Page 15 of A Snowy Seaside Christmas
‘Right, here we are,’ said Nate as they stopped before the old oak door to Crayke’s Cottage. It objected with a loud groan as he pushed it open.
Stepping inside, they were met with the same fusty smell that had lingered on the clothes in Betty’s suitcase. Lark wondered if the place would feel any different now its peace had been interrupted after so many decades of sitting quiet and undisturbed. Making her way over the flagstones of what would have been the living room, she stood for a moment, letting the atmosphere wash over her. The cottage still wore that indefinable feeling she hadn’t been able to fathom yesterday, though today, she detected something extra. It almost felt as if the walls had eyes, all watching her silently. It sent a shiver running up her spine.
She looked on as Nate set the suitcase down on a small oak table. He glanced up at her, his hands poised on the clasps. ‘Still want me to do the honours?’
‘If you’re okay with it.’ She’d brought her sage stick, just in case she felt the need to rid them of any negative energy beforethey left. She’d also dropped a couple of malachite crystals in the pockets of her dungarees as an extra layer of protection. Nate, too, had a couple in the pockets of his overcoat.
‘Okay, here goes.’
If she wasn’t mistaken, Lark thought Nate looked as apprehensive as she felt.
The WD-40 she’d used last night meant the clasps opened straight away. She watched him slowly ease the lid back until it was wide open, revealing the contents. Her stomach churned in response.
He was just about to reach in for the tin when there was a loud noise that sounded like the slamming of a door. It made the very fibres of the cottage vibrate.
A scream escaped Lark’s mouth before she had the chance to stop it, the hairs on her arms standing on end. She caught Nate’s eye to see he was wearing a startled expression, his face pale.
He gulped. ‘What was that?’
‘I have no idea, but it sounded like it came from the back of the house.’ Her heart was pounding, her chest heaving and she had the overwhelming urge to run from the cottage as fast as she could.
‘It did.’ He strode to the door that gave access to the room behind. ‘Hello,’ he called out.
They stood looking at one another as they listened, but were met with nothing more than an ominous silence.
Nate gave a shrug of his shoulders just as a hushing sound filled the room and an icy breeze rushed in, circling all around them. It lifted the stray strands of hair that peeked from beneath Lark’s hat and skimmed over her cheeks, making her gasp and sending a rash of goosebumps prickling over her skin.
As quickly as the breeze arrived, it was gone.
From the baffled expression on Nate’s face she could tell he’d felt it, too.
‘That was seriously creepy,’ she said with a shudder. As used as she was to sensing the atmospheres and energy of a whole host of different places, Lark had never experienced anything like that before.
‘I know what you mean.’ He circled his shoulders as if shaking the feeling off. ‘Surely there must be some explanation for it, like a sudden draught from an ill-fitting window or summat like that. I mean, it was getting pretty blustery out there before we got here.’ He disappeared into the back room, the dull thud of his footsteps on the floorboards, Lark hot on his heels. After what had just happened, she didn’t fancy being left on her own in the room.
The pair of them took their time to look around, checking for anything that had been knocked over and could explain the loud slamming sound, or any gaps where the wind could have sneaked in. But they found nothing. Yes, the windows were a little old and rattly, but there was nothing that would explain the strength of the gust of air they’d just experienced.
Nate glanced down at his feet, his thick brows drawing together. ‘Maybe it’s a draught coming up through the floorboards.’
Lark followed his gaze. When they were at Crayke’s Cottage yesterday, it had escaped her attention that this floor wasn’t flagged like the other downstairs rooms, but that was probably because the cold had stopped her from thinking clearly. She contemplated Nate’s suggestion. ‘Good point. These little cottages are full of places where draughts can sneak in and make doors slam. I know Seashell Cottage has its fair share, which is why the wood burner’s been such a godsend.’
‘Aye, my place is the same.’ He strode over to the back door that gave out onto the yard and tried the handle, but the door didn’t budge. He turned his head to her. ‘It’s locked.’
‘Okay,’ Lark said slowly, glancing around her. ‘So where did the slamming sound come from?’
‘Good question.’
‘I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a bit creeped out,’ she said.
‘Aye, it’s a bit odd but I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Maybe it was something blowing over in the yard?’ he suggested as he rubbed at the grimy windows with his gloved fingers, peering out through the small circle he’d created.
‘I suppose it could’ve been. Though wouldn’t the snow have muffled the sound of anything falling over?’
‘S’pose it might’ve done.’
But they both knew the sound came from inside the cottage and, in particular, this room.
‘Why don’t you have a look at the stuff in the suitcase, then we can decide what to do with it and leave?’ Lark was keen to get done and get out as quickly as possible.
