Warning this part mentions suicide.

Penelope was in her room, waiting for Oliver to appear. He'd left her a note in her room earlier, stating he was most anxious to see and speak with her. Penelope felt the same way. She needed to ask Oliver about the nursery set up in the attic. She had a suspicion about it but she could be wrong.

There was a light knock on her door and a moment later, Penelope was letting Oliver inside, greeting him like they'd been friends forever.

"How are you doing?" Oliver asked Penelope as he lowered himself down into the chair in Penelope's bedroom.

"Things have been...stressful," Penelope admitted. "Both Mum and Auntie Lenora have been rather...unbearable."

Oliver nodded, a faraway look coming into his eyes. Penelope wanted to mention the nursery but was concerned Oliver might become upset by her saying anything about it. Especially if her suspensions turned out to be accurate.

"They've suffered much from their pasts," Oliver said.

"Not as much as you." Oliver nodded, still staring off into space. Penelope thought he was seeing his past play out before him.

"Oliver?"

"Yes?" He turned his gaze back to Penelope. His earlier vision was beginning to assault his mind. His body trembled and instantly Penelope waa by his side.

"Are you unwell?"

"I'm...weary. I long to be put to rest." Penelope grew alarmed. Was Oliver considering..suicide?

"Oliver, are you planning on...hurting yourself?"

"Oh, dear girl. No, no, no. I apologize. I didn't mean to frighten you." Oliver smiled and patted Penelope's arm. He gazed into her eyes. What he saw was a young woman beyond her Yeats who was wiser than he could ever be.

"Do you promise not to harm yourself?" Oliver nodded.

"Fear not, fair lady," Oliver said softly. "I shall not harm myself." Penelope wasn't certain she believed him but she wanted to so she'd not press the matter.

"My new friend, Laina, she's from America and she found out that my mom knew your family."

"I'm not terribly surprised," Oliver said. "My family has lived in this part of England for many years."

Penelope paused. She had to ask about the nursery. She wrestled with the correct way to phrase it as not to overtax Oliver's emotions.

"Something heavy weights on your mind." Penelope looked at Oliver. Could he read her mind? She wouldn't have been shocked to know he could.

"I was doing some exploring," Penelope began. "I found a..nursery in the attic."

Oliver's face went slack. He turned pale but kept his composure. Penelope feared he'd faint.

"I'm sorry," Penelope added quickly. "I didn't mean to pry."

"You didn't. Its just been so long..." Oliver's voice trailed off. There was moisture in his eyes and Penelope moved, wrapping her arms around him. He was shaking.

"Was Addie...pregnant?" Oliver didn't reply straightaway. He was fighting back tears, gulping in air, his breath shuddering.

"Yes. But...she...lost the baby about three months in. We were both devastated. Sometimes...sometimes I wonder who our child would have been."

"I'm sorry," Penelope murmured releasing Oliver. He nodded, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe the tears away.

"It's not your fault, child. This is your home as well as mine, although it hasn't felt like such for many years."

"I'm sorry you've suffered. I wish I could help you in some way."

"You've already helped me, Penelope."

"How?" Penelope was puzzled. She hadn't done much of anything that she considered helpful to Oliver.

"You answered my connection. You came. And soon, everyone will know the truth about what horrors took place here. Rather they want that out in the open or not."

***

Jane was doing her laundry, while Micah assisted her. Jane had been secretly pleased when her sister's maid had agreed to assist her as she intended on questioning Micah.

"I appreciate your assistance with hanging out the laundry," Jane said in a cheery tone. Micah simply smiled as she leaned over to collect another article of clothing to hang up on the clothes line.

"It's no trouble at all, madam," Micah replied, pinning the shirt she was holding. "I often do this for your sister."

"You worked for my grandmother as well, correct?" Jane asked in a lighthearted tone, fishing out a bath towel to hang up.

"Briefly," Micah answered, reaching for a pair of trousers. "Not quite a month before the...ahem...tragic accident."

"Oh yes. I remember now." Jane smiled faintly. "So Lenora agreed to keep you on."

"That's right, madam. I was pleased to know I still had my job."

"I'm sure that must have been a tremendous relief." Jane was watching Micah's face. Was it her imagination or was Micah looking a bit...peaked?

"Oh it was. I was worried that after your grandmother's death, I'd have to find new employment, which would have been a hassle."

"Lenora spared you from that, at least."

"Yes."

"You know," Jane said steering the conversation towards the question she really wanted an answer to.

"I couldn't remember if you were the one who'd found my...grandmother's body?"

Micah stiffened, struggling to keep her expression neutral. She should have known Lenora's sister would start poking into the mystery that surrounded her grandmother's death.

"No," Micah repiled. "I believe it was your sister who discovered the...body. I was out doing the shopping when the accident took place."

"Did Lenora tell you straightaway that our grandmother was dead when you returned from the shops?"

"I don't remember. It was a long time ago." Micah grabbed the empty laundry bin, heading to go inside. Jane wasn't about to allow her to escape that readily.

"I thought it was actually Oliver who discovered my grandmother's body." Jane blocked Micah's path, staring her down. Why was her sister's maid averting her gaze?

"Why are you badging me about such things?" Micah looked mildly annoyed.

"Just making conversation?" Jane smiled sweetly at Micah, who was scowling now.

"I know what you're doing," Micah snapped. "You're trying to trick me into admitting some dark secret." Micah pushed her way past Jane's body, causing her to stumble sideways knocking into the side of the house.

"If you have nothing to hide, why are you running away?" Jane scowled.

"I'm not running away! I don't know anything so please refrain from asking me anymore!"

Micah practically ran inside the house, leaving Jane with a sense that her sister's maid was hiding something and possibly helped Lenora kill their grandmother.

***

Lenora had went back into the old, dim room and checked out her supply. As she looked through her vials. She frowned. The vials that had been taken were...back?

Had Penelope replaced the vials after she'd confronted her about stealing them? Lenora backed out of the closet and firmly locked it with a sharp click. As she was leaning against the closet door, she heard...a voice...calling her name.

It sounded vaguely familiar but Lenora's couldn't quite place it. She pushed off the closet door and turned her head as she listened to the hypnotic voice calling out her name over and over.

"Lenora. Lenora. Lenora." The voice stopped as a shiver went down her spine. What was this? Who was calling out to her? It wasn't one of the voices she usually heard. It sounded...male but Lenora couldn't be certain.

"Lenora! Lenora, I'm back! Back from the dead!" There was a laugh. A long, taunting laugh. Lenora froze with fear. Who? What?

"What do you want?" Lenora cried rushing to the door of the room, fumbling with the door knob, desperately trying to escape this wicked apparition determined to torment her.

"What else?" The voice taunted in a sing-song tone. "Your life!"

***

Penelope had decided to confront her aunt about Addie's death. She knew her aunt wouldn't tell her everything but she hoped to learn enough to use it against her aunt and make sure she left Esper Hall, permanently.

As far as Penelope was concerned, Oliver was the rightful owner of Esper Hall and her aunt had no claim to the estate or property. She wondered exactly how things had transitioned so easily from Oliver and Addie to her aunt, especially when her great grandmother clearly wanted Oliver to inherit it?

Penelope knew there was no good time to ask Auntie Lenora her questions so she decided to simply ambush her during tea that evening. Penelope was also prepared to fight off her mother's attempts to change the subject so readily. Penelope wanted answers and she intended to get them.

***

"Auntie Lenora, I've been wondering something about Esper Hall?" Jane had finished setting out the food for late tea and everyone had served themselves up. Penelope immediately jumped in. She was tired of waiting.

"Yes?" Penelope saw the wariness in her aunt's eyes.

"Did your grandmother leave it to you?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." Lenora looked down at her plate of food. Her appetite had suddenly abandoned her.

"What about...Oliver?" Both Jane and Lenora had Penelope's attention and she smirked.

"Who told you about him?" Lenora cried, fury written plainly on her face.

"No one. I've been doing some looking around and seen the name," Penelope replied coolly.

"Snooping you mean, you insolent child!" Lenora threw her fork down and stood up, ready to exit the kitchen.

"Esper Hall is my home as much as yours, Auntie! Stop acting like you're the only one who has a right to be here!"

Lenora stalked over to Penelope, raised a hand and struck Penelope's left cheek, the sting lingering on her fingers. Penelope's own hand flew to her stinging cheek, glaring at her aunt.

"Lenora, calm yourself!" Jane snapped. "Penelope has a point. Esper Hall belongs to all of us."

"Shut up!" Lenora snapped, her cheeks a deep red. "I want you both gone, by tomorrow morning! Do you hear me?"

"You killed Addie!" Penelope sprang to her feet, rage flooding her body. "And you probably killed your own grandmother! And all because Oliver didn't love you!"

Lenora lunged for Penelope but she was too quick and flung herself out of the way, just in time. Lenora landed on top of the table, her arms flailing as dishes and silverware clattered to the floor, breaking.

"You conniving little bitch!" Lenora screamed, wrenching her body upright, her flailing arms trying to grasp ahold of Penelope.

"You don't know shit! You weren't there! I was! Oliver loved me! But that child bride of his was all he cared about! I had to dispose of her or else Oliver wouldn't love me!"

Lenora was sobbing now, her hands covering her face as she wept bitterly. Penelope was staring at her aunt in disgust. What a horrible person she truly was. She was jealous of Addie and harbored an unhealthy obsession with Oliver, who'd probably never even gave her aunt a reason to do so.

"I'm ashamed to be related to you," Penelope said softly. "You killed an innocent woman and for what? Because you were jealous? That's not only disturbing but also against the law."

Penelope looked at her mum, who was gaping at her daughter, staring at her as though she were a stranger.

"And you were probably in on the whole thing, weren't you?" When Jane didn't deny nor confirm that statement, Penelope continued.

"I can't say what your motives were, other than to protect your sister and your family name. And even if you weren't the one who landed the final blow to Addie and your grandmother, you're guilty by association."

"You don't understand," Jane had found her voice. "We had no choice. Esper Hall would have been taken from us. Especially since...Oliver was dead, too."

"You're a coward," Penelope spat. "You were an accessory to a double homicide and you did nothing!"

"Penelope, darling. Listen very carefully to what I'm about to tell you: Addie wasn't who she claimed to be. She had...enchanted Oliver. She dabbled in the dark arts. She cast a spell on him. He never truly loved her. We had to kill her or else we would have been sentenced to life in prison."

"That's no reason to kill someone!" Penelope shouted. "Did you know Addie was pregnant?"

"We didn't kill her while she was pregnant, you little twat!" Lenora had stopped crying and was ready to fight Penelope.

"That doesn't matter! You destroyed an innocent woman's life! As well as her husband's. You should be in prison. You're murderers."

Penelope sat back down and picked up her fork, returning to eating. She felt a small victory. She hadn't learned the whole truth but she had a feeling she was getting closer to knowing the truth behind Addie and her great grandmother's unfortunate deaths. She would take this victory.

For now.

Chapter 12

0 Comments