Chapter Three
Amy walked into the library as she sat back down on the couch and wrapped the blanket around her legs. She had started falling asleep as she snuck back into her bedroom and crawled back into bed with Rory. He hadn't noticed that she had gone and Amy had placed the journal in the drawer. The Doctor told her that it was alright to use the library, so long as she didn't damage any of first edition books, and she saw the tea and biscuits on the tray near the couch. Settling down on the couch, she opened the journal and started reading.
25 May 1746
It took a long time before I was well enough to get out of bed and was standing at the window, looking out at the lush grounds that surrounded Heatherfield.
Amy smiled as she remembered that the other Jamie had told her that Heatherfield was the ranch that Jamie inherited from his father-in-law and reached over, taking a chocolate biscuit off the tray.
(Amelia, have you ever been in a house where you knew there was something wrong, but couldn't explain what it was that was so wrong with it?)
"Yeah, I lived in a house like that," Amy said and sipped on some tea.
I wasn't sure if it was my illness that made me hear what sounded like screaming and moaning coming from the walls, but I did sense that something didn't want me here. Though now, thinking back on it, I know that the Doctor would have jumped at the chance to find out exactly what was going on.
"I bet," Amy said, nodding her head.
I didn't hear the door open, but did jump when someone tapped my back and, standing there with a look like she was about to faint, was a lass with long black hair and bright green eyes. She was wearing a light gray dress with a white apron around her waist, white stockings and black shoes. She had a sweet, pretty face and her hair was tied back with a black cord.
"Sorry, Suhr, I didnae mean tae scare you," she said with a small smile and I nodded, closing the dressing gown I was wearing.
"That is alright. Who are you?" I asked and a slight blush crossed her cheeks.
"I'm Molly and his Lordship told me that I was yours," she said and I frowned.
"You're my what?"
"I'm your maid, Suhr."
"Ah, well, I dinnae need one," I said with a small smile, but she shook her head, walking carefully toward me.
"His Lordship wouldnae be happy if he found out that I dinnae do my job," she said when the screaming sound filled the air and I saw the fear in her eyes.
"You heard that, aye?" I asked and she nodded, crossing herself. "What is it?"
"Never mind it, Suhr, come and let's get you dressed. Breakfast is almost ready," she said then turned and headed for the wardrobe. I watched her take out a shirt, trousers and a pair of boots and placed them on the bed. I walked to the bed, standing on the other side of the bed, and looked down at the clothes then sighed.
"Where're my clothes?" I asked and she gave me a confused look.
"These are your clothes."
"No, where's my kilt?"
"I dinnae understand."
"I was brought here from Culloden. You do ken that, aye?"
"Aye, we were told that."
"Then you must have seen what I was wearing. Where are my clothes?" I asked and felt the anger building inside my chest.
"Och, his Lordship burned them," she said and my heart sank to my feet.
"He…he…" was all I could say when I folded my hands into fists and looked at the ceiling. I didn't notice that she had walked to me when she took my hands and gently squeezed my fingers.
"Dinnae fash, Suhr, it is alright. His Lordship burned them because they were soaked in mud and blood. You're better off wearing these," she said as she glanced at the clothes and I sighed, nodding my head. Taking my hand, she helped me get dressed as she buttoned the shirt and shyly smiled at me. She sat me down on the chair then went to get the brush and brushed my hair. After a few minutes she stood back and smiled, tilting her head to one side.
"There, now you look presentable," she said and I softly laughed. Standing up, I followed her out of the room and we went downstairs.
"Ok, I understand that they would burn his clothes, but what's with the screaming stuff?" Amy asked while she sipped on the tea and turned the page.
I was impressed with how elegant and posh the inside of the house was and met the head of the staff, an older gentleman called Simon, and he reminded me of an old, cross bulldog who had just got his balls removed.
Amy cupped her mouth as she laughed and heard the TARDIS making a grumbling noise that sounded liked laughter.
"This way, Suhr," Molly said as she led me down the hallway when a loud bang echoed down the hallway and some of the framed paintings rattled on the wall. Molly crossed herself again as I sighed and she led me to the double doors to the small dining room. I was nervous as she opened the doors and led me into the room. We walked toward the table when I looked at the people seated around the table and Anne gave me a chilly look.
"Ah, good morning," the man at the head of the table said and stood up. He was a tall man with brown hair with gray hair at his temples and hazel eyes and was wearing a dark suit, a white shirt and brown shoes.
"Good morning," I said with a nod of my head.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Commander Paul Watertin of the British Royal Army and this is my wife, Pamela," he said as I looked at the tall woman looking at me and she had long brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a light cream color gown and shoes and her hair was pinned up against her head.
"Good morning, Lady," I said and she smiled at me.
"Good morning, James, how are you feeling?" Lady Pamela asked.
"I'm fine," I said and she nodded then I looked at Commander Watertin, who looked at the young man sitting to his left. The young man was as tall as Commander Watertin and had brown hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing a dark suit, a white shirt and black shoes and he looked at me with his eyes half open.
"This is my son, Malcolm," Commander Watertin said and Malcolm softly sighed. Sitting next to Malcolm was a tall, young man with black curly hair and green eyes. He was also dressed in a dark suit, a white shirt and black shoes, but was wearing wire rimmed glasses and was looking down at his hands. "And this is Niles Grey."
"Morning," I said and they nodded at me.
"Who's this Niles guy?" Amy asked, but Jamie didn't say who Niles was and she sighed, looking at the page.
"This is my daughter, Katherine, and her husband, Michael," Commander Watertin said and Katherine and Michael Wicker III nodded at me. Katherine was tall with long brown hair and eyes and Michael was tall with blonde hair and green eyes. Michael was wearing a grey suit, a white shirt and black shoes and Katherine wore a light blue dress and blue shoes and her hair was pulled back against her head, tied by a dark blue ribbon.
"Good morning, James," she said with a smile and I smiled back.
"And this is my daughter, Susan," Commander Watertin said and I looked at the tall, young lady with long brown hair and hazel eyes. She was wearing a white dress with a lace collar and black shoes and she shyly smiled at me.
"I'm glad that you're feeling better," Susan said softly and I nodded.
"And, finally, this is my daughter, Anne," Commander Watertin said as I looked at Anne, who was wearing a rose colored dress and black shoes and she glared at me.
"We've met," she said with a growl and Lady Pamela looked from her to me and I sighed.
"What is the matter, Darling?" she asked and Anne looked at her lap and shook her head.
"Nothing," Anne said and Commander Waterin blinked and nodded to the chair next to Anne. I sat down when the servants placed the covered plates in front of us and my stomach growled. After taking the lid off the plate, I started eating then, suddenly, a loud screech filled the air while a loud bang rocked the framed paintings, but no one noticed.
"What, how could they not notice screaming and painting nearly coming off the walls?!" Amy asked as she looked at the page and blinked.
"Did anyone hear that?" I asked, looking at the others.
"Hmmm, just ignore it," Commander Watertin said as he sipped on the tea, but the screeching grew louder and I shrugged, going back to the food on my plate.
"Right, that is really odd," Amy said as she nibbled on the biscuit when Rory walked to the couch and she looked up at him.
"Coming to bed?" he asked as she saw the bookmark on the table when she placed the bookmark where she left off and took Rory's hand. He helped her up as they walked out of the library and Amy wondered what was making the noises that Jamie was hearing.