Haunted Hearts

Chapter 6: You should have been a man

"... It was an old gate. The arch was built in Roman times..."

Raeliana heard the driver's voice but didn't really listen as he droned on about the turrets and embattlements of the gate, one of the four main entrances to the city. Vaguely, she caught him mentioning that York was once the British capital of the Roman Empire and later that of the Viking conquerors. The details about architecture bypassed her, however, along with the stories of kings who'd shed blood like rain to keep York within their grasp. At any other time, she'd have found such history fascinating, but now her thoughts were centered around her reception at Stonegate Castle, and she was anxious to get there and be done with it.

"Psst, hey. Isn't there something a little bit odd about this guy's tour?" Isabella whispered to her as the driver negotiated the crowd street of Micklegate.

"I've noticed he never gave us his name." Raeliana quipped.

"Yes, that too. But listen to him, the tales he's telling are downright gruesome."

Raeliana turned her attention to the driver. At least he didn't have the power to tell her to leave. The driver slowed down the carriage to a slug's pace to join the stream of vehicles in the crowded thoroughfare around the cathedral. The slow movement afforded them time to study their surroundings and pay attention to their driver's presentation. While he spoke, the man constantly turned to look back at Raeliana. Despite her reluctance to acknowledge him, she found herself hypnotized by his warning-filled glances.

"Look closely at the pavement, Miss Ackerman. This was built right over the ancient graves of bishops." He leaned back to give her a better view. "Now and again the ruby or the sapphire ring used to pop up from the soil. You know how it is, miss, when the coffins give way to the soil and there won't be anything left in the dirt but bones and jewels."

Raeliana didn't know how to reply. She just stared at him. For the moment, mute.

"Left you speechless, did it?" He tipped his hat and held Raeliana's stare.

Raeliana slowly released her breath. Unaware that she was even holding it. She then leaned back against the seat.

"I surely am out of words, Mr...?"

"Winthrop, miss. James Winthrop. I've been with the master near all of his life. A good servant I am. Always will be." His expression turned dark; he seemed suddenly troubled. Glancing at her as if there were something he wanted to share, he then, as if thinking better of it, returned to his stony Yorkshireman demeanor and looked away. Addison elbowed Raeliana, trying to get her attention. Raeliana turned to her friend.

"See what I mean?" Isabella nudged her. Raeliana shrugged and went back to look at James.

"Why don't you take us to Stonegate, James." She commanded gently. The driver nodded and turned around.

In the silence, Raeliana leaned towards her friend and whispered, "Renounce me as a critic, but I dare say his tour exhibits a lack of charm." They both giggled. "He's certainly not happy that we're here. I believe he's deliberately trying to frighten me with his stories."

"I said this before, and I will say it again. I really think we shouldn't be here," Isabella said, wagging a finger in front of her. "Mark my words, nothing good will come of this."

Raeliana gave her a disparaging look, one that belied the worry gnawing at her stomach. As they wheeled along the road that cut north through the haunted scrubbed moors, she wondered again about her reception at Stonegate. She would either be taken in by the master and get to work, or she would be sent back to London.

"The Castle is two hours away," the driver called. "It's right on the chalky cliffs north of Whitby. A beauty, it is. Stonegate Castle is... a terrible beauty."

Isabella stared at her. Raeliana could feel the gaze driving into her like a spike.

"Great. It's good we're on the way. I'm anxious to get there." She hoped her words sounded confident and unruffled. No despicable carriage driver was going to scare her away. She was not going to return to Londen, she vowed.

The driver drove on. They reached the crossroads of Scarborough and Whitby with Stonegate beyond. Raeliana expected the driver to take the north road without hesitation, but he suddenly stopped and looked back at her as if he had something to say.

"You should have been a man," he said, his voice barely audible. He looked at Raeliana, his lined mouth tightened, not with disapproval, but with an emotion beyond that. His mouth turned down into despair.

"You should have been a man, Raeliana Ackerman," he repeated slowly, as if waiting for her to change her mind and tell him to take her back to York.

"Why?" she asked, compelled almost against her will.

"The master's expecting a man," he shook his head, looking more in despair. "For your own sake, Raeliana Ackerman, you should have been a man. You—you don't know how cruel the master is."

Isabella suddenly clutched Raeliana's hand, making her flinch. It was as if her friend's eyes were popping out of her head. Bless her, Raeliana thought. Bless her and her melodramatic ways.

"Drive on," Raeliana told him, anxious for him to turn away so that she wouldn't have to see his face. James nodded and continued to drive on. She wished she were merely afraid like Isabella because the emotion gripping her now went beyond fear.