“Come to bed, poppet,” he called softly when she hesitated.
She wet her lips and walked to the bed.
Gretl and Baron had greeted her at the bathroom and they followed her. She paused to rub their heads and then commanded quietly, “Down,” and they both settled at her side of the bed.
She turned to him and hesitated, so Jack leaned forward, took her hand and gave her a gentle tug. She came toward him, he caught her at the waist and pulled her over his body as he yanked the covers up to her waist.
She lifted up with a forearm in his chest and looked down at him.
“Jack.” Her sweet, musical voice was tentative, her glorious grey eyes were stormy and she announced, “We need to talk.”
“We do, poppet,” Jack agreed and he watched her face register surprise.
For the purposes of containment, as well as other reasons, Jack’s arm tightened at her waist and his other hand slid up her back to capture her hair in a loose fist.
Then he said, “Belle, I need you to tell me about that night.”
Her body jerked before it grew tense and her eyes, stormy before with whatever thoughts she carried, were tempestuous now.
“Why?” she asked, the thread of fear starkly evident in her tone.
He used her hair to pull her face to his and he touched his lips to hers before letting her draw back and answered, “Because I need to know and because you need to share so you can let it go.”
“Jack, I don’t think –”
“Belle, love, we need to talk about this.”
“But, you –”
“Tell me, poppet, say it fast then it’ll be over,” he encouraged.
“But –”
His arm tensed and she stopped speaking, “Belle, tell me, I need to know.”
She gazed at him a minute, her cloudy eyes dark then she closed them tight, opened them and whispered, “I don’t want to tell you because you aren’t going to believe me.”
It was then, his body tensed.
He forced himself to relax and asked, “Why wouldn’t I?”
She shook her head and in return Jack gently shook her.
“Belle, whatever happened, I’ll believe you.”
She wet her lips nervously before she asked, “You will?”
“Yes, I will,” he replied firmly.
He watched her swallow then she said, “It’s going to sound daft.”
“It won’t sound daft.”
Her eyes moved from his to his shoulder then his ear and he watched as she came to a decision before she nodded. Her gaze finally came to rest on his and she spoke.
“Okay, you need to know.” He nodded in encouragement and she continued, “I’d just got off the phone with you. I was hungry and I told the dogs we were going to see about dinner.” She stopped talking and Jack’s fingers released her hair but slid through its length, coming back to slide through again and he felt her relax against him as she went on, “I was walking down the hall. I was preoccupied, the dogs were with me and then, all of a sudden…” she paused again and took in a breath but didn’t continue.
“Go on, poppet,” Jack urged, still stroking her hair as his other hand started to draw circles on the small of her back.
She nodded again and whispered, “I was at the top of the stairs. The dogs, they had pressed close to my legs and for some reason, they started to growl.” Jack stopped his hands stroking and circling and he wrapped his arms around her as she carried on in a barely there whisper, “It was strange. I started to ask them what was wrong but I saw…”
When she seemed to falter, Jack pressed gently, “Keep going, love.”
She shook her head but, her eyes locked on his, she said in a rush, “I saw movement on the stairs. It was Lewis. He was drifting up the stairs toward me. He was going so fast, Jack, so very fast. I could tell right away something was wrong.”
Jack’s arms convulsed but she kept talking.
“He stopped and shouted at me. I don’t remember what he said but I remember that he knew my name. He shouted my name and then…” Jack felt her body begin to tremble and her hand moved up, her fingers curled around his shoulder, digging in, holding on. “Jack, I swear, I felt a hand in my back and it pushed.” Tears came to her eyes and she whispered, “It pushed me down the stairs.”
Jack’s arms spasmodically tightened and it took effort to loosen his hold.
“Do you believe me?” she asked softly, the tears still shimmering in her eyes.
“Of course I do, love,” he replied absently, his thoughts on Angus’s words, that a ghost couldn’t touch a human which meant, if Belle had been pushed, someone had pushed her. “Did you see someone there?” Jack asked.
She shook her head. “I didn’t get the chance to look.”
“The dogs, you said they were growling. Do you think they saw Lewis?”
Belle kept shaking her head. “Lewis was in front of me but when I glanced down at the dogs, they were looking behind us.”
“Did you feel anything?” Jack enquired.
Her face turned from fearful to confused and her head tilted to the side before she asked, “Feel anything? You mean the hand in my back?”
“No. Anything else. Did you feel anything?” Jack repeated, “Hear anything? A presence. Did you sense someone there?”
She shook her head. “No, nothing. But the dogs did and I think Lewis saw something.”
“You didn’t hear footsteps, sense someone moving behind you?”
She kept shaking her head. “Nothing. But my mind was somewhere else. I just woke up from a nap and had talked to you and…” She stopped and her eyes slid to his ear.
“Belle, love, look at me,” Jack commanded gently and after a long moment, when her gaze finally moved to his, he urged, “And what?”
“And the baby,” she whispered and his chest, which had relaxed, got tight again at her mentioning their child. “I was talking to the baby about you, before you called. And, when I was walking down the hall, I was thinking about dinner and you and wondering how long it would take for you to get home…”
At those words, instantly, the tightness in his chest released and he cupped the back of Belle’s head and pulled her face close to his throat.
She resisted but only a little before her body relaxed into his.
When it did, Jack asked, “What were you saying to the baby about me?”
He was gratified to feel her nuzzle closer, pressing her forehead against his jaw as her fingers clenched his shoulder. “Just telling him that you were right. I’d met Cassandra and Angus that evening and they were so strange. I was telling the baby you were right about it not going back to normal and boring.”
“I was right, my love, things are definitely still not normal and boring and, with those two and your father in the house, I fear things will not be normal and boring for some time.”
Her body tensed then eased and he couldn’t believe his ears when she let out a short, strangled giggle.
His arms clutched her even closer and he was beyond thrilled when she didn’t resist but, instead, melted.
After several long, satisfying moments, Belle shared on a whisper, “I know you’re going to think I’m even crazier, but, Jack, I’m scared of the stairs.”
“That isn’t crazy, Belle, not after what happened.”
Her fingers pressed into his shoulder and she cuddled even closer. “Okay, but, this is even crazier,” she pressed ever closer and admitted, “Jack, I think there might be something in this house that wants to hurt me.”
He rolled to his side, taking her with him and he placed his fist under her chin and tipped it up so he could look in her eyes. They were still stormy with worry but the tempest had subsided.
“Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Angus and Cassandra.”
She tilted her head into the pillow and, seeing it and loving it when she did that, Jack couldn’t stop his smile.
“We will?” she asked.
He nodded. “We will, poppe
t. They’ve been working while we’ve been away and they assure me you’re protected.”
Regardless of the fact that there was evidence to suggest that there was something amiss in his house and something mysterious about his connection with Belle, Jack still thought Angus and Cassandra’s assertions were rubbish.
But he knew Belle didn’t.
And he was willing to use whatever he could to calm that storm in her eyes.
His tactic succeeded.
She took a shuddering breath and gave him a tentative smile.
Jack allowed himself a moment to let her smile settle in his chest and his gut then he gave Belle a squeeze before he rolled and turned out the light.
When he had them settled, the front of Belle’s body cocooned to his, she spoke softly, “Jack, we need to talk about something else.”
“What, love?”
She hesitated and said, “This.”
“This?”
“This. Here. Now. You. Me.”
He gave her a squeeze and whispered, “No, poppet. The one thing that we don’t need to talk about is this. Here. Now. You or me.”
“But –”
“All of that is the only thing that’s good and right in this fucking crazy mess.”
She was quiet then she asked, “It is?”
“Don’t you feel it?” Jack asked in return.
Her reply was breathy and hesitant, “I want to.”
He gave her another squeeze. “Then do it.”
“But, the baby… it’s what drew us –”
Jack gave her another, tighter squeeze, halting her words. “I thought I said we weren’t going to have this discussion.”
“But we have to!” she cried, her voice beginning to rise.
His hand came up to fist again in her hair and he used it to pull her head back gently.
Then his lips sought hers in the dark and he reminded her, “Belle, if you remember, there was no baby when I made you mine.”
“Jack –”
He cut her off, “It’s a sad fact that there’s no baby now. It hurts to think about it. It makes my chest tight and my gut ache. But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still mine.”
“It makes your chest tight?” she whispered.
“And my gut ache.”
“Really?” she breathed.
“Yes, my love.” He tucked her face in his throat and went on, “But even with our loss, after your accident, I still felt lucky because I didn’t lose you.” He spoke cautiously, not wishing to feed into her fears but needing her to understand. “You could have been hurt in a much worse way, poppet, and, you being here, in our bed, in my arms, for that, I feel lucky.”
He could barely hear her when she asked, “You, James Bennett, feel lucky?”
“Yes, poppet,” he tipped his head so his lips moved against her hair. “I couldn’t lose you and, I promise you, my love, we’ll make another baby when the time is right. For now, we need to just be. You and me, we need to just be.”
“You and me,” she whispered.
“You and me,” he repeated.
“You…” she hesitated then said her next words in a way that made them sound impossible, “like me.”
He smiled into her hair. “Yes, Belle,” he gathered her closer before finishing, “I definitely like you.”
And, after saying those ridiculous words that in no way defined how he felt about her, he couldn’t stop his chuckle.
She stiffened in his arms and asked, “Why is that funny?”
“I’ll explain some other time.”
“Explain now,” she demanded.
“Some other time.”
“Jack –”
“Poppet,” he interrupted her and then ordered, “Sleep.”
“But –”
“Sleep.”
“I think –”
He gave her a gentle shake and demanded, “Belle, sleep.”
She held herself stiff and then muttered, “Bossy.”
Jack smiled into the dark and advised, “I’m afraid you’re going to have to get used to that, love.”
It took her a while but, finally, she relaxed and said on a sigh, “I guess I’ll try.”
And, again, he couldn’t stop his chuckle.
* * * * *
Jack’s Sunday was not quite complete.
Because in the middle of the night, the dogs started barking loudly.
He jerked awake and felt Belle do the same in his arms.
“What the fuck?” he muttered but before he could ascertain what was wrong, the door to the bedroom flew open.
Jack came up and twisted in bed as the room suddenly flooded with light and Jack stared in stunned disbelief as Angus and Cassandra charged in, Angus, wielding a whip and Cassandra brandishing what looked to be…
He stared incredulously…
A twig.
“We’ll not harm ye, wee ghosty!” Angus boomed, his eyes across the room.
“She’s vaporising!” Cassandra shouted.
The dogs barked.
Jack threw the covers back and knifed out of bed.
His body went rock-solid when he heard an ethereal, boy’s voice shout, “Myrtle!”
At the sound, Jack’s body stayed still but his head whipped around and he saw Angus circle the whip over his head but when he flicked it out, it fell to the ground.
“The turret!” Cassandra yelled and ran from the room.
Angus, his kilt awhirl, followed her.
“Don’t hurt them!” Belle shouted. She was out of bed and running after Angus and Cassandra, the dogs, still barking, at her heels.
Jack ran after her and caught her at the waist in the hall.
“Don’t hurt them!” Belle screamed after the departing Angus and Cassandra, her body straining against Jack’s hold and Angus whirled back.
“We won’t hurt them, lass.”
Then he was gone.
Belle turned urgently to Jack. “Jack, don’t let them hurt the children.”
Jack grasped her hand and tugged her swiftly down the hall to Lila’s room. Turning the handle, he shoved open the door, switched on the light and Lila came immediately up in bed and stared at them.
Before she could say a word or even blink the sleep from her eyes, Jack ordered, “Do not let Belle leave this room and keep the dogs close.”
Then, without waiting for a response, he left.
He went back to Belle and his room, pulled on jeans, a t-shirt and trainers and ran to the eastern turret where he knew most sightings of the child ghosts took place.
He was climbing the spiral, stone stairwell at a run, taking the steps two at a time, when he saw Angus and Cassandra descending.
“We lost them,” Cassandra informed him, sounding disgusted.
Jack planted himself on the stairs and glowered up at the witch and the Scot.
Then he demanded to know, enunciating his words perfectly clearly, “What. The. Fuck!”
“We’ll talk downstairs, lad,” Angus said in a soft boom.
“What the fuck?” Jack repeated.
“Downstairs.”
“Here,” Jack clipped, “now.”
Angus and Cassandra shared a glance then they looked back at Jack.
“We figured something like this would happen. Belle and you coming back, the children would make an appearance to be sure you were okay,” Cassandra explained, “We gave ourselves a glamour so they wouldn’t sense us and hung out. We both felt her when she arrived in your room.”
Jack ignored the absurd notion that they’d given themselves “a glamour”, whatever the fuck that was, and bit out, “Who?”
“Myrtle,” Cassandra answered.
“We wanted to catch her before she could disappear again so we could ask her some questions,” Angus added.
“So you came charging into our room, likely scaring the hell out of her, and her brother by the sounds of it, which means they’ll disappear again,” Jack snapped.
“We didn??
?t think she’d get away,” Angus replied.
“Well she fucking well did,” Jack returned.
“That was unexpected,” Cassandra muttered.
Jack’s eyes sliced to the witch, “Unexpected? You’re supposed to be clairvoyant, for fuck’s sake.”
She pressed her lips together and had the grace to look embarrassed.
“After this debacle, I’m supposed to trust that you two can keep my family safe, Belle safe, while ridding this castle of ghosts?” Jack asked and his voice was dangerous.
“So you believe in them now.” Angus grinned his demented grin.
Jack felt his jaw grow hard before he said, “I didn’t see them but I heard the boy and you didn’t answer my question.”
“Well, that’s something, it’ll be better if you believe,” Cassandra put in.
Jack’s angry gaze swung to her, he ignored her comment and commanded, “Perhaps one of you will answer my fucking question.”
“Calm down, mate. It isn’t like this gig is easy. It’s not like it’s a love potion. Ghosts can be unpredictable,” Cassandra told him.
“Especially child ghosts. They’re always the toughest to deal with,” Angus grumbled.
“One of you, I don’t care who,” Jack cut in, “have two seconds to give me one good reason not to toss you out on your asses right fucking now.”
“Cassandra leaves, half of her protection goes with her,” Angus replied swiftly. “It’s connected to her essence. There will be some protection but we’re guessing, considering the unusualness of this job, that you need all you can get, lad.”
Jack glared at the Scot.
“And, regardless of this, Angus is the best in the business. You couldn’t get better,” Cassandra put in.
“Thanks, Cass.” Angus grinned at her.
“Well, it’s the truth,” Cassandra said to Angus.
“I know that. Still, nice to hear,” Angus returned.
“Fucking hell,” Jack muttered.
Angus looked at Jack and his face grew serious. “I promised you, I’d no’ let you down. This is a setback but, Bennett, that promise holds true. I’ll no’ let you down.”
“You need to be patient,” Cassandra added.
“And you need to understand that Belle and my room is off-limits,” Jack returned.
“We can’t –”Cassandra started.
“Off-limits,” Jack repeated firmly.