The Ghost Who Loved Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

again, tell him I’ve gone out and you do not know when I’ll return.”
    “Are you sure of this, Your Ladyship?” Annie appeared uncertain, the outstretched note clutched in her hand.
    Elizabeth bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. “Just do it, Annie! We depart tomorrow. I see no need to make a scene before we leave.”
    Annie walked to her bedside in determination. “My lady, I’d never think it my place to be saying it, but Mr. Wakefield deserves better than to be ignored at a time like this. Won’t ye even speak to the man and hear him out?”
    “What do I say to him?” Elizabeth wailed and rolled over, clutching a sodden handkerchief. “His Lordship has seen to it whatever we could have had is now over. I’ll not let him ruin Anthony’s life by provoking an action we would all come to regret. If it is true Mr. Wakefield is to marry soon, I see no need to stand in his way. It is for the best we part.”
    “But it is you he loves, my lady, and you him,” Annie replied earnestly, reaching out to pat her hand. “Won’t ye just see him before we leave? I like Mr. Wakefield. He’s a decent man, my lady. Ye can’t just listen to His Lordship in this! Look where the man sends us! And all over some foul scheme of that bounder of a footman working for Lady Grifford.”
    “It would do no good to inform Edward that Mr. Wakefield wasn’t even at Lady Grifford’s home,” Elizabeth said sorrowfully, wiping away her tears and blowing her nose. “We have been seen enough about town in one another’s company. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t true and I went to bed quite alone that night. Mr. Wakefield and I are guilty of association, I fear. It is I who is at fault for encouraging him these last few months.”
    “But you love him, my lady!”
    “Don’t you see it is hopeless, Annie? We cannot be together! I am married and he must marry as well! I don’t wish to discuss it further!”
    “Why is His Lordship doing this to you, my lady?” Annie stared at her with a fearful look. “I’ve heard what they say of Westerleigh! They tell of ghosts clamoring in the halls at all hours! It’s haunted by the ghost of James Carlisle, they say.”  Her voice lowered to a mere whisper then. “They even say his ghost roams the hall in the night, that he seduces every lady who has ever lain under its roof!”
    Elizabeth sniffled at the girl’s hysterical outburst. “That is utter nonsense, Annie. What rubbish is this? Who told you such ghastly tales? I warrant it only to scare you half to death. There are no such things as ghosts. Westerleigh Castle is quite old but it is hardly haunted by its former master. I have read all of the histories and accounts of these ghost stories. I think it all just talk and silly superstition.”
    “Mrs. Fergus, the housekeeper who works at Carlisle Place, once served at Westerleigh when she was just a girl, my lady,” Annie insisted worriedly and bit her lip in dismay. “She said it’s all true, that the ghost preys upon virtuous ladies in the night. Many a female in the household over the years has received a visit from the ghost. He had his way with them! She said he makes trouble for all those who come and seek to stay. He drives them mad until they leave. Why do you think His Lordship means to sell the place?”
    Elizabeth’s head swiveled sharply at her words. “His Lordship means to sell Westerleigh? How do you know of this?”
    Annie fidgeted nervously under her prompting stare. “I can’t tell you how I know because I swore not to say. It was overheard at Carlisle Place. That awful Mr. Ives told His Lordship the estates were naught but a burden. His Lordship was talking of a price with a man, an agent fellow handling the sale. His Lordship was in quite a state of excitement after the man left.”
    “These silly tales won’t likely help His Lordship if he means to sell Westerleigh, Annie. And besides, he cannot sell Westerleigh. The castle is entailed with