Chapter Twenty-five
Angel would have liked to talk Susy out of visiting the Hamilton Estate home, but he knew her mind was made up and resigned himself to it. As they drove in past the gate he could see that it looked familiar to her. He recognized the house but little else.
"The trees have grown, but most of it looks the same," she said almost surprised that she could remember from so long ago.
Bethie met them at the door, and again Susan was startled by her appearance. It made her feel so uncomfortable to realize she knew this stranger from somewhere. Bethie told them to go into the sitting room, that her grandmother would join them shortly, but that she was on her way to school.
The house and furnishings looked the same as Susan had remembered them. At first it didn't seem to bother her, not until they walked into the sitting room where they had met Darla that fateful night in 1762. She tried very hard to not let it show but Angel saw it in her eyes, the pain she had felt those two nights. He really couldn't remember taking her life, but he could see the way she had looked, so beaten, covered only in a bedspread. He put his arm around her, "We don't have to do this."
At that moment Margaret arrived at the doorway carrying a tray of tea and cookies. "I'm so glad you were able to visit today. Are you feeling better?"
"Oh, I am, thank you," Susan smiled.
They made a little small talk about the weather and such when Susan saw a black and white photo of Bethie and a pony on the fireplace mantle. "What a lovely picture you have of your granddaughter."
"Oh, that isn't Beth. That is me back in the '40's with my pony, Babe."
The smile disappeared off of Susan's face, "You?" Suddenly the memories crowded into her mind as she could see the girl playing with her dolls and tea set in her room, playing in the garden, the little dog who could beg for treats, and one day broke the little girl's heart when a horse kicked and killed it. "Patches", Susan blurted out, "The name of your dog."
It was Margaret's turn to loose the smile on her face. "How did …?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, sometimes I'm a little bit psychic," Susan tried to cover her tracks.
Angel spoke up, "Even a bit more in her condition."
"Oh, I've heard of that," Margaret said, the smile returning. "Maybe you will know a little about the goings on in this house then."
"A little", Susan agreed.
Margaret took them for a tour of the rest of the house. "This is the master bedroom, sorry I can't show it to you. It has been locked for as long as I can remember and there seems to be no key for it."
Susan went over to the small space between the two doors that had been Charles' and her rooms. She knelt down and removed a piece of loose baseboard. Behind it sat the skeleton key that Susan recognized as the missing one. She smiled at Margaret and shrugged her shoulders, "A bit psychic." Margaret couldn't say anything; she was rather shocked by this unusual guest.
Angel followed the women into the room, trying to stay close to Susan in case anything would go wrong. She didn't seem to be too badly affected by it, at least she didn't let it show. She unbolted the door between the two rooms and walked into the one that had been hers. Margaret continued to watch, still very puzzled. Susan went over to the window with the thick glass and looked out to the stables. They had been completely changed and as she closed her eyes she could see the fire that had consumed the original building. Angel noticed the goose bumps on her arms, removed his own jacket and placed it over her shoulders, which Susan hardly even noticed. A tear slid down over her cheek as she remembered the end of their haven.
Margaret gave out a loud gasp when she suddenly realized the truth. Draped over her shoulders the coat hung like the bed covers, and the tear … she had seen it so many times before near that window. "Elizabeth?" she whispered.
Susan turned to her, "Margie, it has been a long time."
Angel grabbed Margaret as her knees went weak and helped her to sit on the bed. "You are Angel?" she asked looking at him. "How? Brother Francis said you would find your love. I thought it was just a release."
"Its okay Margie," Susan patted her arm, but jumped as she felt great heat on her hand. Turning she said, "Angel, I must see the passageway." She returned to the other room.
Angel spoke up, "Susan maybe we should leave."
"No, please stay", Margaret, said, shakily. "Elizabeth was good to me."
Susan went into the other room, opened the wardrobe door and stepped into it. Her foot hit something that slid away and hit the wall with a clatter. She bent over, picked it up and instantly the tears filled her eyes. She walked back to the other room where Angel was still comforting Margaret.
When he saw her eyes he immediately went over to her. "What is it?"
She opened her hand to show the heart and cross that matched the one that Angel wore. He held her close as she cried quietly into his shoulder then finally she said, "It's all real, Angel. It's not just a dream."
Margaret sat and watched them, tears also covered her cheeks. "I'm so glad you found him."
Susan sat down beside her. "We should go back to the cottage Margie, but we'll try to come back to visit and talk about everything that has happened."
As they walked back through the master bedroom Susan ran her finger over a little table near the door before pulling it closed behind her, locking it and returning the key to its spot. As they walked down the stairs she asked, "Where is Charles buried?"
"Actually there has been no record of his death or where her was buried, although it may have been at his summer home."
"I'm sorry to have startled you so. Margaret," Susy said as they left the house.
"I've always wondered what really happened when you left." Again tears filled Margaret's eyes as they said goodbye, and drove out the gate.
Angel asked, "You okay?" as they were driving away.
"We may have a problem."
"The baby?"
"No, everything is fine that way. There was no dust in his room."
"And?"
"Charles hated dust. If he found any he would make the maid scrub everything down. I never checked the passageway, but something isn't right. I don't think that he is dead."
They drove in silence a little way when Angel spoke, "I thought that the burning was gone. When Martha touched you the other day it didn't hurt you, but Margaret was another matter."
"I haven't figured it out yet but some people just make a slight tingling feeling while others burn like before. Martha took me to a doctor when she knew I was pregnant, but I couldn't let him touch me, it burned so much."
"You haven't seen a doctor yet? The booklet said it is important."
"I know but I'll have to find one with the right touch. I'm taking my vitamins anyway."
As they walked up to the cottage Angel put his arm around her. "It is good that we will be going home soon. Get you to doctor, and go where we don't have to worry about Charles."
"We won't be alone though."
"We'll be together, Lamb."
"Forever?"
"Forever."