Free The Silence of Ghosts by Jonathan Aycliffe Page B

If Mrs Mathewman’s concoction can improve Octavia’s breathing, I’ll go along with it. But as you know, I’m a sceptic in these matters. And that’s why I won’t have herin the house again. Did she tell you that she’s been encouraging Octavia in her belief that she hears thing here? She even warned me that there’s something in the house, though she wouldn’t tell me exactly what she meant by “something”. Octavia is a sensitive child, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, and someone like Mrs Mathewman could have a profound effect on her, for she seems a very admirable and confident woman. If she’s going to put ideas into Octavia’s head, I can’t tolerate that.’
    ‘Very well. I’ll explain this to her. I’m sure you’re right, and it’s right of you to be concerned about Octavia. It’s a shame this has happened. She’s an intelligent woman and it’s a pity you can’t talk with her more. She’s a mine of information on any number of topics. Most of it’s far above my head, of course. She knows a lot about this district and the Lakes in general. History, ancient customs: things like that.’
    I left it at that, not wanting to reawaken whatever negative emotions my banning Mrs Mathewman might have caused for Rose. Rose says she will take me to the North Lonsdale Hospital for an examination.
    ‘I’ll see if I can get an appointment in a week or two. It’s not that I don’t trust Dr Raverat, but the Lonsdale has a specialist in your sort of trauma, and I’m surprised you weren’t taken to see him as soon as you arrived there.’
    ‘You know I depend on you for everything,’ I said.
    ‘I realize that. But it’s not healthy for a patient to grow excessively fond of his nurse or to depend on her for everything. We shall have to find a way to wean you off me, Lieutenant.’ My heart sank when she said this.
    We walked a little further. Near the path and down among the winter-bare trees, plants of a hundred varieties lay dormant. Wood sage and wood sorrel, golden saxifrage and marsh marigoldlay waiting, curled and pale for spring. A part of me had sincerely hoped there would be no spring, or that I should not set eyes on the next. But my feelings for Rose have changed all that.
    ‘I used to sail round here,’ I said. ‘All the nine miles from the bottom to the top.’
    ‘Were you good?’ Rose asked.
    ‘Of course I was,’ I said, grinning.
    ‘I imagine you were. You must have had years of practice.’
    ‘My father taught me. We’ve always been a sailing family. Until now, that is.’
    ‘Why stop now?’
    ‘Surely you know the answer to that,’ I exclaimed, more harshly than I had intended.
    ‘Actually,’ she said, ‘I think you and I are about to have our second argument. But you aren’t the first and you won’t be the last to take this attitude. Yes, you’re disabled. But I’ll have no sympathy with you if you claim you can’t do this or that because of your disability. You’ve proved that you can walk, and I know you’ll walk better as time goes by. You may not be able to kick a ball round a football pitch or join the local rugby team. But you’ll be able to play some gentle tennis, and in the next few days you’re going to take me and Octavia for a sail up and down Lake Ullswater.’
    I froze at the thought, but she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
    We turned and started to walk back. The light was falling, and in the woods a darkness full of shadows lurked among the trees. I felt a tremor passed through me. Could Mrs Mathewman have been telling the truth, could there be something in the house?
    We were almost there when we saw the four children again, standing in what seemed to be the same spot, and looking at the house. As we came near them, I decided I must speak to them.They were looking at me, and a chill went through me, for they all turned and looked at exactly the same moment, as though guided by a single thought. Their faces seemed livid as before. I smiled