Read Online The Manor by Scott Nicholson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Scott Nicholson
Ads: Link
he has the most wonderful accent."
"He's quite a character, all right."
"I think William is charming," Zainab said, looking at him seated at the main table where he seemed to be engaged in three conversations at once.
"What were you saying about ghosts?" Cris said, as if she'd just realized the subject had jumped track.
"Anna does that stuff—"
Anna cut her off with a look and a subtle shake of her head. She didn't want everyone to think she was a flake, at least not right away.
"Roth says Korban Manor is haunted, and he's going to try to take some pictures," Mason said. "And the handyman I met today sure seems a little spooked."
"Has anything weird happened to you guys since we got here?" Zainab asked. Mason frowned. "I don't know about ghosts. I'll believe them when I see them, I suppose. But old geezer Korban's pictures all over the place sure give me the creeps." He nodded to the portrait on the wall above the head of the main table.
"A big old place like this," Anna said, "you always have creaky boards and sudden drafts blowing from everywhere. And al these lamps and candles throw a bunch of flickering shadows. It's no wonder stories make the rounds."
"Sure," Mason said. "If there realy were ghosts, do you think all these people would keep coming back year after year?"
"And how could they keep any employees?" Anna said.
"Wel, I wouldn't mind seeing a ghost or two," Cris said, her cheeks bright. "Might liven the place up a bit. I like things that go bump in the night." Cris smiled at Mason in lewd punctuation.
Anna watched his reaction. This is it. Right over the heart of the plate. Strike three, or the long ball. Mason shrugged, seemingly oblivious to Cris's come-on. "I don't know. I'll believe it when I see it." A small, cheap glow of victory burned in Anna's chest. Then she despised herself for the feeling. What business was it of hers if Cris hooked up with this country boy? After Stephen, men didn't exist, anyway. Ghosts were far more solid and reliable than men were.
The conversation was broken when Miss Mamie rose from her seat at the head of the main table. She tapped her wineglass with a spoon, and the clatter of dishes and small talk died to a whisper. Lilith and the other maid stood at atention near the foyer, each hold-ing a silver pitcher.
"Ladies and gentlemen, lovely guests," Miss Mamie said, her voice filling the hall. She looked at the faces lining the main table, clearly enjoying the moment. "Friends."
Anna was already bored. She hoped the speech would be short. Miss Mamie drew in a breath as if she were a soprano about to leap into an aria.
"I'd like to welcome all of you to Korban Manor," Miss Mamie said. "As most of you know, this house was built in 1902 by my grandfather, Ephram Korban. After he passed on, God rest his soul, it came into my father's hands. We turned the manor into an artists' re-treat to fulfill Ephram's final request. Now it's my duty to carry on the legacy, and I do that with great pride and joy."
"And profit," cut in a British accent, and an uncer-tain laughter rippled across the room. Miss Mamie smiled. "That, too, Mr. Roth. But it's more than just a way to fund the estate's preservation. It's a labor of love, a continuation of Ephram's vision. He himself was an admirer of the arts. And I hope each of you finds fulfillment during your stay here, and in so doing, you'll help keep Ephram's dreams alive in your own way."
Anna sneaked a glance at Mason. He was staring at Miss Mamie with blatant curiosity. Hmmm. Maybe he's not as handsome as I first thought. His nose is a little long in profile. And his fin-gers are too thick. I'll bet he's clumsy with women.
Satisfied that she had found enough flaws, she sipped her wine. Miss Mamie was in the middle of stoking the collective artistic fires.
"—so I propose a toast, my friends," the hostess said, twiddling her pearls. She raised her wineglass to-ward the vaulted ceiling, then turned and tipped it to-ward the
"He's quite a character, all right."
"I think William is charming," Zainab said, looking at him seated at the main table where he seemed to be engaged in three conversations at once.
"What were you saying about ghosts?" Cris said, as if she'd just realized the subject had jumped track.
"Anna does that stuff—"
Anna cut her off with a look and a subtle shake of her head. She didn't want everyone to think she was a flake, at least not right away.
"Roth says Korban Manor is haunted, and he's going to try to take some pictures," Mason said. "And the handyman I met today sure seems a little spooked."
"Has anything weird happened to you guys since we got here?" Zainab asked. Mason frowned. "I don't know about ghosts. I'll believe them when I see them, I suppose. But old geezer Korban's pictures all over the place sure give me the creeps." He nodded to the portrait on the wall above the head of the main table.
"A big old place like this," Anna said, "you always have creaky boards and sudden drafts blowing from everywhere. And al these lamps and candles throw a bunch of flickering shadows. It's no wonder stories make the rounds."
"Sure," Mason said. "If there realy were ghosts, do you think all these people would keep coming back year after year?"
"And how could they keep any employees?" Anna said.
"Wel, I wouldn't mind seeing a ghost or two," Cris said, her cheeks bright. "Might liven the place up a bit. I like things that go bump in the night." Cris smiled at Mason in lewd punctuation.
Anna watched his reaction. This is it. Right over the heart of the plate. Strike three, or the long ball. Mason shrugged, seemingly oblivious to Cris's come-on. "I don't know. I'll believe it when I see it." A small, cheap glow of victory burned in Anna's chest. Then she despised herself for the feeling. What business was it of hers if Cris hooked up with this country boy? After Stephen, men didn't exist, anyway. Ghosts were far more solid and reliable than men were.
The conversation was broken when Miss Mamie rose from her seat at the head of the main table. She tapped her wineglass with a spoon, and the clatter of dishes and small talk died to a whisper. Lilith and the other maid stood at atention near the foyer, each hold-ing a silver pitcher.
"Ladies and gentlemen, lovely guests," Miss Mamie said, her voice filling the hall. She looked at the faces lining the main table, clearly enjoying the moment. "Friends."
Anna was already bored. She hoped the speech would be short. Miss Mamie drew in a breath as if she were a soprano about to leap into an aria.
"I'd like to welcome all of you to Korban Manor," Miss Mamie said. "As most of you know, this house was built in 1902 by my grandfather, Ephram Korban. After he passed on, God rest his soul, it came into my father's hands. We turned the manor into an artists' re-treat to fulfill Ephram's final request. Now it's my duty to carry on the legacy, and I do that with great pride and joy."
"And profit," cut in a British accent, and an uncer-tain laughter rippled across the room. Miss Mamie smiled. "That, too, Mr. Roth. But it's more than just a way to fund the estate's preservation. It's a labor of love, a continuation of Ephram's vision. He himself was an admirer of the arts. And I hope each of you finds fulfillment during your stay here, and in so doing, you'll help keep Ephram's dreams alive in your own way."
Anna sneaked a glance at Mason. He was staring at Miss Mamie with blatant curiosity. Hmmm. Maybe he's not as handsome as I first thought. His nose is a little long in profile. And his fin-gers are too thick. I'll bet he's clumsy with women.
Satisfied that she had found enough flaws, she sipped her wine. Miss Mamie was in the middle of stoking the collective artistic fires.
"—so I propose a toast, my friends," the hostess said, twiddling her pearls. She raised her wineglass to-ward the vaulted ceiling, then turned and tipped it to-ward the
Similar Books
