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THORNTON HOUSE
A Seamist Bay Novel Book 1
BY JUDITH LUKE

BLURB

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THORNTON HOUSE
A Seamist Bay Novel Book 1
BY JUDITH LUKE

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Lily Whitlee was the last of her family tree. The large key, made of old forged brass, tarnished and scarred, warmed in her hand. The heirloom had passed from one generation to another.

She thought it a dream, an unbelievable inheritance. She gazed at the massive black door before her and placed her hand on the center panel. Weary from all the legalities and paperwork, this little ceremony was one last requirement.

Her heart raced a bit with excitement. She was ready for a fresh start—like a clean new canvass. She wanted nothing more than to get back to illustrating children’s books.

Lily turned to the attorney, waiting patiently behind her. “So, I have to enter through this door with this key.” She raised her dark eyes to find him watching her. “Will something dire happen if I don’t take possession of the property by going through this door?”

Ethan Manning, Aunt Rella’s lifelong friend, was the executor of the estate. He was a tall handsome man, sixties, with a full head of graying hair. He was now her neighbor and had been a great help easing her through the legal twists and turns of the inheritance.

Nathan, his eight-year-old grandson, stood next to him. He waited patiently for the adults to finish their business.

Ethan’s smile was without anger, almost apologetic. “Yes. As the last living relative you have inherited the entire Thornton Estate. This large colonial, one hundred acres, barns, and a dock full of boats, not to mention the investments are included. As Rella wrote in her will, you have to enter this door with this key in order to take possession, an old family custom. I serve as your witness. Even Rella had to enter this way.” A sad huskiness entered his voice. He stared at the key in her hand. “I was with her when she inherited the estate from her mother.”

Lily respected his sadness. Her mind flashed with all she had learned. Gossipy funeral attendees were more than willing to provide her with interesting bits about Rella. She and Ethan grew up next door to each other, had at one time been sweethearts. Time and distance separated them. Death and family brought them back to Seamist Bay as neighbors once more.

Raw grief glittered in his blue eyes. He had a lifetime of memories.

A few months ago, Aunt Rella’s body had been found by the landscaper, face down at the bottom of the stairs. The police concluded she had fallen. Losing a close friend to a tragic accident would wound any heart.

Lily knew little about Rella Williams, her eccentric benefactor. Once when she was five, she came with her parents. Then just last summer, a span of twenty-five years, an invitation arrived for her to visit the estate for an authors’ tea to exhibit and sign her children’s picture books. After the tea she heard nothing, not even a letter. And now, she had inherited everything.

The key grew curiously warmer as she gazed at the brass. She smiled at Ethan, breaking the somberness. “Well, alright then. It’s getting late. Let’s get on with it.”

Lily slid the key in the old lock and turned. A deep metallic click followed. She grasped the brass handle and pressed the latch with her thumb. The door swung inward to a front hallway, covered in a deep red runner. She entered the house and followed the carpet, thick and quiet under her feet, passed the formal living room on her left. The large archway into the dining room was on her right. At the end of the hall was the split stairway with an open top railing that viewed the hall.

Ethan came in behind her and closed the door. Pulling her large suitcase, he stopped at the bottom of the stairs and left it there. Nathan followed.

“I hope the house is readied for you. Rose the housekeeper has always done a wonderful job.”

Lily placed her large purse on top of the suitcase. She glanced around, finding it hard to believe she had inherited Thornton House, a century old colonial just off Puget Sound. Aunt Rella, her grand-aunt, had not only left her the entire estate, but also the income to keep herself solvent for the rest of her life. She kept wondering when the other shoe would drop. Surely, she mused, it couldn’t be this easy.

Ethan had been a great help to her during the transition. He knew everything about the house, the investments, and Rella’s wishes.

She turned to the closed door across from the stairs. “Isn’t that the library?”

Lily tried the doorknob, but it didn’t turn. “It’s locked.”

“Here, I have the keys to the house.” He produced a small brass ring of keys, each labeled. “Just so you know, the house egress doors, except for the front door, are all keyed the same, so you do not have to worry about having a key for each entrance. However, other interior doors, like this library, have their own keys.”

Ethan unlocked the door and turned on an overhead light. A cool draft of air slid by. Lily entered and ran her hands down her arms.

“This is such a beautiful room, all those built-in bookcases. Chilly in here.”

“Probably from the cold front that we had. However, the weather has been unusually warm. Come with me.” Ethan padded down the two steps at the end of the hall to the den. “This is where you indicated you wanted the easel, here by the windows. I hope this is correct.” He glanced around as though assessing the cleanliness of everything. “It used to be the solarium, and then it was called the den, now it will be a studio.” He smiled at her.

“Oh, how wonderful, all of these windows for natural light.” Three sides of the room had six-foot tall windows with cross panes. A door at the back-left corner led to the vast yard.

Lily and Nathan followed Ethan as he went back up the two stairs and strolled down the hall. They traveled through the Queen Anne dining room and on the left the butler’s pantry. Three steps down and they were in the work kitchen. He opened the refrigerator. “I believe Rose has this stocked with basic items.”

“I met Rose and her husband Will when I stayed two nights for the author’s tea.” Their employment package, she learned, included the use of the little cottage on the estate. Will took care of simple repairs and yard work, while Rose cleaned and cooked.

“If you need anything or have questions, just call.” He handed her a card with all of his phone numbers, including his son Gus’s cell phone. “We are next door. Don’t hesitate.”

“Thank you. I’m sure there will be many.” Lily chuckled lightly, knowing there would be tons of questions.

He slid his hands into his pants pockets. “If you would feel safer this first night, I would be happy to camp out on the couch in the studio, in case things go bump in the night.”

“Do things go bump in the night here?”

“Not that I know of. Just an old saying, if you will.” He smiled and put his arm around Nathan to indicate they should leave.

“I hope all those cookies aren’t for me.” Lily passed by the worktable where large trays of cookies were covered in plastic wrap. “They smell delicious.”

“They’re for the William’s Center, an assisted living facility, financed by your estate. We go over on Wednesdays, at least Rella and I did. You may change that.” Ethan’s mouth turned down with sadness.

“Well, shall we try one?” Lily took a large chocolate chip cookie and splayed her hand to Ethan and also Nathan, who had remained quiet.

“Rose is a wonderful baker. We’ll choose one and then be on our way. I know how tiring moving and airline travel can be. We’ll stop in periodically to see if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Lily.” Nathan smiled and took a bite.

They left, and Lily pressed the door shut. The old key turned with a metallic thud. She hung the key on a special brass hook just left of the door. After a glass of milk and a few more high-calorie cookies, she wandered downstairs, checking the doors, then she climbed the stairs, dragging her purse and suitcase with her.

All of Rella’s belongings were still in the master bedroom. Until she had a chance to clean out Rella’s things, she chose the yellow room across from the back railing of the open stairway. Soon exhaustion overrode her unease about being in a strange place, and she slept.

The sun’s bright fingers began to pattern through the lace curtains across from her when a groaning floorboard woke her. Lily turned to stare at the open doorway. She held her breath, listened. Was someone in the house?

She eased her way to the far side of the bed and stood. Gathering a pillow in her left arm, she clutched it against her chest. Another thud sounded, farther away this time. Continuing to the next bedpost, she viewed the hall and the open stair railing. A quick and disturbing thought filled her—she had nothing for protection.

She picked up her cell phone from the nightstand and tapped the screen. Dead. Weary, she had forgotten to plug it in. The only phone in this old house was downstairs in the library.

Cool soft scented air layered over her. She shivered and ran her hand up her naked arm. Her arms clenched the pillow, a flimsy defense at best.

Another series of soft thumps carried to her from the attic. Racoons, maybe?

Drawing a deep breath, she forced herself to settle, to think. The noise was probably nothing, but still she had to know. Her father had taught her self-defense, how to fire a gun and fence. Remember, anything can be a weapon. Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, she had plenty of threats, including bears, cougars, and an occasional straying human.

Lily threw the pillow on the end of the bed. Quickly, she removed the lace curtain from the bottom window brackets. She whipped out the metal rod, separating it into two pieces. Grasping the curve of one section, she had a weapon of sorts. She ventured into the hall. Still and quiet, she listened.

About Author Judith Luke…

Links to Judith’s websites, blogs, books, #ad, etc.:

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3LTozPP

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3LUVjs8

View Judith’s other books at amazon.com>judith luke books