“Miss Whitmore, are you quite alright?”
I had stopped walking, the blood in my veins was turning to ice as I took in Salem’s last words. Sometimes I think Charlie would rather I just disappeared…Could that be the answer to all of this? Salem was dead because his stepbrother had wanted to inherit the entire family fortune? The scene in front of me started to blur and I could feel a throbbing in my temples.
“Miss Whitmore?”
I managed to snatch myself back to the present.
“Yes, just, a headache. I feel a bit dizzy of all a sudden.”
“Please, sit down, perhaps I have been walking us too far. We’ve reached the folly now anyway, look.”
In front of us was a mock turret built from dark, brown stone. It was not very tall, maybe just ten feet in height, and looked slightly absurd, stuck here in the middle of the garden. There was a small enclave carved into the bottom, big enough for a few people to sit down on. Salem helped me over and we sat next to each other. We remained silent for a few minutes as I slowly managed to steady my breathing.
“Feeling better?”
“Yes, thank you,” I lied, “I think the heat just got to me.”
“Then we should get you back to the house and find you some water.” Salem flashed that warm smile at me once more and I noticed how it completely lit up his face and his eyes.
“I think that’s a good idea.”
He took my hand and helped me up and we began to walk slowly back towards the house. I had so many questions racing around in my mind but I knew I would have to tread carefully. Casually, I asked,
“Do you really think Charlie would want you to just disappear?”
Salem glanced down at me, his expression curious.
“Honestly, yes, I don’t think it would bother him at all.”
“But, you don’t think he would ever do anything to, you know, make that happen?”
“Charlie!” Salem threw back his head, “Ha! Charlie maybe a greedy bastard, but he’s also a cowardly one. I don’t think he’ll go Macbeth on me just yet.”
I felt a sense of relief at those words but I also still knew that Salem would disappear, possibly killed, possibly killed by his own stepbrother. I would need to find out more about this Charlie, and keep a close eye on Salem.
“You must be looking forward to the wedding.” I said, changing the subject.
“Yes,” agreed Salem warmly, “Lionel is a good man, he’ll take good care of Marribelle.”506Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqrI1MFjhA
We were getting closer to the manor now, and I spied other guests wandering around in the gardens. Salem led me back through the glass doors into the drawing room that was currently empty.
“Please take a seat, I’ll fetch you some water.”
I sat myself down in one of the armchairs while Salem went to a small drinks cabinet and poured me a glass of water. He handed me the glass and I took a long drink, feeling the cool liquid sooth my throat and nerves. My mind was still racing with what I should do next. My first thought was that I had to find Salem, my Salem, and tell him what I had found out so far. Maybe we could come up with a plan together. But if I left here, who would watch this Salem? I still had no idea when, or how, Salem was going to die.
“How are you feeling now, Miss Whitmore?”
“Much better, thank you. And please, call me Lacey.”
“Only if you will call me Salem.” He said, that smile back again. I had a hard time taking my eyes away.
“Of course. Thank you, Salem, for showing me the gardens, but I really must be heading back to my hotel now.”
“That is a shame. Could I not persuade you to return for dinner?”
“I’m afraid I can’t. But, maybe tomorrow? If that would be OK with your mother?”
“I can guarantee it will. You will be my guest. Shall we say seven O’clock?”
“That would be lovely. I’ll see you then.” I backed away to the door and then made my way to into the main hall. There were a couple of maids on the other side so I casually made my way to the stairs before running up them, nodding at the occasional people I passed. I made my way quickly to the second-floor hallway, making sure there was no-one around to see me clamber inside the grandfather clock.
As I opened the grandfather clock into my own time I saw that Salem was still waiting patiently for me. He was sat on the floor with his legs stretched out in front of him. He looked relieved as I emerged.
“Lacey? Are you OK? You’ve been gone for ages. Did anything happen?” Where to start?
“Yes, I’m fine and yes, something happened.”
The expression of my face must have given me away because Salem instantly looked worried.
‘What? What is it? What did you find out?”
I stood up and brushed my clothes down.
“Well, the clock did take me back to 1924. The family were all there getting ready for the wedding…”
“Did you speak to them?” interrupted Salem.
“Yes. In fact, the first person I spoke to was-you.”
“What?!”
I spread my arms out in front of me.
“You’re there! In this house. In 1924.”
Salem looked as if someone had punched him in the stomach. He slumped back down to the ground.
“I’m alive in this house?” he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
“Yes, you’re alive. At the moment.”
“What do you mean, at the moment?”
“I was talking to you-Salem-and he told me that you and your stepbrother, from 1924, don’t get along and that there is some big problem with the inheritance, he doesn’t want you to have anything,” I realised I was babbling, “Charlie, you’re stepbrother, Salem thinks he might do something to you, Salem, so that he can get all of the family money.”
Salem stared at me for a moment.
“I don’t understand.” He said at last. That was hardly surprising given my explanation. I took a deep breath and tried again.
“Your mother died when you were young and your father remarried a very wealthy woman. She already had two children, Charlie, your stepbrother, and Marribelle, she’s the one getting married, to a Lionel, something. Anyway, your stepbrother Charlie doesn’t want you getting any of his mother’s and grandparents’ inheritance. He doesn’t think you should have any of it, but its already written into the will. Salem joked that Charlie would be happy if you just,” I paused for a moment to emphasis the last word, “disappeared.”
“I said that?!”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes. Salem, do you remember any of this? Anything that might help us?”
“No, sorry but its like you’re talking about someone else’s life.”
“I’m going back there tomorrow.”
Salem looked surprised.
“You are?”
“Yes, I was asked to dinner,” I decided not to mention by whom, “so I thought it would be a good way to find out some more about you and Charlie.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, we are talking about messing around with time here? How are you even going to pass yourself as being from 1924? What if someone sees you coming in and out of the clock? What if they try it?!” Salem’s voice had risen in volume and I looked at him with mild amusement.
“You’re weren’t that concerned about all these things earlier.”
“No, but, I’ve had some time to think, while you were gone and,” he averted his eyes, “I was worried about you. I kept thinking about all the things that might happen to you and,” he shrugged his shoulders, “maybe you shouldn’t go back.”
I studied him silently for a few moments before replying.
“Salem, I have to go back,” I said quietly, “It’s the only way to find out what happened to you, maybe we can even save you.”
His eyes found mine again and I saw him mentally relenting. His head dropped as he finally agreed.
“OK, but be careful.”
I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
“No worries there! Now, let’s start working on a plan to figure out what is going on with this Charlie McClaire.”506Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNXqLe5RAk
