Whispering Echoes - Maya Chandel (best books to read non fiction .txt) 📗

expecting another child?’

‘Yes Miss; it was why I was sent out with you; they had no notion of the seriousness of the order for all women and children to make their way to the boats. They, like so many others, simply assumed it was all a hoo-ha over nothing and that given your mother’s condition it would be wiser for her to stay in the warmth. I am truly sorry Miss; goodness knows I came only to wish you all the best and all I have succeeded in doing is…’

‘I am glad to know the truth Sarah,’ said Kitty, still unable to really comprehend the news that as well as losing her parents that night, she had also lost a sibling. ‘Truly I am glad you came; though… if you will pardon me, I rather feel I need a little time on my own now.’

‘Of course Miss,’ replied Sarah, affectionately setting aside a wisp of her dark curls. ‘It fills my heart with pride to see you now; you be sure to take good care of yourself Miss.’

‘And you Sarah,’ whispered Kitty.


‘Kitty dear, I was just on the verge of coming up to check on you,’ said Mrs Allen. ‘Is your headache any better?’

‘Yes thank you Aunt,’ said Kitty, as she made her way to a chair. She had feigned a headache shortly after Sarah’s departure so that she might have some quiet to reflect on what she had learned, to mourn the loss she had just discovered. What would it have been to have a little brother or sister; to feel that closest of blood-borne bonds? Of course she had always looked to Freddy and Emerson quite as her own brothers; however, it could never truly be the same could it?

‘You still look a little pale if you ask me dear,’ said Mrs Allen casting her a closer glance.

‘I am quite well I assure you Aunt.’

‘Perhaps it was a little soon to get delving into sorting things out; after all there is plenty of time ahead of us for that. I rather think we should take a few days to acclimatise first, what say you?

‘Acclimatise?’ laughed Freddy. ‘Anyone should think we were in the outer Hebrides Mother.’

‘You seem in brighter spirits than you were this morning; I trust you had a pleasant day in town?’ enquired Kitty, endeavouring to appear more her usual self. She had decided not to make any mention of what she had learned from Sarah; there seemed little point in upsetting her Aunt over something that really made little difference now she supposed.

‘Ah well your cousin has set eyes upon an angel, or so he has been telling me ever since his return,’ smiled Mrs Allen.

‘An angel?’

‘You may mock, but I am quite certain there is no other word in the English language to do her justice,’ sighed Freddy with a rather uncustomary dreamy look about him. ‘Such golden hair; like… like pure sunshine.’

‘Oh please, we could do without your feeble attempts at poetry.’

Freddy cast her a sharp frown before continuing, ‘And her eyes… an unadulterated cornflower blue.’

‘Pray does this angel have a name?’ smiled Kitty as she and her Aunt exchanged a look of amusement.

‘Alas I have yet to learn her name; though learn it I shall,’ he replied striking up a cigar.

‘Lack the courage to accost this angel did you?’ laughed Kitty. ‘That does not sound much like you Freddy; must be losing your touch. Let us just hope you’re fortunate enough to cross paths with her again; after all I should say most would count themselves lucky to have set sights on an angel once in their lifetime. Looking to do so twice might be called a little presumptuous.’

‘Well I am glad it affords you pleasure to poke fun at my expense.’

‘Believe me it is something that never fails to,’ smiled Kitty.

‘And at that I think we should make our way to the Dining Room,’ intervened Mrs Allen. ‘Put out the cigar Freddy and lead your old mother in. Though for what it is worth, I rather imagine you shall be seeing this angel of yours again and if I was at all a betting woman I’d rather fancy myself at hazarding a guess at whom she may be.’

‘Well why ever did you not say so before Mama?’ exclaimed Freddy, instantly jumping to his feet to oblige. ‘Pray do reveal more.’

‘Oh no that would never do,’ laughed his mother. ‘A little mystery and suspense never did anyone any harm Freddy dear; I’m sure you’ll learn her name soon enough.’
Chapter 6

Rosevale Manor, Cornwall 1930

Kitty was sure she was quite lost; indeed if she ever managed to find her way back to the house she would consider it an admirable feat. Casting a quick glance at her wrist watch she supposed that if she were being sensible she really ought to start heading back; that way she might just manage to make it in time for luncheon. However, right now she did not feel sensible; in fact she felt quite the reverse!

It was little to be wondered at really she thought; the gardens simply were bewitching to the senses, a paradise that allured and enticed such that a person very reasonably might wish to be spend an eternity in their midst. With panoramic sea views at every turn and gloriously landscaped designs it was all too easy to be seduced by their beauty; and Kitty was well and truly so.

Indeed she could scarcely recall the heaviness of heart with which she had initially set out. The night had afforded her little sleep, her mind far too preoccupied with melancholy thoughts following yesterday’s encounter with Sarah. Was it possible to truly miss what one had never even known; Kitty rather thought it was? Though as Sarah had said, that little life had never even had a chance to live; it had suddenly been afforded a secure place in Kitty’s heart.

Still, as she had wandered further and further through woodland walks and a rhododendron dell, somehow the wondrous tranquillity of her surroundings had soothed her troubled mind. Standing now amidst a vibrantly tropical display of ornamental grasses and cannas that brought to life the lake before her, Kitty felt both oddly and splendidly disconnected from the rest of the world.

Yet even as she stood briefly to admire the view, she had the strange sense that something was beckoning her on. It was a feeling that had attached itself to her from the moment she had stepped outside; though she was unable to place it. It was as if her subconscious had a destination for her; such that although she wandered quite aimlessly, there was a part of her that knew she would know when she arrived where she was supposed to. Until she did, however, she was perfectly content absorbing the beauty around her as she ambled at her leisure.

Of course the gardens were not in the well-kept state that she knew they would once have been in. They, like the house, needed some attention and Kitty suddenly felt it was a pity it had all been left so long unattended. Freddy was right when he said the house needed some fresh life brought into it. This was a not a place to be kept locked up; it craved life, to share both the joys and sorrows that filled the hearts of those it sheltered. Well, Kitty thought to herself with a smile, soon it would do so again; she was quite intent upon finding the perfect owners to restore it.

Enthused with a sudden optimism as she pondered her plans for the future, Kitty found herself approaching a set of narrow stone steps, bordered on either side by such a densely overgrown arch of greenery that for a moment she considered turning back for fear of causing a tear in her dress. She was on the verge of doing so when her curiosity took the better of her; really it seemed a pity to have come so far only to turn back now, especially as given the ever closer sound of the ocean she rather thought there could not be much further to explore.

As such she began to make her way carefully down the winding flight, her eyes so fixed in concentration on the immediate steep steps before her, that she found herself completely taken aback when reaching the bottom she finally cast her head up and took in the sight before her.

The open garden in which she was now standing sloped right down to the tumultuous cliff edge; such that there was a jaw-dropping view of the endless expanse of sand and sea below that was Pendower Beach. Indeed Kitty, despite her common sense, had the oddest feeling of being at the every edge of the world. It was thrilling!

Casting a quick glance back, she saw now that the flight of steps had actually been cut in the cliff side, such that the garden was quite on a plane of its own. It was a secret oasis of sorts; and though less formally and grandly designed than the others, there was a simplicity and intimacy in its lay out that Kitty found far more endearing. Indeed she rather fancied it was the single most perfect place she had ever seen; though of course she had it seen it before.

She knew it even as she started to amble around its rose bush borders, drifted past the lily pond, glanced at the elegant cast iron sundial and looked up at the old tree house in the oak that towered in the very centre of the garden. This was the place that had been beckoning to her all morning; calling to her almost. Oh she had been here before, endless times.

As a surge of familiarity ran through her, distant echoes rang through Kitty’s ears; almost as if the garden was whispering to her, urging her to remember. She could hear the sound of laughter, pure and delicious laughter and she knew this place had once been filled with it; with laughter and games. She had used to play here as a girl; play games of every sort, hopscotch, blind man’s bluff, hide and seek… hide and seek…

The little girl skipped gaily down the steep stone steps, her white cotton dress billowing behind her in the wind. She knew just the place to hide; Michael would not find her for ages. No doubt he would go after Letty first; Letty was always so predictable in her choice of hiding places.

At the sound of voices, Kitty halted in her tracks; crouching down on the step so that she might peep through the bramble. A wide smile broke out on her face as she