Anne Jefferies and the faeries

There are many tales of people visiting faerieland and it happened to a young girl called Anne Jefferies in the middle of the 17th century. She was the daughter of a poor labourer in the parish of St Teath, Cornwall. At the age of nineteen she was lucky enough to secure a position as servant in the house of the a Mr Moses Pitt who also lived in St Teath. Although she was considered by her employer to a staid and sensible girl, little did they realise that she spent many hours wandering around the countryside looking for the faeries. She would wander through the woods and across the hills, singing in an attempt to draw them out.

'Faerie Fair, Faerie bright

Come and be my chosen sprite'

This went on for many weeks, but she caught no sight of the little people of Cornwall. But not down hearted  she would wander through the moonlit nights again and again singing to draw them out for she knew that the fae could not resist music and would eventually come to her.

'Moon shines bright, waters run clear

I am here, but where’s my faerie dear?'

Then one morning she was sat in her employer’s garden doing some mending when the faeries eventually appeared to her. She looked up and saw six little men walking across the lawn towards her, they were splendidly dressed in green and one sported a long red feather in his cap. It was this little faerie that climbed into her lap and began to kiss her neck and face, he then gently touched her eyes and all went black. There was a loud rushing noise and when Anne opened her eyes she had been transported to faerieland. It was most beautiful place, the houses and palaces were made of gold and silver, the lakes and rivers were full of leaping brightly coloured fish and all the trees and bushes were laden with fruit and berries. In this place the little people were no smaller than Anne herself so she could join in all their games and could wear as splendid clothes as her hosts.
Anne stayed there for many days until the faerie men started to squabble over her, all wanting to be her favourite. Although Anne wished to stay in faerieland with her little friends, the faerie who had blinded her the first time, touched her eyes again and she was transported back to the garden. When Anne opened her eyes she was in the same spot, with the mending still in her lap and had apparently only been gone a few minutes. A crowd of anxious people had surrounded her, all thought she had had a strange convulsion, from which now she was recovered.

This was not the last encounter that Anne had with the faeries, they visited her many times; they passed on many of their healing crafts and gave her the gift of prophecy. Her cures became famous and her prophecies were all in favour of the Royalists. This and her zealous religious beliefs got her into trouble with Parliament. In 1646 she was imprisoned and charged with witchcraft by the famous John Tregeagle. She was sent to Bodmin gaol where Anne claimed that the faeries brought her food during her imprisonment, and reports from her gaolers confirmed that Anne would take no food from them. So the faerie food sustained her until she was released through lack of evidence

The Lavender Witch; serialised part 7

‘I can’t believe you’re serious! This is ridiculous.’ Rob looked in astonishment at his father- in- law.

‘That’s what I have been saying for the last few days and I still can’t believe it,’ said Gordon quietly.

‘But it happened,’ Kitty said firmly. ‘And we have to find out why she is haunting us.’

‘Are you sure she’s not out for revenge?’

‘Revenge against whom? We haven’t done anything to her; we’ve just got her fireplace.’

Rob was fidgeting impatiently with the bottle of whiskey.

‘Well I’m sure there must be an explanation for it, it sounds like you’re letting your imaginations run away with you,’ he stared at his wife and shook his head.

‘We weren’t Rob! You weren’t there; you didn’t see what it was like and that voice screaming outside!’ Eve shuddered. ‘It was awful.’

She looked at her parents. ‘You can’t go back there; you’ll have to sell the house.’

‘We’re not selling Eve, dad and I will get to the bottom of this.’

Gordon looked at his wife, his expression troubled.

 ‘I don’t know Kitty, perhaps we should sell.’

‘Gordon! After all the work we have put into the house and anyway I don’t feel that she means us any harm.’

‘Mother!’ Eve shouted at her. ‘Are you mad, after tonight how can you say that!’

‘I don’t know, it’s just a feeling I have.’

‘Well we’ll see, we’ll go back tomorrow and see what happens,’ said Gordon slowly.

‘You would get a good price for it,’ added Rob.

‘We’re not selling,’ Kitty said firmly. ‘And anyway we need to see Mrs Leavenham; she might know something that will help.’

A knock sounded on the cottage door but Hannah didn’t move from her position in front of the fire. She stared drearily into the flames and wished whoever it was would go away.

The latch clicked. ‘Hannah? Are you well me dear?’

She turned slowly. ‘Michael.’

He came further into the room, his cap clasped in his hand. ‘Missus sent I up to see if you needed anything.’

‘Is Mary well?’

‘Aye she’s doing well, baby as well. He’s a fine chap.’

‘You look after her mind and make sure she don’t do too much.’

‘Daughter can look after the house till she’s up on her feet again’

Michael looked at Hannah bent over the fire and then glanced at the empty crib near the wall.

‘Are you sure you’re well? You could come and stay with us for a few days till you feel

better. We’d make room for ‘ee.’

‘Now Michael Guppy you’ve enough mouths to feed in your house without inviting more people to your table.’

‘Well,’ he hesitated staring at her pale drawn face.  ‘Here’s something for your pot tonight,’ and laid a plump hare on the table. ‘I’ve skinned and gutted it for ‘ee.’

Hannah managed a faint smile. ‘You’re a kind man Michael.’

A pink tinge appeared on his cheeks. ‘Aw now, one good turn as they say.’

Hannah turned to look him squarely in the face. ‘I hear he’s been spreading tales about me again.’

‘Ay well, nobody takes any notice of him, we’m all know them tales ain’t true. There ain’t one of us in the village you haven’t helped at one time or another.’

‘Their memories be short Michael.’

‘Dunne worry Hannah everything will blow over soon enough. He’ll find somebody else to gripe about you wait and see.’

She turned back to the fire, her shoulders slumped. ‘Haven’t I suffered enough and still he hounds me, he’s a devil that one, curse him. He won’t be happy till he sees me gone. Damn him and his family.’

‘Now, now Hannah,’ Michael looked worried. ‘Don’t ‘ee let anybody hear you’m talking like that woman, that’ll just bring trouble.’

A tear rolled down her cheek. ‘Well why won’t he let me be? Hasn’t he done enough to me already, I don’t think he’s going to rest easy until he has every stick and stone that be mine.’

Hannah lifted her apron and wiped her face.

Michael shifted impatiently, twisting his cap in his hands.

 ‘Now you’d better be going or your Missus will think you’ve stopped off in the Red Lion.’

‘Are you sure you won’t come down to the village?’

‘No, no”,’ she sniffed. ‘No you get on I’ll be fine and thank ‘ee for the hare Michael’

Wednesday

Eve drove slowly into the drive and stopped just inside the gateway.

‘Are you sure about this?’

‘We’ll be fine,’ reassured Kitty. ‘Thanks for bringing us back.’

The house looked calm and welcoming in the early morning light, the light from the hall casting a warm glow onto the front doorstep.

‘You can stay with us if you need to, we don’t mind.’

‘Thanks Eve, but it was a bit of a squeeze with all of us and we can stay in a hotel tonight if we need to.’

 Gordon opened the car door and climbed out. ‘We left the lights on.’

‘I did tell you last night before we left,’ answered Kitty as she tried the front door. ‘You didn’t lock the front door either.’

She pushed the door open, inside the hall floor was covered in the leaves and twigs that had blown in the back door the day before and there was a fine covering of grit and sand over everything. Kitty’s feet crunched as she walked across the hall towards the kitchen.

‘Where did we put Mrs Leavenham’s phone number?’

Gordon hovered in the doorway. ‘It’s in the kitchen, pinned to the fridge.’

‘Come on in then and shut the door, we’ve got some tidying up to do.’

She looked at him hesitating in the doorway; he looked very ill at ease and was glancing nervously at the doorway into the front room.

‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

‘As fine as anybody could be under the circumstances.’

Nero padded after her into the kitchen and jumped into his box by the radiator and settled down with a satisfied grunt.

‘Well Nero is happy to be back.’

‘Stupid dog,’ grunted Gordon.

Eve stood next to her father, holding his arm and staring around the room. ‘Do you want me to stay and help clear up?’

Kitty was struggling to move the kitchen table away from the door.  ‘Come and help me move this then I can throw all this rubbish back into the garden, I knew I should have had the bonfire and not just left it.’Eve moved forward reluctantly into the room and took hold of the edge of the table and helped her mother drag it back into the middle of the kitchen.

‘Gordon can you get the broom?’

‘Why are you bothering with all this now, let’s just get hold of Mrs Leavenham.’

‘Well, you ring her while I clear this mess up,’ Kitty said firmly and pulled out the broom from behind the door of the utility room. ‘Look at this, there’s leaves in here as well.’

She brushed a pile of leaves out and into the middle of the kitchen and then stopped and looked at Gordon who was still hesitating in the doorway. ‘Well, are you going to call her?’

He gazed blankly at her.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ she asked.

‘Yes, yes I’m fine Kitty stop keeping on,’ he pulled the scrap of paper off the fridge and headed back to the hall. ‘I’ll phone her now.’

Eve hovered in the doorway looking first at her mother calmly sweeping the floor and then at Gordon.

‘Do you need me here mum?’

‘No dear, if you want to go I quite understand.’

‘I can’t stay here, I’m sorry, not after last night.’

Kitty propped the broom up against the table and went over to her.

 ‘It’s okay Eve,’ she patted her daughter on the arm. ‘We’ll be fine.’

‘Okay, if you’re sure then,’ Eve tried not to sound too relieved; she moved quickly to the front door and looked at her parents.

 ‘You will let me know what happens, won’t you?’

‘We will and thanks for running us back,’ said Gordon and gave her a hug.

Kitty looked at him enquiringly.

‘No answer I’m afraid.’

‘I’m going dad, okay?’

‘Yes go on Eve, we’ll be fine so don’t worry,’ he said calmly for his daughter’s benefit. ‘There’s nothing to worry about.’

Gordon shut and locked the front door after Eve had driven off and walked slowly back into the kitchen, he looked at his wife impatiently. ‘Kitty, let’s leave all this and go down to the village.’

‘I’ve nearly finished Gordon, out of the way,’ she pushed him to one side and finished sweeping up the last of the leaves into the dustpan. ‘There all done.’

‘Now can we go?’

‘Well perhaps she’s not home.’

‘We can try; she may be at the shop already. I can’t stay here and twiddle my thumbs Kitty.’

The Post Office door was closed; the opening hours were taped onto the glass window.

‘We’re too early, let’s go and see if she’s at home, she should be at this time of the day.’

‘Morning.’

They both jumped and turned eagerly but it wasn’t Mrs Leavenham standing behind them, it was a woman they had never seen before.

‘Good morning,’ responded Kitty politely.

‘Aren’t you the couple from the new house at the Castle Farm?’ she asked.

‘That’s right,’ Gordon looked at her curiously.

‘I’m Sheena, from the pub. My husband said you had come in over the weekend,’ she looked eagerly at Kitty. ‘Malcolm said you were interested in attending a séance.’

‘Oh well,’ began Kitty. ‘I thought it sounded interesting, actually..’ Kitty had a sudden thought. ‘Have you held many séances?’

‘Well not here, it’s been difficult to find people who are open minded enough to accept the spirit world in this area. Would you be interested?’ she added hopefully.

‘I think you may be able to help us, would you consider holding a séance in our house?’

Gordon looked at Kitty doubtfully. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea Kitty,’ he interrupted.

She glanced at him impatiently and rushed on, ‘It might help us and it’s worth a try.’

Sheena looked at the couple and excitedly tugged at the string of beads around her neck.

 ‘I would love to hold one for you; perhaps we could get a group together?’

‘No!’ they both said quickly. ‘It would be better if we keep it to just us three,’ Kitty added  ‘We’re being troubled by a spirit.’

‘Really!’ Sheena looked delighted. ‘How exciting.’

Gordon stared at her coldly.

 ‘No it isn’t actually, it’s bloody frightening.’

‘Oh yes of course, of course if you’re not used to the presence of spirits then it would be unsettling,’ she nodded at them. ‘When would you like to hold it?’

‘As soon as possible, like now really.’

‘Now? That’s rather short notice. I’d have to fetch a few things and prepare myself mentally for it. Tonight would be better, in the dark.’

‘It has to be dark?’ queried Kitty.

‘No! Definitely not in the dark,’ said Gordon firmly.

Kitty looked at him. ‘No you’re probably right. Could you do it in an hour or so?’

‘Why! You are in a rush, we can try, there’s no guarantee of course that the spirits will turn up so to speak.’

‘Oh I don’t think that is going to be a problem Sheena,’ Gordon added drily. ‘I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.’

‘Oh this is so exciting, so it’s Gordon and Kitty isn’t it?’

‘Yep, that’s right.’

Sheena half turned.

 ‘I’ll go and fetch a few things and let my husband know, I’m sure he’ll be able to manage on his own for a few hours.’

‘Just come up when you’re ready.’

Sheena waved a hand over her shoulder as she hurried back to the Witch and Broomstick then suddenly stopped and came back.

‘Oh dear, I forgot what I came for,’ she giggled and pushed a handful of letters into the post box set into the wall of the Post Office. ‘Now I won’t be long.’

‘Okay,’ Gordon called after her as she hurried down the narrow village street, the clacking of her heels bouncing off the stone walls of the cottages.

 He turned to Kitty ‘Are you sure about this?’

‘Who better to help than somebody who holds séances?’

‘Hmm, well shall we go and see if Sybil is at home?’

Priddy Cottage was not far from the Post Office and just a hundred yards farther on than The Witch and Broomstick. They walked past, still closed this early in the morning but coming from inside they could hear Sheena’s voice raised in excitement.

The cottage was in a row of small stone built cottages just in front of the church, a steep path led up to the lichgate at the rear of the houses and behind the church was the small neatly kept graveyard.

‘Quiet neighbours,’ remarked Gordon.

Kitty looked at him and half smiled. ‘You just couldn’t resist could you?’ then knocked firmly on the front door. Heavy net curtains hung at the small windows and the curtains were still half drawn. A bright pink potted pelargonium stood on the windowsill.

‘She must be out.’

‘Bugger the woman, what’s she doing, a woman of her age should be at home.’

‘She’s allowed a social life Gordon, perhaps she’s out visiting a neighbour.’

‘Well she shouldn’t be,’ he answered crossly.

‘Stop being so touchy.’

‘I think after the last few days I am entitled to be feeling a bit touchy!’

‘Let’s just go home and we’ll try again later,’ Kitty took his arm and gave it a squeeze. ‘Come on.’

‘Okay you’re right, let’s go home and get ready for the séance. Although God only knows what that will bring,’ he suddenly stopped. ‘Talking of God only knows I wonder if there is a vicar living in the village.’

‘What for?’

‘An exorcism of course.’

‘Do they still do that?’

‘How the hell should I know? I’m a logistics manager. I’m a bit out of my depth here.’

‘Doesn’t it cast the spirit into outer darkness or purgatory or something?’

‘As long as it casts her out of my house I don’t care.’

‘Her?’

Gordon looked at her curiously.

 ‘Yes, her, Hannah. Who else?’

Kitty’s steps slowed. ‘I don’t know Gordon, I don’t know why but I feel that she’s not trying to harm us.’

‘Are you serious after yesterday?’

‘Was that Hannah? All the noise and the wind? I don’t know Gordon I really don’t.’

‘Well I’m at a loss as well, I thought I could handle this,’ Gordon stopped and swung round to face his wife. “But the worst thing is that she was talking to little Emily, and Emily could see her!’

‘I know Gordon I was there! Perhaps she was murdered and she’s not at peace, but I don’t understand what that has got to do with us.’

 Kitty looked puzzled and stared up the street in the direction of Orchard Cottage.

Gordon put his arm around her shoulder.

 ‘Come on, it looks like we’ll be finding out soon.’

‘I hope so and I hope Sheena knows what she is doing.’

Kitty’s steps slowed again as they walked past the farmyard, she glanced in but the place looked deserted.

‘Do you think we should tell Mr Beamish what’s happening?’

‘No definitely not, I think we should keep this to ourselves, we wouldn’t want him to die of fright.’

Kitty half laughed. ‘I think he’s tougher than that Gordon.’

‘Maybe.’

The couple reached the end of the old stone wall and stopped at the entrance of the driveway; the house looked quiet and gave no clue as to the events that had occurred over the last few days.

Gordon sighed and gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Come on then, let’s go in and get ready for the great event.’

‘I suppose we should have asked her if she needed anything for it.’ mused Kitty.

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know, candles maybe, sacrificial goat. I haven’t done this before you know.’

‘We haven’t got any candles or a goat; she’ll have to make do with the dog.’

‘She’s not having the dog! She can have you instead.’

‘Seriously though Kitty I’m not comfortable with this at all,’ he hesitated as he spoke and glanced around. ‘I just hope it doesn’t make the situation worse.’

‘Well what else can we do?’ Kitty said hesitantly. ‘Apart from move. But I think it’s worth a try and I’m sure she’ll be able to help.’

‘Hannah.’ 
She turned and looked back down the path.

‘Hello me dear, what are you doing up here this early?

‘We’ve been baking and I made an extra loaf for you. I smuggled it out under my pinafore.’

The young girl sounded triumphant as she pulled back the soiled white apron and showed Hannah the loaf.

‘That’s kind of ‘ee but you mustn’t bring me any more food, if he should find out what you’ve been doing...’ her voice trailed off.

‘I’ll be careful Hannah, dunnee worry.’

They both started as a dog barked farther down the hill.

‘That’ll be him, get going child and don’t let him see you.’

‘Aye I’d better,’ she looked nervously over her shoulder. ‘I’ll come up later in the week, he’s off to the market in Axminster on Thursday,’ she giggled. ‘I think he’s going courting.’

‘Now you be careful...oh quick!’ Hannah grabbed her by her thin shoulders.

 ‘Hide, he be here.’

The child ducked out of sight behind the brambles, barely breathing in the hope that he or the dog wouldn’t notice her crouching in the bushes.

‘Now then woman, what are you doing?’

‘Nothing that’s any of your business so go on and let I be.’

‘Don’t you tell me what my business is Hannah Beamish. You’re a blight,’ he ground out. ‘A blight on this village, we all know that. With your potions and spells, who knows what demons you call up...this is a good Christian village. You should go from here and leave us in peace.’

‘Demons! There’s only one demon in this village and that’s you. Don’t you think I don’t know where all this nasty tittle tattle has come from, you evil bugger.’

His face flushed with rage and he drew his teeth back in a snarl. ‘Evil? You’d know all about that you old hag!’

‘If Samuel was alive you wouldn’t talk to me this way.’

‘That cripple’s gone and good riddance to him and his brat,’ he spat at her.

‘Damn you!’ she said in quiet fury. ‘Damn you to hell.’

His face twisted and he lunged at her raising his stick in a shaking hand.

‘No! Don’t you dare!’

The little girl tumbled out from behind the bramble bushes and rushed over to Hannah and stood between the two furious adults.

‘Leave her be.’ she shouted at him.

‘You! What are you doing here? I don’t pay you to dawdle about on this hill. Get on back to the farm and get on with your chores or you’ll feel my stick across your back.’

Hannah reached forward and put a protective arm around her thin trembling body.

‘You touch this child and you’ll be sorry.’

‘This is all your doing leading this brat astray, encouraging her to waste my time. I’m taking it out of your wages,’ he yelled at the child. ‘I’ve a good mind to send you home, let your parents deal with you.’

Hannah held her tighter and glared at him.

‘Get off my land.’

He stared at her for a second his mouth working in fury and without another word he turned and stalked off down the path.

Hannah heaved a trembling sigh and gave the girl a little shake.

‘Now get on back quick and go into the dairy and find Rosie. She won’t stand no nonsense from him. Now go.’ Hannah gave her a little push.

‘Will you be alright up here on your own?’

‘I’ll be alright, now go on with you.’

The young girl nodded and picking up her heavy skirt and petticoats pushed her way through the hawthorn hedge so she could take a short cut across the fields back to the farm.

There was an enthusiastic rapping on the door shortly after they had arrived home, Gordon was busy in the front room pulling out the dining table and arranging three chairs around it.

‘Kitty she’s here,’ he called.

‘That might not be Sheena; we’ve only been back fifteen minutes.’

 Kitty hurried through from the kitchen and cautiously opened the door and peered out.

 ‘Oh it is you. Hello,’ she opened the door wider. ‘Come on in Sheena. Gordon is just sorting out some chairs for us.’

‘Hi Katy.’

‘Kitty.’

‘Oh sorry, Kitty, Malcolm is so sorry that he couldn’t come as well but he’s expecting a delivery this morning. I’ve been telling him all about it and he was so jealous..’

‘Well, we did want to keep it to the three of us Sheena.’

‘Well yes of course but Malcolm always came to our meetings in Surrey, he’s such an enthusiastic spiritualist, he has such energy, such positive vibrations, very good for the circle..,’ she giggled slightly with excitement.

‘Well come on in, I think we’re ready for you.’

‘I’ve brought all my things with me, candles, cards and my Ouija board,’ she bustled into the front room and gazed around curiously. ‘This room has such a calm aura, a 

perfect choice for this meeting, well done. I’m surprised to hear you’ve been troubled with spirits though,’ she looked at Gordon curiously. ‘As it’s a new property, that’s quite unusual.’

‘Surprised isn’t the word I would have chosen Sheena, but I agree we weren’t expecting this in a new home either.’

‘I’ll put the kettle on. What would you like Sheena, tea or coffee?’ asked Kitty.

‘Oh no, not for me; no caffeine while I’m working.’

‘Oh well perhaps a glass of water then?’

‘That would be fine thanks.’

‘Have you done this before?’ asked Gordon. ‘I’m a bit uncomfortable with the idea of a séance.’

“Now don’t worry Gordon,’ she patted him on the arm and smiled encouragingly. ‘Everything will be fine.’

Sheena placed her bag on the table and pulled out two dumpy candles and a pack of brightly coloured tarot cards and arranged them neatly before she pulled out one of the chairs and sat down.

‘Now I will just cleanse my chakras and centre myself and then we can begin.’

Gordon stared at her then glanced across at Kitty hovering in the doorway, he raised an eyebrow.

Kitty frowned at him and shook her head slightly at him warningly.

‘I’ll just fetch a glass of water for you, Gordon would you like anything?’

‘I know it’s early but I think I’m going to need a whiskey, make it a big one.’

‘Oh no, no,’ interrupted Sheena. ‘No alcohol, no stimulants, it will cloud our auras, we must all keep a clear awareness during this meeting.’

‘You expect me to do this sober?’ he joked grimly.

Sheena’s plump little face beamed at him. ‘There is nothing to fear from the spirit world, as you will soon find out. Now I must prepare.’ Sheena slipped off her shoes and settled her bare feet flat on the carpet.  ‘I need to ground myself,’ she explained to Kitty in answer to her puzzled face.

 She then sat straight backed on the chair and closed her eyes and began to breathe deeply, with her hands palm upwards on her knees.

Gordon rolled his eyes and stared grimly at Kitty, shaking his head slightly. She raised a finger to her lips and left the room quietly to fetch the water. When she returned she was carrying a glass for Sheena and a small tumbler of smoky orange liquid which she handed to Gordon.

‘There you are,’ she said quietly to her husband.

Sheena suddenly opened her eyes and flexed her fingers.

 ‘Now I’m ready,’ she gestured to Kitty and Gordon. ‘Come and sit down.’

They pulled out a chair each and sat down opposite her.

‘Now let’s light the candles and we’ll begin. Could you draw the curtains please?’

‘No,’ said Gordon flatly.

She looked surprised at the sharp reply.

 ‘Well it’s not absolutely necessary I suppose,’ she looked slightly annoyed. ‘If you’re going to be more comfortable like this it will have to do.’

She settled herself back into the chair and closed her eyes again.

‘We’ll just ask the spirits to communicate with us,’ Sheena began to breathe deeply. ‘Spirits are you there? Give us a sign that you are present,’ she paused. ‘Spirits,’ she intoned in a flat low voice. ‘Draw near to us and make yourself known,’ Sheena paused and began again. ‘Spirits are you with us?’

‘Obviously not,’ interjected Gordon sarcastically.

‘Gordon be quiet,’ snapped Kitty. ‘I’m so sorry Sheena.’

‘Now negative energies will impede the flow of communications from the spirit world, so please Gordon and you as well Kitty send out positive thoughts and love to the spirits.’

Sheena sat in silence for a while and then sighed.

‘I’m afraid the spirits are not cooperating today, the atmosphere can’t be right, too negative perhaps,’ she glanced at Gordon as she said this.

‘Oh dear,’ Kitty sounded disappointed. ‘I really hoped this would help.’

Sheena looked at the couple hopefully.

 ‘We could try my Ouija board.’

Gordon and Kitty looked at her in consternation and then at each other.

‘We’re not too keen on using this board of yours Sheena. I’ve heard strange stories about Ouija boards and we definitely do not want to make matters worse.’

Kitty nodded in agreement.

Sheena sighed ‘But don’t you think it would be worth trying. We have a good chance of getting a result with the board.’

They sat silently as they considered it; Kitty rubbed her hands together nervously and stared at the board that Sheena had placed on the table.

‘Gordon what shall we do?’

He groaned and rubbed his hands over face. ‘Okay then let’s give it a whirl. Let’s try the Ouija board. How does it work?’ he asked leaning forward and staring at it.

‘It’s quite simple really, we place our fingertips on the movable indicator and the spirits will move it in response to our questions, either by pointing it to yes or no or by spelling out words from the letters at the bottom. It’s easy really.’

They placed their fingertips tentatively onto the triangular shaped indicator and looked at Sheena.

‘Now just relax and think about the spirit that you wish to communicate with, visualise him or her in your mind.’

Sheena closed her eyes and called out calmly ‘Spirit, are you here, reveal yourself to us. Make yourself known to us.’

While she was talking Kitty closed her eyes and let her mind wander when unbidden an image of the cottage on the hill popped into her head.Then under her fingertips she felt the board jerk.

‘Jesus! It’s moving!’ Gordon snatched his hands away and sat back in alarm.

‘Gordon! We might have been getting something.’

‘Oh how exciting,’ Sheena clapped her hands together excitedly. ‘Let’s try again.’

Gordon reluctantly placed his fingers back on the board.

‘Now clear your minds again and relax. Is there a spirit present who wishes to communicate? Give us a sign that you are here.’

The indicator on the board remained still.

‘Spirit, are you present?’Sheena asked again.

Gordon shook his head at Kitty. ‘This is ridiculous, she must have pushed it.’

‘This does work Gordon,’ Sheena snapped at him. ‘Now let’s try again and please keep quiet.’

She closed her eyes again and drew a few deep breaths. ‘Spirits,’ she intoned. ‘Are you present? Do you wish to communicate with any of us?’

The indicator remained stubbornly still.

Gordon leant forward and looked at his wife.  ‘Kitty, you try.’

Sheena opened her eyes and stared at her. ‘Why should that work?’ she asked.

Gordon turned to her. ‘She has spoken to Kitty before.’

‘Really,’ Sheena looked a bit annoyed. ‘I wish you had told me that before that you have been in communication with the spirit.’

‘Would it have made a difference?’ Gordon answered sharply. ‘You’re supposed to be the expert.’

‘Does it matter?’ interjected Kitty trying to keep the atmosphere calm. ‘Let’s just try again.’

Gordon reluctantly placed his fingers back onto the board.  ‘Come on then.’

Kitty drew a deep breath and placed her shaking fingers next to Gordon’s and tried to clear her thoughts and remain calm. Sheena and Gordon however were looking increasingly annoyed with one another.

‘Go on Kitty, you try now,’ he said firmly.

‘I am the spirit’s mouthpiece so any communication should come through me.’ Sheena pointed out briskly.

‘Well they don’t seem to want to speak to you.’

She drew her hands back from the board and sat back in her chair, her face flushing in annoyance.

‘The atmosphere is not right for communicating with the spirit realm, there are too many negative energies, I can’t work with negative energies around me.’

Kitty kept her hands firmly on the board. ‘Let me try then,’ she asked quietly. ‘Do you wish to speak to me?’

The pointer juddered under her fingers and slowly slid across the board to point at the word YES.

There was chilled silence in the room.

Gordon and Sheena leant forward; she stretched out her hands to place them next to Kitty’s.

‘No, leave it,’ Gordon pushed her hands away. ‘Go on Kitty.’

‘Why are you here?’ she asked.

It started to move slowly again, first sliding across to the letter Y then back slowly across the board to the letter O and then to the U.

‘You,’ breathed Sheena slowly.

‘Why do you want to speak to me? What do you want?’

‘One question at a time Kitty.’

‘What do you want to say to me?’

The pointer began to move slowly again across the board, quickly gathering speed as it spelled out the word A V A.

‘AVA, what’s that?’ asked Kitty puzzled.

‘Who, it’s a name.’

‘Who is Ava?’ asked Sheena.

‘I don’t know any Ava.’ Kitty suddenly looked worried. ‘You don’t think it means Eve do you?’

‘Ask the spirit to identify itself Kitty,’ instructed Sheena.

‘Spirit, who are you?’

The indicator lurched into movement again.

H  A N  A H

‘Hannah Beamish? Are you Hannah Beamish?’

Y E S

‘Why are you here?’

Y O U

Sheena turned to her and grasped her arm, her hand trembling.

 ‘There is a connection somewhere you must think.’

‘I don’t know of any Ava’s,’ she answered.

‘Ask her.’

‘Hannah, who is Ava?’

F R E N D

‘Ava was your friend?’

Y E S

Gordon sat forward suddenly. ‘Ask her if Ava was Mrs Leavenham’s grandmother.’

‘Now Gordon that’s far too complicated a question,’ Sheena leaned towards Kitty. ‘It has to be simpler.’

Kitty stared at the board thoughtfully. ‘Hannah, is Ava related to Sybil?’

The pointer remained still under her fingers.

‘Well, we’ll take that as a no then,’ sighed Gordon. ‘And we are none the wiser as to why she is here.’

‘It’s something to do with you and somebody called Ava, is it a family member?’

‘I don’t know of anybody called Ava in the family, I’m sure I would have remembered a name like that.’

 Kitty sighed and sat back from the table, and rested her shaking hands in her lap. She looked across at her husband.

‘And we didn’t see any Avas in the records we have been looking at.’

‘You have been researching this?’ queried Sheena.

‘Of course we have, you would not believe what’s been happening here over the last few days,’ said Gordon.

The three sat around the table each lost in their thoughts until one by one they noticed a drop in the temperature of the room.

‘It’s getting cold, this is usually a sign that a spirit is close,’ Sheena closed her eyes. ‘Spirit show yourself, make yourself known to us.’

‘No!’ Kitty said quickly. ‘That’s not Hannah.’

 A wave of nausea swept over her and she suddenly retched, putting her hand up to her mouth. The faint fragrance of lavender that had lingered around the room was suddenly swamped by a strange acrid smell.

‘A spirit draws near, I feel that this is a male, he is not at rest. He is seeking something.’

She opened her eyes and looked at Kitty in alarm.  ‘He is being drawn to you; he has a very negative aura Kitty.’

As she spoke the table began to rock backwards and forwards, the Ouija board was violently swept from the table by an unseen hand and sent flying across the room crashing into the fireplace.

‘What’s happening?’ said Sheena in a panic. ‘Spirits aren’t supposed to be aggressive like this.’

Their breaths were clearly visible in the freezing room and Kitty began to shiver.

Gordon took her arm ‘Come on let’s get out of here, it’s not safe.’

He pulled her up from the chair and put an arm around her shoulder. Gordon looked across at the frightened psychic.  

‘Get your things Sheena and come on.’

‘We should stay and try to find out what this spirit wants, what it  needs to be at peace, don’t you think?’ she asked in doubtful voice.

‘You can stay if you want to but we are leaving.’

The room grew darker.

‘It’s so cold,’ Sheena clutched her bag to her chest. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ she confessed.

‘I thought you were supposed to be the expert,’ Kitty snapped.

‘Let’s just go,’ Gordon grabbed the arms of the two women and pulled them towards the hall. ‘We’ll argue later.’

‘Nothing like this has happened to me before; we just read tea leaves and used the Tarot cards.’

Kitty pulled her arm away from Gordon’s grasp and swung around to face Sheena.

 ‘We assumed you knew what you were doing you silly woman.’

‘I’m sorry; it wasn’t supposed to be like this.’

‘Come on we’re going Kitty, you too Sheena.’

Gordon pushed the two women into the hall, Nero was already there whining and scratching at the front door. It was hardly open before the dog pushed his way through and ran out barking into the driveway.

‘I need my handbag Gordon.’

‘Leave it, I’ll come back later and get a few things.’

‘On your own?’

‘Weren’t you listening Kitty?’ Gordon looked at her amazement and shook her arm. ‘Whatever or whoever is being drawn to you. Do you really think I’m going to let you back into that damn house?’

‘I think Gordon is right, this spirit’s aura was so evil Kitty, you shouldn’t go anywhere near here.’

She looked nervously at the house and edged away. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more but this is beyond me.’

‘I was afraid this would make it worse...’ he snapped turning on her. Catching sight of Kitty’s white face he swallowed the rest of his sentence and did his best to talk calmly.

‘Let’s walk Sheena down to the village,’ he suggested and turned to Sheena. ‘Could Kitty stay with you for a while? Then I can come back and get the car.’

She looked at them hesitating for a while. ‘Well...’

 Kitty looked at the reluctant expression on her face and said quickly ‘It’s okay, I’ll go and see if I can find Sybil while I’m waiting for Gordon.’

Sheena breathed a visible sigh of relief.

 ‘Well of course, you’re more than welcome to come in and wait,’ she lied.

‘No really, I’ll be fine,’ Kitty looked at her husband. ‘If she’s not in then I will go and wait in the church.’

‘Right I will just walk you down there and then I’ll come back.’

‘We ought to ring Eve in case she tries to get hold of us again.’ Kitty said looking doubtfully into the hall.

Gordon pushed her away from the door. ‘I’ll do that later, don’t worry.’

He pulled the front door shut and followed the women along the drive.

Sheena was walking quickly in front of them and was soon out of earshot.

‘I’m guessing she’ll be taking up another hobby after this,’ he said drily watching her hurry past the farm entrance.

Kitty smiled weakly. ‘I don’t think she will be dropping in for coffee either.’

Gordon put an arm around her shoulder. ‘You’re shivering; I should have picked up a coat for you.’

‘It’s okay I just feel a bit sick, it was that awful smell. It was like something rotting,’ she raised a trembling hand to her mouth.

‘Take a few deep breaths,’ he said peering at her pale face.

Kitty slowed and put a hand to steady herself against the rough stone wall of the barn, she suddenly gulped and started to retch, bending double she was violently sick against the wall.

‘ Kitty,’ he exclaimed supporting her with an arm around her waist as she continued to painfully retch. ‘I’m so sorry, I should never have agreed to this.’ He looked at her anxiously as she slowly straightened. ‘How are you feeling now?’

Kitty scrabbled in her pocket for a tissue and shakily wiped her mouth.

‘That’s better I think.’

She blew her nose and leaned back against the wall. Closing her eyes she rubbed her fore head.

‘ I’ve got such a thumping headache.’

‘I should have picked up my phone and we could have called Eve, she would have been able to come and pick us up. What a fool!’ he said in exasperation. ‘Will you be alright to walk down to Sybil’s?’ he brushed the hair back from her face and looked at her in concern.

‘Just give me a minute, my legs are shaking.’ After a while the colour returned to her face and she pushed herself away from the wall, blew her nose and said ‘Okay let’s go.’

Kitty looped her arm through his and he held it firmly while they walked slowly down the lane and into the village.

The shop had opened by the time they reached it but Sybil was not behind the counter, Gordon peered in the door.

 ‘Hello,’ he called through the door. ‘Anybody there? Sybil? Perhaps she is out the back or something,’ he said hopefully.

The door in the back of the shop opened and a young man poked his head out.

‘Morning,’ he called. ‘Sorry to keep you,’ he backed through the door holding a tray of loaves. ‘We have just had a delivery and I’m up to my neck this morning,’ he smiled cheerfully at the couple standing in the doorway and placed the tray onto the counter.

‘Can I help you with anything?’

‘Yes,’ said Gordon quickly. ‘We were looking for Sybil, is she here this morning?’

The young man shook his head ruefully ‘I wish she was but she doesn’t work Wednesdays. She’s probably at home,’ he looked at them curiously. ‘Do you know where she lives?’

‘Yes, yes we do, thanks. We’ll go and see if she is at home.’

Kitty smiled faintly at him as they moved away from the entrance to the shop.

‘Okay,’ he called and started packing the loaves onto the shelf. Gordon waved his hand briefly and guided Kitty back to the street.

’Okay?’ he asked anxiously looking at her white face. ‘You’re a bit shaky still; will you be alright to walk on a bit further?’

She nodded slightly and sniffed. ‘Yeah I’m okay,’ she smiled slightly as they walked past the pub. ‘Fancy a pint?’

Gordon smiled slightly and hugged her. ‘I don’t think they would let us in, do you?’

There was no sign of Sheena, she had already disappeared into the Witch and Broomstick, the lights were off and the door was firmly closed.

Kitty looked at the door to the public bar. ‘Nope, I don’t think they are open for business this morning.’

 

Faerie Glamour

 The faerie's art of concealing their true appearance is called Glamour and 

is often used to deceive mortals. They can alter their own shape as well as 

the appearance of food , money and surroundings. So a splendid feast spread 

out on a beautiful gold table could be nothing more that nuts and berries laid on a log.
The use of faerie ointment on your eyes will allow you to see them in their 

true state but be careful the faeries do not find out as their wrath can be terrible

 and the user will be blinded.

The term Glamour comes from the Scottish word glaumerie which means magic, 

traditionally this power was used to capture mortal partners for
breeding. As mentioned before the faeries are always trying to improve their own 

race by mingling it with human blood.
To guard against this, it is customary for brides to be surrounded by bridesmaids 

similarly dressed so the fae would be confused when trying to seize the bride.

 This also applied to the groom, as the wedding night is considered to be the most

                                                powerful time for mating with faerie kind.
                         The bride or groom might be returned later but as time in faerie land is
                      different to the mortal world their family and friends would be old or dead.

Folklore surrounding childbirth

There are many myths and folklore surrounding childbirth and young infants, one of the most prevalent was that un-baptised children would be stolen by the faeries to replenish their failing stock. Changelings will be left in their place who would neither grow or flourish. 
Witches often collude with the faeries in return for payment. One story by Lady Wylde tells of a man who passing a remote house late at night overheard two women talking. One said ‘ I have put the dead child in place and have carried away this one. Wait until the moon rises and then take it to the Faerie Queen and you shall have the payment I promised.’
The man stood outside the window and waited until both women left the room then reaching in, took the sleeping child and carried it quickly home. In the morning there was a great lamentation in the village for the Lord of the Manor’s beautiful baby, who had just been born, lay dead in his cradle.
The man went to view the the little corpse laid out in the Lord’s hall and laughed aloud when he saw the little shrivelled corpse. He quickly explained before the parents took offence at his behaviour , and suggested to the Lord that he light a fire. He then went up to the cradle and said to the still form lying inside ‘If you do not get up I will throw you on the fire.’
The changeling, for that is what it was, grinned, opened it’s eyes and shot out of the cradle. But the man was too quick for it, he caught it and threw it onto the fire. As soon as the flames touched it, the changeling turned into a little black kitten and shot up the chimney.
The man hurried back to the village to collect the real child and restored it to the grateful parents.

Nursing mothers who had not been churched would also be at risk from being taken, they would be carried away to faerie land to suckle faerie babies. Human milk is much prized by the fae as they believe it might give their faerie babies the chance of a human soul.
A nursing mother was visited by a faerie who was carrying a small baby, she begged the mortal woman to give her child just one suck of her milk. The mother did so and was blessed with good luck for the rest of her life.

Midwives are also stolen by the faeries; it would seem that the fae babies cannot be delivered without human aid. However, they are always returned after the birth, with payment of a kind. The women are deluded into thinking that they have been given gold as payment but on inspection when they  have returned home will find it just a handful of leaves.
There is a well known tale from Scotland about Eilian of Garth and the midwife.
Eilian was a poor servant girl who worked long hard hours for a local midwife, When one day she disappeared it was agreed by her mistress and those about her that Eilian had gone off with the Faeries. The servant girl was not seen for some time until the midwife was called out one stormy night by a stranger to attend his wife, who was about to give birth. 
She was taken to a fine looking house and inside to a richly furnished room where a woman lay on a bed. After a while the baby was delivered and the father asked the midwife to rub an ointment onto the baby’s eyes, this she did but also accidentally smeared some onto one of her own eyes. 
Instantly the beautiful room disappeared and instead there was just a damp dark cave and on a bed of bracken and dry grass lay the servant girl Eilian. 
The midwife was seemingly paid well with gold coins but by the time she had hurried home they had disappeared and just dried leaves lay in her purse.
Several months passed before she saw the father again, strolling through the market place. He was very surprised that the midwife could see him to enquire after  Eilian and the baby. He inquired with which eye did the midwife see him with and when he discovered which one, that eye went blind.

First we bought the porridge-crock

And then we bought the ladle,

And then we bought a little cheeld,

And had to buy a cradle.

In some parts of Cornwall a cake was made after the birth called a groaning cake, ( I wonder why!) and every visitor to the house was offered a piece. It was regarded as ill mannered to refuse.
A ginger haired child was thought to be undesirable. If the birth took place between mid-night and cockcrow the next morning on a Friday the child would have special powers, enabling it to see spirits, to be beyond the power of witches and to possess knowledge only reserved for a chosen few.
A child born between the old and new moon would have a short life and those with a blue veined nose would not reach its 21st birthday. No baby’s hands were washed during the first year for it’s riches would be washed away and cutting it’s nails during this time would make it a thief. Hair was also allowed to grow until the moon waned, thus preventing baldness in later life.
A left handed child will never do any good so it must at once be made to  use the right hand.

Baptism is the most important event after birth, it was believed that if the child died before being baptized it’s spirit was doomed to flutter for ever as a ‘Spunky’ and would be seen as a ‘Will of the Wisp’ and flutter about lanterns at night in the form of moths.
So it was thought necessary to get the child christened as soon as possible, especially if the child was sickly. In south Somerset the journey to the church was nearly as important as the ceremony. Everybody in the party would be dressed up in their best and the leader of the procession would carry bread and cheese, which would be offered to any stranger that they met upon the road. It was slightly different in Cornwall, a large currant cake would be carried known as ‘the cheeld’s fuggan’ or ‘christening crib’. In return for the food the stranger was obliged to give a penny for the baby which would bring good luck to the child. The coin would be saved as a good luck token.
It was thought to be a good sign if the child screams during the ceremony as it was believed the Devil was being driven out of the infants body.
After, however, the child would hopefully be more calm and happy as it was believed that if they frowned the wind might change direction and their faces stay stuck being miserable.
So many childhood rhymes were encouraged to make sure the child stayed smiling!

Tap-a-shoe, that would I do

If I had but a little more leather;

We’ll sit in the sun till the leather do come

Then we’ll tap them both together.

This would be accompanied by the baby’s feet being lightly tapped together.

The Lavender Witch serialised: part 6

‘Fine Mr Beamish, we just thought we’d pop in and say hello.’

‘Well that’s nice, I’ve been meaning to come over and see how you have settled in. Come on in and I will put the kettle on.’

‘Is it alright if we bring the dog in? He’s a bit wet,’ said Kitty glancing down at Nero. His fur was soaked; the mud from the lane had splashed up around his legs and stomach and was slowly dripping off in wet muddy rivulets onto the doorstep.

‘Of course, I’m used to wet and muddy dogs, he can sit in front of the Rayburn and dry off.’

Gordon opened the front door and stepped into the stone flagged hallway, Kitty carefully wiped her feet on the doormat before following him inside. Mr Beamish stood in the open doorway of the kitchen, a smile of welcome on his face.

‘Come on in you two, the kettle has just boiled.’

Nero sat down with a sigh and stretched out on the rug in front of the glowing stove.

‘It’s lovely and warm in here Mr Beamish,’ Kitty held her cold hands over the range. ‘I would have liked one of these in our kitchen but there wasn’t enough room as we had the gas oven as well.’

‘This has a back boiler so I get hot water from it as well, nice in the winter but it gets a bit warm in here in the summer,’ he said ruefully.

‘I prefer something a bit more up to date,’ said Gordon. He looked at the ageing range. ‘I remember having to clean out my parent's Aga every weekend and I swore then I would never have one of the damn things.’

Mr Beamish shrugged and put the teapot on the table. ‘Well I suppose I’m used to it, there’s many a cold night that I’ve spent in front of it with a sick lamb so it has had a lot of use over the years.’

They sat down at the kitchen table with their mugs of tea.

‘Hope you don’t mind sitting in the kitchen but I spend most of my time in here as it’s the warmest room in the house, and to be honest,’ he smiled slightly and looked embarrassed.  ‘I find it a bit more comfortable.’

‘Not at all.... We walked up to the cottage on Castle hill this morning, I didn’t realise that land belonged to you. It must have been a lovely place to live, what a view,’ said Gordon.

Mr Beamish stirred his tea. ‘It’s alright in nice weather, but there’s no electricity, water or drainage. I thought about renovating it and renting it out for holiday lets but the costs of getting all the amenities up there was just too much. So in the end I just took everything out of the cottage and sold it off.’

‘There’s not much of the building left now.’

‘I know, it seems a shame to let the cottage fall down but getting up there on foot is difficult enough, I would have had to put a road in and that would have been really expensive.’

‘We saw Mrs Leavenham up there walking her dog.’ Kitty leaned forward and looked at him keenly.

‘Is she still managing to walk up there? She ought to be careful, she’s getting on a bit now and if she should fall...’

‘Mrs Leavenham did say she found it a struggle to get up the hill these days,’ Kitty said stirring her tea. ‘She was telling us all about Hannah and Samuel.’

‘Oh yes, I believe her grandmother knew Hannah well.’

‘The strange thing is..’  started Gordon. ‘That the fireplace that I bought from the

reclamation yard is Hannah’s, from the cottage.’

‘Really?’ Mr Beamish looked surprised. ‘I sold all that off several years ago.’

‘It’s quite a coincidence isn’t it? I checked with the chap at the yard and it is definitely the same one.’

‘Well I never! So it’s come home to roost.’

‘Do you know why she was known as a witch? From what Mrs Leavenham has said she was no such thing,’ asked Kitty.

‘Oh that was just some rumours that started, it was a long time ago and I don’t think anybody really knows what went on then.’

‘We first heard about it in the pub.’

‘Really? I don’t go in there now, it’s changed hands hasn’t it.’

Gordon stared thoughtfully at the old man over the table. ‘Did you know your grandfather, Robert Beamish?’

‘Not really, why?’

‘Mrs Leavenham was talking to us about him.’

‘Oh, well I just remember a very old man, although my father always said he was a very difficult man to live with.’

‘Difficult?’ inquired Gordon.

‘Well that was just my father saying that, he was always a bit tight lipped about his dad.

They didn’t get on. Gran said that father was more like granddad’s brother Samuel. He was a kind soul, when he married Hannah they moved up to the cottage on the hill.’

‘Yes we heard about that, it was a shame that he drowned.’

‘Drowned? Where did you hear that?’ Mr Beamish asked rather sharply.

‘Mrs Leavenham told us, she said that he fell into the river near your lower fields.’

‘Well I don’t why Sybil would have said that.... not that I know much about his death.’

‘Well we found a newspaper report about it,’ said Gordon firmly.

Kitty looked at Mr Beamish in concern, his face had become very still and he was staring blankly at his hands clasped around the mug of tea.

‘The report said that Samuel had slipped while helping Robert with some fencing and had fallen into the river and drowned,’ continued Gordon.

‘Drowned.. I hadn’t heard that before,’ he said quietly.

‘It must have been dreadful for Hannah,’ said Kitty.

Mr Beamish ignored her and continued ‘Nobody ever spoke about Samuel’s death. I don’t see how he could have drowned there. Where our fields run down to the river it runs wide and shallow. I have fallen in enough times myself and the water only reached my knees.  It’s strange the report said he drowned, my father never mentioned anything about it.’

‘What was he like?’ asked Gordon.

‘Who?’

‘Robert Beamish.’

‘Oh... Like I said he and father didn’t get on, he liked his gardening and books and grandfather despised anything like that. I don’t think anybody was sorry when he died. The first thing that father did after the funeral was drag out all of grandfather’s things into the orchard and he burned the lot. I remember watching him, I still remember it as though it was yesterday the look on his face especially when he burned grandfather’s walking stick.’

His face became vacant as he stared back in time. ‘I do know he had an awful temper,’ Mr Beamish continued quietly. ‘He beat one of the farm dogs to death. Dad could do anything with those dogs but it was different with granddad.  All the dogs would slink off and hide when they heard him walking into the yard. The dog wouldn’t come when it was called so he caught it and beat it with that stick,’ he paused and went on sadly, ‘...broke the poor thing’s back. He wouldn’t stop even when father went for him. He said it was as though the old man had the devil in him.’

Gordon and Kitty sat at the table, the tea forgotten and cold.

‘How did he get on with Hannah?’ asked Kitty quietly staring across the table at him, feeling guilty that they had stirred so many painful memories up for the old man.

‘I have no idea; it was a long time ago.’

‘It’s just that we read an article on Hannah and one interesting part was that a local farmer paid a white witch to get rid of her because he thought she was causing all his bad luck. Do you know anything about that?’ asked Gordon.

‘We went to ask Mrs Leavenham but the shop was closed,’ interrupted Kitty.

The old man looked at her and blinked, he seemed very confused.

‘Well, it’s half day closing, Sybil will be at home,’ he said slowly. ‘Why are you so interested in Hannah and Samuel?’

Kitty started to answer but Gordon put a hand on her arm.

 ‘Well we have Hannah’s fireplace and we have become interested in the history of it and Mrs Leavenham seems to know so much about the families of the village.’

Mr Beamish smiled slightly.

‘Sybil is related to most of the people here. She was the youngest of ten children; her mother came from a large family as well. They all lived in the village at one time or another so I suppose she would know all about the families here.’

‘Do you have children Mr Beamish?’ asked Kitty.

He brightened. ‘Oh yes I have two boys, well, not boys now of course. Edwin lives in New Zealand, he had a sheep farm out there; his son has taken that on now he’s retired. My eldest son Derek lives in Poole, he was an accountant.’

‘So he won’t be taking on the farm?’

‘No, he has no interest in farming or his children and I can’t imagine Sharon, his wife, moving to the country.’

‘So how do you manage on your own?’ Kitty glanced around the untidy kitchen.

‘I don’t farm now; I rent out the fields to Mr Squires. He has the farm just past the village.’

‘Do you miss it?’

‘Not the work,’ he laughed. ‘I don’t miss that at all but I do miss having the animals about. Sybil’s granddaughter stables her horse here so I do have Jester to talk to.’

‘We saw her coming out of the yard, it’s a lovely horse,’ Kitty carried on. ‘I used to ride years ago before the children were born.’

‘Jester is getting on a bit now; I think Debbie said he was about fourteen. He’s the only animal left on the farm now.’

‘Isn’t that grey cat yours then?’

William looked surprised. ‘It turned up at the weekend so I assumed it was yours.’

‘Maybe it’s a stray or from the village then, it’s sneaked into the house several times already,’ said Kitty.

‘Really? It didn’t seem too friendly. It hissed and spat when it saw me yesterday.’

‘Oh dear,’ laughed Kitty. ‘Then it definitely isn’t mine, I disown it.’

‘Where does Mrs Leavenham live?’ interrupted Gordon, determined not to be sidetracked by the talk of horses and cats.

‘Priddy Cottage, it’s the little cottage near the church.’

‘Is she in the phone book?’

Mr Beamish put his hands on the table and pushed himself up. ‘I’ll get her phone number for you.’ He rummaged about in the piles of paper and books on the dresser and pulled out a small address book. ‘Ah, here it is.’ he copied it out onto a piece of torn off newspaper and handed it to Gordon.

‘Thanks Mr Beamish, I’ll call her later. I’m sure she won’t mind.’

‘I doubt it, she loves talking about the village and what goes on here. Well she just loves talking; it’s harder trying to get her to stop.’

Gordon stood up and took his empty cup over to the sink. There was a pile of dirty crockery in the sink.

‘Oh leave that,’ Mr Beamish waved his hand in the general direction of the sink. ‘I will get round to it later.’

‘Thanks for the tea,’ Kitty stood up and tucked the chair under the table. ‘You must come over for coffee,’ she reminded him.

‘I will indeed, I would have been over before but I have had a bit of a cold and haven’t been out much.’

‘I hope you’re feeling better?’

‘I’m fine now, Sybil brought up a bottle of that foul mixture she sells, the miracle cure.’

‘I have had some of that, it tasted disgusting.’

‘She forces me to take it and then tells me I’m feeling better whether I do or not!’

Mr Beamish stood in the doorway and looked out into the yard. ‘It’s a good job you haven’t got far to go.’

The rain was coming down heavily and it had become quite murky outside.

‘Debbie won’t be out long in this,’ he said looking out into the falling rain.

‘Now you must come over and see the house sometime,’ said Kitty firmly.

‘I certainly will,’ he replied, patting Kitty on the arm. She smiled at him, she felt quite a fool for thinking him capable of any ill feeling towards them.

A flicker caught her eye. ‘Oh there’s the bat,’ she exclaimed.

‘They’re in the feed store,’ gesturing to the stone building on the right, a flight of stone stairs led up to a plank door. ‘There is quite a colony in there; nobody goes in there now so they don’t get disturbed.’

‘Doesn’t Debbie keep the horse feed in there?’

‘It’s in the stable next to Jester. I haven’t been in there for years.’

‘It’s a shame to see it so quiet here.’

‘This isn’t how a farm should be,’ he said sadly looking around the empty yard. ‘I had hoped that one of the boys would take it on but they weren’t interested. This farm has been in our family for five generations, still... what they do with it after I’m gone is up to them.’

‘Well they won’t have to worry about that for a while Mr Beamish,’ she said smiling up at him.

He looked at her and grinned. ‘I am ninety four; I’m not going to go on forever although I have told Sybil that I want my telegram from the Queen.’

‘You don’t look ninety four,’ said Kitty looking surprised.

‘Well I don’t feel it but I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t get one,’ He looked over at Gordon who was walking out the gate with the dog in tow. ‘You had better hurry; your husband is leaving without you.’

Kitty sighed and watched as Gordon disappeared through the gate into the lane.

 ‘I suppose I had better go and catch him up.’

Mr Beamish turned back to the front door. ‘I hope this rain soon eases up, it makes my bones ache.’

‘Perhaps Sybil has a cure,’ Kitty joked.

‘Oh no, don’t mention it to her, I dread to think what she would find for that.’

He stood in the doorway and watched as Kitty walked across the yard, as she got to the gate she turned, meaning to wave but a flicker of movement in an upstairs window caught her eye. She paused, staring up at the window

‘I hope you’re not looking at the peeling paint,’ he smiled ruefully at her. ‘It’s a lovely house isn’t it? It’s a grade II listed building but it’s sadly needs a bit of TLC now,’ he called across.

‘No of course not William, it’s just that..,’ she answered still staring at the dark second floor window, then jumped slightly on hearing footsteps behind her.

 A hand tugged at her arm.

 ‘Come on Kitty, stop chatting. I’m getting wet.’

They waved to Mr Beamish and watched as he went inside and shut the door. Without the light flooding from the open door the yard seemed very dark and quiet. Gordon slipped his arm through Kitty’s.

 ‘Come on, let’s get going.’

 They walked quickly back along the lane to their front drive, as they rounded the corner they could see a small blue car in the drive.

‘Who’s that?’

‘It’s Eve’s car,’ as he spoke, their daughter opened the car door and got out.

‘There you are. I’ve been so worried; I’ve been ringing since this morning, where have you been?’ she called.

‘Why, what’s wrong?’ Kitty hurried forward; she could see a small hand waving from the child seat in the back. ‘Is everybody okay?’

‘We’re fine; it’s you two I have been worried about.’

Gordon gave his daughter a hug. ‘We’re fine,’ he reassured her.

‘I popped into your office this morning and you weren’t there. Your secretary said you called in early and told her you weren’t going to come in. I’ve been ringing all morning!’

‘There’s nothing wrong, I decided to stay home today. We had a few things to sort out that’s all.’

Kitty looked at him worried that he was going to tell Eve. He caught the look and shook his head.

‘But you never have time off,’ Eve persisted.

‘Well, I am today,’ he said firmly. ‘Come on let’s get out of the rain,’ he pushed them towards the house and then opened the back door of the car. ‘I’ll get Emily, you two go on in.’

Gordon unbuckled the seat and lifted out the little girl. ‘Hello my little poppet, have you come to see gramps then?’

‘Dad, can you bring in the pink bag as well?’ called Eve from the front door.

‘Yep,’ he slung the strap over his shoulder, pulled Emily’s hood up and hurried into the house. Kitty closed the door after him and locked it.

‘Not a word mind!’ he warned her quietly.

‘I wasn’t going to say anything.’

Eve was taking off her coat in the kitchen and didn’t hear them whispering in the hall.

‘Your neighbour’s not very friendly is he?’ she called to them.

‘What?’

‘The old guy, you know. He was glaring at us from the lane. I was going to talk to him but he looked so fierce that I didn’t bother.’

‘When was this?’ asked Gordon.

‘Just before you came back. I hope you’re not going to have problems with him.’

‘That wasn’t Mr Beamish; we were just talking to him in the farmhouse.’

‘Well it looked like him. I have met him before, remember?’ Eve said indignantly.

Emily was wriggling in Gordon’s arms, she had spotted Nero.

 ‘Go on then, down you go’

She pottered over to the dog. ‘Nero’s wet dog.’

‘Yes he is a wet doggie,’ agreed Kitty. ‘Let’s go and dry him off,’ she took Emily’s hand and led her into the kitchen. ‘Come on Nero.’

Gordon followed and put the bag down on the table. Eve unzipped it and pulled out a handful of letters.

 ‘Mrs Walker gave them to me this morning, that’s why I went into your office.’

‘Why didn’t she just redirect them?’ he said picking them up.

‘Well she was going to but then she saw me so I said I would drop them off.’

Gordon leafed through them. ‘It’s nothing important, just junk mail.’

‘Oh well, it gave me an excuse to come round.’

‘You don’t need an excuse Eve.’

‘I was going to come over yesterday but it was the mother- in- law’s birthday so we went out for a meal,’ she looked around the kitchen. ‘This looks really nice. It’s quite different from the last time I was here.’

‘Once the windows were in, the builder really cracked on with it all and he finished on schedule.’

‘Well that’s a first isn’t it!’ Eve looked at her mother kneeling in front of Emily taking off the little girl’s coat. ‘Are you happy with it mum?’

Kitty looked up and hesitated. ‘Yes of course’

Gordon looked at Kitty and smiled. ‘Mum hasn’t got used to it being so quiet out here yet.’

Kitty pulled herself up. ‘I’ll get used to it.’

‘Have you done anything to the garden yet?’ Eve leaned on the edge of the sink and stared out of the kitchen window. ‘What’s that?’

‘Just some rubbish I was going to burn.’

‘Why don’t you take it to the dump?’

‘Are you staying long?’ interrupted Gordon.

She laughed. ‘I’ve only just got here and you are trying to get rid of me already.’

‘Dad didn’t mean that,’ Kitty glanced warningly at him. ‘It’s just that it’s a horrible night for driving.’

‘Oh I’ll be fine, stop fussing mum.’

‘Well okay then, I’ll put the kettle on,’ Kitty stared out of the window as she was filling the kettle and could just see the figure of Mr Beamish walking out of the farmyard. ‘I wonder what he’s doing out in this weather?’ she said in surprise. ‘That’s not going to do his aches and pains any good.’

Gordon stood up from the table and looked over her shoulder.

 ‘Shut the blind as it such a horrible night Kitty. Why don’t we take the tea into the front room and I’ll light the fire,’ He picked up Emily and carried her out into the hall. ‘Make sure the back door is locked,’ he called back.

‘I’ll do it. Yep it’s locked, bolted and drawbridge up,’ Eve looked across the kitchen at her mother who was fussing nervously with the cups. ‘I didn’t think there was any crime in the country.’

‘It doesn’t shut properly so we have to lock it,’ Kitty looked away from her daughter as she answered and concentrated on making the tea.

Eve stared at her mother ‘Are you sure you two are alright?’

‘Of course, we’re fine,’ Kitty smiled reassuringly at her daughter. ‘Bring the biscuit tin, it’s in that cupboard,’ she nodded to the cupboard near the door. ‘Let’s see if dad has got the fire going yet.’

Emily was standing in front of the fireplace watching the first few flames licking around the kindling. She turned to her mother and pointed at the flames.

‘Look what gramp’s done.’

Eve pulled her back. ‘Not too close Emily.’

‘Oh she’s fine, stop fussing,’ said Gordon. ‘I’m here to watch her.’

‘I think she ought to come out of the way Gordon,  that kindling can spit.’

‘Okay, okay,’ he stood up and picked up Emily and put her into his chair. ‘There now you can sit in gramp’s chair and watch the fire or those two won’t give me any peace.’

Eve passed him a cup of tea before flopping onto the sofa. ‘Poor old granddad,’ she yawned and curled her legs up on the cushions.

‘Are you going to stay to tea?’

‘No, I had better get back soon or Rob will wonder where I am,’ Eve stared at the fire watching the flames licking round the logs. ‘I love the fireplace.’

‘Haven’t you seen it before?’

‘No, dad told me about it but it hadn’t been delivered the last time I was here.’

‘Mum was worried it was too big for the room,’ he said dunking a biscuit in his tea.

‘No, it’s fine. Where did it come from?’

‘Well...’

‘Near Ilminster,’ interrupted Gordon. ‘It’s been treated for worm and I think it looks great,’ he added firmly.

‘Well I do as well,’ Kitty stared at him. ‘It’s just that I was worried it was too big but I’ve got used to the size now.’

Over the crackling of the logs Kitty could hear footsteps approaching up the gravel drive. She stiffened and stared warily at the window. Gordon followed her gaze; he too had heard the footsteps.

‘I’ll just see who that is,’ he said keeping calm. He pulled back the curtains and stared out into the darkness. There was a muffled crunch and a car alarm started its insistent beeping.

‘My car!’ Eve leapt to her feet and ran towards the front door.

‘Wait a minute,’ Gordon darted forward and caught her by the arm. ‘Stay here and I will go and look. You need to watch Emily with the fire.’

‘Well, mum can do that,’ she said impatiently and pulled open the door.

Kitty picked up Emily from the chair and held her close.

‘Wassat?’

‘Nothing Emily,’ she brushed off the biscuit crumbs from her sticky little face and smoothed back the wispy hair. ‘Gramps will see to it.’

‘Mummas gone,’ she said pointing to the door.

‘No she’s just outside with gramps, look,’ Kitty carried her over to the window and pulled back the curtains, she pointed to the two figures outside. ‘There’s mummy.’

 They were bent over examining the side of Eve’s car. She let the curtains drop back and walked back to the chair near the fireplace.

A few minutes later the front door slammed open and Eve burst in, flushed with annoyance.

‘Oh dear, what’s happened?’ Kitty asked her daughter.

‘Something’s hit my car’ Eve said indignantly.  ‘The door looks as though it’s been kicked!’

‘What?’

‘There’s nobody out there but we did hear footsteps on the gravel.’

‘Yes, yes I did as well,’ she said faintly. ‘Where’s dad?’

‘He’s gone to look in the lane and see if he can see anybody. Who would do that!’ she exploded. ‘Are you having problems with your neighbour?’ she rounded on her mother. ‘Is that what’s going on?’

‘No not really, it’s a bit more complicated than that,’ said Kitty hesitantly. She pulled her daughter further into the hall and shut the door. ‘Dad’s not going to be happy I told you, but the house is haunted.’

Eve stared at her mother.

‘Oh for God’s sake mum, somebody has just put their size tens into my car door and you’re babbling about ghosts!’

‘I’m not babbling Eve,’ she said crossly. ‘Strange things have been happening and even dad has seen her.’

‘Dad has seen what?’ he asked opening the front door and coming in.

‘Your ghost,’ Eve snapped.

‘Ah.. I didn’t want mum to tell you,’ he sounded annoyed.

‘You mean she’s serious?’

‘Yep, it seems we have acquired a ghost but I’m going to solve the whys and the wherefores so there is no reason to worry.’

‘And you are telling me that a ghost has just damaged my car?’

‘I’m not sure that a ghost can do that but I am not going to discount anything just yet.’

She stared from one to another.

‘How am I going to claim that on my Insurance, “I was hit by a runaway ghost”?’

‘This is no joking matter Eve; mum has been getting really upset over it.’

He took Emily from Kitty’s arms.

‘This is a new house... so where did it come from?’ asked Eve incredulously.

‘Let’s go and sit down and I’ll try to explain. Well, I will tell you what we have found out so far,’ he led the way back into the front room. ‘Our fireplace used to belong to a woman who lived on Castle Hill. She was rumoured to be a witch. Now hang on..’ he held up a hand as Eve tried to interrupt. ‘Our neighbours disagree with that but she did die in a very strange way and I think she was murdered. I also think it was her ghost that I saw inside the house last night.’

Eve stared at her father open mouthed. ‘Are you serious? You actually saw a ghost? You? Mister Cynical?’

‘Yes.’

‘What... oh this just gets better. Why would she damage my car?’

‘I don’t know,’ he shrugged and stared at his daughter. ‘But I think you should go before anything else happens.’

‘But you can’t stay here, if you seriously think that.’

Gordon hesitated. ‘And I would like you to take mum with you,’ he glanced across at his wife.

‘I’m not going if you’re not,’ Kitty stood up from the sofa and glared at him. ‘It’s me that she spoke to remember.’

‘I know,’ he said trying to be patient. ‘That’s why I think you should go with Eve. Spend the night there and I will pick you up in the morning.’

‘No, if you are staying then so am I.’

‘I think you have both gone mad, ghosts can’t kick holes in cars.’

‘Since when have you become an expert?’ he asked sarcastically. ’I don’t know what she’s capable of and I’d rather not find out but I think we haven’t seen the last of her yet.’

‘Mrs Leavenham knows a lot about Hannah and we want to see her and see if she can help in any way.’

‘Who is Hannah? And who is Mrs Leavenham?’

Kitty looked at her blankly. ‘Oh, of course sorry dear, let’s start from the beginning. Hannah who was supposed to be a witch but wasn’t of course,  lived at Castle Hill with her husband Samuel who was our Mr Beamish ’s grandfather’s brother and......’

Eve put her head in her hands and groaned. ‘Oh God no, Dad, you explain please!’

‘Gordon stop laughing!’

‘It’s simple, Hannah was accused of being a witch by a local farmer, he paid a white witch to get rid of her and she died in mysterious circumstances. Okay, with me so far?’

‘Who was the farmer?’

‘We don’t know and that is why we want to see Mrs Leavenham who knows all there is to know about the village, plus her grandmother was friends with Hannah.’

‘Show Eve what you found on the computer about Hannah,’ suggested Kitty.

Gordon put Emily back into his chair and strode off into the study to find his laptop.

‘Right, shove up you two so I can sit in the middle,’ he opened the laptop and plugged in the memory stick. ‘Now here we are, this is what I found earlier, read it’

Eve read it and then read it again, a puzzled expression on her face.

‘This doesn’t make any sense dad.’

‘No it doesn’t, mum has an idea that Mrs Leavenham’s grandmother was the little girl. So we think she may be able to help.’

‘Why don’t you try tracing Hannah through the census records?’

Gordon clapped a hand to his head. ‘Damn, why didn’t I think of that!’ and pulled the laptop towards him.

‘The 1841 Census is the earliest so start with that one,’ Eve suggested peering over his arm at the screen.

Kitty pulled Emily on to her lap and put her arms around the little girl, she was starting to grizzle and rub her eyes.

‘Emily’s getting tired Eve.’

‘Just give her a cuddle mum, I’m sure she’ll be fine,’ said Eve not looking up from the computer. She pointed at the screen.  ‘Dad, just put in 1841 census.’

‘Can you do that? Just look up records of people?’

‘You can find out anything on the internet these days mum, you should really get out more you know,’ Eve said half sarcastically.

‘Now, now, mum doesn’t do technology,’ said Gordon calmly. ‘She has enough problems working the dishwasher.’

Kitty hugged her granddaughter and whispered in her ear, ‘Aren’t they a pair of meanies Emily?’

They stared intently at the screen while Gordon clicked on different sites to find the right census records.

‘What’s that one?’

‘Family search, let’s try on this site. Right, 1841 Census this is it,’ He tapped in Hannah Beamish.  ‘Date of birth?’ he queried.

‘Just put her name in and see what comes up.’

‘It needs place of birth as well so if I just put in Medbury Devon and we’ll start from there.’

‘But we don’t know she was born here dad.’

‘Well we’ll assume it for now.’

‘Hey, look at all the Beamishes in Devon, are there any in Medbury?’

‘Here’s one, ah... this must be Robert Beamish. Let’s look at his record,’ Gordon clicked onto Robert‘s name and the next page opened up.

‘Damn! We have to pay to see any more, I’ll need my card number. Kitty can you fetch my wallet? I think it’s in my jacket.’

Kitty slid Emily off her lap onto the sofa and got up. ‘I won’t be a minute.’

She found his jacket hanging over the banister in the hall and paused listening to the wind howling around the house and buffeting against the windows and door. Outside there was a crash as the wheelie bin was blown over and Kitty could hear the scraping noise as it was driven across the drive.

‘What was that Kitty?’

‘It was the bin going over in the wind.’

The wind whined around the eaves of the house shrieking louder and louder as she listened.

‘Kitty! Did you find it?’

‘I’m just coming,’ she answered hurrying back into the room. ‘I was listening to the wind.’

Eve looked up. ‘I don’t think I will be driving home in this for a while, I’ll ring Rob after we have done this and warn him I’m going to be late.’

Gordon didn’t answer; he was concentrating on entering all his bank details onto the site.

‘This is going to cost me an arm and a leg,’ he grumbled.

‘If we can find out some more information about Hannah it will be worth it dad.’

Kitty knelt in front of the fire and gave the crumbling logs a poke.

‘Put some more wood on Kitty.’

‘I was just going to dear.’ she replied patiently.

She placed a log on the dying embers, the flames quickly licking up around the dry wood. The wind moaned down the chimney driving the smoke back into the room. Kitty coughed and waved a hand in front of her face.

 ‘Look at all this smoke, it’s being blown back down the chimney.’

 She turned, neither of them were listening to her, they were intent on the laptop.

‘Look Kitty, this is the census record of Robert Beamish, he was 22 years old, unmarried and his father Joseph was the head of the household, living at Castle Hill Farm Medbury,’ Gordon scanned the rest of the household. ‘ Able Facey 27 born Seaton, unmarried Agricultural Labourer; Rosie Guppy 38, born Medbury unmarried, Dairymaid; Fred Dawes 18, born Medbury, Agricultural Labourer.’

‘Are there any other Beamishs in the village?’ asked Eve.

He put his finger on the screen and carefully went down the list. ‘Nope, no Hannah Beamish.’

Kitty looked at them from her position in front of the fire place.

 ‘Well she won’t be in the census forms.’

‘What?’ Gordon peered at her over his glasses.

‘The census used to be taken in the summer and Hannah died in the spring, you don’t have to be a computer genius to know that.’

‘Oh now you tell us, thanks mum!’

‘Well you two are supposed to be the computer whiz kids.’ She put another log on the fire and grinned to herself. ‘Try looking for her death,’ she suggested.

Gordon clicked onto a different list and tried the name Beamish.  ‘Here’s one, Samuel Beamish, 25^th April 1840.’

‘We’ve seen that already,’ said Kitty.

‘No we haven’t, this Samuel was only six weeks old when he died, must be a different family.’

Gordon sat back and rubbed his hands over his face.

 ‘God, this is so frustrating!’

‘So you can’t find anything for Hannah? Birth or death?’

‘Nope, not a thing.’

‘How strange,’ mused Kitty.

They fell silent while outside the wind screamed around the house.

Another puff of smoke blew into the room.

‘Smokey room Nana,’ Emily was getting tired and she rubbed her eyes which were stinging from the smoke.

‘Shall I put Emily to bed in the spare room?’

‘I ought to be going,’ Eve said uncertainly, staring at the window but the curtains were drawn against the storm outside. ‘But it sounds really bad.’

‘Perhaps you had better stay,’ said Gordon. ‘I don’t like the idea of you driving home in this.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Kitty. ‘Ring Rob and tell him you’re going to stay at least until the storm blows over.’

They sat listening to the howling wind which seemed to be mounting in intensity every minute, in the hall the letterbox started to rattle.

‘Wassat noise,’ Emily whimpered.

‘It’s just the wind; it’s making the letterbox rattle, that’s all. It’s nothing to be worried about Emily.’

Kitty tried to soothe her but she slid off her lap, ran over to her mother and scrambled up on to her knee.

‘Let’s see what else we can find,’ said Gordon, tapping the keys.

Nero appeared in the doorway with his ears down and looking very mournful.

‘Come on Nero,’ Kitty called to him. He pattered over the carpet and came to sit by her legs, and laid his head in her lap. ‘He doesn’t like storms,’ she stroked him soothingly on the head. ‘Poor old dog.’

‘Poor doggie,’ Emily forgetting the storm for a minute scrambled down and came over to give him a pat on the head.

‘Gently Emily,’ warned Eve. The little girl’s pats could be a bit hard and Nero was already looking sorry he had come in to join them.

‘What else have you found Gordon?’

‘Nothing for Hannah and nothing else for Samuel. Robert Beamish is on the 1851 census as head of the household so I suppose his father must have died.’

‘Perhaps he’s running the farm.’

‘Let’s see now, yep he’s running the farm, no father on the census. Oh and look at this he’s married, to a Rachel born 1814 Exeter.’

‘What?’ The noise of the wind howling around the house had grown so loud that Kitty and Eve were having difficulty in hearing him.

‘Rachel,’ he said loudly. ‘Born 1814 Exeter, and they had two sons. Edward F. born 1841 Medbury and William, born 1844 Medbury.’

‘Hang on a minute, 1841? He wasn’t married in the 1841 census. He was single,’ said Eve suddenly.

Gordon looked at her surprised. ‘That’s right, he wasn’t, well, well, looks like they had the honeymoon before the wedding.’

Eve grinned. ‘I didn’t think that sort of thing went on then.’

‘Hah! Don’t you believe it, things haven’t changed that much,’ he snorted.

Kitty laughed, she was just going to speak when Nero started growling.

‘Nero stop that,’ for a minute she thought that the dog had lost patience with Emily’s attentions and was growling at the little girl. But he was staring at the door, his hackles rose and a low ominous growl rumbled around his stomach.

‘Nero shush,’ commanded Gordon.

‘Why’s Nero growling nana?’

‘He’s upset, it’s the storm,’ Kitty tried to comfort him but he stood up suddenly pushing Emily out of the way and padded towards the door with his tail and ears down.

A terrific gust of wind howled around the house, the letterbox rattled frantically and in the kitchen the back door suddenly crashed open, blowing into the room all the debris from the garden including Kitty’s carefully collected pile of leaves and cardboard.

Nero started barking frantically lunging towards the hall and then retreating back to the safety of the front room.

Amidst the wind howling, Emily shrieking and Gordon shouting at the dog to be quiet Kitty could just make out a human voice bellowing in rage.

‘Can you hear that?’

She jumped as Eve grabbed her arm. ‘Who is that shouting?’

‘I don’t know. Gordon?’

 He had run into the kitchen to shut the door. ‘I thought I told you to lock it Kitty!’ he shouted.

‘I locked it dad! Well mum said it didn’t shut properly,’ Eve said indignantly and followed him into the kitchen, with Kitty hurrying after her.

Gordon had managed to push the door shut against the howling wind and push the bolt across, then dragged the table over and jammed it against the door as the lock was rattling ominously with the force of the wind.  Gordon looked at the mess of leaves and rubbish on the floor.

‘Where’s the broom?’ he yelled to his wife, trying to make himself heard against the shrieking outside.

The wind buffeted the door making the table slide across the tiled floor.

‘Dammit, we need something heavy on the table. Kitty... Kitty!’

 They stared wildly around the kitchen looking for something to jam against the shaking door.

‘What about jamming a chair under the handle?’ suggested Kitty pulling forward one of the pine kitchen chairs. Gordon shook his head.

 ‘It will just slide across the floor.’

He leant his weight against the table to keep it from sliding and looked towards the hall, the letterbox on the front door was flapping wildly and the wind shrieked louder and louder, whining and howling around the house, the rain lashing at the windows and doors.

‘Check the front door, one of you,’ he said quickly.

Eve ran to the door and tried the lock.

 ‘It’s okay, it is locked,’ she turned as she spoke and with one howling blast the door burst open throwing her across the hall floor.

‘Eve!’ Kitty shrieked, and struggled along the hall to reach her, forcing herself against the wind but it was blowing so hard that she could hardly stand.

‘Eve, are you okay?’

‘Yeah, I think so,’ she felt the back of her head and then looked at the smear of blood on her hand. ‘Oh my head’s bleeding.’

Gordon struggled through from the kitchen holding onto the banisters.

 ‘Stay there you two; I’ll see if I can get to the door.’

He was leaning into the wind almost bent double against the force of the blast, which carried with it small stinging pieces of gravel from the drive.

‘Mind your eyes.’

Kitty had one arm linked around the newel post and was being pressed back against the stairs. The force of the wind pushing against her chest made it difficult to breathe and she found herself gasping in the dust laden wind.

Gordon had reached the door and was bracing himself against it trying to close it against the force of the wind shrieking into the hall.

Eve was crouched on the floor at his feet trying to protect her face against the small pieces of flying gravel. Kitty could hear her muffled crying.

‘Come on grab it and let’s get it shut,’ he shouted.

Kitty reached across to the door.

‘Alright, one, two, three,’ and with that they both heaved and slammed the door shut. Gordon shot the bolt across.

‘God, I hope this holds.’

 The door vibrated under the force of the wind hitting it, a hail of gravel was being driven against the hall window and there was an ominous crack as a large piece smashed into the glass.

‘Let’s get the chest from your study and put it across the door,’ Kitty suggested, she straightened wearily and wiped her face, feeling a slight stickiness on her skin she glanced down at the little smears of blood on her shaking hand. She stared blindly at it for a second before wiping her hand down her leg and turned to Eve who was struggling to stand. She was sobbing and holding her head.

‘Eve, are you okay?’ Kitty knelt over her putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. ‘Get up off the floor, come on,’ and helped Eve to her feet.

Gordon leant back against the door with his eyes closed, gasping for breath.

‘Kitty, let’s get that chest in case the door blows open again.’

She looked up cocking her head to one side and listening.

‘I don’t think we need to, listen!’

The wind had suddenly dropped.

‘It’s stopped! Just like that. Can you believe it,’ Gordon said amazed. He turned to the two women. ‘Are you alright?’

Eve started sobbing and reached for her father.

‘It’s okay, it’s stopped now,’ he reassured her putting an arm around her.

‘My head’s bleeding dad.’

‘I’ll get a towel,’ Kitty headed to the kitchen, pulled a clean hand towel from the laundry basket and hurried back to hall. ‘Here use this.’

 She examined the cut on the back of Eve’s head. It was only small but there was large egg shaped swelling under her hair.

 ‘It’s not too bad, it’s nearly stopped bleeding now,’ she reassured her and pressed the towel to it.  ‘Hold this Eve and press it firmly onto the cut.’

Eve took a few shaky steps forward, wiping her eyes with one hand while holding the towel to her head and glanced into the front room.

‘Where’s Emily?’ she suddenly said looking wildly around the empty room.

Kitty froze, realising that she had given no thought to her granddaughter whom they had left alone while they had struggled with the doors.

 ‘Oh my God.’

Kitty hurried to the door and stared into the room. ‘Gordon she’s not here.’

‘I’ll check upstairs.’

‘You don’t think she went outside?’ said Eve fighting to control the trembling in her voice.

Kitty placed a comforting hand on her arm and squeezed it.

 ‘She couldn’t have, we would have seen her,’ she said firmly. ‘Now calm down Eve she is in the house somewhere.’

They could hear Gordon upstairs running from room to room, opening and slamming doors.

‘Emily, Emily where are you? His voice sounded increasingly strained with every second that his granddaughter was missing.

‘Eve come and sit down and then I’ll go and help dad look,’ Kitty put an arm around her daughter and led her over to the sofa. ‘Sit down here, we’ll find her don’t worry.’

Nero was stretched out in front of the fire; he raised his head and watched them his tail thumping gently on the rug. Kitty’s next few words became strangled in her throat as she gazed at the dog’s fur; thin red streaks were smeared across his muzzle and down the sides of his face.

‘What is that on the dog?’ her voice trembled as she peered over the edge of the sofa, for one wild second wondering what she might see.

Emily was sitting cross legged, hidden from view at the end of the sofa, the contents of Eve’s handbag scattered around her.

‘Emily! There you are,’ she said with relief. ‘What are you doing with mummy’s lipstick?’

She turned and grinned at her grandmother, her gleeful little face was smeared in bright red lipstick and big globs of it covered her hands and clothes. The last little bit was being used to draw stick figures on the carpet.

Eve leapt up from the sofa where she had collapsed a few seconds earlier, and pushed her mother to one side.

‘Emily, thank goodness I was so worried,’ Eve knelt down next to her and wrapped her arms around her daughter, hugging her tightly.

‘I’ll tell dad that she’s here,’ Kitty said in relief and trotted out into the hall. ‘Gordon’ she called up to him. ’It’s alright; she was in the sitting room behind the sofa.’

‘Oh for the love of God woman,’ he pounded down the stairs. ‘I was worried sick!’

‘We all were Gordon, so calm down.’

He followed her back into the room.

 ‘Is she alright?’ he moved forward anxiously looking at Emily and Eve sat in front of the fireplace.

‘Emily has found Mummy’s make up so she’s having a great time,’ Kitty smiled slightly and gestured at Emily’s lipstick smeared face.

The little girl twisted round to look at him and grinned. ‘Look gramps I’m drawing.’

He sat down on the end of the sofa and reached over to ruffle her hair.

‘Well at least she’s okay.’

‘She’s here,’ Kitty said suddenly.

‘Who?’

‘Hannah, I can smell lavender.’

Eve sniffed. ‘So can I.’

Emily smiled and pointed to the stick drawings on the floor. ‘Look, it’s the lady.’

‘What lady, sweetie?’

‘She’s been talking to me, she likes flowers.’

 Emily opened one of her sticky little hands. ‘Look’ and although crushed and bent and covered with lipstick Gordon could still make out the remains of a few sprigs of lavender. He paused for a few minutes, unable to believe his eyes. He drew a deep rasping breath and stood up quickly.

‘That’s it, we’re going. We’ll spend the night at Eve’s.’

He picked up Emily and held her firmly to his chest, gesturing for Eve to get to her feet.

‘Grab your things Eve, we’ll use your car.’

Gordon ushered them out into the hall, casting one worried look back into the room.

‘Kitty! Where are you going?’

‘I was just going to get a few things.’

He pulled her off the bottom stair. ‘No! We’re leaving now,’ his usually calm voice sounded strained and his hand grasping Kitty’s arm was trembling slightly.

‘Come on mum I want to go,’ Eve tugged at her arm. ‘Let’s just get out of here.’

‘Okay, okay, but the dog has to come.’

‘Just stop talking and get in the damn car.’

 Gordon slammed the front door behind them.

‘Oh, what about the lights?’ Kitty looked at her husband enquiringly. ‘Gordon?’

Nobody answered, Eve jumped into the back seat with Emily held tightly on her lap and then pulled Nero onto the seat next to her.

Gordon squeezed behind the steering wheel, fiddling with the seat to get more leg room.

‘Are we all in? Right lock the doors and let’s get the hell out of here.’ He started the car and crunched the gear stick into first.  ‘Sorry Eve I’m used to an automatic,’ Gordon joked trying to sound normal. ‘Okay we’re off.’

Gordon drove slowly down the drive avoiding the overturned bin.

‘Thank goodness it was collected today otherwise the rubbish would be everywhere.’

‘Mum!’

‘Sorry, I wasn’t thinking what I was saying.’

Gordon flicked the headlights onto full beam and drove through the gateway, just for an instant the lights picked out a figure stood to one side.

‘Gordon, it’s Mr Beamish, don’t you think we should tell him why we’re going?’

He slowed the car almost to a halt and glanced in the rear view mirror. Without a word he put his foot on the accelerator and sped along the road, past the farm and down into the village.

‘Slow down,’ Kitty was clinging to the door. ‘Mr Beamish will think we’ve gone mad.’

‘That wasn’t William,’ he ground out.

‘Of course it was, I saw him,’ Kitty turned and stared at him. ‘Calm down Gordon, do you want me to drive?’ She looked over at him in concern, his hands were shaking on the wheel and his face was twisted in a strange expression.

‘Gordon?’

‘It wasn’t William.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes! Hey look at this!’ he slowed down as they drove through the middle of the village.

‘Look at what?’

‘The road, its bone dry, they haven’t had any rain here at all.’

Kitty stared out of the window and then peered through the windscreen up at the night sky.

‘It’s a clear night, no rain clouds at all.’

Eve stirred restlessly on the back seat and sat forward to nudge her father’s arm.

‘Dad, can we go now? I want to go home.’

‘Okay Eve don’t worry, we’re just going.’

 He drove slowly past the parked cars in the street and sped forward as soon as they had cleared the last few houses in the village and on up the hill to the road leading towards Axminster.

They pulled into the drive of Eve’s small semi and Gordon switched off the engine. The hall light clicked on flooding the driveway with light and Rob opened the front door.

‘There you are,’ he sounded annoyed. ‘I was getting worried,’ his voice changed when he saw them all in the car. ‘What’s wrong?’

Eve scrambled out of the back holding the sleeping Emily tightly.

‘ What’s that on Emily?’ he said leaping down the front door step towards his wife

‘It’s alright, it’s just lipstick,’ Kitty quickly reassured him.

 Rob looked from his mother- in- law to his wife.

 ‘Are you alright?’ he asked Eve looking in concern at her pale face and the smear of blood on her face.

‘No!’ she wailed. ‘It was awful. I hurt my head and I thought I had lost Emily,’ the rest of her explanation was lost in sobs. Rob put his arms around her and his daughter and led her to the door.

‘Come on inside,’ he glanced across at his in laws. ‘Thanks for bringing them home.’

‘I’m afraid we’re going to be staying the night Rob,’ said Kitty.

‘What ? Well of course,’ Rob looked at her surprised but went on ‘Come on in then, I don’t know where you’re going to sleep though.’

‘A chair by the fire will do fine so don’t worry.’

She turned to Gordon who was leaning against the side of the car. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Hmm, yeah I’m fine,’ He pushed himself upright. ‘Let’s get in, I need a drink,’ he put an arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. ‘Sorry I didn’t believe you Kitty.’

‘That’s okay,’ she rested her head on his shoulder for a minute before taking his arm and pulling him towards the house. ‘Come on let’s go and see if Rob has any whiskey, I think we could all do with one.’