Manor Ren, 1945
Loren felt smothered as she stood outside the large stone manor her husband had just purchased. This feeling was an intense understanding she was alone, and she had no one but herself in the world. This had been happening most of her life, but more since she married Claude.
Why did she think marriage would give her happiness?
The sky filled with dark clouds, like a blanket of gray down, the rain drizzling across her face as if challenging her audacity to bring an umbrella.
She tried to breathe. Yes, she could still breathe, she must be all right, but something was wrong, and she didn't know what. If she knew what was wrong, what gnawed at her gut telling her to run, she could face it, but no one would tell her anything, not her parents; not Claude. The more they ignored her questions the more animosity for the lot of them filled her heart.
She distracted herself with the house.
A three-story manor of blond brick. Large-paned windows covered the front of the house while smaller windows protruded from five gables that lined the roof. What looked like a small cottage, was attached to the main house, the servants' quarters.
The property around the house was vast. Only the front yard was mowed, the rest looked overgrown and uncared for.
She didn't understand why Claude had purchased such an enormous house for just the two of them. There would be no children.
“The heat and the other utilities work,” the real estate broker told her. “But I must warn you, Mrs. Wallace, the house is large and a beast to heat. There are fireplaces in almost every room, and I ordered firewood to be delivered regularly. We installed a small wood stove in the kitchen, where there is no fireplace, in case you need extra heat in the winter to keep the kitchen warm. We stocked the kitchen pantry for you, and they put a new gas stove in, and the plumbing is running.”
“Thank you,” she said.
She had a thousand questions but wasn’t sure if he was the man to answer them. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave. The short, stocky man nodded and left for the warmth of his car.
As she stood wondering if she should go into the house, another vehicle pulled into the driveway. A tall man in a raincoat and hat walked towards her.
Her stomach rolled up in knots.
“Hello, darling, how do you like the house?” he asked. “I think it's marvelous. We even have ghosts. I thought you might enjoy the company. Have you been in the house yet?”
“No, I just got here a few minutes ago,” she said.
“What are you doing standing out here in the rain? Come on, let's go in. There is probably a fire that needs tending, and I’ll make you some hot chocolate,” he said, as he pulled her into the house.
Inside, the main hall waited for her, empty. She walked over a marble floor, her footsteps echoing against the tall walls. Claude took her into another room where furniture had been placed haphazardly.
A fire burned in the fireplace; a large stack of wood placed to the side. The room was beautiful with oak walls. The large window looked out over the driveway and onto the green grass of the lawn. Despite her apprehensions about everything, this room brought her solace.
“Now sit here and warm up, I’ll be right back,” Claude told her as he skipped out the door.
As she looked around, she realized she had a lot of work to do to get the place in order. Hopefully, the beds were set up for the night.
She and Claude wouldn’t sleep together; they had been married for just barely a month, but they still haven’t even kissed. She wasn't sure, at this point, she even wanted him to kiss her.
Claude returned with two large mugs of cocoa. He handed one to her and tended the fire. “I’m going to hire a maid to help you with the house,” he said.
She smiled and nodded.
“I should have had one here waiting for you, but the local women don’t want to work in this house; they say it’s haunted.”
“Is it?”
“If it is, I’m sure our ghosts will be amiable enough,” he laughed.
“Why is that?” she asked. “Has anyone told you the story?”
“According to the real estate agent, two brothers lived here, it’s
a legend, of course,” he said dismissively.
“One, the younger, was a raging rake. He had sex with every woman he could get his hands on. This wasn't difficult for him because he was handsome and charming. Married women would even sneak out of their homes at night.” He laughed. “Women came to him from far away. He had quite a reputation as a lover. The bane of every man in the area.”
“Did you say there were two of them?” she asked.
“Yes, the older brother was a rebel of sorts and wouldn’t even court a woman because of his brother’s behavior. I am not sure if he was jealous of his brother or disgusted with him. That wasn't part of the story,” he said. “You can ask them when you see them.”
“You think that’s funny?” she asked.
“Oh, darling, it is funny,” he said. He finished with the fire and sat on the chair next to her.
“The older brother busied himself with the family business, making them all quite rich, while his younger brother entertained the ladies. Rumor is there is treasure somewhere in the house, although no one has ever found it. The thieves who broke into the house returned swearing the place was haunted.
“How is the house haunted?” she asked. “Did a husband come and put an end to the both of them?”
“The real estate agent told me that one day they both disappeared, the house was shut down by the maid, she left town and was never seen again. No one has lived here since,” he said. “No one knows what happened. The two brothers disappeared, and they never found the bodies.”
“Surely others have lived in this house since then,” she said. “This house is beautiful and very well kept.”
“I don't think so,” Claude said. “According to the records, we are the first.”
“So, the maid killed them, then buried the bodies in the garden,” Loren said.
Claude laughed. “It’s quite interesting, wouldn't you say? There are portraits of the men hanging in the house somewhere, but I haven’t seen them. I was only here once, briefly, to make sure the house got plumbed, electricity put in and gas installed for the stove in the kitchen.
“Are two men living in this house with us?” she asked him.
“No, although, if they did show up, I’m sure your hospitality would win their friendship.” He smiled at her.
She sipped her drink annoyed at him.
“I need to leave in the morning, and I will be gone for some time. I’ll leave my solicitor's name here for you, and he will check on you.”
She said nothing, glad he was leaving.
“What do you think, Reilly?” Lon asked as he and Reilly stood in the parlor listening to the couple.
“I like her, but she is unhappy. I don't like him, something off about the man,” he said.
“We can monitor him. If he turns out to be too odd, perhaps we can run him off. Hopefully, she will stay.”
“Yes,” Reilly said. “I would like that.”
“They are in separate bedrooms,” Lon told him. “The husband has appointments in the city all month.”
“How do you know all this?” Reilly asked.
“It’s not like there is a lot to do around here,” he replied. “I’ve kept myself busy recently listening to all the conversations from the workers.”
“Once the husband leaves, we can introduce ourselves to her, carefully that is. I don't want to scare her away,” Reilly mused. “She is going to need to understand we are here and there is nothing she can do about that.”
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve made love to a woman,” Lon said.
“No, Lon, don’t even consider such a thing,” Reilly said.
Lon gave him a pitiful look. “I miss it. The soft skin, the round plump flesh, the taste of skin, lips on mine, a breast in my hands and nipples in my mouth. I loved to love a woman.”
“It sounds like you still do,” Reilly said.
“Do you think she will let me have her,” Lon asked, forgetting his brother's words.
“Keep your hands off her,” Reilly said, glaring at his brother.
“Brother, can you have compassion on me,” Lon asked, sheepish.
“Shut up, Lon.”
