Read Online 1 A Spirited Manor by Kate Danley - Free Book Online

wires and mirrors were close at
hand.  Now, if we can begin..."
    Norman harrumphed.
    "Please, sir.  The spirit
world will not make itself known to us if it senses it is not welcome,"
Wesley said.
    "Shut your trap,
Norman," bellowed Horace.  "I didn't drag all of us out to the middle
of nowhere to hear you yammer on.  Let's get on with it!  Bring on the ghosts!"
    Once more, Wesley stifled the
words he clearly wanted to say.  Clara gave his hand a gentle squeeze of
encouragement.  He looked over at her in gratitude and his smile was enough to
cause her to look down in pleased embarrassment.
    "If you all would close your
eyes..." Wesley began.
    "I'm not closing my
eyes!" spat Norman.
    "You'll close your eyes or
you'll find yourself walking to the train station in this rain!" shouted
Horace.
    Wesley began again.  "If
you would all close your eyes and breathe deeply.  Think of the person you wish
to contact and gently invite them to join our circle."
    Clara watched as each person
closed their eyes, occasionally reopening them to check and see if everyone
else was participating.  She shut her eyes and in the darkness thought of the
girl who had appeared to her.  She wanted to think of Thomas, to invite his
presence, but for some reason, could not bring herself yet to face him, not
when she found her hand clasped in Wesley's warmth, and not wanting to pull
away.
    "Now, if you would all open
your eyes," said Wesley.  He then called out.  "We ask those spirits
in the room to make themselves known."
    A tinkling bell rang from a far
corner and a chill ran down Clara's back.
    "I don't know if we should
be doing this," Clara whispered, the fear building within her.
    The sound of the bell was
matched with the sound of a tambourine.
    "It is Peter!" shouted
Hilda for some reason.  "Peter has come back!  Where did you leave the
money, Peter?"
    The table shifted beneath them
and all but Wesley, who sat with his head still bowed and eyes closed, shouted
in alarm.
    That was when Clara looked
behind his left shoulder.  "I see her!" she shouted.  "I see her
there!"
    Wesley's eyes opened and he
stared at Clara.  "What do you see?"
    "Behind you!  The girl who
came to me!"
    Wesley looked behind him, as did
everyone else.
    "Do you not see her?"
Clara asked, begging for someone to confirm that this was not a hallucination,
but she seemed alone in this vision.
    "Tell us what she looks
like," commanded Wesley.
    Clara looked at the girl, who was
staring blankly at Clara.  "She is young, younger than me.  Perhaps
fourteen or so.  She has red hair braided and pinned to her head.  She wears a
dress of lilac. Her face is round and her skin freckled."
    Wesley's face looked as if he
had just endured a slap.  "Ask her if her name is Minnie."
    "Are you Minnie?"
Clara repeated.
    The girl immediate looked up,
staring deep into her eyes and nodded.
    "Yes!  Yes, she is
Minnie!" Clara confirmed.
    At that moment, lightning
flashed and a roll of thunder boomed so loudly it caused the entire room to
shake.  Minnie looked around her in fear.  She seemed to be trying to say
something.
    "Minnie!  Minnie, what is
it?" Clara shouted.
    The window flew open and the
rain poured into the room.  The wind from the storm blew out the candle and
they were plunged into darkness.
    "Be not afraid!"
Wesley commanded.
    "Gilbert!"  Horace
yelled.  "Gilbert!  Bring us a light!"
    The door to the room was flung
open by the butler and the light from the hallway shone in.
    They all sat, hands still
clasped and the terror of the moment passed.
    And then they realized that
Hilda sat there in their circle, dead, with her neck snapped and lolling
unnaturally to the side.

Chapter Twelve
    V iolet screamed at the sight of
her mother.  She buried her face in Clifford's chest, who awkwardly tried to
provide some comfort.  His face was so pale, he himself might have been
mistaken for a ghost.  Wesley was immediately upon his feet, lighting the
candles so that they might