I didn’t reply to Catherine’s message immediately. I read it several times. Don’t go to Little Ashcombe until you speak to me. Then the second one. Someone else knows where you’re going. The words stayed with me long after I put the phone down. I barely slept. Not because I was frightened. Because I was thinking. Weeks ago, I would have deleted the message. Months ago, I would have assumed Catherine was manipulating me. Now… I wasn’t so sure.
Breakfast was quiet. Rose noticed I was distracted. Harriet arrived early with several printed maps and historical records relating to Little Ashcombe. Dominic joined us shortly afterward. I finally told them about Catherine’s messages. The room reacted exactly as I expected. Harriet became cautious. Rose became suspicious. Dominic became guarded. Ea
