Having washed and changed into her night rail, Sophia wandered over to the window to watch the waves crashing ashore while she brushed out her braids.Early in the morning, before Mrs.Digby rose, Sophia planned to go into the library to look for a copy ofDebrett’sand learn about Mildred’s fiancé.
Movement on the beach caught her eye.The moon was waning but there remained enough light that she definitely saw a female figure on the beach, grey gown and shawl fluttering in the breeze.
Odd.She had not seen Mrs.Royston walking on the beach before.She always paced up on the bluff.
Perhaps it was taking longer for Mildred, dressed and behaving as an old widow, to transfer her belongings from the inn to the cave than Sophia had expected.But the figure on the beach was not using a cane.
A shriek split the air, sounding from the floor above.The servants’ quarters.
After another scream, Sophia went out into the hall, where Mrs.Digby and Mrs.Royston appeared from their respective bedchambers, tying their dressing gowns closed.
“What the devil?”Mrs.Royston moved her sleeping cap back from where it had slipped down and covered one eye.
Another shriek had them all scrambling up the stairs.At the third-floor landing, they found Ruby attempting to comfort Enid, who was shaking.“It was the Lady, I tell you!”Enid dabbed at her eyes with the tie from her dressing gown.“The Grey Lady ghost!I saw it clear as day!”
Heavy footsteps announced Kendall’s arrival, barefoot and wearing only trousers and an unevenly tucked-in shirt, carrying a pistol.“What is going on?”he demanded, his voice as calm as though announcing dinner despite his disheveled appearance.
Enid let out a wail and sagged against Ruby, the back of her hand to her forehead.
“She thinks she saw a ghost down on the beach, sir,” Ruby said.
“Nonsense.”Kendall tucked the pistol into the waistband of his trousers.
“She saw something,” Mrs.Royston said, “but it wasn’t the Grey Lady.I’ve seen the Grey Lady several times, and that was not her.”
“You too?”Mrs.Digby took off her sleeping cap and tucked it into a pocket in her dressing gown.“I thought it unusual for Mother Hobart to walk on the beach.”
Sophia glanced at each player in their little drama, debating if she should share about Mildred.
Enid stood up straight.“No, it was definitely the Grey Lady.I’m sure of it.”
Sophia peered at her more closely.The maid seemed to have regained her composure surprisingly quickly.
“Mother Hobart does tend to show up when there is something or someone new.And we do have someone new in the household.”
Sophia was about to point out that she’d been there over a week with no appearance of the ghost, but Enid spoke up again.
“Yes, that must be why the ghost appeared.”Enid bobbed her head as though that settled the matter.
“If the matter is resolved, may I suggest we all seek our beds?”Kendall held his arms out to escort Mrs.Royston and Mrs.Digby down the stairs.
Back in her room, Sophia looked out the window but saw nothing out of the ordinary.She hoped Mildred had settled in for the night so everyone could sleep.
* * *
Early the next morning Sophia located a copy ofDebrett’sin the library and found the listing for the Wingfield earldom.Her hopes for a quick resolution to Miss Ebrington’s dilemma were dashed when she realized the current holder of the title had not even been born yet when this edition had been published.
“What shall we do now?”Mildred said when they met on the beach that afternoon.She tried to be polite as she bit into the ham, cheese, and bread that Theo had brought her, but it was obvious she was famished.
“More research,” Theo said, handing over a wineskin filled with what turned out to be lemonade from her basket of work tools.“Find other sources of information.”
Sophia felt guilty for not thinking about including a beverage last night.The girl must be quite thirsty by now.“Did you sleep well?”With any luck she would be eager to take Sophia up on her offer to be a guest of Mrs.Digby.
“There is a tiny waterfall coming out of the cliff near the cave entrance, so I was able to wash before bed,” Mildred said between bites.“It did take me a while to get comfortable on the ledge.Once I realized the bats were not interested in me, I considered their fluttering as mere background noise, as well as the sound of the waves, to help me fall asleep.It was actually quite cozy.”
Sophia suppressed a shudder.Before she could ask the girl about her late-night walk on the beach, a man walking two small dogs came near them.Once they spotted Theo, the dogs excitedly ran to her, yipping and wagging their fluffy tails.
“Hello, Zeus,” Theo said, bending down to pet one.The other dog panted and pawed at her knee until she scratched behind its ears.“And hello to you too, Ares.”
