Colton Manor Read Free Page B

house and prove all the gullible the people wrong. This is a chance for him to put his money where his mouth is. What do you think?”
    Normally Ursula wouldn’t even have contemplated living alone with a total stranger, especially in such an isolated location, but she was desperate.
    “Sounds great. When can he move in?”
    Bonnie laughed. “Let’s not jump the gun. It might be a good idea if you meet him first. He’s very well-known in town and a perfect gentleman. You won’t have any trouble with him. Why don’t you come around to my place for afternoon tea and you can get to know him before you make up your mind.”
    “Okay, I’ll be there. What time?”
    “ Oh, around three. Just turn right from the drive and follow the road right around the point. You can’t miss the house.’
    “Thanks, Bonnie.” They talked for a little longer and after she’d waved her guest off fifteen minutes later Ursula tried hard to be brave as she turned back towards the house. Again, for just a split second she thought she saw someone at the upstairs window. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was go back inside after what Bonnie had told her, but the rain was coming down harder now and she had no choice.
    Whatever this friend of Bonnie’s turned out to be like, she didn’t care. He could have two heads for all it mattered to her, just as long as he provided her with human company and helped to ward off the evil spirits that dwelled in Colton Manor. Bonnie had mentioned he was a science professor. In her mind she pictured a crusty old man who did not suffer fools gladly and would be quick to dismiss any fanciful notions she might have. That was exactly the kind of man she needed right now, and she couldn’t wait for the next few hours to pass so she could meet him, and hopefully convince him to move in with her.

Chapter Two
    Ursula had already fallen behind in her work but she couldn’t bring herself to go back upstairs to her studio after Bonnie left. Instead she stayed downstairs and phoned some friends to cheer herself up. She didn’t tell anyone the house was possibly haunted because she knew they would just laugh at her, and she tried to pretend she was having a good time despite the rain. She figured that if she could convince others it wasn’t so bad here on her own then maybe she’d be able to convince herself.
    When she couldn’t think of anyone else to call, Ursula spent the next half hour on Facebook, but the sight of her friends enjoying their summer holida ys did nothing to lift her mood. She made herself a coffee and settled on one of the overstuffed armchairs to read a book, but every single creak the old house made caused her to jump. The mist had rolled in from the ocean, and although it was still early, she had to switch on a lamp to read. She couldn’t focus on the page for long enough to get into the story because she kept imagining ghosts lurking in the shadows. She could almost feel their eyes on her and it gave her the creeps.
    Abandoning her book she picked up he r sketch paid and began to draw idly. A woman’s face started to take shape on the page in front of her. The woman had her mouth open as if she was screaming, and her clothes and hair were blowing around her. She was wearing a long, old-fashioned dress. Ursula had no idea where the image had come from, but that was not unusual for her. She kept drawing and behind the woman a dark figure loomed. It was faceless but had an overwhelming sense of evil about it. Ursula was surprised with the finished result because she didn’t often draw pictures like this one. She figured the talk about ghosts had just seeped into her subconscious and come out through her sketch.
    She was steeling herself to go upstairs and get changed for her visit to Bonnie’s house when a noise from outside caused her to stand up and look out the window. She was very surprised to see a car coming up the long drive. The white SUV looked almost ghostly as it