‘I know, I sound crazy, right, but when you live in this kind of remote place with only a dog and the spirits for company, you would feel the same.’
He turned and walked away, leaving Ben staring after him. Poor Shep struggled to get to his feet, but he did and hobbled down the steps after Amos. Ben wondered what the hell they were dealing with here.
SIXTEEN
Morgan relished the warmth from the tea cup she cradled in her hands combined with the heat from the log burning stove. It was so wonderful, she didn’t know if she would be able to move from this sofa when it was time to leave. Ettie’s eyes sparkled in the warmth of the candlelight, and Morgan wondered why she had left if so long to visit the only woman she had left in her life that was tied to her by blood.
‘You’re busy, I get that, Morgan. I just miss seeing your beautiful face.’
‘How did you know I was thinking that?’
‘You were staring at me a little bit too intensely with regret in those green eyes that doesn’t belong there. I have never met anyone as selfless as you and, if I’m honest, I’ve been a little bit busy myself and should have made more of an effort.’
‘You have? What have you been doing, Ettie? I love hearing what you’ve been up to.’
Her aunt’s cheeks flushed a deep red. ‘Well, I am a bit embarrassed to say this, but his name is Ernest, Ernie for short, although if you ask me it’s just the same length and Ernest sounds so much nicer.’
Morgan was grinning so hard her cheeks were aching. ‘You have a guy? Why did I not know this? Where did you meet him? What are his prospects?’
Ettie had just taken a delicate sip of her tea, and she coughed, spluttered and then sent it spraying in Morgan’s direction as she snorted loudly and giggled. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy.’ She passed Morgan some tissues that she pulled out of the box next to her.
Morgan blotted the front of her face and blouse, still grinning. ‘I’m so happy for you, Ettie.’
‘Thank you and between you and me he has very good prospects, very wealthy, but I am obviously not interested in that side of things. The richest people in the world are usually the meanest. The guy takes me out on dates, romantic walks, he can cook too.’
‘Sounds perfect, when’s the wedding?’
Ettie reached over and gently slapped Morgan’s arm. ‘Cheeky, I might ask the same of you. Please don’t tell me that you and Ben have still not got your act together and agreed to love each other until death us do part.’
‘Actually, Ben’s been freaking out about that. Declan was mad at him for not proposing to me in New York, but to be fair to Ben, I didn’t expect him to, anyway. I was so excited to be going to one of my bucket list destinations, getting engaged wasn’t even on my agenda. I’ve been thinking about asking him to marry me though. What do you think?’
‘I think you would be a fool not to; Ben is understandably worried you’ll say no. I think he doesn’t want to scare you away either. Would you have said yes if he’d asked?’
Morgan nodded. ‘In a heartbeat. I love him more than I ever knew it was possible to love someone, well most of the time. He’s been annoying me at work lately.’ She smiled, and Ettie did too. ‘But no relationship is ever a hundred per cent perfect.’
‘That, my girl, is perfectly normal. I couldn’t work with the man I lived with and the fact that you and Ben still make a great team when you’re in each other’s hair all the time is a testament to how much you do love each other. You should ask him under a full moon, when she is round and complete in the sky. It will make for a happy marriage, signalling that the two of you are as whole and complete with each other.’
‘Thanks, I’ll think about that, Ettie. Oh, you threw me. Are you purposely trying to distract me from the reason I’m here?’
‘Would I do that to you?’
Morgan laughed. ‘I need to know all about the old summer camp on Buttermere fell.’ Ettie looked dejected. ‘Please, it’s very important, or at least it could be.’
‘I know, I’m sorry for being so secretive. Do you know the full history of the place?’
Morgan shook her head. ‘I heard the ghost stories when I was a kid at school, but until last night hadn’t had cause to pay them much heed.’
Ettie sipped some more of her tea, before placing the cup and saucer onto the old pitch pine blanket box that served as her coffee table.
‘How much of this is true and how much is local legend is for you to dig deeper and decide. I’m just telling you what I know about the place.’
‘That’s all I’m asking of you.’
‘Good. Well, let me see, I think it first opened its doors in 1888.’
‘The same year that Jack the Ripper was running riot around Whitechapel?’
Ettie nodded. ‘Yes, probably. Amos’s great-great-great grandparents moved here from London looking for a suitable place to open a camp site. It was very revolutionary and forward thinking of them. From what I gather it did very well. It was kindof like the original glamping place way before anyone had heard of it. There was the mess hall, which is the only building still almost intact, although I say that loosely as it’s practically falling down according to Amos. I haven’t seen it for myself in a long time. There were clusters of canvas tents in a semi-circle, and each one had its own name. Holidaymakers would travel from all over to be given a number and told which group they were in. It had only been open for six months when they lost their first guest.’
