his majority. That’s all I really know about him except he married my great-grandmother, Miss Marjory Winsdale.”
Lady Sybil sighed heavily. Time had certainly flown. Little Roderick! All grown up—and quite likely dead by this time as well! So Roderick was this little creature’s great-grandfather! She looked at Lucy with renewed interest. If ever there was a time to find out more about the odd situation, which seemed to surround the two sisters, it was now.
“ You, too,” the ghost began delicately, “would appear to find yourself in odd circumstances. I have been watching you and your sister. Tell me a little about your, er, situation.”
At this, Lucy produced a mournful sigh. “Well, madam, I hope you have an interest in sad tales, for ours is certainly one for the novels.”
Lady Sybil raised her eyebrows and nodded her encouragement. Lucy sat down on the carpet, crossed her knees, and began. “Selinda and I were born and raised at the country estate—Darrowdean. You must remember it?” The ghost nodded and leaned forward. “Well, we were perfectly happy, Selinda and I, until about two years ago. Mama and Papa were in London that summer and both of them contracted the typhus. It happened so quickly, it was all over before we could even receive the first letter that told of the illness. Of course, it was shocking news, but Selinda and I were well provided for, of course, by the will. We had never been a great deal with our parents, so I am sorry to own it was difficult to miss them much. We were doing quite well, though, when, out of the blue, those three vile toads turned up on the doorstep! It was only six months ago, but I vow it seems like six centuries!
“ We had never heard of any living relations,” Lucy went on, “and we were just as content to have the estate held in trust until Selinda came of age, but advertisements had been placed in the major newspapers anyway. There wasn’t any response, though, until the day Aunt Prudence, Rupert, and that snake Snypish appeared with letters to prove a relationship. Before you know it, Selinda and I had a guardian. What is more,” she added in a confiding whisper, “I do not believe that tribe is related to us any more than Guy Fawkes!”
“ What about your man of business?” Lady Sybil inquired. “What was his opinion?”
“ That is the worst of it,” Lucy frowned meditatively. “I have no evidence, but I believe in my heart he is a part of it. It is bad enough that we have no allowance now, we are watched day and night, and I am threatened with boarding school, but we have not a soul we can turn to. And I am much afraid that Selinda will be forced to marry that putrid Rupert. Had we not each been guaranteed a Season in clear legal terms ...” Just then a look of anxiety flooded across Lucy’s small face.
“ They’re back from services,” she whispered, heading at once for the staircase. “I fear I must go now, but we must meet again soon! There is so much to tell you about and so much to ask!”
“ Oh dear, child!” the ghost exclaimed, suddenly remembering the conversation she had overheard the night of the ball. “There are several things I must tell you as well! Things concerning Selinda!”
“ Promise you will come to our chamber tonight,” Lucy whispered hurriedly, “but not while Selinda is there. I am always sent up quite early. Oh dear, I must go before I am missed. Goodbye, Lady Sybil.”
As she turned to go, the child suddenly stopped and a look of consternation suffused her features. “Oh dear! I do beg pardon!” she stammered. “I suppose after all I really should call you Great-great-grandmama!’’
Left by herself, the ghost suppressed a shudder. So, she had been murdered by her husband and was a great-great-grandmother besides. Indeed, Lady Sybil reflected, she could not remember having been quite so depressed either in life or death!
Chapter Seven
Somehow, Selinda was able to survive the
Lady Sybil sighed heavily. Time had certainly flown. Little Roderick! All grown up—and quite likely dead by this time as well! So Roderick was this little creature’s great-grandfather! She looked at Lucy with renewed interest. If ever there was a time to find out more about the odd situation, which seemed to surround the two sisters, it was now.
“ You, too,” the ghost began delicately, “would appear to find yourself in odd circumstances. I have been watching you and your sister. Tell me a little about your, er, situation.”
At this, Lucy produced a mournful sigh. “Well, madam, I hope you have an interest in sad tales, for ours is certainly one for the novels.”
Lady Sybil raised her eyebrows and nodded her encouragement. Lucy sat down on the carpet, crossed her knees, and began. “Selinda and I were born and raised at the country estate—Darrowdean. You must remember it?” The ghost nodded and leaned forward. “Well, we were perfectly happy, Selinda and I, until about two years ago. Mama and Papa were in London that summer and both of them contracted the typhus. It happened so quickly, it was all over before we could even receive the first letter that told of the illness. Of course, it was shocking news, but Selinda and I were well provided for, of course, by the will. We had never been a great deal with our parents, so I am sorry to own it was difficult to miss them much. We were doing quite well, though, when, out of the blue, those three vile toads turned up on the doorstep! It was only six months ago, but I vow it seems like six centuries!
“ We had never heard of any living relations,” Lucy went on, “and we were just as content to have the estate held in trust until Selinda came of age, but advertisements had been placed in the major newspapers anyway. There wasn’t any response, though, until the day Aunt Prudence, Rupert, and that snake Snypish appeared with letters to prove a relationship. Before you know it, Selinda and I had a guardian. What is more,” she added in a confiding whisper, “I do not believe that tribe is related to us any more than Guy Fawkes!”
“ What about your man of business?” Lady Sybil inquired. “What was his opinion?”
“ That is the worst of it,” Lucy frowned meditatively. “I have no evidence, but I believe in my heart he is a part of it. It is bad enough that we have no allowance now, we are watched day and night, and I am threatened with boarding school, but we have not a soul we can turn to. And I am much afraid that Selinda will be forced to marry that putrid Rupert. Had we not each been guaranteed a Season in clear legal terms ...” Just then a look of anxiety flooded across Lucy’s small face.
“ They’re back from services,” she whispered, heading at once for the staircase. “I fear I must go now, but we must meet again soon! There is so much to tell you about and so much to ask!”
“ Oh dear, child!” the ghost exclaimed, suddenly remembering the conversation she had overheard the night of the ball. “There are several things I must tell you as well! Things concerning Selinda!”
“ Promise you will come to our chamber tonight,” Lucy whispered hurriedly, “but not while Selinda is there. I am always sent up quite early. Oh dear, I must go before I am missed. Goodbye, Lady Sybil.”
As she turned to go, the child suddenly stopped and a look of consternation suffused her features. “Oh dear! I do beg pardon!” she stammered. “I suppose after all I really should call you Great-great-grandmama!’’
Left by herself, the ghost suppressed a shudder. So, she had been murdered by her husband and was a great-great-grandmother besides. Indeed, Lady Sybil reflected, she could not remember having been quite so depressed either in life or death!
Chapter Seven
Somehow, Selinda was able to survive the
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