethan.And Marcus was there too,his voice soft and full of concern.
“I swear to you Dad,”she heard him say,”she was fine when she went upstairs after breakfast.I thought she'd left already and the next thing I knew I heard her scream and when I came to look,I saw her lying at the top of the stairs.Thank God Noah arrived when he did.”
Noah.She tried to remember where she’d heard that name…He was Marcus' nurse.
It was still too much to open her eyes,it felt so good,the sun on her face,so gentle. Ethan was stroking her face.She would know his touch anywhere,so familiar,so arousing. “Beth,please wake up,”she heard him implore.”Please my darling,please.
“Dad,we should get her to the hospital.Noah seems to think she might have hit her head.It could be serious,she could be concussed.”
“No..no hospital…”
No doubt they were as surprised as she herself was that she’d found her voice,weak as it was.
“Beth!”Ethan said,the relief obvious in his voice.”What happened?My darling are you allright?”
Slowly she opened her eyes,her vision adjusting to the sunlight streaming in through the open curtains.She was in Ethan's bed and he was beside her,his eyes conveying the fear in his heart.
He smiled,continuing to stroke her face,as if he were willing her back to to life.He must have been so scared seeing her passed out,not able to help her.She turned to him,smiling reassuringly.
“I’ll be fine,”she whispered,“but Ethan,we have to talk.”
She told them everything,from her vision of the little girl,to seeing herself in the casket and finally of Lady Swann,animated in the portrait.
Ethan listened in silence,occasionally nodding his head,his face set in a frozen mask of disbelief,while Marcus just stared at her,every so often turning to see his father’s reaction. She knew how crazy it must sound to them,it was still so unbelievable to her as well. When she was done Ethan inhaled deeply,turning to Marcus.
“This all started with that damned necklace.Find all the journals your grandmother left for you.It's time to get to the bottom of this,once and for all.”
“You should have told me from the start what was happening,”Ethan said,cradling her against his chest.”I don't want there to be any secrets between us Beth.”
Beth smiled,feeling much more like her old self after the episode she just lived through.Thank God Ethan was the man he was.Anyone else would have carted her off to the mental ward by now.
He was just so understanding and a comfort in what seemed her darkest moments. “There was never much to tell until today.The first time I honestly thought it was a hallucination,but after everything else that’s happened…and Marcus told me what happened to Polly.Ethan,I'm scared.”
She felt his grip tighten,the warmth of his closeness sending her mind spinning towards another wicked train of thought.The desire he could so easily awaken in her was astounding.
It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.Even during her marriage to Edgar sex sometimes felt like a chore,a chore to fulfill her wifely duties,but with Ethan it was different.It was love and lust all rolled into one blazing inferno of passion and longing.He made her feel like a goddess and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You know I would never allow anyone or anything to hurt you Beth,”he said gently.”In a short time you have become my reason for living.I was lost until you came into my life.You have given me purpose and you have healed my heart when for so long I thought it would be broken forever.”
In that moment she could have happily died.This wonderful man loved her and only her.
She suppressed a giggle at the thought of the morbidly romantic notion of dying in his arms while they were at their happiest.It was the kind of thing which happened in the soaps she secretly watched and cried over but would never admit to doing.Her life was changing and it was definitely for the better.
“You know I feel the same way.Ethan,I can’t imagine my life without you.I just want it to be perfect.”
“Nothing in life is perfect my love.I’m sure we will have our ups and downs in the years to come.”
“The years to come?”she asked teasingly.”So Mr Hollingsworth,you see a future for the two of us?”
He laughed,the sound of it touching her heart.”I do Beth Collins,I most definitely do.”
It was then that they heard Marcus knocking on the door.He'd found Polly's journals and it was time to see what they had to offer.
“Grandma loved documenting her life.She wrote everything down,from what she had for breakfast to what she felt.I think she probably hoped that if anyone wanted to make a movie of her life they would have adequate material!”The mischief in his voice was undeniable and Beth couldn’t help but smile.She wished she had half his zest for life.Ethan sat crossed legged on the bed as he began to flip through the journals,casting them aside one by one until he came to one,which by the glint in his eyes,both Beth and Marcus assumed was the one he was looking for.“And?”Beth asked.He held it out to her and she began to read.“This is from the start of her marriage,just after she moved into the manor,”she explained to them.”She talks of her unease at being alone on the upper floor,of feeling a presence in the house.She also says that she told her husband,but he just thought it was after wedding jitters.And then here is one entry where her sister came for a visit an
“Does she say anymore about Ginny?”Ethan asked.His pensive mood from before had lifted somewhat and he looked a bit more relaxed.Beth beamed a smile at him,a gesture filled with reassurance and love.The more time she spent in his company,the more she was convinced she would go to the end of the world with him if he should ask her to.“She doesn’t say much more about Ginny,”she replied,”but here’s a piece where she herself saw this other woman,the one that Ginny saw.And it was after you were born.”“What does she say?Beth,what is it?Read it to us.”“December 24,1984.I can’t believe that Ethan has grown so much.He’s only three months old but already so robust.I have my hands full with him but luckily Royce is as in love with him as I am.Its almost my baby’s first Christmas and my heart stops,everytime I think of what happened today....”
Days later….“Time of death….15:03.”The silence in the emergency room was solemn as Beth took a deep breath and squeezed Dr. Casper’s arm as he called the time of death. This was the part of her job that she hated deeply and passionately,losing a patient when they had done everything in their power to save him.She stepped forward to take a closer look at the young man,the victim of an automobile accident. A bus carrying twelve passengers had crashed into his car. The emergency room was completely overrun with all the injured, but he was the worst off.Dr. Casper turned to her, his face clouded with sadness. He had been a doctor for over thirty years and every time death touched his work it seemed like the first time.“You did everything you could,Doctor,” Beth said. “He’s in a better place now.”She looked down at him. So young,not even thirty yet. His
Rutherford Estate, 1809Abigail Rutherford closed her parasol, as the sun disappeared in the darkening sky. Not even ten in the morning and already it seemed they were in for another dreary day of rain.How she loved her travels abroad, away from this miserable weather. Her heart jumped with excitement as their upcoming trip to Egypt came to mind, especially since this time, Arthur had promised that Fallon could join them. It was the last time they would do anything so extravagant as a family, for soon everything would change. Lord Carrick had made his intentions clear, and Arthur had been more than willing to accept his proposal. Come the summer, Fallon would marry Lord Carrick’s son, Warren.It was an arrangement which did not sit well with her young daughter. A husband and marriage was the last thing on her mind. She wanted excitement, to travel and see the world. Gentle, but free spirited with a steely resolve, Fallon was anything but a traditional E
Fallon hid her disgust behind a shy, ladylike smile, taking in the sight of Lord Carrick and his son. Both appeared utterly unkempt and their clothing had definitely seen better days. Ever since Lady Carrick succumbed to her fever, two summers ago, her husband and son had done nothing but travel to distant lands and left the upkeep of their manor and grounds, to an army of servants, at their beck and call.Fallon wondered if they even ever bathed. The smell of sweat from Warren, where he was sitting opposite her in the sunroom, was overwhelming. Thank God she had the presence of mind to open the window, before taking her seat. This was what she would have to endure as his wife? Being bedded by a regal urchin? Her stomach turned as she imagined doing her womanly duty with such a foul creature. How would she survive?Unfortunately, her mother had told her it was a woman’s duty to submit to her husband at his choosing. No woman must ever initiate the act of surrender, nor a
“Lord Carrick, how fascinating for you to allow Warren to have an Egyptian boy as his manservant,” Abigail commented.Somehow she had overheard the idiot telling Fallon, and was now bringing it up in conversation. Fallon was immediately alert. The young man confounded her. Why did he have such an electrifying effect on her? Was it his exotic appearance? Or the way his eyes had bored into her soul, in the brief moment he’d looked at her?Whatever it was, she resolved to find out. There was never a mystery which did not appeal to the young Miss Rutherford.“I concur,” Arthur said. “Wherever did you find him?”Lord Carrick lifted his decanter to his dry lips, draining it of its contents. Instantaneously, one of the servants refilled it. He coughed as he cleared it once more.“I bought the boy from his mother,” Lord Carrick announced nonchalantly.Fallon covered her mouth with her hand, fearful they would hear her outraged gasp. Who was Lord Car
“You should close your drapes dear,” Abigail said. She sat behind Fallon on the four-poster bed, gently brushing her daughter’s hair.“Yes, Mother,” Fallon replied. “Though I doubt I will get any sleep, seeing as Father invited the Carrick’s to stay the night.”Abigail stopped and turned her daughter to face her. ”It would have been unforgivable, for your father to turn guests away in this storm. They will leave early tomorrow morning, I think.”Fallon cast her eyes down, fearful her mother would see her utter disgust. The more time she spent in Warren’s presence, the more her hatred for him grew. This was what her life was to be. Married to a simpleton. Without his father’s riches, he would be no more than the village idiot.“Warren will make a fine husband,Fallon. You must simply be the dutiful wife and acquiesce to his will,” Abigail continued. &ldqu
It was just after dark when her shift was done and Beth went out into the parking lot, to wait for Emma who was picking her up tonight. Although she appreciated their concern, Beth had to admit she felt a bit riled by Ethan and Emma, who it seemed had some unspoken agreement between them to babysit her. They even took turns picking her up at work and were constantly checking up on her. It was out of love, she knew, but it could also be extremely aggravating. It was almost as if they decided she needed around the clock care. She quicly cast her unpleasant thoughts aside, realizing this was her best friend and the man she loved. And after what happened today, with the animated corpse of the young man and the lady in the shadows inside of him… She suppressed a shiver at the memory, trying not to let it upset her mood as Emma pulled up beside her and honked the horn. “ All done?” Emma asked. “Sti
October 13, 1811I have barely had the strength to write the last while. The final months of my pregnancy took a terrible toll on me and I was ill for some time. Charles and I prayed that I would deliver a healthy baby and our prayers were answered. William is six weeks old and very robust. We can not be more proud. For so long I feared I would never give Charles the child he so truly desired, but God heard my cries and gave us this greatest of blessings.I nearly died giving birth to him but from the moment I laid eyes upon his beautiful face, I knew all the pain and strife had been worth it. His presence completed our lives and our marriage is stronger than ever, despite the madness that overcame me three weeks ago….“Dear God in heaven!Katherine, calm yourself!”Charles’ voice bouldered in their bedroom,
“ I hope Marcus is still awake,” Beth said as they took the turn down the dimly lit road leading to the manor. “We talked so much I lost track of time.”Emma smiled as she shifted gears. “I’m still concerned about what you said earlier Beth. About bringing danger to us, the people who love you.”“In a way it’s true though Em. You’re in danger by way of associating with me. We still have no idea what this spirit wants or why, well, besides myself and Ethan dead. And it’s frightening to think she confronted Mrs Feeney in her own home. How will she protect herself? I don’t even know what I’m feeling nowadays. I never imagined this would be the path I would walk someday and it kills me to think anything could happen to you guys.”“Enough with the martyrdom Beth. We love you and we will face this with you. We’re famil
Propped up against his pillows, Marcus pondered the question Noah had just cast his way.“Why do you think something is going on?” he asked innocently. He dreaded the thought of Noah finding out the truth and then just disappearing in a mist of shock and delusion.Noah was not only his nurse, but also his best friend. In the four years Noah had cared for him, they’d grown quite close and although Marcus hated the idea of lying to him, he consoled himself with the thought that it was all for Noah’s safety.“ Because it’s disconcerting,” Noah replied. “The way you,your dad and Beth have been acting. Like there’s some big secret. If you need to talk Marcus, you know I’m here for you.”“It’s just the adjustment,” Marcus lied. He surprised himself with the effortless ease with which he could do it. “For so long it wa
It was just after dark when her shift was done and Beth went out into the parking lot, to wait for Emma who was picking her up tonight. Although she appreciated their concern, Beth had to admit she felt a bit riled by Ethan and Emma, who it seemed had some unspoken agreement between them to babysit her. They even took turns picking her up at work and were constantly checking up on her. It was out of love, she knew, but it could also be extremely aggravating. It was almost as if they decided she needed around the clock care. She quicly cast her unpleasant thoughts aside, realizing this was her best friend and the man she loved. And after what happened today, with the animated corpse of the young man and the lady in the shadows inside of him… She suppressed a shiver at the memory, trying not to let it upset her mood as Emma pulled up beside her and honked the horn. “ All done?” Emma asked. “Sti
“You should close your drapes dear,” Abigail said. She sat behind Fallon on the four-poster bed, gently brushing her daughter’s hair.“Yes, Mother,” Fallon replied. “Though I doubt I will get any sleep, seeing as Father invited the Carrick’s to stay the night.”Abigail stopped and turned her daughter to face her. ”It would have been unforgivable, for your father to turn guests away in this storm. They will leave early tomorrow morning, I think.”Fallon cast her eyes down, fearful her mother would see her utter disgust. The more time she spent in Warren’s presence, the more her hatred for him grew. This was what her life was to be. Married to a simpleton. Without his father’s riches, he would be no more than the village idiot.“Warren will make a fine husband,Fallon. You must simply be the dutiful wife and acquiesce to his will,” Abigail continued. &ldqu
“Lord Carrick, how fascinating for you to allow Warren to have an Egyptian boy as his manservant,” Abigail commented.Somehow she had overheard the idiot telling Fallon, and was now bringing it up in conversation. Fallon was immediately alert. The young man confounded her. Why did he have such an electrifying effect on her? Was it his exotic appearance? Or the way his eyes had bored into her soul, in the brief moment he’d looked at her?Whatever it was, she resolved to find out. There was never a mystery which did not appeal to the young Miss Rutherford.“I concur,” Arthur said. “Wherever did you find him?”Lord Carrick lifted his decanter to his dry lips, draining it of its contents. Instantaneously, one of the servants refilled it. He coughed as he cleared it once more.“I bought the boy from his mother,” Lord Carrick announced nonchalantly.Fallon covered her mouth with her hand, fearful they would hear her outraged gasp. Who was Lord Car
Fallon hid her disgust behind a shy, ladylike smile, taking in the sight of Lord Carrick and his son. Both appeared utterly unkempt and their clothing had definitely seen better days. Ever since Lady Carrick succumbed to her fever, two summers ago, her husband and son had done nothing but travel to distant lands and left the upkeep of their manor and grounds, to an army of servants, at their beck and call.Fallon wondered if they even ever bathed. The smell of sweat from Warren, where he was sitting opposite her in the sunroom, was overwhelming. Thank God she had the presence of mind to open the window, before taking her seat. This was what she would have to endure as his wife? Being bedded by a regal urchin? Her stomach turned as she imagined doing her womanly duty with such a foul creature. How would she survive?Unfortunately, her mother had told her it was a woman’s duty to submit to her husband at his choosing. No woman must ever initiate the act of surrender, nor a
Rutherford Estate, 1809Abigail Rutherford closed her parasol, as the sun disappeared in the darkening sky. Not even ten in the morning and already it seemed they were in for another dreary day of rain.How she loved her travels abroad, away from this miserable weather. Her heart jumped with excitement as their upcoming trip to Egypt came to mind, especially since this time, Arthur had promised that Fallon could join them. It was the last time they would do anything so extravagant as a family, for soon everything would change. Lord Carrick had made his intentions clear, and Arthur had been more than willing to accept his proposal. Come the summer, Fallon would marry Lord Carrick’s son, Warren.It was an arrangement which did not sit well with her young daughter. A husband and marriage was the last thing on her mind. She wanted excitement, to travel and see the world. Gentle, but free spirited with a steely resolve, Fallon was anything but a traditional E
Days later….“Time of death….15:03.”The silence in the emergency room was solemn as Beth took a deep breath and squeezed Dr. Casper’s arm as he called the time of death. This was the part of her job that she hated deeply and passionately,losing a patient when they had done everything in their power to save him.She stepped forward to take a closer look at the young man,the victim of an automobile accident. A bus carrying twelve passengers had crashed into his car. The emergency room was completely overrun with all the injured, but he was the worst off.Dr. Casper turned to her, his face clouded with sadness. He had been a doctor for over thirty years and every time death touched his work it seemed like the first time.“You did everything you could,Doctor,” Beth said. “He’s in a better place now.”She looked down at him. So young,not even thirty yet. His