Death of a Duchess by Nellie Steele (the beginning after the end novel read TXT) 📗

the pounding began anew. I did not rise this time, hoping the noise would stop on its own. I waited for several moments until I could stand it no longer. The noise grew so loud I shook within the bed each time it sounded.

I rose again, plodding to the door and opening it. Silence and emptiness stared back at me. This time I ventured into the hall, striding up and down but finding nothing. I returned to my quarters and closed the door behind me. I ambled back to bed, pulling the covers high around me as I settled for a third time into the pillows.

Several minutes passed in silence. Perhaps the game was over. I closed my eyes, prepared to sleep. I took a deep, steadying breath and as I felt my body relax, a new sound reached my ears. A creak sounded, and I snapped my eyes open. My bedroom door swung open on its hinges.

I sat up, staring at it as it made its slow journey into the room. “Annie?” I called, wondering if she’d halted her antics and was prepared to be reasonable. I received no answer. I waited a few more moments, staying still so as not to spook her. No one appeared.

I slid from the bed for a third time, crossing the room and closing the door. This round, I locked it behind me. I strode across the room and crawled into bed for what I hoped was the final time. With the sheets gathered around me, I closed my eyes again.

As I lay on my back, a small breeze caressed my cheek. I ignored it until it tickled my cheek again. With a groan, I opened my eyes. I sat up, glancing around. Nothing appeared amiss in the room.

I was almost ready to lay down when the room erupted into pandemonium. Both bedroom doors swung open, along with all the windows. Wind whipped through the room, blowing the bed curtains in a frenzied display. The linens were lifted off the bed and flung across the room. The doors and windows banged open and shut. The bed began to shake, bouncing off the floor. I tumbled out, falling on my rear. I climbed to my feet and fled the room.

I glanced back toward the room as I stood in the hallway, barefoot and in only my nightclothes. The commotion had settled. I took a step toward the door, but it slammed shut. I jiggled the handle, finding it locked. I pounded against the door with my hand. “Annie? Annie! Open this door!” I pushed on the door, twisting the handle, but to no avail. “Annie!” I shouted again. “Your mischief has gone far enough. Open the door!” I tried again but found the door stuck fast.

With a sigh, I considered my options. I would not upend the household at this hour to retrieve a key for my room. I settled on climbing the winding stairs to my tower room. There a fur blanket awaited me, and I could curl up on the chaise and perhaps sleep would come.

I weaved my way through the halls, my arms wrapped tightly around me. I cursed the loss of my dressing gown behind the locked bedroom door. I had spent many a cold evening at the orphanage though, so I would survive.

I climbed the frigid stone steps to the tower and retrieved my fur blanket from the window seat. I curled in a ball on the chaise, draping the fur blanket over me. I rubbed my arms and legs until I felt warmth returning to my body.  I nestled further under the blanket, tucking it around me.

The next sensation I experienced was a gentle shaking. Startled, I snapped my eyes open, flailing at my attacker. “Lenora,” Robert soothed, “it’s me. It’s Robert.” I breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing. “You’re freezing. Where is your dressing gown? What happened?” Robert removed his suit coat, placing it around my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I replied, shrugging it tighter around my shoulders. “There was a disturbance in my room last night.”

“To say the least,” Robert replied. “When you didn’t appear at breakfast this morning, I came to check on you. We found your door locked and when Buchanan opened it, the room was in shambles.”

“Yes,” I explained, sitting up straighter, “after the uproar I retreated to the hallway and found myself locked from my room. I’m sorry for the trouble, I did not intend to sleep this late.”

“You need not apologize. You must be quite tired. What happened, Lenora?”

“After I climbed into bed, there was a pounding at my door. When I investigated, I found nothing. It happened once more. Then my door opened. I locked it and returned to bed. That is when the melee ensued. The windows and doors rattled open and shut. Winds whirled through the room and the bed shuddered until I was thrown from it.”

“Was it…” Robert began, his voice trailing off.

I nodded. “Yes, I believe so. I did not see her, but I’m convinced it was her.”

“I do not understand this. Why does she behave so?” Robert questioned with a shake of his head. He stood and stalked a few steps away.

“This is not abnormal. She met with a violent end. She is confused, agitated. Her mind is troubled. But last night’s occurrences indicate a step in the positive direction.”

“Positive?” Robert twisted to stare at me, an incredulous expression on his face. “Lenora! Only you can discern being thrown from your bed, chased from your room and risking illness in freezing temperatures as positive!”

“This is her first attempt at communicating,” I explained. “In the past, she’s only appeared to me. Last night went well beyond that. This is her reaching out.”

Robert pondered my comments for a moment. He gave a slight nod. “I’m glad you are traveling with me to Glasgow tomorrow. I should be uncomfortable leaving you in the castle alone. And if this should happen again, you shall wake the household no matter what time