Ghost Song E-Book

Mark L'Estrange

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

A family curse can reach across generations.

After bank manager Jonathan Ward inherits an old manor, strange things begin to happen. On his first night at the property, a beautiful young woman appears outside his door, pleading for help. Moments later, she has disappeared.

Strange apparitions and unearthly sounds follow, as does the young woman seeking refuge. Desperate for information, Jonathan turns to the vast knowledge of the town librarian for help.

As the dark history of the manor unfolds, Jonathan begins to realize the full extent of the horror to come. Is it too late to save those dearest to him... and himself?

Leseprobe

GHOST SONG

MARK L’ESTRANGE

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Epilogue

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About the Author

Copyright (C) 2019 Mark L’estrange

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Cover art by Cover Mint

Edited by Felicity Hall

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

To my LRU Family: Rebeccah, Claire, Namita, Alisha, Laura, Sarah,Chandrika, Dele and Rob.

Thank you for putting up with the madness.

PROLOGUE

Spaulding Hunt stood on his gravel driveway smoking an after-dinner cigar, as was his usual habit. He was very much a man of habit, and always had been. At the age of eighty-four he felt entitled to indulge in whatever took his fancy, without feeling the need to justify his actions to those around him.

In truth, the confirmed bachelor had never allowed the concerns or wants of others to cloud his judgement. He had very much lived his life according to his own code of conduct.

Expelling a huge ring of smoke into the night sky, Spaulding turned at the sound of footsteps behind him.

Mr and Mrs Jarrow climbed down the stone steps which led to the gravel drive, before wishing their landlord and employer a good night.

Spaulding acknowledged their departure with a slight nod of his head and the merest hint of a smile.

The Jarrows had worked for Spaulding in several capacities for over twenty-five years.

Mrs Jarrow acted as house-keeper, cook and cleaner, whilst her husband took on the duties of gardener, handy-man and chauffeur.

They lived in a modest cottage in the grounds of Spaulding’s manor house and even though he charged them a peppercorn rent for their accommodation, the meagre wages he paid them meant that they both had to secure alternative employment on a part-time basis.

Jack Jarrow worked three mornings a week in their local sorting office, whilst his wife covered three afternoon shifts as a barmaid at their local.

Had Spaulding been willing to pay a proper wage, the Jarrows could easily have made looking after him and his crumbling manor a full-time occupation. But as it was, the middle-aged couple did what they could in the time that they could spare.

Emily Jarrow ensured that Spaulding’s breakfast was on the table at 8 o’clock promptly every morning, including weekends, and that his dinner was served at 9 o’clock each evening.

Spaulding insisted on a full English breakfast consisting of porridge, egg and bacon, toast and marmalade and a pot of tea - every morning. His lunch was invariably a sandwich and a pint or two, served by Emily more often than not at the local.

For dinner he insisted on a four-course fare starting with soup, followed by a main, dessert then cheese. Dinner was always washed down with a full bottle of claret, and usually a glass or two of port to compliment his cheese.

Unlike many octogenarians, Spaulding’s appetite had not diminished with his advancing years; yet even now he managed to maintain a relatively proportionate build for his height.

He watched as the Jarrows climbed into their car and pulled out of the driveway.

The second that they were out of earshot the singing commenced, as Spaulding knew that it would.

It was the same every night.

Once he was alone his torment would begin!

First came the singing. That sweet, gentle voice seemed almost as if it were carried on the wind, as the strains of the heart-wrenching lullaby filled the air surrounding him.

“As the waters run deep, so my soul yearns to soar.

On the wings of an eagle, I’ll wait nevermore.

In the arms of my true love, I will pause for my time.

So, hold me forever, until you are mine.”

Try as he might, Spaulding was unable to block the sound out. Even by sticking a finger in each ear the lullaby managed to pervade his defences.

It was almost as if the music were emanating from within him, a cry from his soul.

He knew the voice!

After so many years it was completely plausible that he would have forgotten it by now were it not for the fact that it visited him each night, and often during the day if he was alone.

He had no control over it, and no way of stopping it.

From a combination of disgust as well as frustration, Spaulding threw down his half-smoked cigar and stormed back into the manor.

He slammed the door behind him and stood for a moment with his back against it.

As he expected the singing had crossed the threshold with him, and now that he was inside the lyrics echoed throughout the manor as if they were being sung in each room simultaneously.

Spaulding slapped his palms against each ear in a futile attempt to drown out the sound.

Taking several paces forwards into the great hallway, he lifted his head and screamed out at the top of his lungs.

“Enough! I can’t take this anymore! What do you want from me?”

In response to his yelling, several of the doors to the upstairs rooms began to open and slam shut, one after the other.

As if on cue, the downstairs lights began to flicker and fade until eventually they went out altogether, and the only illumination came from the roaring fire in the dining room which cast eerie shadows through the open doorway to where Spaulding was standing.

The upstairs doors continued to open and slam shut, but the noise they made did little to drown out the singing which still seeped out of every room inside the manor.

Spaulding walked over to the foot of the sweeping staircase and gazed up into the darkness of the upstairs floors.

“Why can’t you just leave me in peace?” he screamed, into the blackness.

“Cry for me my lover, ‘til the seas have run dry.

Never seek answers, and never ask why.

The path I am destined is not paved with gold,

But the warmth of your love, keeps out the cold.”

The words of the lullaby which he had long ago learned by heart, in spite of himself, echoed down to him as if to taunt or goad him into action.

Slowly, using the bannister for support, Spaulding began to make his way up the winding staircase. “What can I do?” he yelled once more, keeping his head raised as if expecting someone or something to suddenly appear in his line of vision.

As a sharp wind whistled down the staircase, the old man clung onto the bannister for dear life. The force of the gust rocked Spaulding as if he had suddenly been caught up in a vortex, almost knocking him off his feet.

The sheer audacity of the attempt to prevent his ascension made Spaulding all the more determined to complete his task.

Taking a deep lungful of air, he pushed on ahead, refusing to submit.

As he reached the halfway mark, Spaulding could feel a tightness in his chest.

Before he had a chance to respond to his plight his left hand began to go numb, and it took a supreme effort for him to tear it away from the bannister.

Spaulding stood for a moment on the stair, unaided, as he proceeded to rub the pins and needles from his hand. But before his efforts bore fruit, a sharp, stabbing pain accosted his left side as if someone had thrust a knife into him.

Grabbing his left shoulder with his right hand, Spaulding felt the ground beneath him give way.

He was faintly aware of the singing still resonating through the air as he tumbled head-over- heels down the stairs until he finally ended up slumped in a heap at the bottom.

As the life left his aged body, the singing stopped and the lights in the manor came back on.

Spaulding stared ahead with dead eyes, unable to witness the ghastly apparition which loomed above him from the top of the stairs.

ONE

PRESENT DAY

Meryl Watkins carried a tray of drinks over to one of the many tables surrounding the stage at the far end of the pub that she ran with her husband Mike.

The bar was heaving, even more so than it usually was on a Friday night. Meryl put it down to a combination of the snow that had fallen the previous evening and which was now lying several inches deep on the ground, and the fact that once a month she and her husband played host to a live band at the pub.

Tonight, they had a folk group consisting of four cousins. One man was on drums with another playing guitar, then there was one girl on the flute with another on guitar. The one playing guitar was also the lead singer.

They had never had this group in before, but they came with a recommendation from a couple of other landlords who Meryl and Mike knew through the industry.

They were Romany travellers who performed all over the world, and although they had never released any albums they were always asked to perform again by their hosts when they were next in the vicinity.

Meryl rushed back over to the bar where there were already at least five customers waiting to be served, on top of the ones that her husband and their two other barmaids were in the process of seeing to.

The players were already setting up their equipment on the tiny stage, and the two girls had already received several wolf-whistles from some of the males in attendance. Meryl did consider whether she needed to make an announcement to keep them in order, but the two girls appeared to appreciate the attention and responded by blowing kisses out to the crowd.

The performance was due to start at nine-thirty, and just before the long hand on the clock reached the six Meryl felt an icy blast as the outer door to the pub opened and one of their regulars shuffled in from the cold.

The old man had been in every night at the same time for as long as Meryl could remember.

He never spoke to anyone other than to say please and thank you when paying for his drink, and he always sat in the far corner away from the other patrons to enjoy his ale in peace.

Meryl noticed the shocked look on the old man’s face when he realised how crowded the bar area was. For a moment he stood in the doorway gazing around at the packed interior, and Meryl was convinced that he was contemplating venturing back out into the cold without his usual two pints inside him.

On an impulse Meryl handed a customer their change and apologised to the next one in line as she made her way around the bar, and she grabbed the old man by the arm just as he was turning to leave.

The man looked up with a mix of shock and confusion on his face until he realised just who his assailant was.

Meryl smiled broadly. “It’s a bit busy in here tonight,” she explained, “but there’s an empty table at the back, just for you.”

With that, she carefully guided the old man through the crowd until they reached their destination.

Once he was seated, Meryl offered, “The usual, is it?”

The old man smiled, “Yes please,” he answered, and Meryl patted him on the arm as she went back to the bar.

Having served a couple of her regulars, Meryl returned to the old man with his usual pint of strong ale.

She placed it on the table in front of him and as he opened his wallet to pay, she held her hand over his. “First one’s on me, today,” she said with a wink.

The old man thanked her, politely, and Meryl left him to go back to the bar.

The band introduced themselves and began their set.

Their music covered an eclectic mix of tunes but they had arranged these so that they all stayed within the folk/country genre they had promised, and by the end of their first set the crowd were all joining in with all the well-known songs they covered.

When the band took their break, there was a sudden surge of revellers aiming for the bar to replenish their drinks.

In between listening and serving Meryl kept an eye on the old man in the corner, and as he drained the last gulp of his pint she began to fill his next glass.

She managed to make her way through the crowd just before the old man was about to rise to try and fight his way to the bar. His face lit up when he noticed Meryl approaching his table, and he slumped back down in his chair and began counting out his money in anticipation of her arrival.

“Oh, thank you so much,” the old man sighed, “I was dreading fighting my way through that lot to get to the bar.”

Meryl laughed. “I don’t blame you,” she replied. “I’m just glad that I’m on the other side of the bar, we’re really busting tonight.”

The old man nodded and handed over the correct change for his pint. “They are very good,” he remarked, nodding towards the empty stage.

“Yes,” Meryl agreed, “first time we’ve had them here, but it won’t be the last. I’m glad you are enjoying their performance.”

“Oh, I am, very much so,” the old man smiled.

“Well, I had better get back to the bar before there’s a riot, the band will be back in a minute to complete their set. I hope you’ll stay until the end.”

The old man nodded. “I will, thank you.”

After a ten-minute break the band returned to the stage amidst tremendous applause and more whistling.

The lead singer acknowledged the crowd’s appreciation, and before they started their second set she took a few minutes to introduce the individual members of the band. The girl on the flute was her cousin, and the two men were both her brothers. They all acknowledged their appreciation for the crowd as each one was cheered in turn.

Their second set went as well as their first, with the audience equally enamoured by the band’s performance and willing to participate. Although the alcohol had convinced some participants that they could sing in tune the truth was very far from it; but everyone was enjoying the evening which was the main thing as far as Meryl was concerned.

At the end of their second set, the band laid down their instruments and all took centre stage to receive their much-deserved standing ovation.

As the audience called out for more, Meryl rang the bell for last orders.

The lead female vocalist looked over at the bar owner and held up her index finger by way of asking if there was still time for one more song.

Meryl nodded her response and proceeded to organise a tray of drinks for when the band had finished.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” began the singer, once the cheering and clapping had died down. “We would like to do one last song for you this evening.” A cheer went up. “Thank you,” the girl smiled, appreciatively. “This is an old Romany lullaby which most of us learned from our mothers when we were still in the crib. We hope you all like it.”

Meryl glanced over at the old man in the corner.

His glass was already empty, and Meryl decided to offer him another pint on the house. She had often watched him when he came in for his usual Friday night visit. It was obvious to her that he did not know any of the other patrons, and he always made a point of sitting as far away from the crowds as he could.

The pub had its share of single older regulars, but they all seemed eager to jump at the chance of becoming involved in someone else’s conversation - often attaching themselves onto groups of complete strangers.

On some occasions the drinkers made it plain that they did not appreciate the intrusion into their private discourse, and Meryl always felt a twinge of sadness for the lonely individual who would inevitably shuffle away in search of company elsewhere.

But in all her time there, Meryl had never once seen the old man so much as try to strike up a conversation with anybody; staff or punters.

On a couple of occasions Meryl herself had tried to drag some form of dialog out of him while she was pulling his pint, and although he was always extremely polite and courteous, he managed to halt each attempt she made with single word answers.

As she made her way over to the old man with his fresh pint, the singer began her final song.

“As the waters run deep, so my soul yearns to soar.

On the wings of an eagle, I’ll wait nevermore.”

To Meryl’s surprise, the old man suddenly jerked his head round towards the stage. His movement was so abrupt and unexpected that he sent his empty pint glass scudding across the table, and he just managed to grab it in time before it tipped over the edge and smashed on the stone floor.

The old man’s hands began to shake, uncontrollably, and as Meryl reached his table she gently leaned over and placed her hand over his in an attempt to steady him.

In the background the singer’s voice carried over the bar and throughout the pub.

The rest of the band played softly, as if to ensure that they did not interfere with the singer’s melody.

Meryl placed the fresh pint down in front of the old man.

When he looked up to meet her gaze Meryl could see tears brimming over his eyes, leaving twin trails down his cheeks.

Meryl suddenly felt an overwhelming compulsion to put her arms around him and tell him that everything was going to be alright. In truth, she had no idea what had caused the old man to become so upset in the first place.

Instead she decided that hugging him might draw too much attention, and the last thing Meryl wanted was to cause the old man further embarrassment, so she grabbed a couple of paper napkins from a pocket in her overall and handed them to him so that he could wipe his eyes.

Choking back his tears, the old man thanked her for her kindness.

Meryl felt compelled to stay and find out what was wrong. Mike was forever having a go at her for taking on the troubles of the world, but she could not help herself.

For the sake of a few kind words and a little comfort, she was more than happy to see if she could do anything to ease the old man’s grief.

Meryl sat down beside him and angled his pint so that the handle was towards him.

“There’s another one on the house,” she whispered, so as not to disturb those around them listening to the singer.

The old man turned to her once more and thanked her through his tears.

Meryl held his gaze for a moment.

There was something in his eyes which conveyed a sadness that was almost palpable.

As the girl finished her song the audience began to applaud, loudly.

The rest of her band joined her once more in thanking everyone in attendance for their appreciation, and promised that they would return there the next time they were in the vicinity.

This announcement received an even greater cheer of delight.

As the band began to clear away their instruments, Mike carried over the tray of drinks Meryl had just prepared for them. She caught Mike’s eye on his way back to the bar and signalled that she was staying put for the time being.

Mike immediately put two-and-two together and realised that his wife was once again attempting to share the burdens of the world, and playfully shot a glance up to heaven.

Meryl stuck her tongue out at him in response, which caused him to start chuckling as he reached the bar.

Meryl turned her attention back to the old man beside her.

He had managed to wipe away the last remnants of his tears, but the effort had left his eyes puffy and red-rimmed.

He put his hand over his mouth as he cleared his throat.

“Take a swig of that,” Meryl encouraged him, nodding towards the pint she had just brought him.

The old man thanked her again and lifted the glass to his mouth, taking several gulps.

When he replaced it on the table, he continued to dab his eyes with the napkin.

Watching him, it appeared to Meryl as if he were about to burst into tears again at any moment.

“Is it something you want to tell me about?” she asked, softly, “a problem shared, as they say.”

The old man stared straight ahead for a moment, looking in the direction of the band who were now seated at a table in front of the stage, enjoying their drinks.

After a moment’s silence, the old man replied. “It’s that song!” he announced.

Meryl looked towards the band, and then quickly back to her guest.

It took a moment for his words to sink in.

Finally, Meryl thought that she understood. “Oh, I see, does that song hold some treasured memories for you, something from your childhood perhaps?” she enquired, pleased with herself for managing to engage the old man in an actual conversation.

To her amazement the old man jumped up from his seat, this time almost knocking his full drink flying.

“I have to go!” he stated, his voice starting to crack as if the effort were too great for him.

Meryl rose next to him.

She could see from the state he was in that he was in some distress, and she could not help but feel as if it was somehow her fault although she could not put her finger on the cause.

Meryl watched as the old man shuffled around checking his pockets to ensure that he had all his belongings before he left.

Although he was turned away from her, Meryl could see that he was still having to wipe his eyes so she suspected that fresh tears were brewing.

As Meryl was blocking his exit from one side the old man attempted to walk around between the table and the wall, but the gap was too small and he only succeeded in banging his leg on the edge of the table.

His failed attempt at escape only succeeded in making the old man more agitated, and when he turned to leave and found Meryl still blocking his path his frustration caused yet more tears to trickle down his face.

Even though Meryl could hear Mike’s voice in her head telling her not to interfere, she decided that she could not allow the old man to leave in such a state. Above all, she did not want to feel responsible for him leaving the pub in haste and slipping on the ice on the way home and having an accident.

Steeling herself, Meryl placed a comforting hand on the old man’s shoulder and offered him a reassuring smile. “Do you mind me asking you your name?”

The question obviously took the old man by surprise, and for a moment he appeared to visibly calm down.

“It’s Jonathan,” he replied, stammering slightly as if he were trying to force the words out. “Jonathan Ward.”

“Well, I am Meryl Watkins, and that man behind the bar is my husband Mike,” she held out her hand towards the old man, “and I would like to formally welcome you to our pub, with apologies for not introducing ourselves to you at an earlier opportunity.”

Jonathan Ward clasped Meryl’s hand, almost as if on instinct, and squeezed, gently.

Regardless of the fact that mere seconds before he had been intent on leaving the bar as quickly as possible, he could not be so rude as to refuse a handshake from his host.

The pair of them shook hands, and the old man seemed to relax visibly during the process.

Convinced that the exercise had accomplished the required effect, Meryl indicated for Jonathan to re-take his seat.

The bar was starting to empty, and most of the patrons finished their drinks and made their way out into the cold night air.

Still with some hesitation, Jonathan acquiesced to Meryl’s suggestion.

Once they were both seated, Meryl spoke. “I am very sorry if I upset you Jonathan, I assure you that was never my intention.”

The old man shook his head. “Please do not reproach yourself,” he assured her, “you weren’t to know.”

Looking past her, Jonathan glanced over to where the Romany band were still enjoying their well-deserved drinks.

He turned his attention back to Meryl. “It’s just that song you see, I haven’t heard it in nearly fifty years, and I hoped that I would never hear it again for as long as I lived!”

Meryl was confused by the old man’s words, and her expression illustrated the fact.

She desperately wanted to ask the old man to explain but she bit her tongue, conscious of the fact that she had already managed to upset him once this evening and she did not relish repeating the experience.

In the end, she did not have to.

The old man could see the bemusement etched into Meryl’s face, and that, combined with the kindness she had shown him, gave him the courage to face up to something which had haunted him for most of his adult life.

In that moment, he decided it was time to lay his own personal demon to rest!

Once and for all!

TWO

Once Jonathan informed Meryl that he had decided to confide in her, she excused herself for a moment so that she could pour herself a drink, say goodnight to her staff, and thank the musicians for playing such a marvellous set.

Jonathan sipped his drink, nervously, and watched while Mike showed the bar staff out and locked the main door behind them.

The band finished their drinks and walked over to the bar to leave their empty glasses.

As Meryl showed them to the door, Jonathan called out to the lead singer.

“Young lady,” he stood up to catch her attention. “I was wondering if I might have a quick word with you before you leave?”

The girl smiled and walked over to the old man’s table, closely followed by the rest of the band. “Yes,” she said, cheerfully, “what can I do for you?”

Meryl suspected that Jonathan was about to ask the young singer about her encore, so she came back over and stood next to the old man.

Jonathan was visibly shaking so he tried to steady himself by holding onto the back of his chair, but Meryl grabbed his arm and insisted that he sit back down before he started to speak, so the old man complied with her wishes and re-took his seat.

“I was just wondering…about that song you sang at the end of your concert…you mentioned that your mother taught it to you when you were a baby.”

The girl smiled. “That’s right, it’s a bit of a staple amongst the Romany clan as it’s usually the first song we’re ever taught. Why do you ask, have you heard it somewhere before?”

Jonathan rubbed his hands together as if to ward off the night cold when in truth it was still quite warm in the bar, and the log fire which Mike had been replenishing throughout the evening was still blazing away across the room.

As he opened his mouth to answer, the words caught in his throat. Jonathan turned his face away and held his hand to his mouth to clear his throat, once more.

When he turned back, Meryl was holding up his glass as if to encourage him to take a sip before he continued. Jonathan thanked her and took a long swallow before replacing the glass on the table.

The young female singer leaned over the table and rested her hand on Jonathan’s sleeve. “I’m so sorry,” she said, softly, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Jonathan waved his hand as if to dismiss her concern. “Not at all, young lady,” he replied, “you didn’t upset me, it’s just…” He paused, as if unable to find the words he was looking for.

He turned to Meryl, as if for inspiration.

Meryl, sensing the old man’s discomfort, decided to intervene.

She called over to her husband to fetch everyone a drink, and invited the artists to take a seat. “Let’s all get comfortable,” she suggested, cheerfully. “We’ll have ourselves a little lock-in, just an informal gathering between new friends. Something to keep the cold at bay for a little longer.”

While Mike fetched the drinks and the band made themselves comfortable, Meryl took the opportunity to discreetly whisper into Jonathan’s ear- just to make sure that he was comfortable relaying his tale in front of everyone.

She was starting to feel a little guilty that she had put him on the spot, even though he was the one who had called the band members over to join them.

Regardless of how much her husband teased her, Meryl was not one to pry into someone else’s business. However, she had the distinct impression that the old man was carrying a burden which he desperately needed to share.

Once Mike had brought over the drinks and everyone had taken their seats, Meryl raised her glass. “Cheers everyone,” she offered her glass up for the others to clink, and once the wishes had been passed, they all took a drink.

Jonathan knew that everyone was waiting for him to answer the young singer’s earlier question, so he decided it was best just to pitch in without over-thinking it. Otherwise he was afraid that he might back out, and part of him was determined that the time had finally arrived to tell his story.

Taking a deep breath, he began. “Now then young lady, you asked me if I had ever heard your song before…”

“It’s Melissa,” the singer informed him. She turned to the rest of the band. “This is Julie, Fred and Barry.”

They all waved and nodded their acknowledgement, and Jonathan reciprocated.

“Well, the truth of the matter is,” he continued, keeping his voice low as if he were afraid that someone outside might overhear him, “many years ago, long before any of you were even born, I went through a terrifying experience which will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

The gathering all exchanged glances at the old man’s revelation.

Their expressions showed a combination of shock and anticipation.

Finally, Melissa spoke up. “And what you went through, it had something to do with the song we finished our set with?” she asked, curiously.

Jonathan nodded. “I realise it must sound ridiculous that such a beautiful song should cause me so much distress, but if you’ll allow me to explain the circumstances to you then perhaps you will understand why my memory of it is so disturbing.”

“Of course,” Melissa responded, soothingly. “I think you’ve got us all intrigued now.”

There were several nods from around the table.

The old man knew that he had passed the point of no return, and now - even though the mere thought of it sent an ice-cold shiver down his spine - he felt compelled to tell his story.

He considered for a moment what might be the worst-case scenario under the circumstances if he told those gathered his account of what had happened to him all those years ago.

As far as he was concerned, his life was all but over anyway.

Death was just a waiting game for him, and so it had been for more years than he could remember.

The old man rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, as if to symbolically clear away any doubts which lingered to prevent him from speaking.

He was ready!

“It’s hard to know where to start,” he said, almost in a rhetorical fashion, not looking at anyone in particular. “I don’t want to bore you with my life story - you know how some old people love to ramble on about the good old days, and what they did and did not do.”

He looked up, and was encouraged by the fact that everyone seemed to find his last statement amusing.

“I met my wife Jenifer in the late sixties at a pop festival, if you can believe it. It was during the summer in a large field where everyone had to bring their own tents and sleeping bags, unless they were happy just sleeping on the ground under the stars.

“The air was charged with flower-power and free love, and there were several people experimenting with pot and various other forms of recreational drugs.”

He looked up. “Not me, you understand, I was way too boring and straight-laced for all that.”

There was a smattering of laughter in response.

“At the time,” he continued, “I was working in a bank in our local high street, so I had to ensure that I did not let myself go too much. In those days you could find yourself being handed your cards for the slightest thing, if it was considered unbecoming behaviour by your employers. Especially when you worked for such a conservative organisation as I did.

“I remember that it was the second day I was there. The weather had been gorgeously hot, and like many in attendance I was completely caught up in the romance of the spectacle.

“Some of the bands seemed to play throughout the night, so that whenever you dropped off there was still music when you woke up.

“There were caravans and stalls selling fish and chips, hotdogs, doughnuts, candyfloss and all manner of treats, so the air was permanently infused with the smell of tempting food wafting across the field, which in turn made you feel hungry even when you weren’t.

“I’ll never forget the first time I laid eyes on my wife. It was late afternoon on the second day, and suddenly the whole world seemed to stop as this vision of loveliness walked by, right in front of me. Her beauty was captivating. She had the face of an angel and skin the texture of porcelain, with lustrous flowing blond locks cascading down around her shoulders. For a moment I could no longer hear the music or the shouts and chants of all those around me, and it literally felt as if the breath had been sucked out of my body.

“I turned to watch her walk away, and in that instant I felt compelled to follow her wherever she was going. Bear in mind I had no idea what I was going to do when she reached her destination; I wasn’t the type of bloke who felt comfortable just walking up to a girl and starting a conversation, especially not with one who was as pretty as her. But something spurred me on. Something told me to persevere and let fate take its course, so on I went.

“The way she managed to weave through the huge crowd with such grace and elegance was in complete contrast to my clumsy attempt at following her without making it appear too obvious. I lost track of how many times I tripped and stumbled over bodies writhing on the floor. Fortunately for me, most of them seemed so lost in the spirit of the moment that they didn’t appear to notice my clod-hoping attempt at dancing around - rather than on top - of them.

“Eventually, I caught up with her standing in a queue to buy candy floss. I waited a few feet behind her feeling completely inadequate and disappointed with myself for not being able to approach her. Furthermore, being this close to her, I knew that if she saw me when she turned around there was no way that I could continue to follow her without causing her alarm, and that was the last thing I wanted.

“As luck would have it, fate stepped in for me. As she turned around having just purchased her treat, a young couple, both clearly high on something, careered into her and sent her flying off her feet straight towards me. The whole scene could have ended very messily, but as it was I managed to catch her and stop her from falling; although her candyfloss ended up on the grass.

“The couple who had caused the accident were totally oblivious to what they had done, and continued to veer across the field bumping into everyone in their path.

“Jenifer was clearly miffed at the fate of her candy, but once I let go of her she turned around to thank me for saving her from falling. I made some joke about not being fast enough to save her candy as well, and she laughed. There was obviously no point in going after the couple as they were now lost somewhere in the melee, so instead I offered to buy another candyfloss.

“At first, she protested and said that she couldn’t let me, but before she could stop me I had my money on the counter and I had placed her order.

“When I handed over her new stick, Jenifer leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. I know that I must have blushed because I could feel my face burning.”

“Well, it’s so nice to see that chivalry is alive and well,” she said, trying not to laugh at my reaction to her kiss.

“We introduced ourselves to each other, and without even realising it I guided her over to a much quieter area of the field so that we could sit on a bench and talk. I was desperate to know everything about her: where she lived, what she did, what ambitions she had, what her hobbies were, and in the end, I managed to bombard her with questions for so long that the next time I looked up, the sun was starting to set behind the field.

“Of course, the bands were still playing and the crowds in the field were in no way ready to wind down, but when Jenifer put her hand in front of her mouth to stifle a yawn I realised that I had monopolised far too much of her time, and that it wasn’t really fair of me to keep her there any longer.

“The worst part was that even though we had been chatting together for so long, I still did not feel sufficiently confident enough to ask her out on an official date. With a heavy heart I remember mumbling something about letting her get back to her friends who must be worried not to have seen her for so long. But to my surprise, not to mention delight, she announced that the group she had come with had agreed to all do their own thing once they arrived, and that in fact she had not clapped eyes on several of them since they had got there.”

Jonathan could feel his throat beginning to become dry, so he leaned over and lifted his glass to his lips and took several good swallows to lubricate his vocal chords.

“Anyway,” he continued, “as wondrous as this news was to hear, I still felt completely inept at trying to contrive a feasible excuse to keep Jenifer in my company.

“I remember there was a very awkward moment’s silence while I was desperately trying to think of what to say next. Jenifer didn’t help matters by just sitting there gazing around at the field, looking almost good enough to eat.

“In the end I think I asked her if she was hungry, which she wasn’t. So next I offered her a drink, but again she replied that she was fine. The feeling that I was fast losing her interest in me was almost tangible as I continued to wrack my brains to think of what to say next. Finally, just as I thought that all was lost, she laid her head on my chest and gently snuggled into me as if she were about to go to sleep.

“To say that I was taken-aback would be an understatement. I remember feeling completely numb as if I had been shot by a stun-gun, or something equally as ridiculous, and for a moment I could not will my body to respond to Jenifer’s action. Fortunately the effect was merely temporary, and slowly I moved my arms up and around her so that I could hold her properly.

“We stayed like that for ages. It was wonderful, and I for one did not want the moment to ever end. But the sun had well and truly set, and with the darkness soon came the cold. Even though it was the middle of summer the wind soon picked up, and Jenifer only had on a thin blouse so it wasn’t long before I could feel her shivering in my arms.

“Sadly, I didn’t even have anything over my shirt to offer her to ward off the chill, so after a while we were both sitting there, literally shaking from the cold.

“It sounds so ridiculous now, especially saying it out loud, but at the time and given the circumstances, I was so afraid of shattering the magic of the moment that I tried to ignore the fact that we were both freezing, preferring instead just to try and ignore the sensation and pretend as if it were not really the case.

“But, eventually, Jenifer could stand it no longer. She eased herself away from me and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, rubbing them vigorously to try and re-start her circulation. In that split second, I was afraid that she was going to make her excuses and that I would never see her again. The fact that we had enjoyed a cuddle together meant nothing at the time, as everyone was experimenting with being more open with their feelings and women especially seemed less afraid of being given a derogatory label for being too tactile.

“But as it turned out, my fears were erroneous.”

“Well I don’t know about you,” she began, “but I need something more than just your arms to keep me warm tonight.”

“Before I had a chance to respond, she kissed me gently on the cheek and skipped off the bench.”

“Why don’t you go and get something warmer too?” she suggested, “and we can meet back here, afterwards.”

“To some, her words might sound like a brush-off, a polite way of making an excuse to leave with the intention of never returning. But as I gazed into Jenifer’s eyes I somehow knew that her words were being spoken in earnest, and that she had every intention to keep to her promise to return to our bench.

“We set off in our different directions and within five minutes I had collected my jumper and jacket from my tent, and was back on our bench.

“I waited for what seemed an eternity but in reality, it was probably no more than half an hour, before I saw Jenifer re-emerging through the crowd and heading towards me, bundled up in an oversized tan jumper and a padded overcoat with a beaming smile on her face.

“We spent that night snuggled together on that lonely bench, far enough away from the crowds to feel as if we were in our own space but not too far away to hear the music from the various stages dotted around the field.

“I had never believed in love at first sight, until that night. By the morning I found myself engulfed by an overwhelming wave of emotion, and before I could stop myself I blurted out my feelings to Jenifer like some infatuated teenager with a schoolboy crush.”

Jonathan looked around the table at his audience. He wanted to glean from their expressions whether he was boring them to death or not.

It struck him that this was the first time he had ever reminisced about his wife to a stranger, let alone a group of them, and he was surprised by how effortlessly the words were flowing out of him.

There were so many wonderful things about his wife that he longed to divulge, but he knew that this was not the correct forum and definitely not the right time.

Those assembled had only stayed because he had piqued their curiosity concerning his recollection of having heard their song all those years ago, and why the very sound of it now brought back such terrible nightmares. Nightmares which he had lived with for over fifty years, too afraid to so much as share his experiences with another living soul.

But now, it appeared, the time had finally come!

“What was Jenifer’s reaction to your outpouring of affection?” It was the other female band member who asked the question.

Jonathan smiled. “Fortunately for me Jenifer was not only wonderfully kind, but also sensible, and she told me in no uncertain terms that although she was very attracted to me, she needed to know me a lot better before contemplating falling in love with me.”

“Sensible woman,” Meryl observed, shooting her husband a knowing wink.

“That she was,” Jonathan agreed. “Sensible, beautiful, caring, compassionate…I could go on forever bestowing her virtues. But unfortunately, the story I have to tell you has little to do with the happiness my wife brought me, and more to do with the terror I was yet to suffer at the hands of another.

THREE

“It all began for me in September 1970. Jenifer and I had married in the June of that year, and as money was a little tight we decided to wait until we could afford a proper honeymoon abroad. One day a letter arrived from a solicitor, informing me that I had inherited a house from a distant relative - who prior to that moment I had never even heard of.

“Apparently, I was subsequently informed by the said solicitor, he was a distant cousin on my father’s side and according to the terms of his will I was eventually traced as his only living male relative, and as such I was his sole beneficiary.

“My parents had both been killed in a car accident the year before I met Jenifer, leaving my younger sister Jane and I to fend for each other. Jane was only nineteen when they died, and she had just gone away to university. Our parents’ death left us both shattered and she ended up taking a year off, fully intending to start again the following September.