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“Of course not.” I didn’t actually know if that was true. “Wait…how do you not know? Aren’t you supposed to be from a ghost expert company?”

Ryan shifted slightly. “I’ve only been doing this for three months, okay?!”

“Hey, Harri,” Larri managed to squeeze out petulantly. “Can you Harri it up? I haven’t got all day.”

Harri roared and they went phasing through the floor in a wisp of ghostly energy, their screams rattling the house.

“What the fuck is going on?” Ryan asked, staring at me for answers.

I cleared my throat. We really weren’t making a great first impression. “Harri and Larri share the last room here next to the communal bathroom. They’re best friends.”

“Are you sure they’re not archenemies?”

“It’s complicated. They’re chained together, so they get a little testy sometimes. It’s hard to not have personal space.”

“They can’t get free?”

“I’m not really sure why.” I shrugged. “One of life’s curiosities. At least they aren’t lonely.”

I walked along the hall, skipping the stairs on my right that led to the uppermost floor and heading for the back stairwell, which led down to what had once been the maid’s quarters but were now converted into more rooms. It was where my room was located.

I realised Ryan wasn’t following anymore and turned to find him peering up the upper staircase. I hurried over, touching his arm and making him jump in fright. His eyes were dazed and blown, like he had been in some kind of trance.

I pursed my lips, giving a scolding glare up into the crooked, narrow darkness that was emitting its own fog. Then I pulled Ryan along with me.

Away from the broken line of salt on the edges. Away from the black smudges on the wall and the visible scratches in the wood. I thought they gave the place charm. I didn’t think he’d agree.

“The stairs here lead up to our more…particular guests. It’s best to avoid going up there. It’s off limits for now.”

“Owain…what the hell is up there?” he asked me seriously.

“I just told you,” I said, avoiding the question entirely. “If you’ll follow me this way I’ll show you the other rooms and our common spaces.”

I could tell Ryan wanted to press the issue, but I kept the chatter up so there wasn’t a space to breathe, let alone interject.

We toured the small library/study conversion and the rest of the bedrooms. I showed him the utility closet and the best ways to navigate the twisty corridors. The living space and kitchen he had already seen, so I ended the tour in the dining room, which was the biggest room in the building.

It had a full-length banquet-style table situated in the middle of the room; dark wood, with matching chairs with carved dragons’ heads for arms. They were all upholstered with rich red cushions that were wearing in places but still perfectly comfortable.

They didn’t make things like this anymore, and I loved them all the more for that reason.

Matching red drapes framed the window in heavy velvet, the view of the sea a stunning backdrop I could stare out at all day.

Around the edges of the room were various side tables, some holding crystal glasses and silver cutlery, all the best porcelain plates up on display. There was a small station to place cloches down in a hostess trolley that kept them warm, a painting of Bronwyn looking sternly down to make sure it was done right.

The eyes moved and I knew she was now haunting her portrait to keep an eye on things.

“Is that portrait looking at me?”

“Ryan. Meet Bronwyn. She’ll be cooking for you this evening,” I said, flourishing a hand.

“The murder ghost is cooking for me? I don’t think I want that.”

“She’s a great cook!”

He gave me a look. “So she’s better at hiding the arsenic?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’d never do such a thing, right Bronwyn?” She was silent and I shifted. “Right?”