Jen Christie - House Of Shadows

He looked dubious, his white, bushy eyebrows drawing together. “All of a sudden like this?” Suddenly he leaned toward his wife and his voice grew accusing. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with our new guest, would it?”

A little huff of anger escaped the woman. “Of course it does. It has everything to do with our guest. But don’t say a word, Charlie. Not a word. My plans will work out this time.” Mrs. Capshaw spoke with authority. “You drive her to the river and return to me. Straightaway.”

“Answer me this first, wife. Where’s her position?”

“Arundell Manor.”

It was the first time Penrose heard the name. Arundell Manor. The words hung in the air like an echo from a bell. It pleased Penrose and a strange sense of calmness swelled within her.

Charlie did not have the same reaction, however. “Arundell Manor! You’re snatching that woman’s job! That’s no coup! Are you cruel? You’re sending her there?”

“Charlie,” said Mrs. Capshaw in something close to a growl.

“Arundell Manor? You must be three sheets to the wind! That man will kill her as surely as we stand here now. There’s something very wrong with that man, and all of Charleston knows it. He’s dangerous and wicked...and downright frightening. The stories I hear about that...that monster.”

Beneath the lamplight, Mrs. Capshaw looked at Charlie with a gaze of iron. “Charlie Capshaw, you will keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you.”

“I can’t in good conscience—” he sputtered.

“Stop,” said Penrose. She was strangely settled in her mind with the decision. The name of the manor struck a chord inside her as if fate had been summoned and there was no stopping it. She put her hand on Charlie’s arm. “Charlie, I’ve already accepted it, whatever may come,” she said with resolve.

Charlie looked at her a moment before shaking his head. “You don’t understand, child. I hear things in the pub. He’s trying to create a man. Think on that. It’s said that no woman will ever go near him. Ever. Some have even whispered dark magic is afoot in that house.”

“Charles Edgar Capshaw. There you go again! I’ve told you before...” Her voice trailed away to nothing. Mrs. Capshaw had never spoken quite so harshly before and they all turned quiet. She looked to Penrose. “Don’t listen, dear. Go, go to the position and see for yourself.” Then she turned to Charlie. “Get the buggy! And be quick about it!”

He backed away in small steps, shaking his head. “Mark my words,” he said in a low voice before turning and stomping off into the darkness.

“Don’t let Charlie scare you.”

“He doesn’t,” she replied, which was the truth. A future with no income scared her more than men’s tales when they were deep in their cups.

Charlie returned with the buggy and, after she was settled, he drove her through Charleston, past the harbor with its ships bobbing in the water and the fat moon flying high above them. Penrose smelled the sweet perfume of gladiolas heavy in the air. She felt oddly happy. Dark magic or no, the pay would take care of everything. She laughed.

“I wouldn’t take it so lightly,” said Charlie, glancing over at her, flicking the whip above the head of the horse. They passed through the gates of Charleston and traveled through the thick woods before reaching the stone gates of the manor. The iron gates were thrown wide open, heedless of any intruders. Charlie slowed the carriage to a stop, then turned to look at her. “Penny,” he said, patting her on the shoulder, “promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will. I promise. Everything will be fine, don’t worry.”

“I always worry when Mrs. Capshaw is scheming.”

She picked up the valise and climbed down. “This time, it will work out grand. You’ll see.”

“I hope so, dear. I hope so,” he said, snapping the whip in the air. With a neigh, the horse came to life and the carriage pulled away. It had gone a few paces when he called out to her. “Remember, Penny, you can always come back and start again if you’d like. Don’t think you’re trapped. You’re never trapped.”

“Thank you, Charlie,” she said, and watched as the carriage rode out of sight.

She set off down the manor road with nervous steps, unsure exactly what she had gotten herself into. Only one thing was certain. The choice had been her own, so she deserved whatever the future held for her.

Oak trees lined the bone-white road like sentinels, and she walked beneath them until the road spilled out onto a wide clearing of land. Some distance away, the house floated, eerie and ghostly white under the moonlight. She settled under one of the large oaks at the end of the path, her eyes trained on the ghostly house. Two windows were illuminated. They glowed like orange eyes and she saw the dark figure of a man cross in front of them. Her heart beat wildly. Was that him? Was that Carrick Arundell?

Once more the figure passed by the window, except this time he stopped and stood in front of it. Her skin pulled tight in gooseflesh. It seemed that he stared through the darkness and looked right at her. Her heart beat wildly, and her thoughts ran unchecked. Perhaps right now he was practicing his dark magic. Stop it, she chided herself. He was only a man. He couldn’t be that bad.

The light of day would bring answers. Tomorrow she would know everything. Tomorrow her future would become the present. In the meantime, she must sleep. But she couldn’t stop herself from watching the dark figure pace back and forth in the window. Back and forth, again and again. Endlessly.

Chapter 2

Penrose opened her eyes, her body stiff, the dew from the evening before settled on her skin and hair. Arundell Manor stood before her, no longer ghostly, but regal, and she couldn’t stop staring at the sight. The early sun poured pink rays of light over the white stone walls. The windows—and there were dozens of them—all glistened in a gold sheen. The rich green grasses that stretched before her were silvered in morning dew. A pond, invisible to her in the night, lay under a blanket of mist. The home slept in quiet splendor.

Her gown was damp. She stood, brushing away the pine needles and drops of dew before straightening her hair and bonnet and pinching her cheeks for color. Lifting the valise, she walked along the bone-white gravel path, each step of her boots a loud crunch in the still morning air. There were forty-four steps leading to the massive front doors, she thought as she climbed and counted each one. She was aware of every move as if someone was already watching her from behind the glittering windows. Penrose couldn’t shake the sensation.

Standing in front of the brass knocker, she took a deep, steadying breath. You can do this, she told herself. The rising sun warmed her backside and seemed almost to agree. Lifting the heavy knocker, she let it fall and listened as the hammer strike echoed on and on behind the door. She waited, then waited some more, but there was no answer, so she tried again.

Finally, there came a fumbling noise; a latch turned and the door swung open. Sunlight streamed past her and into the house, striking a crystal chandelier that hung low in the foyer. Glass orbs and shards grabbed the light and tossed about a brilliant rainbow of colors, blinding her. She flinched and stepped backward, her boot heel catching on the fabric of her skirt. Down she went, limbs akimbo, the piazza floor rising up fast to greet her. But as she fell, she caught a glimpse of a man—a dark outline of his tall frame. His features were invisible against the white stone of the house.

Then the ground slapped her hard enough to rattle her teeth. So much for a good first impression. The sunlight poured relentlessly on her. She shielded her eyes and looked up.