The Haunting at Hawke's Moor by Camille Oster Read Free Book Online Page A

legs tucked tightly into her, she took
some deep breaths. These dreams had plagued her of late. Calm,
sweet dreams had turned darker and more tense since her husband had
informed her of the impending divorce. He'd called her to his study
and informed her in a similar way he would dismiss the service of a
servant. There had been no emotion in him at all, just a task he
was taking in hand.
    Tightness gripped her throat, but her heart
stopped as she heard the noise again, the scuttling noise, which
echoed across the walls. Her dream had come to life. Maybe she was
still dreaming and only thought she'd woken. Gripping her blankets,
she held them to her, seeking protection and warmth.
    Thoughts raced around her mind, trying to
explain this. There it was again. She jumped at the noise, turning
her head to listen, but met aching silence. Her mind screamed at
her—danger. Something was there in her room with her.
    What was it? What could it be making
that noise? No, there had to be a rational explanation for this.
Obviously, there weren't crabs running through her room. Stilling
herself, she listened, but heard nothing. It had to be
something—rats maybe. Yes, that was it. There must be rats in the
walls, or ceiling.
    She felt silly now, getting terrified
over the noise of rats in the ceiling. Getting out of bed, she
tiptoed to the fireplace and placed a log on the grate, lighting
kindling to set it afire. Alfie had found some implements to clean
the chimney with, which had been a dirty affair, but she could now
have a fire in her room. The quality of wood they had access to
might not be the best, and it burned quickly, but for a little
while, there was heat. She couldn't invest in a cart full of coal
as her increasingly meager funds might be needed for something more
important.
    Sitting on the floor by the fire, she rested
her head on her knee. When would she stop feeling so scared? Things
were going okay. She had the house and they were making progress
toward being self-sufficient. There was no reason to be terrified
at every drop of a hat. Hurt maybe, considering Harry hadn't bother
writing. It hurt to think she was going through this ordeal, which
was disturbing her to no end, and he didn't raise a finger to help.
It was only youth that made him so careless, she assured herself.
The lovely, sweet boy she'd raised hadn't been an uncaring monster,
but then half the influence on him had been. She dreaded to think
he was taking after his father.
    The fire created some heat and she
returned to her bed to lay down, drawing the blankets tight around
her. She would be alright—everything would come right. It already
was improving, slowly. She needed to stop being so
frightened.
    Lisle was quiet in the morning and Anne
walked into the kitchen, having no idea what to say, or even if she
should. She wasn't Lisle's mother or family, or responsible for the
girl's choices.
    "I think we have rats in the house," Anne
finally said.
    "Is that what you think it is?" Lisle said
sullenly, not pausing in kneading the dough for the daily
baking.
    "Lisle, you need to be careful with your
tone. I know our situation is all less than ideal, but I am still
your employer."
    "Sorry, Miss," Lisle said, finally
looking admonished.
    Although for how much longer she was
employed here, Anne didn't know. She wished the girl wouldn't make
stupid choices, but she was headstrong and stubborn with anything
Anne told her to do.
    Anne returned to the parlor and sat
down, finally bringing out her aunt’s letter. She’d been looking
forward to opening this all morning.
    My Dearest Anne,
    How pleasing it is to hear a house has been
settled on you. I worried myself to pieces for you when I heard
what that scoundrel of a husband was doing. Your father would be
turning in his grave if he knew what that man has done. He will get
his just desserts in the end, that bounder.
    I had not been aware that the property in
Yorkshire was still in the family. I had not heard it