Chapter Two

T he carriage crunched over the gravel drive, through a canyon of trees, and rolled to a stop before the weathered steps of Cavendish Hall. Edythe stepped out of the carriage, her gaze sweeping over the fa?ade. Time had etched lines of wear into the stone, and ivy clung to its walls with a tenacious grip. She proceeded up the steps to the door. The grandeur of years long gone lingered in the air, touched with a sense of quiet expectancy as if the hall itself held its breath and waited.

The butler greeted Edythe with a respectful bow, his posture as straight and sturdy as the ancient oaks lining the drive. "Miss Cavendish, welcome to Cavendish Hall. I am Mr. Hawthorne, your butler." His voice echoed the quiet dignity of the estate.

Beside him stood the housekeeper, her presence as steadfast as the manor itself. "This is Mrs. MacTavish, your housekeeper," he introduced. The woman offered her a nod, her expression earnest, her hands clasped before her as if holding the very essence of the hall within them. Her hair, once a fiery red, faded to a soft auburn and was streaked with strands of silver. Her face, lined with the passage of time, was softened by a smile and twinkling eyes that spoke of her kind nature.

"Aye, welcome home. We've waited for your arrival with great anticipation." The hint of a Scottish lilt lent warmth to the cool air of the entryway. "Your hall has stood proud for over three centuries and for the last hundred years has longed for a Cavendish's return."

Hawthorne nodded to the young woman next to Mrs. MacTavish.

"I'm Elspeth, at your service, Miss Cavendish." The young girl bobbed a curtsey, her youthful energy a contrast to the hall's somber mood. A cascade of golden curls framed her round, cheerful face. Bright, soft blue eyes reflect a keen intelligence and a bit of mischief. "I'm the housemaid but take on the duties of lady's maid should you need assistance."

A tall, broad-shouldered man whose physical strength was evident, stood at a respectful distance. His dark hair was cropped close to his head, and his skin was tanned from long hours spent working outdoors. His face was rugged, with a strong jawline and deep-set brown eyes. He nodded to Mr. Hawthorne. "I'm Duncan, your groundskeeper. Welcome to Cavendish Hall."

"Thank you all for your warm welcome," Edythe's heart swelled with gratitude, as well as the overwhelming mantle of responsibility she now wore as the mistress of the estate.

Mrs. MacTavish glanced out the door. Edythe followed her gaze when the thought struck her. "I came alone. I will see to my own needs." She removed her hat and coat, handing them to Mr. Hawthorne. "The hall is beautiful. You and your staff have done an excellent job of maintaining it." She turned to Mrs. MacTavish. "I am ready to see all of it," she declared, her voice carrying a determination echoing off the high ceilings.

Mrs. MacTavish nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Very well, let us begin." They moved down the hall. "Some parts of the house have been closed since there's not been a Cavendish in residence."

As Edythe followed Mrs. MacTavish, the echo of history whispered from every shadowed nook, yet the promise of renewal lingered in the air. She wasn't entirely certain if it was for the hall or for her.

"Mrs. MacTavish, is it only the five of you who maintain the house and the estate?" Edythe's mind was already turning over what tasks lay ahead.

"Yes. We manage as best we can and hire staff from the village when needed. Cavendish Hall had stood silent for the past century and was overseen from a distance. The gardens are tended, the dust swept, and the leaks patched, all through the trust established long ago by the Cavendish ancestors. It has been a maintenance of duty rather than love." The housekeeper came to a halt, and Edythe turned to her with an expression reflecting her understanding. "The hall has been waiting for the return of a Cavendish to breathe true life into the estate once more."

As they continued, the rooms spread out before her, each draped in shadows of their former splendor. The library, with its covered shelves and silent tomes, whispered of long evenings of reading. The drawing room held an air of grace, its furniture hidden under dust covers. The dining room's grand table stood ready as if waiting for the echo of laughter and clinking of glasses to fill the air once more.

Upstairs, the gallery hall was a solemn procession of Cavendish ancestors, their painted eyes following Edythe's every step. Mrs. MacTavish's voice took on a reverent tone. "Here we have the Cavendish family." She gestured toward the portraits lining the walls. "This is Sir Thomas, knighted by Queen Elizabeth herself, and there, Sir Richard, known for his wit and… peculiarities."

Edythe's gaze moved from one portrait to the next, each a page in the Cavendish history, until she paused before a particular painting. The man's penetrating light gray eyes stared right through her. "And who is this?" she inquired, drawn to the intensity of his gaze.

"That, Miss Cavendish, is Lord Alistair," Mrs. MacTavish replied, her voice carrying a somber respect. "He was the last Cavendish in residence here. Come, I'll show you your sitting room."

Edythe followed Mrs. MacTavish out of the gallery. She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze on Lord Alistair's portrait. A faint, unplaceable tune echoed in her mind like the distant strains of a forgotten melody. She gave him a nod, turned, and closed the door behind her.

"Here is your private sitting room." Mrs. MacTavish opened the door to a modest, cozy retreat. The room had a small fireplace and windows looking out across the rolling estate. It was furnished with a writing desk, a chaise lounge, and a pair of overstuffed chairs. A door led to her bedroom, a space prepared for her comfort. Fresh linens were on the bed, and the gentle scent of lavender filled the air, promising restful nights. The curtains swayed softly with the breeze, their movement creating playful shadows across the walls. In the armoire, Edythe found her clothes had been arranged with care.

"I had Elspeth unpack for you."

Edythe stepped to the window and drew back the curtains revealing the sprawling gardens below. The autumn flowers in bloom and the gentle sway of the trees in the breeze offered a stark contrast to the London streets she had grown accustomed to. Here, in the tranquility of Cavendish Hall, she found a peace she hadn't realized she was seeking. "It's perfect," she whispered.

Mrs. MacTavish's features brightened. "I'm glad it meets your approval. You've had a long journey. I thought you might like something to eat before we go over the house accounts and any plans you may have."

Edythe nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Mrs. MacTavish. That would be lovely." Edythe briefly thought about spilled chestnuts and a shared hamper. "Perhaps you could join me? I'm eager to hear more about Cavendish Hall."

They settled into the sunlit breakfast room, where a modest spread of tea, scones, and preserves waited for them. "Cavendish Hall had stood since the days of King Charles II," Mrs. MacTavish said, her voice carrying the reverence of one who had not just worked within its walls but lived through its stories. "It's seen generations of the Cavendish family come and go, each leaving their mark."

Edythe sipped her tea, the warmth of the liquid a contrast to the chill lingering in the hall's corners. "And what of the ghost, Mrs. MacTavish? My cousin Prudence was quick to warn me of a ghost, an evil one, of course. Is the ghost the reason why no one has been in residence these last 100 years?"

Mrs. MacTavish paused, her eyes momentarily clouded with an unspoken knowledge. "Aye, Miss Cavendish." Her voice was a measured cadence, "every ancient hall has its tales, and Cavendish Hall is no different. There are whispers, of course, echoes of the past that some claim to hear in the stillness of night."

Mrs. MacTavish's gaze drifted as if she could see through the walls to the very heart of the manor. "Lord Alistair… he was a man of deep passions, and his end was as tragic as his life was grand. Some say his spirit lingers, unable to find peace or be with his true love. But such matters are for each of us to interpret as we will."

Edythe leaned forward, captivated by the tale. "You can't leave it at that, Mrs. MacTavish. What happened that he couldn't be with his true love?" Edythe's mind raced with possibilities as she thought of Alistair's portrait, feeling a historian's drive to uncover the truth behind a legend.

Mrs. MacTavish sighed, a wistful smile touching her lips. "They were to elope, to start a new life away from prying eyes. But on the eve of their departure, Isabelle vanished, and Lord Alistair was found lifeless in his study. That was in 1746. Some say it was grief that took him, others whispered darker deeds. The whispers cast a shadow over his name, tainting his memory with scandal and suspicion. And now, his spirit wanders these halls, a specter hardened by the years, his sorrow twisted into an evil longing. They say he desires company in his misery, to share the torment that has become his eternity."

The housekeeper's voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes reflecting the flicker of candlelight. "Lord Alistair's spirit, it's not seen but seen. It's a chill that seeps into your bones, a heaviness in the air that presses upon your heart. The manor itself mourns, its walls echo his despair of a love that was lost. He is the unseen specter, the shadow in the corner of your eye, the lingering sadness that cloaks these halls. And some say, over the years, his grief has curdled into something darker, a bitterness that yearns not for solace but for company in its eternal gloom."

The story settled over Edythe like a dark cloud. She felt a chilling resolve in the face of Alistair's bitter legacy, a determination to confront the manor's haunted past and to face the specter whose anger had unjustly cast a pall over Cavendish Hall for over a century.

"Thank you, Mrs. MacTavish. You've been most generous with your time and information. It is a lot to absorb, yet it is exciting to finally know something of my history." Edythe finished her tea. "I've looked over the documents Mr. Hughes provided. Tomorrow morning, I would like to sit with you and Mr. Hawthorne. I think it's time we assess the full measure of the hall's needs and plan how to proceed."

"Very well. Will you need anything further?"

"Not at all." Edythe looked out the breakfast room door. "I thought I'd spend the rest of the day in the library."

Mrs. MacTavish let out a breath. "Why am I not surprised? Elspeth has cleared away the dust covers and readied the room for you. The bell system is intact. Two pulls if you need me." Edythe left as Mrs. MacTavish removed the dishes from the table.

Edythe's footsteps silently padded across the thick library carpet. She took a deep breath and reveled at the comforting scent of leather and paper. The dust covers were removed, revealing the rich mahogany furniture and towering bookshelves with their heavy leather-bound books. The sweet honey-like fragrance mixed with an earthy aroma indicated Elspeth had polished the wood. A grand fireplace stood at one end. The mantel displayed several fine pieces, some with the intricate Cavendish crest. A large bay window with a cushioned seat on the adjacent wall offered a view of the gardens, inviting one to sit and read in the natural light.

She read the spines in the far bookcase and found a treasure trove of the Cavendish legacy, each book a piece of history waiting to be read. Her fingers danced over the titles until they paused on a leather-bound volume, its gold lettering announcing, " The Cavendish Family: A History 1510 ."

With the book in hand, Edythe settled into the window seat. The light cast a golden hue over the pages, the silence around her punctuated with the soft turning of parchment pages.

The Cavendish story started with Sir Thomas in the early 16 th century when the estate and its land were bestowed upon him as a reward for his circumnavigation of the globe.

She turned the page, and a folded piece of parchment slipped out, landing softly on her lap. Curious, she unfolded the letter and scanned the script.

"To my Beloved Descendants," She glanced at the bottom and found Sir Thomas' seal and signature . "I write to you across time with a heart full of hope for unity. Though my blood is of England's soil, my spirit has always sought harmony with our neighbors to the north. The Scots, with their fierce pride and noble hearts, are not our enemies but our brethren under God's wide sky. Let it be known the Cavendish name stands not for conquest but for concord of two great nations. May this truth guide our house through all its days."

Edythe's heart swelled with pride for the ancestor, her ancestor, who had dared to dream of peace. She touched Sir Thomas' signature as if that act would bring her closer to the man. She carefully refolded the letter and returned it to the book for safekeeping.

She moved on in her family's story and learned about a needle art, a tapestry with threads of silver and gold, bearing the Cavendish crest alongside Scotland's rampant lion, a symbol of the family's once-strong ties to the Scottish crown.

"Miss Cavendish." Edythe looked up and saw Elspeth at the library door. "Mrs. MacTavish would like to know if you would prefer to have dinner here."

"Yes, please. And thank Mrs. MacTavish for her thoughtfulness." Elspeth bobbed a quick curtsey and was gone.

By the time she finished her dinner, Edythe had reached the end of the 1600's. She closed the book and felt a deep connection and pride in the lineage she represented. Setting aside her plate, she stood and stretched, her eyes wandering to the bookshelves.

It was then her gaze fell upon a newer volume, " The Cavendish Family: A History 1750 ." This one promised insights into the family's more recent history, possibly even Alistair's story. Yet, as she reached for it, a strange reluctance seized her. She withdrew her hand, her interest waning as swiftly as it had arisen. Edythe turned to return to her chair, only to be drawn back by an inexplicable pull. As she grasped the book firmly and pulled it from the shelf, a surge of emotions swept through her, a tempest of anger and vengeance that sent her hair and skirts flying. Yet, the room remained still, untouched by any wind.

Edythe clutched the book to her chest, a shield against the brewing storm. Holding the book close, she felt its history pulse against her as if it breathed life into the silent library. "What secrets do you hold?" she whispered to the journal. There was no reply, not that she expected one, only the faintest whisper of anger that was not her own.

The history of her family that she had read filled her mind as she glanced at the heavy cover of the Cavendish family volume. The library, with its shelves of books and whispering shadows, had been her companion through dinner, a silent witness to her growing fascination as she introduced herself to her family. Her thoughts lingered on Sir Thomas, the knighted ancestor whose valor had shaped the Cavendish destiny. Yet, it was Alistair, the mysterious figure whose story she hadn't yet read, that tugged at the edges of her curiosity. The key to Cavendish Hall's future lay in understanding its past, and Alistair's story was the beginning.

Had it been only two days since she left London and stepped into her new life? She let out a deep sigh. It seemed much longer, and while she wanted to learn more, at the moment, all she wanted to do was sleep. Lord Alistair would have to wait. With a candle flickering in her hand, casting dancing shadows upon the walls, Edythe left the library and climbed the stairs to her room.

In her bedroom, Edythe set the candle on the bedside table and sank into the soft bed, a welcome change from the thin rag mattress she slept on at Prudence's house. Here, the fabric of the sheets whispered against her skin, a comforting caress encouraging her to sleep. The fragrance of lavender soothed her. As her eyes closed, the images of Sir Thomas and Lord Alistair paraded behind her lids, two specters from different eras vying for her attention.

With one last weary thought, her charming train companion, Edythe surrendered to sleep.