Page 10 of Once Upon an Enchanted Castle

“I’m relieved to hear it,” Bella said, still clutching the book to her chest.

“What’s going to happen to us, miss?” Emmaline asked.

“We’re going to stay at the inn in the port for a few days. Then, after that, my father intends to move us to our country home in Driftbell, Hawthorne Hall.” She reached out a hand to her maid, placing it on her arm. “Emmaline, it would mean a lot to me if you came with me and then travelled on to Hawthorne Hall with us.”

Emmaline’s face paled as indecision flashed through her eyes.

“You don’t have to, of course, but I find I cannot dress without you.” She gave her a weak, hopeful smile. “Of course, you can always return to visit your mother and sister. Anytime you wish. It’s only a short train ride.”

“Do you mean that, miss?” Emmaline asked, her eyes shining and bright.

“Of course, I do. You’re such a help to me. I couldn’t bear being in the country without you.” She turned to Edith. “Or your fine lemon cakes, Mrs. Graves. That is, if you’ll agree to come with us as well. Gerald is going to go ahead to make the house ready for our arrival.”

“Oh, miss, ye do go on about those.” She chuckled. “If ye don’t mind me returning to visit the grandchildren…”

“You can visit them anytime you like.” She released Emmaline and reached a hand to the older woman. She took it, squeezed her hand and gave her a bright smile.

“All right, then. I accept,” Mrs. Graves said.

“And so do I,” Emmaline said.

Bella blew out a breath. “I’m so glad. The country would be dreadful without you both.”

“Bella, come along,” her father called.

Still clutching the book, she gave Mrs. Graves a wave. Emmaline fell in step besides her, and they joined her father. The three of them walked down the street toward the port, leaving behind the charred remains of their life.

Chapter 4

Herfathersecuredthemtwo rooms at the local inn in the port. The sleepy-eyed innkeeper, though, looked them over with a curious eye. She in her formal dinner gown, her father in his nightclothes with his dressing gown hastily thrown over and no hat, and her maid in her nightdress and slippers. The girl remained behind Bella with her eyes downcast.

It was a relief to be in their room, though it was small. One narrow bed on either side of the room and a small wardrobe between the two. At least the view from the one window was of the port. Moonlight glistened on the water beyond the ships.

Emmaline unbuttoned the back of her gown and hung it in the wardrobe while she kicked off her slippers and slid under the blankets. Emmaline climbed into her own bed across from her, but Bella sensed apprehension rolling off her.

“Everything will be all right,” Bella said, trying to reassure her. “You’ll see.”

“It’s just that…I’ve never been out of the city, miss. In the morning, I’d like to send a message to my mum and sister.”

“I’ll help you with that.”

Fatigue pounded through her as she laid on the soft mattress, trying not to fret over the loss of their home and things. The book she brought with her rested next to the unlit candle on the low table between the two beds.

“What is Hawthorne Hall like?” Emmaline asked.

Bella yawned. “I’ve not been back for many years, but I remember it has a quiet, serene place where my father and mother liked to spend summers. There’s a pond behind the manor house with a short pier. My mother loved roses and had quite a large rose garden that smelled sweet with all the colorful blooms.”

“Sounds wonderful.” Her voice was thick with sleep. “I look forward to seeing it.”

She yawned, curled around the pillow, and moments later was fast asleep. But sleep eluded Bella as she laid on the bed, peering up at the widow with the gossamer curtain filtering out the moonlight. She thought of the strange shadow she saw in the port before she retired to her room.

She wasn’t sure what made her do it—some deep impulse she was unable to deny—but she shoved off the blanket and stood between the beds, peering through the curtain. Several ships bobbed in silence in the harbor, their sails down and secured. She parted the curtain to peer into the night, her senses on high alert. As she did, she thought she saw the shadowy figure moving through the port. The same one she saw earlier.

A strangeness pierced her as she watched the figure move from shadow to shadow as though floating through space. She resisted the urge to throw on Emmaline’s dressing gown and rush out to the port to investigate. As the thought flickered through her mind, a dark voice whispered through the room.

The hair on the back of her neck stood at attention. Her head snapped over to Emmaline, but the girl was still sleeping. She hadn’t moved and her face was in repose.

She let the curtain fall back into place and backed up against the bed. When her legs hit it, she sank into it, pulling the blankets to her chin to ward off a sudden chill that flickered through her. She needed to sleep and put the strange shadow figure out of her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut and calmed her mind, regulated her breath, and finally slept.

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