Page 78 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem

‘I cannot abide any delay, Heather.’

I shook my head. ‘For this idea of mine, we have to wait for the right time.’

The countess’s mouth firmed into a line. ‘Very well, then,’ she murmured. ‘Until we meet again. Fare thee well.’

Chapter 26

THE REST OF THE DAY went without incident. The ghosts’ heightened anticipation made me jittery. As Chirtlewood’s closing time drew closer, they flitted around the entrance hall and up and down the stairs with nervous energy. Scruffles barked at most of the visitors, who were alarmed when they couldn’t see a dog nearby. Charlotte herself appeared before a young couple making fun of the earl’s portrait, gave them a deathly glare and sent them skittering down the stairs and out of the house. Even Maisey paced about the entrance hall instead of hiding in the shadows like she usually did.

‘What are those ghosts up to today?’ Lydia whispered to me in a quiet moment. ‘They’re all hyped up over something.’

‘I’ve offered to take them for a drive later,’ I said.

Lydia smiled wryly. ‘Good luck with that.’

We both returned to helping visitors. The afternoon was a busy one.

At five o’clock, we closed the house and tidied up before leaving. I’d warned Charlotte to have everyone ready and waiting in the car park, and I made sure I was the first to leave.

But when I reached the car park, I found myself alone. Where were the ghosts?

The earl poked his head through one of the back seat windows. ‘We wast awaiting thine arrival. Tarry not!’

Of course, they’d entered the car by passing through the doors. They didn’t need to wait for me to unlock it.

I got in. Charlotte sat in the passenger seat. Maisey sat in the back with the earl.

‘Nice horseless coach thee hast hither,’ the earl said.

‘Wherefore art we lingering?’ Charlotte said. ‘Pray, allow us be off. To whither art we journeying, I wonder?’

‘We’re going to follow someone,’ I said. ‘Penny or Melissa. Whoever comes out first.’

‘What the devil for?’ the earl demanded.

Here it comes. What I was about to do was crappy but necessary. ‘The killer hid the witch’s spell book in the house after the murder and removed it later. None of the visitors there at the time have returned. So...’

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