Free The House on Blackstone Moor (The Blackstone Vampires) by Carole Gill Page A

smiled, for I was certain she had heard me.
    I slept until nearly eleven, and woke with a start.
    Ah, yes. That’s something I have forgotten to tell you about. It’s awful waking quickly and gasping for air, not knowing where you are for a moment.
    It’s worse at night but it was morning now and the sun was streaming in. At last I remembered where I was.
    I cried a little, more relieved than sad.
    I am here to get well. And I shall get well, because it is my fate to go forth into the world with a real chance this time.
    Perhaps fate was giving me a chance after all.
    *
    I found Mrs. Mott in the kitchen. Neither she nor I said anything about the incident the night before. I was embarrassed and I think she realized it. In any event, I was relieved.
    She served me toast this time, as my appetite had lessened.
    “Yes, I like toast too. I think there isn’t anything as lovely as toast with rich jelly on it. I see you like it, too.”
    She was such a pleasant person, so kind-hearted. I could imagine what a lovely home she had, with children and a husband, and then death snatched it all away.
    We spoke as though I were some friend of hers and not a damaged young woman trying to fit into the world again.
    I truly felt a kinship with Alice Mott. We both had tragedies and shared the horror of Marsh, and happily we had both come out of it.
    I had already begun to notice the routine of the house. Order is important; it is something people need to hang on to for it helps to have a focus.
    My home had known only the basic desire to survive from one day to the next; there was no room for anything else like happiness.
    Marsh had a routine too, one that had to be learned quickly—all manner of coping and not standing out.
    I supposed that life was full of routine and ways to manage it in order to exist.
    As Mrs. Mott seemed terribly busy I asked her if I might help her with any of her errands. She looked pleased but somewhat amazed. But then she smiled and said I could go into the village for her, as she had some yarn to pick up.
    “They would bring it by, but I am in a hurry for it, as I am using it to make someone a gift.”
    I was certain that someone was Dr. Bannion.
    “Well, I shall go for you!”
    I did so want to go, but I found myself frightened after saying it.
    “It’s alright if you prefer not to, I will go myself.”
    “Oh no, Mrs. Mott. It’s just…”
    She smiled so kindly, so knowingly. “I understand. It is hard to go forth as others do so easily. Hard for some…”
    We both knew what the rest of that sentence was… some like us …
    “No, I shall!” I declared sounding as brave as I possibly could. “I shall go and I will be glad about it, too.”
    “Well, if you’re certain you feel up to it.”
    I shrugged. “I shall only know if I try.”
    “It’s all put away for me. It’s just a little parcel and here is the payment.”
    She handed me some money. “I know how much it is for they have told me.”
    I started to leave, but she called me back. “Miss Baines, as long as you’re there, have a stroll around. Enjoy your time in town.”
    I smiled. “Yes,” I said. “I shall do that.”
    *
    It was harder than I thought. First. there was the door to open. You wouldn’t think twice about turning a door knob, but perhaps if something awful had happened in your life, you might!
    Still, I bit my lip and turned it.
    With the door open I faced the path and beyond that, the gate .
    Go on Rose, you can do it.
    It’s one foot in front of the other, that’s all it is.
    And it was! I had managed to walk to the gate.
    There I stood, about to leave the safe world of Dr. Bannion’s house for the world of Clegton. So what was the problem? I had been there before.
    Yes of course, but I hadn’t been alone. Being alone makes all the difference sometimes.
    But I did set out. A bit unsteady on my feet, I did manage to actually cover some ground and before I knew, I was standing outside the sewing shop. I did of