She rose, feeling as agile and luxuriously sinuous as a cat, naked in the coolness of the night. She stretched, thinking that the strenuous exercise program she had put herself through before the wedding had been well worth itshe didnt think that she could be more than five percent body fat at the moment, and Roger had been delighted. She was glad, too, because she liked to think that she had talked Matt Stone into allowing them to use the seldom-rented room for their wedding night because she had just been cute and charming. Stone was known to be something of a hard-ass.
Walking over to the open French doors that led to the balcony, Jeannie almost pouted, then grinned instead. Roger had told her that Matt Stone had given in just because he knew the only way to keep Melody House as a private property had been to allow the house itself to earn some of the upkeep money such an estate so desperately needed. Roger had probably been right. But then again, maybe it had been a combination of Stones needs and her charm and persuasion. Whatever! It had all worked, and it had come together so beautifully. She was a lover of history, and to spend her wedding night in such an elegant and historic place was like the most delicious icing in the world on the most wonderful cakeher perfect wedding day. She parted the draperies, glad to feel the breeze against her bare shin, and feeling sensual all over again as it touched her. She was married now. She was Mrs. Thomas. She could slink right on back over to the bed, wake up her slight snoring husband, and live out her every fantasy.
Yet
Suddenly, the delicious feeling wasnt quite so delicious anymore. She felt a sudden, quick, bone-numbing chill. She spun around, and saw nothing in the dim night-light pouring out from the bathroom, or even from the faint glow of moonlight and property lights that seeped in from the open French doors to the balcony, just hemmed in by the drifting draperies where she stood.
She felt
Fear. Deep and irrational.
She swallowed, stepping over to close the French doors and lock them tightly. She glanced at Roger. He kept snoring. She tried to calm herself. If she was feeling a sudden and totally irrational fear, all she had to do was run back to the bed, jump in beside him, and he would cuddle and hold her and everything would be all right.
That was exactly what she was going to do.
But she didnt. She didnt move. Because she saw
The silvery movement in the night.
She blinked, but it didnt go away. And it wasnt the darkness, or the reflection of the lights, or a combination of the two. It was something, vague in shape, silvery-white, hovering, moving. It came from the side of the bed, where she should have been sleeping, and it was coming toward her.
She panicked totally. Her vocal cords were frozen. She stared, breathing out desperate little choking sounds, since she could find no voice. It came closer and closer. She felt ice trickles into blood and limbs and then
It was almost touching her. She felt her hair movepulled? Cold seemed to slap her right across the face. And she could have sworn that she heard a whisper, mocking, scornful. Silly little girl! Hell only kill you!
Then againher hairlifting. On its own, in the grip of the vague, silvery-white substance. A substance that whispered or played havoc with the breeze. There was no breeze. She had closed the doors.
At last, she found voice, movement, and energy. She let out an hysterical, chilling scream, and ran.
She didnt run for the bed and Rogershe headed straight for the door out of the Lee room. Jeannie wrenched at the knob so hard she nearly ripped it from the wood. The door itself flew open, and banged wickedly against the wall. This had no bearing on her. She barely heard it. She kept screaming, tore along the landing, and down the elegant, curving masterpiece of a stairway to the ground level below.
Matt Stone had chosen to stay in the caretakers cottage, fifty yards to the left of the main house. It had been his home for years before his grandfather had died, leaving Melody Houseand the responsibility for its upkeepto him. He had only moved into the main house recently because it had become easier on the upkeep side, and, he had to admit, he had come to like it. The grand master suite he had chosen afforded a lot of comfort. Big bedroom, dressing room, office or entertainment space, and it kept him right on top of whatever was going on with the property.
He liked the caretakers cottage, too. Since it had been falling apart so badly due to years of neglect he had rebuilt and refurbished it with every modern convenience. In contrast to the painstaking care they had used in keeping the main house historical, the caretakers house was far more state-of-the-art.
When he had given in to allowing the Lee room to be used as a honeymoon suite, he had opted to spend the night in his old haunts.
He had been sound asleep, however, when the scream brought him bolting from bed.
Despite the quiet tone of their small town, as sheriff of Stoneyville he was accustomed to being awakened in the dead of night. Therefore, he was up, into his jeans, and streaking across the patch of lawn that separated the caretakers cottage from the main house in a matter of seconds, the key to the huge oak front door in his hands. He burst into the house less than two minutes from the time he had heard the scream.
There was a light on in the foyer; there always was. Just as soft lights eternally flooded the front porch. He was prepared for anything when he burst through the door.
Or, at least, he had thought that he was.
Maybe not.
There was no apparent danger. Instead, there she was, the blushing bride, standing at the foot of the stairway, shaking and screaming in her altogether. Jeannie was a pretty girl, perfectly toned from months industriously spent at the gym in order to look perfect for her wedding day. Hard not to look, but he forced his eyes to hers first, then cast his gaze anxiously around, scanning the area for any hidden threat that might be the reason for this scene. Seeing nothing, his mind working in milliseconds, he wondered if the groom had somehow turned out to be a homicidal maniac or a simple wife-beater. Either choice seemed doubtful.
Jeannie? he said, his voice deep with calm and authority. Normally, he would have walked to her, set an arm around her shoulder, and patiently determined the cause of her distress. But she was standing in his foyer stark naked and screaming. Jeannie, please, talk. What the hell?
By that time, her husband was rushing down the stairs as well. He was still half-asleep, and Matt would have sworn in any court that the young man appeared as bleary and stunned as anyone could possibly be. Certainly not fresh from a fight with his new bride.
Jeannie! Roger cried out in shock.
Matt crossed over one of the velvet cord barriers into the parlor and swept an antique throw from the fragile old love seat, striding across the room to cast it around Jeannies shoulders. She had stopped screaming, but she was still shaking like a leaf, eyes wide, dilated.
Roger, still dazed, and definitely horrified, thanked him briefly. Then he stared at his bride again, confusion once again reigning in his eyes.
Jeannie, what is it?
At last, she turned to focus on him, her expression blank at first, then filled with tension. You didnt see it? You didnt feel it?
Jeannie, I was sound asleep! What are you talking about?
By then, Penny Sawyer, in a terry robe, her graying hair frizzled around her handsomely constructed face, arrived. She stood in the frame of the front door, left open when Matt had come bursting in.
Jeannie! Roger cried out in shock.
Matt crossed over one of the velvet cord barriers into the parlor and swept an antique throw from the fragile old love seat, striding across the room to cast it around Jeannies shoulders. She had stopped screaming, but she was still shaking like a leaf, eyes wide, dilated.
Roger, still dazed, and definitely horrified, thanked him briefly. Then he stared at his bride again, confusion once again reigning in his eyes.
Jeannie, what is it?
At last, she turned to focus on him, her expression blank at first, then filled with tension. You didnt see it? You didnt feel it?
Jeannie, I was sound asleep! What are you talking about?
By then, Penny Sawyer, in a terry robe, her graying hair frizzled around her handsomely constructed face, arrived. She stood in the frame of the front door, left open when Matt had come bursting in.
What in the Lords name? she queried.
Penny managed Melody House. She kept accounts, and ran the tours. She loved the place, probably more so than Matt himself. She had worked as an historian for Matts grandfather, and slipped right into the role of managing the place after his death. She was like an aunt to Matt, as well as being incredibly efficient, and all but married to the place.
There was only one area in which they disagreed. And Matt silently grit his teeth then, certain that this episode was about to lead in that direction.
Apparently, our bride has had a nightmare, Matt said quietly.
Nightmare! Jeannie shrieked. She must have heard the shrill tone of her own voice because she fought to control it. I wasnt sleeping.
So what exactly was the problem? Roger asked, an underlying irritation rising beneath his concerned exterior.
I think I should get some brandy, Penny said.
I think Jeannie should get some clothes on! Roger said, his anger starting to crack through.
Clothes? Jeannie said. She stared down at herself and realized that she was covered in nothing but the antique quilt.
Ill make tea with brandy, Penny said decisively.
While shes making the tea, Jeannie, you can run up and get dressed. Then we can all sit down and you can explain just what youre doing, Roger said, a thread of anger in his voice.
What Im doing? Jeannie repeated, frowning. Roger Thomas, I was scared to death, dont you understand?
Scared enough to run around naked?
Matt could have groaned aloud. He shouldnt have been swayed to allow the Lee Room to become a honeymoon hangout. He glared at Penny. She had talked him into it, reminding him that they needed the money for Melody House.
Penny shrugged innocently, giving him one of her knowing looks.
Melody House was reputed to be haunted. Matt always saw the rumors as simply par for the course. The main house was well over two hundred years old. It had survived the American Revolution, the Civil War, and every manner of conflict in between. As he well knew, nothing that old went without a certain kind of history. And apparently, most of the world wanted to believe in things that went bump in the night. People couldnt just look back on the personal tragedies of the past with sorrowthey just had to make something else out of them.
Matt simply didnt believe in ghosts. Hed worked in the D.C. area long before hed taken up working in his old home haunts, and he knew that the things that living men and women did to one another could be so violent, barbarous, and cruel, that there was simply no reason to worry about those who were long dead and buried.
Go up and put clothes on! Roger said, his voice almost a roar.
Jeannie, blue eyes still huge, stared at him in rebellion and defiance.
I am notget this straight!not going back up to that room. Ever! There is a ghost up there, and itit threatened me.
Matt shook his head, praying for patience. He looked up at the bride and groom. Wow! How quickly there was trouble in Paradise.
Jeannie, he said patiently, there are no such things as ghosts. Hey, Ive lived here most of my life. Ive spent nights in the place with no electricity, you know, in the pitch dark. I swear, there are no ghosts. I would know.
He had tried to say the last lightly. He knew, however, that his voice had an edge. He was sick to death of the whole ghost thing.
Look what youve done, Roger said to Jeannie. Great. Really good honeymoon were going to have hereyouve just really pissed off Matt Stone.
Sorry, Im not angry, Matt said quickly. I just dont believe in ghosts. Jeannie, it was a big day for you. Im sure for you bothIm not saying that anyone is totally inebriated, but come on, now, you both had a hell of a lot to drink. Youre wired, Jeannie. Excited. Hey, it was the wedding of the century, huh? You dont have to go back into the room. Well get your things. And you and Roger can finish out your honeymoon in the caretakers cottage, hows that? I can clear it out in a matter of minutes, while Penny makes tea.
Jeannie spun around again. She looked as if she wanted to run from Rogers side and come flying into his arms.
Dont do it, Jeannie, dont do it! He pleaded silently.
Not one of you has suggested coming up to see if there is something in the room, Jeannie said indignantly.
Matt lifted his hands. Ill go up to the room.
He strode past the newlywed couple on the stairs. As he neared the upper landing, he could hear Roger whispering angrily to his wife. Ghost, hell! Youre a little exhibitionist. Youve had a bit of a thing for Matt Stone your whole life, you know, Jeannie. What, you just had to have an excuse for him to see you naked?
Roger Thomas! How dare you suggest such a thing, you bastard! she whispered back. Then her voice rose. We dont need the caretakers house! Im going home. Homeback to my family. Theyre not a bunch of idiot jerks!
Hey, there! Penny protested cheerfully. You know, everyone is really tired, but well get to the bottom of this. Matt, hes all he-man practical and doesnt believe in ghosts, but Im telling you, Roger, dont you go being hard on your new missus! Lots of folks believe that this house is more than a little haunted, I do tell you!
Matt walked on into the Lee Room. As he suspected, there was nothing there. The French doors to the balcony were open, and the drapes were drifting in. They must have been what scared the new bride so badly. Either that, or she just wanted the place to be haunted so badly that she had made it so.
He found Jeannies peignoir robe, then discarded it as being far too see-through for this situation. Her groom would not be happy with it, he was certain. Striding to the closet, he found a pair of robes with Melody House inscribed on the pocketsitems Penny had insisted they needed to provide a real luxury touch for those few times when he decided to rent the room. He pulled one from the hanger and headed back downstairs.
By then, Penny, Jeannie and Roger had headed into the kitchen. It was vast. The integrity of the historical aspects had been maintained with the massive hearth and the many copper pots and herbs that adorned wall mounts, but the huge refrigerator, sub-zero freezer, and stainless steel stove were all necessary modern conveniences for the many social events, dinners, luncheons, and meetings that were held at the property.