The Ravenscar Dynasty Read Online Free PDF Page B

and that it was besieged by Cromwell’s parliamentarians, but it wasn’t hurt by them.’
    â€˜That’s correct.’ There was a knock on the door and Edward called, ‘Come in.’
    The door opened and Jessup, the butler, entered, inclining his head. ‘Master Edward, please excuse me.’
    â€˜Yes, Jessup?’
    â€˜Your mother wishes to speak with you. She’s awaiting you in the library.’

    â€˜Thank you, Jessup. You may tell her I shall be down in a few minutes.’
    â€˜Mrs Deravenel did ask me to say that it was a matter of some urgency, Master Edward.’
    â€˜Very well. Then I shall come right away.’

    The room wasn’t quite right. There was something curiously wrong about it.
    Edward stood in the doorway of the library, hesitating, not wishing to enter.
    It was far too dark, darker than usual, and this was not normal. It wasn’t like his mother not to have the electric lights blazing; she loved sunshine and brightness, which was why she had had the electricity installed in the first place.
    Only two small lamps were turned on in the vast room, even though it was late afternoon and gloomy as dusk descended outside. The shadow-filled room seemed decidedly odd to him, off-kilter. Unexpectedly, he was filled with sudden unease, felt a sense of desolation, and even of foreboding enveloping him.
    Opening the door wider, he finally went inside, peering ahead in the dim light. He could make out his mother standing next to a high-backed wingchair at the far end; behind her, wrapped in shadow, a figure lurked, stood staring out of the window, his back to the room. Edward couldn’t discern who it was.
    Slowly he approached his mother, his mind racing, every one of his senses alerted to trouble. Fear, he decided, fear is present here, and the hackles rose onthe back of his neck at this unexpected and irrational thought.
    Taking a deep breath, he murmured, ‘You wanted to see me, Mother.’
    She said nothing.
    Stepping over to the fireplace, Edward switched on a lamp standing on a small occasional table, turned to his mother. He noticed how dark her eyes were and huge in her face, and how they were filled with apprehension.
    Alarmed, he stared at her more intently, waiting. Now he realized her face was without expression, wiped blank, or so it seemed to him, and it looked as if it had been carved from stone. She was very pale, all the colour had drained away.
    â€˜What has happened? What is it?’ he pressed, his voice sharp, rising and filling with urgency.
    A shudder rippled through her and Cecily reached out, gripped the back of the chair as if to steady herself, her knuckles gleaming whitely in the faint glow from the lamp.
    Edward felt that fear spreading out from her, touching him, and he asked again, ‘ What’s wrong? ’
    In a rush of words she said in a low, tense voice, ‘It’s your father…there’s been an accident. A fire. Your father…and Edmund.’ She stopped, choked up, finished bleakly, ‘They’re both dead, Edward.’ Her voice broke, but she somehow managed to keep a strong hold on her emotions. In a wavering voice, she managed to say, ‘My brother and your cousin Thomas…they, too, were killed in the fire.’
    Stupefied, disbelieving, Edward gaped at her. He found it hard to take it in, couldn’t quite comprehendwhat she was saying. He was frozen to the spot where he stood, unable to move or speak.
    The figure near the window turned around and walked forward. Immediately Edward realized it was his cousin Neville Watkins, eldest son of Rick and brother of young Thomas.
    â€˜ I brought the bad news, Ned,’ Neville announced, his voice thick with emotion. The cousins clasped hands for a moment, and Neville exclaimed, ‘It was I who brought death and sorrow here!’
    Edward shook his head vehemently. ‘No! It’s just not possible,’ he cried. ‘Not