‘No,’ she sobbed, thwarted in her attempt to end her life. ‘The dream was real then.’ She found herself smiling, although it meant she would never see Marcus again — not in this life, anyway.
‘You’ve just had a very close call.’ Geoff moved closer to embrace and comfort her. ‘It’s okay, Riane.’
‘No, it’s not okay!’ She pulled away from him, and felt a little dizzy as she stood up. ‘What is it with men that they feel we women need saving all the time?’
‘Riane! I had to revive you!’ Geoff informed her from a kneeling position on the bed. ‘That was some really scary shit you put me through up there.’
‘Oooh!’ Riane just wished he’d leave so that she didn’t have to try and explain herself. Still, Geoff had said something of interest. ‘You were diverted off the road?’
‘Ah, yes.’ Geoff scratched his head, hesitant to speak of it. ‘By an anaemic-looking bride.’ He sank back into a seated position on the bed, very perplexed about the memory. ‘Who vacated the scene without a trace.’
‘Bethany,’ she mumbled. ‘That’s what Marcus meant when he thanked her for helping me.’ Riane drifted into a reverie as she realised that if she’d had her way, Marcus would still be damned and her along with him. When she looked back to Geoff, he was staring at her as if she was some sort of alien.
‘What is going on with you?’ He sounded disappointed that she was no longer the same doting female he had met a week before. Obviously, he thought the rescue would make him the ultimate hero in her eyes. ‘I just took leave in the middle of a tour to drive down here and save your life. And then you act like I’m not even here.’
Riane raised both her hands to hold her head — what to do about Geoff? ‘To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t think you want to know what’s going on with me. Unless, of course, you’re interested in ghosts.’ Geoff’s eyes widened until Riane feared they would fall out of their sockets.
‘Riane! I’m a tour guide, so of course I’m interested in ghosts.’ He reached out and gently took hold of her hand to encourage her to take a seat on the bed.
‘I’m not talking about the folklore kind of ghosts.’ Riane withdrew to take a seat on a chair. ‘I’m talking about the kind of ghosts that run cars off the road.’
Geoff immediately understood that she was referring to his anaemic bride. ‘Such ghosts become the legends of folklore, my friend. You think I’m not going to recount that story on the next tour?’ He smiled warmly, despite being given the brush-off. ‘Are ghosts the reason you returned to the ruins?’ he queried, cautiously.
‘I’m interested to know more about them,’ Riane conceded, avoiding the need to recount her tale, for it seemed too personal to be passed on to tourists.
‘Well, there’s a department of parapsychology at Edinburgh University. Maybe you should go see them?’ he suggested.
Riane gave a half-laugh, as the idea had a real appeal. ‘Maybe I will.’ Bethany had predicted Riane would find her true calling in life … if lived out, that is. Perhaps parapsychology was it?
‘No offence, Riane, but you look as though you could use a few more hours rest.’ Geoff vacated the bed and made for the door, sensing that she needed time alone. ‘I’m going to stay the night, so, when you’re feeling recovered, should you feel like telling your tale to someone, come and find me. I promise I won’t think it absurd. After all, I saw Bethany, too.’ He smiled, sincerely.
‘Thanks for saving me,’ Riane blurted out before he closed the door behind himself. ‘I really was losing it and if it hadn’t been for you I could have made a disastrous error.’
Geoff seemed to appreciate that his efforts were finally being acknowledged. ‘You could return the favour by letting me buy you dinner.’
Riane really didn’t want to complicate her newly-restored life with a relationship right now, but Geoff wasn’t flirting with her in the same fashion as when last they had met. Maybe he had got the message and was simply interested in hearing about her ghosts. ‘Only if dinner is my shout,’ she said finally, deciding that she would only tell him enough to satisfy his curiosity.
‘Even better,’ he granted and with a wave, he let her be.
The bed looked terribly inviting, although it was not a huge, ornate four-poster. Riane slid under the covers and curled up in the centre. All alone is not so bad when you know you’ve got somewhere to go. A sudden rush of excitement passed through her as she thought about the future — about having a future. And, thanks to her, two other tortured souls had a future, too. How happy must they feel tonight? she delighted herself imagining, as she snuggled into sleep.
For the first time in her adult life, Riane was contented to be warmed by her own body heat.
Bibliography
Ashley, Leonard R.N., The Complete Book of Ghosts and Poltergeists, Barricade Books Inc, New York, 2000.
Dunne, John J. Irish Ghosts, The Appletree Press Ltd, Belfast, 1977.
Guiley, Rosemary Ellen, The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits, Cheakmark Books, New York, 1992.
Hanning, Peter, A Dictionary of Ghosts, Robert Hale Limited, London, 1982.
Siblerud, Robert, Keeper of the Secrets, Sacred Science Publications, Colorado, 1999.
Sora, Steven, The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar, Destiny Books, Vermont, 1999.
About the Author
Since 1996, Traci Harding has had four trilogies and three stand-alone novels published by HarperVoyager Australia. Her books are published in several different languages, and are also available in e-book format from the Apple iBookstore, Amazon, Kobo, Google, ReadCloud, and Booki.sh. Selected titles are also available as a digital audio download through iTunes and Amazon — and as an audio book through Bolinda Audio.
To find quick links to all of the above, Traci’s other websites, and keep abreast of news, competitions and releases by Traci Harding, visit her new website:
traciharding.com
Or visit: voyagerblog.com.au/
the home on the web for lovers of science fiction and fantasy.
Copyright
First published in 2002 in the anthology Ghostwriting
This edition published in 2012
by HarperCollinsPublishers Australia Pty Limited
ABN 36 009 913 517
A member of the HarperCollinsPublishers (Australia) Pty Limited Group
harpercollins.com.au
Text copyright © Traci Harding 2002
Cover image copyright © Terry Ludgate
The right of Traci Harding to be identified as the moral rights author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000 (Cth). This book is copyright.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publishers.
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ISBN 9781743096239
Traci Harding, The Limbo of Luxury
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