Part 4 today. We were left with lots of questions yesterday. What plan has Cathy concocted? Who is Mr Grisham? And how much more will she have to endure before her time at Grisham House is up?

Grisham House Part 4

Mr Grisham sat in an oversized brown leather chair in front of a roaring fire. The heat so welcome on my face and body that I couldn’t move.

“Ah, Cathy, there you are.” He placed his newspaper on the arm of the chair. “What delights have you brought me this evening?”

His was the first friendly voice I’d heard. “Tea and biscuits, sir.”

“Lovely. You can place them on the table and less of the sir, you make me sound like an old man.”

I placed the tray on the table and turned to leave, my body missing the warmth.

“Why don’t you stay? Warm yourself by the fire. You look frozen to the bone.”

“Thank you.” It was the first kindness shown to me since I’d arrived in this wretched place.

The crackling logs and searing heat was too nice to miss out on. I stood rubbing my hands and arms. Maybe it wouldn’t be as difficult as I thought to sway him to my side.

A teacup rattled against its saucer. “Would you like some?”

I turned. His expression was open and inviting. “Yes, please.”

“Good, take a seat. I could do with some company, and someone closer to my own age to talk to.” He frowned and if I’m not mistaken his eyes looked sad.

I sat and sipped the hot tea while he spoke. His voice a soothing balm on my tortured soul. I learned that Eric, Mr Grisham became lord of the manor when his parents were killed in a car crash three years ago. Ms Peckham had been here forever and he feared her just as much as I did. Eric was easy to talk to as well and as the days passed, I began to look forward to my nightly visits with him. We talked for hours about everything and it wasn’t long before my heart fluttered every time he smiled. The loneliness that had threatened to smother me eased and the howling wind seemed to sing rather than scream whenever I was in his company. In fact, the whole house seemed calmer when I was with Eric, friendly and welcoming.

***

My room was dark, and I wasn’t sure why I was awake until I heard the moaning sound again. I remembered hearing it in my sleep and being surrounded by a thick fog in my dreams – running, no fleeing from something or someone. A cold breeze blew across my face and I froze. My ears on alert for movement. Nothing. I sat up my eyes trying desperately to focus. I heard it again – a low moaning like a child crying. The icy floor sent a shiver through me as I inched my way towards the window. No moon or stars graced the sky. I don’t recall seeing them in all the time I’d been here either. A thick cloud swallowed this whole place and seemed intent on devouring all who fell under its grasp. Rain lashed against the window. I’d become accustomed to its relentless pummeling and the screech of wind whistling down the chimneys. Accustomed as I was though, it felt strange at this time of the night. I reached for my phone. 2 am. Shaking my head I reminded myself of the three hours of much needed sleep I had left.

Before I could even move towards my bed a scream pierced the black night. Startled I squinted through the glass pane. Someone, a girl perhaps, dressed in white was running through the garden. I could barely make her out, but I was sure long dark hair flew out behind her as she raced. I leaned closer, my nose almost touching the glass. It was a girl or young woman, in nothing but a white dress. I made out her bare legs and arms. She kept looking behind her. She was running towards the trees and almost there when she stumbled and fell to the ground. I gasped and watched as she crawled on her hands and knees, scrambling towards the tree line. She screamed again. The most frightening thing I’d ever heard. A figure cloaked in darkness was upon her and I grabbed my phone again hoping to shed some light on what was happening. The girl was on her back, her hands flaying in the air, pushing away whoever loomed above her. I couldn’t make them out. On instinct, I shoved my feet into my shoes and raced down the stairs and out the front door. Perhaps I could scare him away.

I sprinted across the lawns and towards the trees. The wind caught my hair, pulling and tugging, while the rain left icy rivulets streaming down my face and plastered my now soaked nightshirt to my skin. My legs burned from the effort and when I finally gave in, I found myself alone. There was no one here. Frantic, I searched the edge of the tree line. Nothing. I looked up towards my bedroom window. This was the spot but there was no evidence of anyone being here. The wind screamed past me shoving me backwards. “Is anyone out there?” The wind swallowed my words and I was met with silence.

***

My alarm blared and I dragged myself from disturbed sleep. The window was the first place I looked. Had I imagined it all?

Peckham was like a demon all morning and when I finally plucked up the courage to ask Cook what was wrong, she said Eve had left.

“What?”

“You deaf or something. The little wench took off in the middle of the night and now we’re getting it.”

“Oh.”

I kept my head down for the rest of the day. Peckham was vicious enough at the best of times and I couldn’t risk her wrath. My plan of seducing Eric was working.

#

Lots happening in today’s episode.

Below are the links to the previous instalments and if you don’t want to wait until tomorrow, you can pop over to Amazon where you can purchase the complete story on Kindle for 99c/77p.

Grisham House Part 1
Grisham House Part 2
Grisham House Part 3

Buy Grisham House on Kindle:
Amazon US:
Amazon UK:

Until next time,

Keep reading and writing,

Amanda