Chronicles of Chatswater
Dreams of a Ghost Book One
by
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Her ivory dress now encrusted in mud, Jimmy knelt at her side, holding back his tears he lifted her head in his arms and rocked her back and forth.
“My Lord, she is badly hurt.”
He shouted back at Pomfrey who had now managed to stagger from the carriage.
“Then get her back here.”
As Jimmy lifted the limp, fragile, form of Charlotta he heard her groan and for the first time felt how cold she was. Pomfrey tried to assist Jimmy getting her into the coach, but he clumsily stumbled. Jimmy covered her with a blanket and did his best to steer the horses and carriage steadily, but speedily as so not to jilt the carcass that carried his mistress.
The manor exploded with light, when the coach pulled up outside, with more haste than expected the servants who had been directed to stay up to attend the master and his wife on their return gathered outside in the chill, not one prepared for the events about to unfold.
Pomfrey having done all he could and more than his duty, visibly upset and worried burst out of the carriage, storming past his servants to seek solace in a goblet, filled with mead.
Jimmy called after him, “My Lord!”
“Deal with it Jimmy, I need a drink. Go fetch Gorton and tell him to hurry!” he reeled back on his heels and flayed his way drunkenly to the manor.
A pair of eyes watched from a window, curious as to know what happened. Jimmy seeing the boy, stopped the servants from proceeding with extracting the motionless body of Charlotta.
Jimmy entered the house and had only ascended the stairs half way when Richard met him, “Master Richard, you should be in bed.”
“Where is my mother?”
“She will be fine, now do as I have asked and go to bed.”
“You have not answered my question.”
“She is a little unwell, she needs rest that is all and she will be very annoyed if you are not in bed.”
Richard stood, still, staring at the servant, certain that there was something more serious going on. Jimmy repeated his command, “Bed”
Gorton arrived in a panic, fitting into the frenzy of the servants, who rushed about distressed and visibly shocked expressions blanketing their faces.
Jimmy had not been very forthcoming with the events all he had passed on to Gorton was there had been an accident.
The room where Charlotta now lay had been warmed, a maid sat stoking it’s fire every now and then casting a glance to the small, fragile frame of the battered and paled form, that was the Lady of Chatswater.
Charles Gorton entered quietly, an eerie peace filled the room, and all that could be heard was the crackling fire and the chilling whistle of Charlotta’s breathing.
“Charlotta!” Gorton whispered, “It is I Charles.”
He dismissed the maid and went back to the bed, in response to his voice, Charlotta opened her eyes and faintly smiled, he moved closer, hesitating when the wheeze interfered with her breathing.
The candle lights flickering, beginning to reveal the extent of the injuries, under the covers her body laid twisted and misshapen. The injuries sustained internally made her cry with agony as Charles tenderly pressed on her torso.
Most of the organs felt swollen and had most probably become inflamed, he leant slightly back, his eyes blurred with tears, this time he would not be able to save her.
Charlotta touched his hand, “I…know…and…it is all…I …want.”
He bit his lip, to fight back the sadness from showing, he nodded and smiled at her.
Richard stood patiently outside his mother’s chamber, knowing there was something seriously wrong and no man would keep him from her.
“I…n…n
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About the Book
Set in the reign of Elizabeth I, the Chronicles of Chatswater is the story of one family's struggle to hold on to their wealth and estate.
Book one Dreams of a ghost is about the Lady of Chatswater forsaking her happiness to keep her estate and protect those that work and live on it.
Forced to marry, Lord Pomfrey and put up with his harsh cruelty, Charlotta brings into the world what many see as Chatswater's miracle, but just how much will her son Richard forsake to keep his mother's dreams alive? And at what cost would he be willing to lose everything to find his own happiness?
To the dismay of the estate and the people who serve the Corrigan's and Pomfrey, Richard's loyalty to his mother's memory is cast into doubt and the estate is thrown into turmoil as he tries desperately to cling on to his own dreams.
About the Author
I was inspired to publish this book, by family and friends who had read the rough copy.
I always had an interest in writing stories at school and even though I gave it up, to study at college social care, I still wrote short stories, I married in March 1990 and live with my husband, Steven and our two children, who are now 14 and 9. I have since leaving college worked in social care and still enjoy my work, but in my spare time I like to write and because the tudor period has always fascinated me it seemed inevitable that most of my stories are set in this time.
I have dedicated this book to my mum, who was my best friend and always encouraged my sister, brother and me to follow our dreams and aspirations, had it not been for her this book would probably have not been published because I always claimed to only write for myself.