nod to proceed. As I was formally introduced to the Earl of Derby, I deduced that he was outwardly more happy than he was inwardly.
The lord’s light-body was dulled, especially around his heart, and yet I sensed he was not a bad person—more a victim of torment than a tormentor. Then I noted what appeared to be a dark, ghostly knife driven through his back and into his heart. I’d never seen such a thing before and it appeared to be very painful. Still, he didn’t seem to be aware of it and I knew better than to mention my observation.
‘My dear Lord Derby has lost an item that is very precious to him, Ashlee.’
I marked that my father did not name the item, which gave me the opportunity to show off. The answer was too easy, for it was foremost in the man’s mind. ‘A watch,’ I said, and the lord’s smile broadened in disbelief. He suspected that I might have overheard them talking.
My father was also smiling. ‘Do you think you could tell us what has become of this item?’
I nodded. ‘If I may put my hand in the pocket from which the watch went missing?’
Happy to oblige, the lord held open the left side of his deep blue coat to expose his silken gold waistcoat. Yet, unlike the right-handed majority of men who did carry their watch in their left pocket, the Lord Cavandish was left-handed and I sensed this. When I say I sensed this, I mean that my inner voice alerted me to the deception and I acted upon the information—my inner knowing never steered me wrong.
I didn’t have to look up to know that Lord Cavandish was giving my father an impressed look as my hand examined the right-side pocket of his waistcoat. I perceived a vivid image of the watch, as it had resided in this pocket, and I shivered, inexplicably consumed by a deathly cold chill, although the evening was warm.
The Earl of Derby must have dozed off in the carriage at some stage, as the watch was turned on its side, and it had slid out of the pocket into the lord’s jacket. When he stood to exit the carriage, the watch fell onto the carriage seat and slipped down the back into a timber void there.
I came out of my short trance and withdrew my hand from the nobleman’s pocket. ‘I believe the watch is still in your carriage, Lord Derby.’
‘But I had the carriage searched.’ Lord Cavandish felt that I had just opted for the easiest and most logical conclusion.
‘Shall I have your carriage brought around to the front of the house?’ my father asked.
‘I see no harm in having a second look,’ Lord Cavandish agreed, to humour his host.
By the time the carriage was at the front driveway of the manor, my mother and Lady Cavandish had also joined us. Nanny Beat was observing quietly from the front door.
‘You may proceed, child.’ Father gave me leave to retrieve the item from the carriage.
I skipped down the stairs and was aided into the coach by the coachman. I went to the spot on the forward-facing seat where the watch had done its disappearing act, and stuck my tiny hand into the gap between the padded seat and the backrest. My fingers probed every nook and cranny until I found the missing item, which had slipped into the far corner, quite beyond the reach of someone with a larger arm.
‘Here it is!’ I held up the watch in triumph as I exited the carriage, and immediately noticed an extra nobleman standing among those cheering my success.
He was not one of the living, for there was no colour in his light-body. In fact, his life force was all concentrated within his head area, and the rest of his being was just a shadow the same as the shades that haunted our estates. It appeared that his spirit was weighed down by the mistakes of his earthly life, which were preventing him from moving on. Hence, this manifestation was a ghost in the true sense of the word.
My shocked expression did not go unnoticed.
‘What is it, child?’ my father inquired impatiently.
Don’t be afraid, said the ghostly fellow, finely attired in a slightly out-of-date suit. My brother, he motioned to Lord Cavandish, is in great danger and you’re the only person who can help me warn him in time.
‘Answer me, Ashlee!’ Father demanded, whereby my petrified eyes jumped to look at my father.