| |
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS Tess settled into the work routine and continued to look out for any calls from Mrs Le Page. There were none. In the evenings she took out the diaries and by Tuesday between her and Charlotte they had progressed to the years 1866 and 1867. Charlotte had been excited to announce when she arrived home from work that ‘the desk’ had definitely been bought as a gift by Hugo and showed Tess the entry in 1865.
‘This proves it’s worth the effort of reading the diaries. Just wish they were in English, we’d have read them all by now.’
Later that evening Charlotte joined her for a glass of wine and to ask how she was getting on.
‘I’ve just read about Hugo writing Les Travailleurs de la Mer and it brought back memories of reading it at school. It gave me goosebumps to read about my ancestor copying out the same words over a hundred years ago. Quite spooky, in a way.’ The thought prompted her to share something. ‘Talking of spooky, I think I’ve seen the ghost of Eugénie sitting at her desk,’ she nodded towards the desk behind her.
Charlotte’s lips formed an O shape.
‘No! Really? Why didn’t you say anything?’ She leaned forward, her eyes shining.
‘I felt stupid. I’m a scientist and not supposed to believe in such things as ghosts, but...but reading these diaries is bringing Eugénie alive for me and the image of this woman sitting at the desk, looked so real. As if there’s a connection between us.’
‘Which there is, of course. What did she look like?’
‘Like the picture Hugo drew, but wearing a light grey dress and her hair was styled in a bun at her neck. I’ve seen her twice, now, but the vision only lasts a few seconds. So, you don’t think I’m mad to think I’ve seen a ghost?’ Tess asked, sipping her wine.
‘Goodness, no. We had one in our country house, though I was never lucky enough to see it. I did feel the presence of my father after he died, though. My friends Nicole and Fiona have seen ghosts here in Guernsey, but they’re away at the moment. Must introduce you sometime. I say, this is exciting! A ghost in my house!’ Charlotte stared at the desk, as if willing Eugénie’s ghost to appear.
Charlotte finished her wine.
‘I’ll crack on with the diaries tomorrow when I can grab any free moments.’ Charlotte stood and stretched, giving the desk another searching look.
Tess laughed. ‘I don’t think we can force Eugénie to appear, you know.’
Charlotte grinned. ‘I know, but one can hope. Night night, thanks for the wine.’
After a quick hug she left and Tess was alone with her thoughts. What other revelations were hidden in those pages? She’d have to be patient, and with so much going on in her life at the moment, she had enough to think about.
Her father phoned the following evening.
‘I’ve sold the house, Tess, and will be coming over to look at apartments next week. There’s a couple I’m interested in.’
‘Oh, Dad, that’s great! I’m pleased for you. And if you don’t find what you want my house will be ready in two or three weeks and you can stay with me. Any news from Mum?’ Tess had sent her mother a couple of emails a few weeks ago but had not heard back. Still upset by what her mother had done, she didn’t feel inclined to chase her. It was up to her mother now.
‘Only through the solicitors.’ She heard him sigh and her heart ached for him. ‘She knows someone was interested in the house and has sent a list of the stuff she wants. Furniture and suchlike. She can have what she wants as far as I’m concerned. I want a fresh start and that goes for furniture too. I was never that keen on the suite she chose, anyhow.’
‘So, where’s she going to live?’
‘I don’t know for sure, but I think they’ll be going abroad. Probably France. She’s mentioned it before and now she’ll have a decent sum to buy what she wants. I don’t have an address for her, everything goes through the solicitor. Do you want me to ask her to let you have it?’
‘Only if she wants to, Dad. We’ve not spoken in ages and perhaps that’s the way she wants it.’ Tess wasn’t sure how she felt about not seeing her mother again, but the longer it went on, the harder it would be.
Her father then asked how things were with her and she spent a few minutes bringing him up to date. They finished by agreeing she and Jack would see him when he came over for the viewings. Tess then went back to the diaries. Charlotte had filled her in with the main points of 1868, including the death of M’dame Hugo and the return to Guernsey of a rather depressed Hugo and Juliette. Tess read about Juliette’s attempt to marry Eugénie off, suggesting a man called Pierre Blondel. The name rang a bell and she remembered that, according to Doris’s family history, Eugénie married him in 1869. Reading on, she was sad to see that Eugénie doesn’t fall in love with him and that Pierre wasn’t exactly the romantic type. But could anyone have matched Hugo in Eugénie’s eyes?
The next day Tess was kept busy at work all morning and it wasn’t until she showed the last patient out that her secretary managed to catch her.
‘Sorry not to give you much notice, Doctor, but Mrs Sally Le Page has rung in, asking if you can do a home visit as soon as possible. She sounded extremely distressed.’