Read Online The Wells Brothers: Luke by Angela Verdenius - Free Book Online

the
walls.  “Single women didn’t have kids back then, only married ones, or loose
women or those poor souls who got up the duff and were then left stranded.  I
would think that those generally weren’t in a fine house like this.  The lady of
the house gave birth in her double bed.”
    “And the loose women?  Or shamed
ones?”
    “I don’t think there was any
scandal like that attached to this mansion.”
    “Ah, but we don’t know for sure,
right?”  Anticipation crawled through Mikki.  “There could be a hidden diary
here somewhere, or notations in the library.  This place could reek of shame
and scandal that remains hidden to this day.”
    Elspeth flashed a grin.  “The
Victorian times hid a lot of scandal.”
    “Man, it’d be great if we could
dig up some juicy gossip.”  Mikki braced one hand on her hip as she looked at
the bed.  “If we could find out stories about the servants, the people who
lived here, pair them with photos and put them up on the wall as informative
history on the house for the guests to read and see, they’d be good
conversation pieces, don’t you think?”
    Elspeth tapped her chin
thoughtfully.  “You know, I think you’re onto something.”  She pointed a finger
at Mikki.  “Tomorrow while I talk to the antique restorer and dealer, I want
you to go to the local library and find out what times they’re open, as well as
what kind of history they have on this place.  Also, we need to see if there is
a local museum in town, they might have more history.”
    “Be even better if we could track
down long-lost relatives.  They might have some photos they’d part with,” Mikki
suggested.
    “Mik, you are on a roll.”  Elspeth
patted her shoulder.  “Tomorrow is going to be busy.”
    “The whole week’s going to be
busy.”
    Elspeth beamed.  “I know.  Isn’t
it great?”  Whirling away, she added, “But tomorrow’s another day, tonight the
night is ours.”
    Mikki had to smother a laugh at
the way Elspeth dropped her tone to a menacing growl.  “I thought that line was
more for romance than horror?”
    “The night’s for hunting .”
    Mikki gave a fake, over-the-top
shiver.  “Ooohhhh, Aunty!”
    Elspeth disappeared out the door.
    Mikki looked around the room one
last time.  She could imagine how grand it must have been, but really, she’d
much prefer her little duplex.  It was warm and cosy, whereas this place was
grand and proper, and face it, the furniture did not look comfortable.  The old
dilapidated sofa in the big room downstairs was hard to sit on and definitely
didn’t invite a person to slouch on it.  She could just imagine the women in
their long gowns, sitting on the sofa, backs straight and hands clasped in
their laps, ever inch the ladies.
    She looked down at her jeans,
shirt and sneakers with a grin.  Definitely not a Mikki era.
    Moving out of the room, she
followed the progress of Elspeth’s torch, seeing the glow in another room. 
Entering, she discovered what had to be the room of the master and mistress of
the house.  Elspeth was on the far side, riffling through an old wardrobe that
seemed to hold - wonder of wonders - clothing.
    Moving further into the room, she
looked around.  There was a double bed complete with four posters, tattered
curtains pulled back at each post and fastened with a fraying, grimy cord.  The
dressing table still stood but the front of one of the drawers had fallen open,
leaving a black gap.  Atop the dressing table were several items, and she
crossed over to study them.
    Wow, there was an actual old brush
and hand mirror lying on the surface, along with a perfume bottle of some
kind.  And was that…?  Leaning over, she touched the scrap of material to see a
cameo broach nestled amongst the dusty folds.
    “Cripes, Aunt.”  She gestured
without looking.  “Did you see this?”
    “In a minute, dear.  Can you
imagine?  There are honest to goodness clothes here from what looks to be