"Ghost Treats"

TunnelsOfTheSouth

※※※※※

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out

how far one can go..."

T.S. Eliot

Chapter One

"You Can See Me?"

Carolyn remained crouched on the front path as she stared after her children. They'd run past her and climbed into the horse-drawn coach standing outside the cottage gate. Scruffy ran after them.

"Didn't they even see me?" she wondered as the coach door closed and the vehicle pulled away. "Blast…"

She recalled the Captain's wistful words. 'I remember one lawn party I gave. The warm, moonlit night and the soft, flickering lights of a dozen or more paper lanterns. The men were tall, gallant and imposing. The women soft, beautiful and demure. A musical ensemble was playing a waltz – the dance of romance. You would have looked stunning at such a cotillion. If only you could have been with me, there…'

Carolyn drew an unsteady breath and released it. Nothing about this place or this night was making any sense. 'Am I dreaming?'

Awakened from a fitful sleep by the faint strains of music and flickering candlelight, she'd left her sickbed and come downstairs to look out the front door. Amazing things had met her disbelieving eyes.

A large wooden dance floor had been laid out on the front lawn. There was a string quartet playing from the shelter of an ornate gazebo. Elegant couples dressed in nineteenth-century clothing were dancing together. Nearby tables, illuminated by lanterns and candles, held plates of food and a large, crystal punch bowl.

"Okay…" Carolyn shook her head at it all. Everything was as the Captain had said he remembered it.

She'd stepped back inside and shut the front door, thinking she was lost in some kind of fever dream, and she would soon wake up. She touched the folds of a lace fan to her face before she realised what she was holding. She looked down to find her simple nightgown had been changed into an elegant ball dress of rose silk.

A liveried servant burdened with a large tray of food walked from the kitchen and led her from the house. Among the crowd of partygoers, Carolyn saw Martha and Claymore. She approached them both, but neither showed any awareness of her existence as they moved among the assembled guests. She might as well have talked to herself.

Still crouched on the path, Carolyn stared after her children. She frowned as she rose slowly to her feet and turned back to the crowd of guests. She was going to find Martha and demand some answers. Someone needed to tell her what was going on.

But she hadn't taken one step when she ran straight into the captain. Her breath left her in a rush. She'd never been so happy to see him in all her life.

"Captain, did you see the children?" she questioned anxiously. "I don't understand. They didn't appear to see me."

He shook his head as he looked down at her with warm compassion in his blue eyes. "Madam, there's nothing wrong. It's just that they can neither see nor hear you."

"They can't?" Carolyn swallowed tightly as she stared up at him.

She became vitally aware of how handsomely he was dressed. He was wearing a naval officer's formal uniform - with a dress sword at his waist - and he was utterly breathtaking to behold. The warm scent of a spicy aftershave twined deliciously around her heightened senses. She felt her pulse quicken and her mouth dried with desire.

"I mean, they didn't?" She did her best to make some sense of what was happening to her. That seemed impossible.

"No one can," Daniel replied quietly, watching her worried expression closely.

Carolyn frowned. "But you can see me?"

Daniel smiled gravely. "Of course. And what a lovely sight you are." His gaze moved appreciatively down her elegant rose-coloured ball gown and up again to her face. "It is as if you were born for this time. The candlelight becomes you."

Carolyn felt the power of his gaze like a physical touch. She was caught by his romantic mood but, at the same time, intrigued by the fact she couldn't be seen. Except by him.

A rather ironic turn of events. She'd never been invisible before.

As they stood together, each trying to think what to say next, young Dr Ferguson walked past. He smiled and nodded quickly to his host.

"Wonderful party, Captain," he enthused brightly. "Thank you for inviting me."

He extended one hand as if to clasp Daniel's epauletted shoulder, then obviously thought better of it when his host stiffened in silent reproof. The younger man snatched his hand away and his wide smile turned apologetic as his cheeks reddened.

"Thank you." Daniel inclined his head in polite acknowledgment of the compliment, and the doctor's sudden realisation that it was impolite to be too familiar with one's host in such a public setting.

"I'm sorry. Ah, good evening…" Ferguson inclined his head again and hurried away to hide his embarrassment among the other guests.

"They see you?" Carolyn looked up at Daniel, wonderingly. "How is that possible?"

"Yes, of course, they see me," Daniel replied patiently. "After all, I am their host. It would be very remiss of me not to attend my own party."

"And a very fine host you are, too." Carolyn smiled up at him, relaxing just enough to begin to enjoy herself.

"Thank you, Madam…" The Captain inclined his head.

The music came to an end. Every partygoer began to clap their appreciation.

Not far away, Claymore bowed politely to Mrs Coburn. "Shall we partake of some refreshments, my dear? Dancing always makes me thirsty."

His elegantly dressed partner smiled. "Thank you. That would be most delightful."

They left the dance floor for the table and stopped beside Carolyn and Daniel. Claymore busied himself with serving two glasses from the large, crystal bowl of punch. He was blissfully ignorant of the fact his dancing partner was giving their handsome host her best come-hither look. She fluttered her fan in front of her face as she simpered at him enticingly.

"Back off, lady…" Carolyn frowned at the unwanted intrusion.

She reached out a hand and waved it in front of Mrs Coburn's face, to no effect. Carolyn liked that. The woman continued to look coy, working her fan artfully and fluttering her eyelashes at her handsome host.

Daniel smiled as he bowed gallantly to his guest, which only encouraged her fawning attention. Then he glanced back at Carolyn's mutinous look and his expression grew full of masculine satisfaction.

"Okay…" Carolyn glared at the other woman.

She stepped closer to Mrs Coburn and poked out her tongue. But there was no reaction. The other woman continued to give Daniel the eye, fluttering her fan and lashes to great effect.

But the handsome target of her artful come-hither looks glanced down at Carolyn in mock reproof. She grinned at him, thoroughly enjoying the moment and her freedom to do exactly as she pleased.

Claymore looked up from pouring two glasses of the punch. "Shall we promenade?" he asked his partner.

"Oh, I'd love to." Mrs Colburn accepted the glass of punch he handed her.

"Lovely…" Claymore chuckled as he escorted her away.

As she left the table, Mrs Coburn glanced artfully back at Daniel over her shoulder. But he was no longer paying any attention as he turned his back to her obvious invitations.

Carolyn gave him a deeply satisfied look. "Invisibility does have its advantages."

Again, Daniel studied her from the top of her head to the toes of her satin dancing shoes. "Well, tonight there are even greater advantages," he replied softly, his eyes coming to rest on her beautiful face.

In a gallant gesture that caught Carolyn's breath, he reached down to take her hand in his. She felt the solid warmth of his touch as he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a warm kiss to the back of her fingers. He straightened, smiling down at her awed expression.

Carolyn moved her fingers against his as she stared at him as she felt that same breathless sense of anticipation burn through her. Whatever this evening was or would become, she didn't want it to end. There was so much happening tonight that had lived long in the private recesses of her imagination.

Behind them, the musicians reassembled and struck up a waltz. Daniel kept hold of Carolyn's hand as he turned and escorted her onto the dance floor as if he had wanted to dance with her all his life.

Carolyn well knew that feeling. She moved with him, feeling as if she was now walking on air. Her heartbeat accelerated and her breathing shortened with anticipation. Nothing of her imagined dealings with this ghost of a man had ever come close to this new reality.

There was a slight moment of confusion when he turned to her and went to place his free hand on her waist. Her hand brushed against his - their fingers becoming briefly tangled - before it came to rest on his shoulder, and she smoothed the gold braids of his epaulette.

"Sorry…" She smiled apologetically. "I guess I'm a little bit rusty at this."

It had been a long time since she'd danced with anyone. She couldn't remember the last time. 'Has it been with Bobby at their wedding?'

"There is no need to apologise…" Daniel replied as he drew her into his arms and swept her away to the magical strains of the waltz. "Just live within the moment."

"I can do that…" Carolyn's imagination went into overdrive.

Suddenly, they were dancing beautifully together, swirling around the floor in perfect unison. They became oblivious to everything, and everyone, but each other. Not once did Daniel take his eyes from hers.

Carolyn wasn't totally sure of her footing. She was grateful for his effortless guidance her as they picked up the tempo and began to spin faster.

She smiled with delight even as she felt a little light-headed and giddy beneath the full concentration of his amused gaze that never left hers. The warmth of his gloved hand on her lower back, and his sure clasp on hers, kept her deeply aware of him and his closeness.

The whole evening was magical and very special, but it was also very unexpected and confusing. Feeling warmth creep up into her cheeks, she dropped her eyes to the brightly polished buttons of Daniel's uniform jacket. She studied them intently as she looked from one row to the other.

"They are very nice buttons, aren't they?" Daniel remarked softly with a smile.

"Mmmm, yes, they are…" Carolyn whispered as she saw her reflection in their bright surfaces.

"I want you to look at me," her dancing partner commanded then. "And don't stop looking at me…"

"I won't…" Carolyn gasped as her eyes flew back to his face and they continued to circle the dance floor.

"That's much better," Daniel approved lovingly. "Trust me. I won't let you fall."

"I know…" Carolyn smiled at him.

Around and around, they went, following the beautiful strains of the music and the world spun away. Suddenly, everything looked possible but nothing appeared quite as it seemed.

"I'm so very glad that you were born in my time," Daniel confided with a look that made Carolyn's knees weaken. "I could not imagine my life without you in it."

"I'm very glad too," she managed to reply, wondering where it was all leading.

The music continued to play as they turned back to the middle of the dance floor and slowly came to a standstill. The other couples continued to dance as the two of them stared at each other in wordless communion.

Daniel released her hand to place his on her shoulder. He drew her closer, dropping his head down to hers. Their lips moved slowly toward each other. Carolyn was aware they were about to kiss, and she welcomed the intimate caress with all her heart.

But, at the last possible moment, the sudden sound of breaking glass among the assembled partygoers broke them apart again. The music abruptly ended.

Without a word, Daniel turned away from Carolyn, leaving her feeling bereft and confused. She looked after him as he hurried to his fallen guest.

"Mrs Coburn!" Claymore shouted with alarm. She'd fainted into his arms with a groan. "Doctor, hurry, please!"

Dr Ferguson hurried to Mrs Coburn's side. Another woman became dizzy and fainted. All around them, the female guests began falling to the ground.

"It's the ague…" Daniel declared grimly as he assessed the situation.

"The ague?" Carolyn questioned fearfully as she stared after him. "The ague?"

"Mrs Muir…" Martha advanced toward her, looking concerned. "Mrs Muir. It's all right, dear... It's all right..."

Carolyn was startled by the sudden change. "Martha, do you see me?"

"Of course I do, dear," Martha said soothingly. "Of course I do… I see you…"

Carolyn frowned as she slowly came to herself in her own bedroom. The soft-edged vignette of the elegant cotillion was gone. She tried to recapture it, but it was no use.

She became aware of Martha who was seated beside her on the bed as she patted her hand. The housekeeper was making soothing noises.

Carolyn stared at her in confusion. "Martha?" She looked around as she clasped the other woman's hand.

Martha looked down at her, reaching to feel Carolyn's cheek. "Well, the fever's down. It must have been a bad dream."

"Yes, it was a dream..." Carolyn replied regretfully. "But I'm not so sure it was a bad one..." she whispered.

She smiled sadly, and sighed as she closed her eyes once more…

※※※※※

The next day, Carolyn filled a basket with some freshly baked cookies. "I just baked these." She carried the basket to the kitchen table.

She frowned in concern at Candy's sudden bout of coughing. "You feeling all right?" She questioned her daughter.

"I'm fine, Mom," Candy assured her, brushing aside her concern as she blew her nose on her handkerchief.

"Mmm…" Carolyn sat down beside her and felt her daughter's flushed cheek. "Maybe I ought to give you an aspirin and put you to bed."

"Aw, Mom…" Candy complained as she reached for a cookie.

"Why don't you give her some Golden Willow Bark Elixir?" Jonathan remarked candidly as he followed his sister's lead and selected his treat.

"What's that?" Candy demanded to know.

"It has alfalfa, willow bark, sage, thyme, parsley, and foxgloves," her brother listed the ingredients confidently. "And Mum, don't forget the brandy."

"The what?" Carolyn stared at him in disbelief.

"The brandy!" Jonathan waved his hand. "That oughta put a keel under it!" He grinned.

Carolyn and Candy dissolved into laughter. The boy frowned at them, offended by their mirth.

※※※※※

That night, Carolyn climbed the stairs to her room earlier than usual. A slight headache had taken up residence behind her eyes. She had remembered Candy's earlier sniffles and Jonathan's reference to the brandy.

After the children had been put to bed, and Martha was getting ready to go out with Ed Peevey, Carolyn had gone hunting in the kitchen cupboards. She found nothing.

"I could've sworn there was a bottle in here, somewhere. We bought it only last month…" she'd mused, sitting back on her heels.

She renewed her search, finally finding an old, dusty bottle buried deep in the back of the bottom shelf. It had been all but invisible against the dark paintwork. She brushed the cobwebs and dust away from it, before holding up the half-empty bottle to the light.

It had a squat, bulbous shape, and was extremely old if the tattered label and faded lettering was anything to go by. She could just make out the word, 'Napoleon'.

"In for a penny…" Carolyn rose to her feet and picked up a glass from the draining board. "This oughta put a keel under it…" She laughed softly.

The heady fluid slid like nectar down her throat, spreading its delicious warmth throughout her body. It began to tingle down to her fingers and toes. "Mmmm…"

She'd just swallowed a second dram when Martha entered the kitchen. She buttoned her coat as she frowned at Carolyn still holding the bottle and empty glass.

"Medicinal purposes…" Carolyn hurried to reassure her friend, as she put both containers on the kitchen bench. "I've got a little tickle in the back of my throat…"

"The ague, again?" Martha raised her brows. "Do I need to call the doctor for you? He warned you about overdoing it so soon after rising from your sickbed. I can stay in if you need me."

"Oh, no, I don't think that'll be necessary," Carolyn hurried to reassure her. "But I do think I should go to bed early, just to be sure. I do have a slight headache."

"Best idea. Sleep it off. Good night, Mrs Muir." Martha nodded as she turned away and went on with her date.

Carolyn waited until the front door was shut before she quickly poured herself a final measure of the dark liquid from the old bottle. Its potent warmth slid down her throat easier than the first time and intensified the glow that was slowly spreading to every part of her body.

※※※※※

Standing beside her bed, Carolyn undressed slowly. For no reason she cared to try and understand, she reached to draw on her best nightgown, a gorgeous creation of lace and cream silk. It had been an expensive birthday gift from her mother-in-law that she'd never taken from its box of tissue wrappings.

Now she threw caution to the wind and slipped it on. It whispered over her skin and settled softly against every curve. Carolyn turned once in front of the mirror, then shook her head at her reflected image, before she slipped beneath the covers and lay down in the wide, warm comfort of her bed.

The three measures of the potent brandy had imbued her with a not unpleasant sensation of weightlessness and complete abandonment. She suppressed a giggle.

Her late husband, Bobby, had often enjoyed a tipple in the evenings and had encouraged her to join him. But Carolyn had never developed a head for strong liquor, so she usually avoided it.

That bottle she'd found in the back of the kitchen cupboard must have been truly old, to have such a wide-ranging effect on her. "I'll have to ask the Captain about it, in the morning…"

She nodded as she curled onto her side, slipping one hand beneath her cheek. She closed her eyes. Behind her lids, everything began to shimmer and float…

Once more, she found herself standing in the foyer of Gull Cottage. But this time there were no flickering candlelight or liveried servants. Just a trimmed lantern burning on a stand beside the front door.

Unsure of what to expect, Carolyn looked down at her nightgown to find, as before, it had been replaced. But this time, by a ball gown of soft sea green and antique cream lace. It was laced off her shoulders and scalloped low across her chest.

As before, she carried a folded fan in her hand, but this time she wore long white evening gloves to her elbows. She put out one foot to assess the soft satin dancing shoes on her feet. She heaved a sigh and smiled.

Going to the door, she opened it and looked out. But, this time, the front lawn was completely deserted. There were still the coloured lanterns, but no sign of any dancers, and no tables of food. Not one horse-drawn carriage stood at the front gate to whisk her children away. The lanterns gave the only illumination, beyond the full moon rising overhead.

But, despite the total lack of an orchestra, there was music playing. A soft, Viennese waltz drifted on the slight evening breeze. It swirled around Carolyn, drawing her out onto the front porch, and down the steps.

Standing in the middle of the wooden dance floor, laid out on the grass as before, Daniel was waiting for her. He was once more resplendent in his naval uniform and dress sword. Carolyn stared at him, her heart rate increasing to the point of breathlessness. She pressed one hand over her heart.

"Madam…" Daniel extended one gloved hand towards her. "May I say that you look both extremely charming and elegant tonight?" He curled his white-gloved fingers in a beckoning motion.

"Thank you, sir…" Carolyn smiled as she walked toward him.

She felt a warm blush creep into her cheeks when she was close enough to see the adoring look in his blue eyes. She opened and raised her fan, to hide the lower part of her face.

"No need to dissemble, my dear." Daniel put one gloved finger to the top of her fan and pushed it down, slowly. "I've waited so long for this moment… Carolyn. I wondered if it would ever happen..."

"Me, too..." Carolyn shivered.

Her name on his lips was like a benediction and a dream. He looked so tall and very splendid. She tipped her head back to look up at him as she inhaled the warm spicy scent of his aftershave once more.

She smiled shakily. "I have never, in my life, felt so weightless. It must have been that brandy…" She shook her head. "I should have known better. I have no head for strong liquor, you see..."

"Yes, I know. And that was the last of my very best Napoleon." Daniel sighed. "I thought I'd hidden it well enough, but it seems not. It has certainly aged well."

All around them the music swelled and drifted. The lanterns flickered, shedding pools of soft, coloured light.

"Would you care to dance, Carolyn?" Daniel bowed formally, extending one hand to her.

"Daniel, I thought you'd never ask…" Carolyn whispered, as she dropped her fan to hang by its strap from her gloved wrist.

She placed her hand in his, and as before, he raised it to his lips, kissing the back of her gloved fingers. Keeping her hand, he drew her closer to him.

With the dance floor to themselves, they waltzed freely, sweeping around and around, as the music continued to play, slipping seamlessly from one tune to another. It seemed as if time itself, had been suspended, and this one night could last forever…

"You do waltz so beautifully," she told him, gazing up into his eyes. "But I already told you that."

"That fact I have always known…" Daniel smiled down at her, his gaze centring on her softly parted lips.

"Of course, you do." Carolyn nodded. "You know everything…" She wanted nothing more than to be swept up into his arms and held closer, much closer than their formal dancing allowed.

Of course, as in all such dreams, all too soon the music sank into a breathless silence. There was only the sound of the waves breaking on the shore below the house and their shared breathing. They were standing close to one another, in the centre of the floor.

"That was... wonderful..." Suddenly shy and unsure of herself, Carolyn dropped her eyes to study the gleaming brass buttons of his naval jacket. She had to admit, they were very handsome buttons. "Thank you... I will always remember this night..."

"No, sadly you won't," Daniel replied softly. "As I told you once before, you won't remember any of this when you wake up. It is the nature of such dreams. In the morning, they evaporate, as if they have never been..."

"I was afraid you were going to tell me that," Carolyn whispered to his buttons. "Then, we must make the most of every moment we have together, tonight."

"Yes..." Daniel acknowledged, with a wistful smile.

As he gazed down at her, the flickering paper lanterns slowly began to blink out, one by one, until the moonlight gifted the only illumination. As before Daniel's hand slipped from hers to rest on her shoulder.

Carolyn inhaled an expectant breath, once again remembering the moment when they'd almost kissed, before a sudden moan from Mrs Colburn, and the resultant screams of fainting women, broke them apart. But, this time, there was no other sound…

"Carolyn…" Daniel said, softly. "Carolyn, look at me… please..." His other hand also settled on her waist, drawing her closer still.

"Yes… Daniel…" Carolyn hesitated for one more heartbeat, before she took each set of gleaming buttons in turn, all the way up to his beautiful eyes.

She wanted to say they could stay this way, forever, if they wanted it badly enough. It all seemed so right and wonderful.

"I wish —" she began to say.

"Only in our dreams…" Daniel replied, so softly she almost didn't catch his words.

He put one silencing finger against her parted lips. "We cannot wish for the impossible, Carolyn. It cannot be. We both know that. We can only share this single dream… you and I. All too soon, you must wake up, and life will go back to how it always has been and must be…"

"Yes… I know." Carolyn shook her head slightly. "But, still..."

Daniel didn't answer. There was nothing more to say. He lowered his lips to capture hers.

With his arms around her slender waist, he drew her up onto her slippered toes, almost entirely off her feet as he deepened their shared kiss. The whole world tilted and fell away. Carolyn clung to the wide strong set of his shoulders, to prevent herself from falling with it.

Emboldened by their closeness, one of her hands crept upwards, curling around the back of his neck, drawing him closer still. Her heart beat against his, in perfect unison...

Safe in her bed, resting on her side with her cheek nestled into her pillow, Carolyn smiled, and sighed. Within her heart, and inside her sweet dream, she knew, there was no other place she would rather be, than right here…

And no other time to live, than right now… For always…