The light from the bedroom illuminated the bathroom. Wilz pushed herself into a sitting position and sucked in a few deep breaths. Her skin chilled, the water now cool. How long had she been asleep? What a horrid episode. They never made sense to her and she’d given up trying to decipher them. They were what they were and no amount of worrying would change that.
Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky and her skin covered in goose bumps. Determined not to let it get her down, she stepped out of the tub and reached for a towel, wrapping it around her body. With jagged movements, she rubbed her skin dry, desperate to calm her nerves and get warm.
Grabbing another towel, she wrapped it around her wet hair turban style and pulled the plug in the tub. It was a wonder Papa hadn’t sent up Primrose to hustle her along. Ernest must be keeping him amused over a drink. She hurried into her bedroom and pulled open a drawer searching for fresh underwear, which she quickly donned. Primrose had laid a dress on the bed for her and she stepped into it, zipped it up before moving over to the mirror to style her hair. When she dropped into the chair, Wilz unwound the towel and rubbed her long locks, doing her best to get most of the moisture out. Tonight she would have to suffice with a plain hairstyle. She picked up a hairbrush from the dressing table, glanced in the mirror as she did so and arranged her hair back from her face, securing it with a tortoise shell clasp for understated glamour.
The face staring back at her faded and shimmered made all the more eerie with the lightning flashing outside the window. Her stomach lurched.
No, not again. Please not again. She was losing her mind. She knew it now without doubt. How could she get through this? It was happening far too often and she didn’t know what to do.
Chapter 20
Singleton 1980
“She’s sitting out in the garden. Said she may as well make the most of the clear evening before dinner. Besides, she enjoys watching the storm clouds come over. Energizes her.”
Hamish signed the guest book and pushed it back toward the nurse. “I promise not to keep her long.”
“Oh don’t let that worry you. Primrose loves visitors and she’ll let you know when she’s had enough. Nothing if not forthright. Come along, then.” She headed out of the front door and along the pathway until she came to an archway covered in pale-pink roses.
“She’s in there. Loves this part of the garden, says it reminds her of the grand old house where she lived before she came to us.”
“Thank you.” Hamish beckoned for Alex to follow him through into the perfumed garden. A tiny Aboriginal woman sat with her eyes closed, head resting back on the chair, a rug over her knees.
“Come in, don’t go standing there making the place look untidy.” She opened her eyes and peered at her visitors. She glanced over Hamish and then her mouth dropped open when her gaze connected with Alex. “Oh my, you look just like her.” She beckoned Alex closer. Primrose sat forward in her chair and reached out her hand, touching his cheek with her bony little fingers. “I missed her so much when she left.”
“Who?”
“Miss Gertrude. You the spitting image of her.”
Hamish and Alex shared a look. “We thought the same thing when we were at the house. Something doesn’t quite add up and we were hoping you could shed some light on what’s going on.”
Alex coughed, cleared his throat. “We’re here looking for my mother, Billie. I’m kind of hoping you’ve seen her and can help.”
“Your mum that reporter lady?”
“Yes, that’s her.” His voice rose with excitement. “You’ve seen her?”
The old lady snorted, waved her hand in a dismissive action. “Don’t think I good enough for the likes of her. Look at me, the little black servant who ain’t no good to no one no more. Came and talked to me, she did. Promised to come back and take me to the house so I could see it again.” She stared out over the garden, her eyes misting over. “Never did do like she said. I waited and waited and finally give up. Musta got what she wanted without me.” She heaved a sigh. “Ain’t seen Mr. Eric for the longest time, was looking forward to a catch-up.”
“Eric?” Hamish crouched down in front of her.
“The gardener, used to look after Miss Gertrude’s rose garden. ’Course it belonged to her mama first, but she the only one that cared once the missus passed on. He a nice man, took over from his daddy when he left school. Man sure had a way with them flowers.” Primrose glanced at the blooms over the archway and her face lit up with a smile. “Miss Gertrude loved them roses, spent lots of time over there putting fresh flowers outside her mama’s crypt she did. Once she disappeared, Mr. Eric did it out of remembrance. Whole family fell apart after Miss Gertrude ran away and Miss Wilz died. Nothing ever the same again.”
“Primrose. Billie wouldn’t have broken her word. She’s not like that. We found her car there earlier today but can’t find any sign of her. We’re worried.”
The old lady glanced at Hamish with watery eyes and a flash of fear passed over her face. “That place cursed. Always thought so after the girls went. The master, he go all strange like, lock his self away from everyone. Farm go down hill real quick it did without Miss Wilz to run things.” She shook her head, her lip quivering. “Miss Wilz, she had everything working just fine. Better than her daddy she was. Wouldn’t take no for an answer neither. Always found a way to make things work ’cause she had a mind to.”
“I need to know what you told Billie,
