“Sorry. Mum’s always telling me to be more careful,” Coop said, a little breathless. “Your brothers said you were up here taking an inventory.” He let me go and stepped back. “I thought maybe you could use some help.”
Coop had come looking for me. Again. I wanted to squeal. Instead, I pulled the phone from my pocket, trying to appear cool and calm.
“Is your dad okay?” I asked.
“Mum was making him put ice on his foot when I left, but he’s fine.”
“That was such a scary accident.” I pulled my sweater tighter.
“It wasn’t—” Coop’s expression clouded, and he shifted in obvious discomfort. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Um, try me.” I tried to look encouraging.
Coop seemed to struggle to say something. Why? It reminded me of how I’d felt a little while ago when I’d wanted to confide in Ezra but hadn’t been able to.
It all came flooding in at once—the “breeze” blowing my hair earlier on the breezeless grounds, Mom’s cryptic declaration about no ghosts, and now my library experience.
“Coop, don’t youeventell me this place is haunted.” I planted both hands on my hips, almost daring him to deny it. At his expression, I groaned and dropped my hands. “No. You’re not supposed to feed my overactive imagination. You’re supposed to tell me there’s no such thing as ghosts.”
“What did you see?” Coop took my shoulders again, and he checked me out from head to toe. It might have been flattering except he seemed to be searching for some kind of injury.
I explained about what I’d experienced outside and in the library.
“You’ve seen him twice already?” He grimaced and dropped his hand from my shoulders. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything about it.”
“Wait. You aren’t teasing me?” I asked. “You’re saying he’sreal?”
He hesitated before giving a single nod. “He’s not usually this active. Just little things every once in a while.”
I suddenly felt like the kid from the old movieGalaxy Questwho’d been told his favorite TV show was real. Not only had my father inherited a castle, he’d inherited a ghost. How bizarre. How awesome.
But why had I seen him so many times? Had I become a ghost magnet? Mellie’s words about him came unbidden to my mind, and it didn’t seem so awesome anymore. Hadshebecome a ghost magnet?
“Is it bad that he’s shown himself to us so soon after we got here?” I asked, rubbing my cold hands together.
“It could mean he’s getting stronger,” Coop said. “Mum saw him in the library too. He sent something flying at her. That was right after Miles, uh, Colonel Savage died. That’s when we moved into the Gatehouse.”
“Wait.” I stared at him, pulling out of my ghostly confusion. “You used to live here, in the castle?”
“Yeah.” Coop stared down at the garden but didn’t seem to see it. “Miles was gone ....” His voice tightened for a second, and he coughed. “What with new owners coming—you all,” he said with the hint of a smile, “Mum decided we’d have to move out anyway.”
My impression of the castle shifted then, no longer a cool sightseeing stop anymore. It had been Coop’s home. I wanted to ask if they resented having to move, but I didn’t know how without sounding lame.Hey, Coop, you and your folks mad because you got kicked out of your home?Um, yeah. No.
“Uh,” I said, “I guess I’d better get busy on that inventory for my mother before she comes looking for me.” I opened the first door.
“Mum already has an inventory of the rooms.” Coop held the door open to let me through. “If that helps.”
“I’m sure it will, but my mother wants pictures and details of what’s in each room.” I held up my phone.
“Even before you’ve unpacked?”
“Mom’s the queen of efficiency.” I explained about sending us to do double duty.
“Let’s do it, then.” Coop strode to the windows and opened the heavy curtains.
I already knew bedrooms made up the entire floor. Some had smaller rooms connected to them that must have been intended for servants. Or maybe they had always been big closets.
“How long have you lived here?” I turned on the light in the bedroom.
