Page 70 of Someone For Everyone

‘You sound like my gran after I was forced to play a wise man in the school nativity. “At least you enjoyed yourself, love.” If I hadn’t known I sucked beforehand, I did afterwards.’

Kate couldn’t help laughing. It was hard to imagine Calvin performing in a school play. ‘Is that where your aversion to dressing up comes from?’

‘No, that comes from being of sound mind.’

She stemmed her laughter when the woman dressed in Tudor clothes stepped forwards to begin her performance. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if you look towards the skyline, you will see the turret of Rose Court in the distance, a large house situated on the Pluckley Road. It has stood for hundreds of years and is thought to have been built as a home for the mistress of a son of Lord Dering, and it is this lady’s ghost which to this day haunts the house.’

Kate’s eyes grew wide. ‘Is she talking about Ursula?’

Calvin nodded. ‘The one and only.’

Kate’s attention immediately reverted to the woman.

‘The story goes that she fell in love with a monk who lived here at Greystones and found the love triangle so distressing that she took her own life by drinking the juices of poisonous berries. The reason for her suicide remains unconfirmed, but if all that has been said is true, then an emotional entanglement could well have been the cause. To be a Dering mistress and at the same time enjoy a relationship with another man may have created a pressure too great to bear.’

Kate inwardly flinched, as she always did with any mention of suicide. It didn’t matter that it was a fanciful legend from centuries past, the idea that anyone could be so heartbroken as to end their life saddened her. It wasn’t hard to fathom why.

The woman continued. ‘From the position of her body, it would seem that her final moments were spent gazing across the fields in the direction of Greystones, the home of her lover.’

Calvin’s arm slipped around Kate, and she leant into him, glad of the comfort.

‘Over the years, the residents of Rose Court have reported a number of strange occurrences. Articles that mysteriously move, windows opening in the dead of night and the sound of strange groaning echoing through the rooms in the early hours. A peculiar eerie atmosphere hangs over the house, and to this day the Tudor Lady remains restless, searching for resolution and peace.’

The woman took a bow and the crowd applauded. Rowan joined her on the makeshift stage and they took another bow, clearly enjoying the adulation.

It was a few minutes before the crowd dispersed and moved away.

Kate realised that Calvin was frowning at her. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine.’ Embarrassed, she wiped a tear away. ‘The cold is making my eyes water.’

She was hardly going to spill the beans about her dad, not when she’d promised herself she wouldn’t dump any more emotional baggage on him. The poor man had enough to deal with and didn’t need her grief adding to it.

He didn’t look convinced, but obviously decided to let it go. ‘Shall we look around the grounds? Unless you’d prefer to go back to the house, if you’re cold?’

‘No, I’m fine. I’d love to look around. It’s so pretty.’ They moved away from the building and headed through a rose arch covered in cascading white lights. ‘Is the story about Ursula true, do you think?’

He gave a half shrug. ‘Records confirm the existence of a woman called Ursula Harcourt living at Rose Court during the sixteenth century, and Greystones was a monastery during that time, so it’s possible, I guess, but as to whether they were lovers, who knows.’

‘I don’t like the idea of Ursula not finding peace.’

Calvin stopped walking. ‘Kate, you do know the whole ghost thing is nonsense, don’t you? Rose Court isn’t haunted, it’s just in need of repair. The banging windows, the moving objects… It all has a valid explanation.’

‘I know that.’ She turned away, feeling slightly foolish. ‘Doesn’t mean I can’t allow my imagination to run wild for a moment. Besides, it would make a good film. I’m surprised no one’s made one about the place, it could giveA Christmas Carola run for its money.’ She stopped to admire the apple orchard, pulsating with green lights.

Calvin joined her. ‘Talking of films, I watchedIt’s a Wonderful Lifelast night.’

She turned to him. ‘You did? Did you enjoy it?’

‘It was okay. Not as good asHome Alone.’

Her hands went to her hips. ‘Calvin Johnson, did you really just say that?’

‘What have I said? It’s a good film,’ he said, defensively.

‘It’s akids’film.’

‘Nothing wrong with that.’ He looked put out. ‘What’s your favourite Christmas film?’

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