Chapter Four
I tried to keep my mind off Gracey Manor for the rest of the day. I watched a lot of cartoons and funny stuff, but ultimately something would always trigger my thoughts back to the bride in the attic, "you're a very fascinating young woman, Miss Fox", or that stupid painting.
When I woke up the next morning, the very last thing I wanted to do was to go to Gracey Manor, but then I got the weirdest phone call. After I had gotten dressed, the phone in my room rang.
"Hello?" I answered nonchalantly.
"Miss Fox?" I recognized the voice as um, what was the butler's name again?
"Yes?" I asked.
"This is Ramsley, Master Gracey's butler. I was just curious as to what time you would be arriving at the Manor today."
"Um…"I said, trying to think of a good time. I glanced at my watch. 10:30.
"I can be over by noon." I responded. I don't know what scared me more: getting a phone call from Ramsley or the fact that Gracey Manor has a telephone.
"I'll see you then." Ramsley said, and then he hung up.
Suddenly, I dialed John, my boss.
"Carr News Travel Bureau, San Antonio, John Gilligan speaking."
"John? It's Kimberly."
"Kim! How's it going?"
"Fine, um, hey, just wanted to know, how did the idea for the article about Gracey Manor come about?"
"Idea of a guy who works for the New Orleans bureau. He called the Manor and spoke with the guy who works there, who talked to the owner, and they thought it was a good idea. The New Orleans bureau thought it was a great idea, so they suggested it to the national bureau."
"Ok, why did I get the job?" I asked.
"Kim, you know that the national travel editor loved your piece on the Haunted Hotels."
"Why didn't they just give it to some guy from the national bureau?"
"I don't know. " John said. "I put in a few good words for you, and suddenly, Peterson's all 'I think Kimberly Fox would do a good job on the article.'" (Peterson is the head of the national travel department for Carr News.)
"Okay." I said. "Just curious."
I took my time getting to Gracey Manor. Even as I was walking to the mansion, I made sure to walk really slowly. I was half expecting Mr. Gracey to be waiting for me at the door, but thankfully, he wasn't. Neither was Ram-Ram….oh no, I forgot his name again! Damn it! I quietly walked up the stairs, hoping that I'd go unnoticed.
"Miss Fox, hello."
No such luck, damn it.
"Hi, um, Ram-sley?" I offered.
He nodded. Yes, I got it right!
"Um, I'll be going up to the attic now." I said quickly.
"I'll let Master Gracey know." He said, and walked off. I'm not waiting for him this time. I snuck up the stairs, and instead of going to the attic, I headed for that painting.
It's every bit as creepy today as it was yesterday, but at least I'm prepared for it. I examine it, looking for anything that will tell me more about it. But I don't see anything. Nothing at all. Crap. I headed back towards the attic.
Nothing had changed since yesterday, but I decided to explore a cabinet I had passed over the day before. I just figured it probably had some old clothes or something. When I opened it, I half expected a bunch of bats to fly out at me, but nothing happened aside from some dust on top of it scattering everywhere.
I sneezed and found that the cabinet had a lot of books and papers and stuff. The first book I reached for had a lot of photographs falling out of it. Most of them were of the older Graceys: Ambrose, Juliet, George, and Mary and one of a family I didn't recognize. Well, I recognized one member rather well…
It was me. Well, not really. It was my doppelganger, with a man and woman I'm assuming are her parents. Funny, her father looks kind of like my dad and her mother looks kind of like my mom, but not really. She looks kind of young in this picture, and she looks exactly how I looked in high school. They're all dressed pretty simply, well, simply for rich people in the 1800s. I flipped the photo around and read, "The Frees family. 1876."
I wonder why Gracey Manor would have a big painting of her, since she's not a Gracey or anything. I put the pictures aside, and pick up a giant book. Most of the info in it is a lot of the stuff I read yesterday, but the information in this book doesn't end with the death of Madame Leota.
According to the book, George Gracey's children were named Thomas, Angelina, and Edward. Thomas and Angelina Gracey died at the ages of 14 and 10, leaving 7 year old Edward the sole heir to the family's fortune. After his father died, sole ownership was passed on to Edward, who was supposedly very handsome and charming. He married the prettiest girl in New Orleans, Katherine Frees, in 1880 and they were very happy until Katherine's sudden death in 1885, when she was 23. After his wife's death, Edward hung himself. After that, Gracey Manor fell into silence, and rumors of the many hauntings started. Ownership of the Manor fell into various hands, before a descendent of Theodore Gracey, Ambrose Gracey's second oldest son, was able to get it. I wonder why Mr. Gracey's parents named him after an ancestor who committed suicide. Maybe it was also the name of his dad's college buddy or something.
I gulped nervously. I'll bet Katherine Frees is the same girl in the picture I just found. If she married into the Gracey family, it explains why her portrait's in the house. But it doesn't explain why she looks exactly like me! Okay, so I'm not going to get an answer about that, but still! And she was the prettiest girl in New Orleans? Even with my nose? Suddenly, I have to find out more about her.
I open up a second book, and it's full of photos, many of them of her. It's so scary, examining pictures of someone who lived way over a hundred years ago, who looks exactly like you. One is labeled "Katherine Gracey, 1882." Another simply says, "Katherine." I shuddered. This is so weird. I just can't get over it. I stood up and started looking around the attic, for nothing in particular. I found the same diary that I did yesterday. I tried to jimmy it open again, and it took me forever, but I finally got it open. I read an inscription on the cover: "Property of Katherine Frees" is there, but underneath it is written, "Property of Katherine Gracey".
Oh my God. This is her diary. Things just don't get any weirder than this. I wanted to know more about her and voila, there's her diary. There is something really very scary about that. My hands tremble as I page through it. The first couple of entries are boring, but then I get to an interesting one.
March 3, 1879
Today, we arrived at Gracey Manor, because Father is doing business with Master Gracey, who is the son of an old business associate of his. It's quite a place; very large and beautifully decorated. I went looking through the house, but Mother caught me and scolded me for being so curious. I remind her that I'm 17 years old, and I'm not a child. Mother says that's exactly why I shouldn't be exploring the house.
Oh my God. Her writing looks exactly like mine.
March 5, 1879
Today, Master Gracey caught me exploring the attic. I was sort of nervous, but he said it was all right. He promised not to tell my mother. I explained to him why, and he completely understood.
March 6, 1879
Master Gracey caught me looking through the graveyard today. He asked me why I was exploring it. I just said that I was curious. He then asked me if I wanted him not to tell my mother about this. I laughed and said, "Of course". He smiled at me. I felt very strange then, sort of like my heart was fluttering. Master Gracey's a very handsome man.
March 13, 1879
Master Gracey said he doesn't mind my exploring the Manor at all. I've been talking to him a great deal lately, whenever he's available. I love being with him. It's very strange. I can't quite explain it. It's a feeling I get when I look into his eyes.
That's interesting…I guess. If Katherine is to be believed, Old Master Gracey must have been a pretty cool guy, which is more than I can say for Senor Creepy Eyebrows.
March 22, 1879
I think I'm in love with Master Gracey. Today, I was looking around the Manor, and I was angry after my latest argument with my mother. I accidentally knocked over a bust of one of Master Gracey's uncles, and he saw me. I was flustered, and I started,
"Oh, Master Gracey! I'm so sorry!" But he approached me, and embraced me, slightly running his hand over my hair.
"It's alright, Miss Katherine." He said. I thought my heart was going to burst.
Boy, Katherine sure had that school-girl crush thing going on for old Edward Gracey. Most of the entries in her diary about her exploring stuff and nearly getting caught by the butler or else how cute Edward Gracey is. Bor-ring.
March 28, 1879
Today, my father told me that he's arranged for a birthday party for me, and Master Gracey's agreed to have it here. I'm so excited! I can hardly believe I'm going to be 18 in a few days!
April 2, 1879
My birthday's tomorrow! I can hardly wait for the party!
I gulped. Katherine Gracey's birthday was April 3? Oh my God. That's MY BIRTHDAY! Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. This is too scary. April 3, 1879? That's exactly 100 years before my birthday!
April 3, 1879
Very late…unsure of the time
What a day! What a wonderful, lovely day! Not only was the party wonderful, all my friends were there, and everything was perfect!
Some time after the dancing started, Master Gracey asked if he could speak to me alone. I said yes. He took my hand and led me up the staircase, and then he gave me a small box. I opened it, and inside was a beautiful golden necklace with a small, pretty diamond on it.
My mouth fell open.
"Oh, Master Gracey…"I said.
"Happy Birthday, Miss Katherine." He said.
"It's so beautiful." I said.
"I thought it would be perfect for you."
I asked him if he would put it on me, and he did.
I KNOW I'm in love with him now. I know it.
May 3, 1879
Today, Master Gracey insisted that I don't have to call him "Master Gracey" anymore, that he's fine with me just calling him Edward. I responded that he didn't have to call me "Miss" Katherine anymore. It's odd, but I like it.
I'm guessing he didn't tell her that after kissing her hand while she was trying to escape the place. Of course, Katherine probably would've liked that.
June 13, 1879
He loves me.
I don't believe it!
I'm so…happy.
Of course.
June 14, 1879
Last night, Edward requested that I take a walk with him. My father was quick to note how eagerly I responded to his invitation. While we were out there, I noticed how beautiful everything was. I leaned in on his arm, and he looked at me and said,
"I hope I'm not being too bold, but I love you, Katherine."
My eyes widened, and I know I smiled foolishly. "I love YOU." I said. "And I have for a while."
How maudlin.
August 3, 1879
I can barely write, but I have to get this down.
Edward and I are engaged!
Tonight, he asked me to take a walk with him again, as we've been doing since he told me that he loved me. I commented that it was getting late, and he turned to me, bent down on one knee, handed me a rose, and opened a box with a diamond ring inside. I could hardly breathe.
"Katherine, my darling, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" I cried, tears running down my face. I threw myself into his arms.
"My darling Katherine," he whispered into my ear. "I love you so much."
"I love you." I said simply, as we broke the embrace and he slipped the ring onto my finger. It's so beautiful…I can't stop looking at it! I can't describe the rush of emotions I felt at that moment.
I love him so much…I'm so happy! Happy, happy, happy!
Oh, I just want to BURST!
By that time, I was kind of bored with the diary. It was just a lot of fluff about how much Katherine loved Edward, and how she loved Gracey Manor and a lot of boring crap like that. One thing we definitely don't have in common is belief in ghosts. One entry went on an on about how she saw the ghosts of Ambrose and Juliet Gracey walking out in the graveyard and how she saw the ghost of Emily Gracey in the attic. I skimmed through the rest.
I wondered how long I had been up here. I had forgotten to wear a watch (There's the Montblanc Family Forgetfulness Gene again.) I was sort of sleepy, and really hungry. I decided to stop my work for that day. I told myself that tomorrow I'd finish everything, even if it meant that I'd have to spend more than two hours there. I quietly opened the door and looked to see if either Mr. Gracey or um, the butler (I still can't remember his name! Dammit!) was around. I could hear some voices from the first floor, so I inched to the opposite hallway, but alas, I never have good luck.
"Miss Fox?" It was the butler. I could see him and Mr. Gracey standing at the foot of the stairs.
Oh shit, I thought. "Um, hi."
"Where are you going?" Mr. Gracey asked.
"Um, looking for something." I muttered.
"What is it? I'm sure I could help you." He said.
"It's okay." I said, slinking off.
Whew. Glad I avoided that exchange. There has to be another way out of this place.
I walked past a couple of doors, and then I decided to open one and see what was inside. I found myself in a huge library, with shelves covered in old musty books. Most of them were classic literature, or collections of literature, or history or other stuff like that.
I don't suppose I'll be finding any copies of How the Grinch Stole Christmas here.
Above one of the bookcases is what looks like an oil painting of Mr. Gracey, sort of like the one that's in the foyer. It looks really old fashioned, which brings up the question of why anyone would want a painting of themselves made to hang in a library that looks like it was last updated in the year 1900.
But then again, he does live in a place covered in dust, so whatever.
I picked up a really old book, and was flipping through the pages, and I felt sick to my stomach, a chill ran down my spine, and suddenly someone's holding me very closely, and then a deep, ghostly voice whispers in my ear, "My darling, I adore you."
Someone put a hand on my shoulder.
I screamed.
"Oh, I am sorry, Miss Fox! I did not mean to frighten you!" Just guess who that was.
"It's um, um, okay."
"What are you doing up here?" Mr. Gracey looked oddly happy to see me. Okay, so he's obviously got a crush on me, so of course he's happy to see me, but in this weird way…like he knows something I don't.
"Um, was just curious."
"Did you ever find what you were looking for?"
"Huh?"
"You mentioned that you had been looking for something." Dude, shut up already! I just want to get away from him!
"Um, yeah. I got it. I dropped something earlier." I lied.
"That is good." He smiled. Then his eyebrows raised up. Ugh. Creepy. "Miss Fox? Will you be coming back to m-the Manor tomorrow?"
"Um, yeah. Why?"
"I was just curious."
"Um, okay."
So then Mr. Gracey smiled at me again, staring into my eyes with his strange, dark blue eyes. I've never seen eyes that color before. They're very…haunting. I never noticed this before, but his hair is pitch black. I've never seen anyone with blacker hair. And the fact that he's kind of unnaturally pale is weird. He's not pale in the way I am, but he looks kind of like he's been sick. Put that all together, and the fact that he really is very handsome, and it makes for a pretty scary picture. He put an arm on the bookcase next to me and sort of leaned in.
Oh God, I'm trapped! Please don't let him try to kiss me, because that looks like what he wants to do. He leaned in so close to me our noses were practically touching. He closed his eyes and smiled.
"I must go now. I have some matters to attend to." Mr. Gracey stepped back and opened his eyes, but stared into my eyes again. "Till tomorrow, my dear." My dear? Who is he, my grandmother?
"Uh, bye Mr. Gracey."
"Please call me Edward. There is no need for formalities between us, darling." He said as he left.
"Um, okay." God, I'm petrified! Darling? Darling? What is this, the 1850s? No need for formalities? You know what that means? It means he wants to get close to me. Very, very close. This is awful.
I shook my head and lost my balance and fell onto the bookcase, but then something really strange happened. The entire bookcase disappeared, and a chute was opened!
"Holy shit." I muttered. "Wow." I put the book down, and looked down the chute. I don't know why I did this, but I decided to take my chances, and get the heck out of the Manor. So I jumped down, and it was like going down a slide…kind of fun. I wanted to throw my hands up and scream, "Woo hoo", but it was too narrow.
It was like the chute spit me out when the 'ride' was over, because I landed flat on my butt.
"Ouch." I muttered. I stood up, and realized where I was.
"A mausoleum?" I said.
I opened the door to the outside, and I found myself in a graveyard.
I shuddered. I hate graveyards. Ben's parents force him to go to Mexico every year for Dia de los Muertos to decorate his great-grandfather's grave. According to them, it's a sign of respecting the person's life and celebrating it.
To Ben and me, it's just strange. Although I do like those skulls made out of sugar that Mrs. Torres always makes. Tasty, if not a little macabre.
I decided to look through the graves to see if I recognized any names, and I did; Mistress Katherine Gracey, Master Edward Gracey, Master George Gracey, Master Ambrose Gracey, etc. etc., and some I didn't. One I saw kind of confused me; Henry Ramsley. I wondered if he was any relation to Ramsley, the butler. I figured that he probably was, and that his family's been serving the Graceys since 1850 or something.
As I was walking out to my car, after nearly tripping on a broken headstone, I noticed something weird. Amongst all the graves, there were five busts, one of which was broken.
I looked at them. They were all really realistic. I examined the broken one carefully for some reason; it was if I was drawn to it.
"Looks like Walt Disney." I commented dryly. Then, it hit me. I wondered if this was the same bust that Katherine broke. I think it is…
I blinked and decided that I'd had enough of Gracey Manor for another day. I think I'm sort of beginning to hate this place. I can't wait to see what will happen tomorrow. Perhaps I'll get stuck alone in a dark room with Mr. Gracey, but not before I find someone walking around the graveyard who just happens to be my exact double. Oh, won't that be fun?
Shoot me.
Author's Note: Hey, the bust that Kim comments looks like Walt Disney isn't a bust of Walt Disney at all. It's a likeness of one of the world's most amazing voice-over artists, Thurl Ravenscroft! You know Thurl…Tony the Tiger, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch", "No Dogs Allowed" from Snoopy Come Home AND a Singing Bust in the Haunted Mansion! Thurl performs the song on the attraction AND his likeness can be seen in the HM movie. The Singing Busts are my absolute favorite thing about the Haunted Mansion. They don't play a very big part in this story, though.