Page 69 of Ghost
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mason lifted the heavydoor knocker and let it drop.The damn thing was heavy as all get out.Hmm, I need one of these for my front door.It’s more fitting that a modern-day doorbell,he thought to himself.
He was about to lift it again when the door opened.
“Good evening, Mason,” Sharon said, stepping aside to let him in.She took in his appearance, smiled and nodded.“Looking good,” she whispered.“Won’t you follow me into the drawing room?”she asked in a normal tone of voice.
Mason pulled his shirt down, trying to reduce the wrinkle where it had been folded as he followed Sharon into an elaborately decorated room.He couldn’t help but pause for a moment as he looked around.It was like taking a step back in time.
“May I get you something to drink?”Sharon asked.
“Sharon, bring Mr.Montgomery a whiskey,” Mrs.Trudeau said.“The special reserve should do.I have a feeling that he would appreciate it.”
Mason turned his attention to the elderly woman sitting in an antique chair by the fireplace.She was perched on the front end, her hands crossed in her lap and her ankles similarly crossed, slightly tucked underneath.Mrs.Trudeau’s posture was ramrod straight, her head held high.
“Good evening, Mason.Please have a seat.”She indicated the larger chair opposite her on the other side of the fireplace.“I’m so glad you could come.”
Mason stepped over towards her, handing her the bouquet of a dozen white roses.“It really is my pleasure.To be honest, I’ve not had a home-cooked meal in a while.”
“Oh, how lovely!”Mrs.Trudeau inhaled the fresh fragrance.“I bet Francis told you these were my favorite.”
He turned to take a seat and nearly fell over backwards.In front of him was an elderly man with a sour look on his face.
“Oh, don’t mind him.”Mrs.Trudeau said and laughed quietly.“He always looked like he’d just sucked a lemon.That is, or was, my husband, Gerald.Gerald, this is Mr.Mason Montgomery.He has recently purchased Francis’ house and is doing a marvelous job in renovating it.”
Mason looked from Mrs.Trudeau back to Gerald Trudeau.“Um...it’s nice to meet you Mr.Trudeau.
It looked to Mason as if Mr.Trudeau’s expression changed very little but there was a twinkle in his eyes now that hadn’t been there before.
“Have you managed to dislodge Imogene from the place?”he asked, his voice deep and commanding.“I had heard her screaming bloody hell recently, which suddenly stopped.I have no doubt that you would be the cause of her discomfort.”
“Yes, I do believe she is gone.Permanently,” Mason answered, still feeling a little odd at speaking to dead people.
“Good.”He nodded.“I am sure that she is getting her just desserts.”
“Mr.Montgomery,” Sharon spoke from behind him.When he faced her, she handed him a crystal glass with two fingers worth of whiskey in it.
“Thanks.”He took the glass and took a sip.“Wow, this is very good,” Mason said after he’d swallowed the very fine bourbon.
“Sharon, dear, could you please put these in some water for me,” Mrs.Trudeau said, standing to hand the bouquet to the young woman.She turned to Mason.“I had a feeling that you would appreciate a fine whiskey.”Mrs.Trudeau sat back down.She smoothed out the front of her black dress and assumed the same position he’d seen her when he’d arrived.
Mr.Trudeau had managed to move from one side of the room to standing behind her in the blink of an eye.
Mason blinked a few times.“I’m still having trouble with....”
Mrs.Trudeau waved one hand.Mason couldn’t help but notice the multiple diamond rings she was wearing.“You’ll get used to it soon enough.”She giggled.“Not that you’ll have much say in the matter.”
Mason took a seat in the chair she’d offered.“How long have you been...well, you know?”Mason asked, slightly nodding towards Mr.Trudeau.
“All of my life.”Mrs.Trudeau picked up a small crystal glass with an amber liquid in it and took a sip.“I was terrified as a child.My mother and nanny kept saying it was only childhood fright.My father, on the other hand, knew better and explained it to me.He also had the gift, you see.”
“I’ve only just started....”Mason didn’t even know how to explain what it was he was seeing.
