Since everyone seems to be enjoying these as much as I am, here are more spoilers for That Whiter Host. Only 30 days!
"Doctor!" a small voice filtered into my consciousness. I jerked awake and sat up.
"What the devil – Alfie, what's wrong?" I demanded, shivering as the frigid air penetrated the covers.
"There's a ghost i' my room, Doctor!" the lad whimpered, "Oi seen 'er, honest –"
"Saw whom?!"
"Tha' lady ghost the Count was tellin' yew an' Mr. 'Olmes about," he wailed, "oi woke up an' seen 'er floatin' roun' the ceilin'!"
"You were dreaming, Alfie," I murmured, wishing to heaven I was.
"No, oi swear!" the boy cried, white-faced under his freckles. "Can oi stay 'ere wi' yew?"
"No, you may not," I admonished, donning my dressing gown, "you are too old for this nonsense. And if you dream about ghosts again, I shall tell Mr. Renie that he may not keep you up past eight for the remainder of our stay, understand?"
The lad scuffed a slippered toe and meekly followed me back to his room. I settled him into bed, but as I was pulling up the coverlet the lad's eyes suddenly shot over my head in terror.
"There she is ag'in, Doctor!" he wailed, diving under the covers as I whirled round, my eyes widening.
I did not recognise my own voice, so panicked was it, but I hoped it would carry down the corridor.
"HOLMES!" I bellowed.