Free Ghost of Christmas Past by Rebecca King Page B

dressers and a massive bed
against the far wall. It wasn’t the furnishings that drew her
attention though; it was the man who lay in the centre of the vast
expanse of bed.
    Her
uncle had always been such a vibrant man, so full of vim and vigour
that it was difficult to ever consider him being vulnerable in any
way. It shook her more than she cared to admit to see him so
lifeless and pale against the crisp white sheets. He had lost a lot
of weight since the last time she had seen him, and she knew that
the liberal smattering of grey at his temples was considerably
whiter than before. However, although he had aged well in the
several months since she had last seen him, what shook her most was
the cadaverously grey colour of his skin: an indication of just how
serious his condition really was. She couldn’t remember crossing
the room but she found herself standing beside the bed
anyway.
    “ Uncle John?” Thea whispered. She carefully picked his hand up
in hers, relieved that it was at least warm and dry, rather than
cold or clammy. She glanced at his body, and realised then that she
had not asked Rupert where her uncle had been shot. The sharp sting
on her lip from her teeth was the only outward sign of the internal
battle that raged within her as she sat carefully on the bed and
settled their clasped hands on her lap.
    She
wasn’t sure whether he was still sleeping or able to hear her. It
bothered her more than she cared to admit that he hadn’t responded
to her. She desperately tried to keep her fear at bay and focused
on what she needed to say as she studied the wonderfully dear lines
of his face.
    “ Uncle John, it is Thea. Rupert brought me to see
you.”
    It hurt
to see her usually vibrant and agile uncle so helpless, and it
brought forth so many memories for her that she struggled to keep
the tears at bay. He had done so much to help her in her hour of
need that the physical toll it had cost her to spend nearly three
days in a carriage was a small price to pay for being able to at
least start to repay the huge debt she owed him. He was without
doubt the one; the only; constant in her life and she adored
him.
    Silence
settled around her that was broken only by the steady ticking of
the huge grandfather clock in the mantle.
    “ Amen,” she whispered to conclude her prayer. She opened her
eyes and gasped as she looked straight into the slightly slumberous
gaze of her uncle.
    “ Thea? Thank heavens you got here,” he whispered in a voice
that trembled with emotion. “I am so glad you could make
it.”
    “ How could I stay away?” She swiped at the tears on her cheeks
that escaped in spite of her best efforts, and tried a wobbly
smile.
    “ Rupert found you then?”
    She
nodded, unable to speak for a moment past the lump her
throat.
    “ Is Rupert still here?” He asked hopefully, and gazed at the
ceiling while trying desperately not to give in to the sleep that
threatened to pull him under again.
    “ He is,” Rupert announced from beside the door. He hadn’t
intended to stay once he had let Thea into the room, but had felt
driven to make sure that she was alright. He wanted to be around to
support her if emotion got the better of her and had found himself
watching her every moment as she had sat with her uncle and
wept.
    He
slowly walked across the room, relieved to see calm acceptance in
the steady gaze John levelled on him. “I have sent for
reinforcements who are here and looking after everything for you
while we try to find out who hurt you and why.”
    Thea
squeezed John’s hand gently in silent support. “I need to ask you,
Uncle John; have you had any threats or arguments with anyone of
late? Is there anyone who may wish you ill?”
    John
shook his head. “I have thought about this over and over, when I am
not rendered useless by that blasted laudanum, but I cannot
conceive of anyone who would do such a thing.” He glanced at Thea.
“You know what Rupert is involved in?”
    Thea
frowned and