“How kind,” I forced out before turning to speak with Edwin. As we turned, I gathered from the glance I shared with Robert, the conversations on the other side of the table were no better.
“Good evening again, Edwin,” I said.
“Good evening, dear sister-in-law,” Edwin slurred. “And how lovely you look this evening.”
“Thank you,” I answered. “And how did you meet Susie?” I inquired.
Edwin chuckled. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he said, tapping my nose with his finger.
I failed to find the response or gesture amusing, though I determined any follow up a poor idea. His avoidance of the question told me all I needed or desired, to know.
“She seems… very keen on you,” I noted.
“Oh, she is… very, very keen,” he rambled.
I was spared any further discussion when the first course arrived. The conversation turned toward the weather, the upcoming spring bloom and countryside farming. As the second course was served, we suffered the misfortune of the candles on the table blowing out. Mr. Buchanan tried three times to relight them, though each time they were snuffed out by some unidentifiable draft.
My stomach tightened as I wondered if the source may be otherworldly. We finished our meal with no further disturbances, and I felt the tension in my shoulders ease as I collected the ladies to return to the sitting room, allowing the men to discuss their business over cigars and brandy.
We settled onto the sofa and loveseat. I offered a nervous smile at them as I considered a topic of conversation. Goldie beat me to it. “So, Duchess, how d’you snag yourself a Duke?”
Shock showed plainly on my face, I am certain.
“Don’t be shy,” Susie encouraged. “We want to hear all the good bits.”
Goldie nodded in agreement. “And the naughty ones,” she added with a giggle.
“Perhaps we could discuss something else,” I suggested. “Are either of you partial to flower shows?”
“Oh, come now, Duchess,” Goldie replied. “Don’t want to give up your secrets, hey?”
“I am afraid I have no secrets to give,” I responded.
“Oh, hear that, Susie? She got no secrets to give. She don’t want to share how she landed herself a Duke.”
I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to tell them something to end the conversation. “We were an arranged marriage,” I answered. “There is little more than that to tell. Now,” I retorted, “perhaps a game of cards?”
I rose to retrieve the deck when the doors opened and Robert, Edwin and Sir Richard strode through. Relief coursed through me as Buchanan began to serve after-dinner drinks.
“That was quick,” I whispered to Robert as Edwin and Sir Richard rejoined their dinner guests.
“I felt it best not to dawdle. It appears our female guests are rather vapid. I feared you may become bored,” Robert answered with a smirk.
I suppressed a giggle before we rejoined the group. As I sat down, an icy gust of wind blew the doors to the foyer open. Buchanan rushed to close them. My jaw clenched. An eerie feeling settled over me. I glanced around, expecting to see Annie in the room, but found no uninvited guests.
I smiled at Robert, who continued his discussion on rural farming in the area. Within moments, the lamps lighting the room went dark. Susie yelped like a wounded animal, clutching Edwin’s arm.
My suspicions rose that the incident was due to an unearthly presence. Buchanan rushed to relight the lamps in the glow of the fireplace. However, in this instance, the lamps refused to relight.
“I am certain we can carry on with only the fire’s light,” Robert assured him. Though I remained skeptical, certain something else prowled around the next corner to disturb our discourse.
The next incident occurred moments after we resumed our conversation. The vase of flowers on a side table crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
“One may suspect the castle is haunted,” Sir Richard quipped. If only he realized how right he was, I reflected.
Buchanan dashed from the room to gather a maid to clear the mess. My gaze focused on the heavy draperies on the nearest window. I leapt from my seat as they began to rise into the air. Within an instant, they were ripped from their rods and discarded in a heap on the floor. An icy wind gusted through the room and the curtains rose and danced across it. Both Goldie and Susie issued sounds of alarm in response.
“Excuse me a moment,” I said in a hurried voice and made my way to the door. I signaled Robert to follow me.
“Won’t you excuse me for a moment?” he asked, setting his drink down before joining me in the foyer. “What is it?” he inquired in a hushed tone.
“Annie,” I answered. “If they stay, she will continue her antics. We must disband the party.”
Robert’s brow furrowed. “Annie?”
“Yes,” I answered. “She has been disturbed of late. I shall go to the tower and try to lure her there while you send our guests on their way. Please make my excuses.”
“Yes, I will. Lenora,” he said, catching my arm before I departed, “be safe.”
I nodded in response and left him to deal with the closing of the dinner party. Robert’s voice carried through the doors and across the foyer as I ascended the stairs. “It may be wise to conclude the evening. I shall make arrangements for the carriage to be brought ‘round. Excuse me a moment.”
With that settled, I disappeared into the upstairs hallways. With any luck, the foursome would soon depart. I wound through the halls, hurrying to the cursed tower room. I ascended the stairs without hesitation, shoving aside any dreadful memories.
I burst through the doorway and into the tower. “Annie!” I shouted, still catching my breath. “Annie! You have my attention. What is it you want?”
I spun in circles, searching the room for Annie. “Come now, Annie. You’ve frightened the guests enough. We are sending them home.”
Annie appeared in the corner. Her hair hung limply around her pale face. Her eyes glowed red, her lips curled
