Challenge accepted by Eva Bielby
Eva's challenge was to write a flash fiction story of less than 500 words, based on this picture:
THISTLEDENT MANOR
Isaac Dent moved Dilys, his bride of
ten months, into Thistledent Manor in 1742. The rambling old house was
bequeathed to Isaac by Alfred Dent, his grandfather. A once healthy and active
landowner, Alfred had succumbed to viral pneumonia prior to Isaac’s wedding. He’d
always cherished the special bond with his grandson. Isaac enjoyed fishing,
hunting and shooting, where he excelled. Venison was frequently served at the
table during the dinner parties held at the Dent house, courtesy of Isaac and
his prowess with a rifle. Alfred had loved to boast about Isaac’s skills.
During four hopeful years, a
complicated miscarriage left Dilys unable to bear children. Isaac saw her
despair; the haunted look and guilt in her eyes. He was broken. He was unsure
what to do to make Dilys smile again. Late one night as his wife slept beside
him, Isaac was awake and an idea formed in his head. He was going to fill the
house with orphaned children.
The Battle of Culloden had been fought
and many local men were killed in the bloodthirsty clash. Some of their widows
were dying of malnutrition as they struggled and kept food mainly for their
children. Within weeks, Isaac and Dilys had filled their home with eleven youngsters
- two babies and the remainder were between three and eleven years old. Dilys
was ecstatic and quickly grew to love each one of them, but she struggled despite
the help from the servants. Responding to their advertisement, an older lady,
Agatha McTavish, was soon taken into the fold as nanny and teacher.
After several months, Dilys noticed
four or five of the children had become withdrawn and sullen. She discussed the
matter with Agatha, who suggested it was the trauma of losing their parents.
Dilys acknowledged that there could be some truth in Agatha’s suggestion, but
continued to dwell on the matter, after all, the children had seemed happy at
first during Dilys’ love and nurturing.
Dilys continued to feed and settle the two babies after dinner each evening, leaving nanny to bathe the older children and tuck them into their beds. On leaving the nursery one night, she heard shouts and screams coming from along the passageway. There was an almighty crash and Dilys arrived at the open doorway in time to witness nine-year-old Angus McArthur’s spirit leave his body. His broken body lay naked and crumpled on the floor, blood pooling beneath his head. Deep red welts covered the skin on his back. Agatha stood over him. The whip in her hand dropped to the floor when she saw Dilys.
Isaac and Dilys moved away with their
‘family’ the following morning.
Thistledent Manor remains abandoned.
The villagers often hear shouts and screams, those of Agatha and poor Angus,
and the crack of a whip coming from the derelict, forbidding house.
Sadly, Dilys Dent never slept much
after the events at Thistledent Manor. Her disturbing dreams always ended with
Agatha’s face, a deep, bloodied gash across her throat.
Eva Bielby
Eva Bielby was born
in North Yorkshire in the Northeast of England. She has spent over thirty years
of her working life as a company accountant. Eva has a keen interest in
spiritualism/mediumship and has attended several workshops to develop her
skills further. During her quieter moments, Eva enjoys a cryptic crossword,
sudoku, and gardening.
