A Ghost From the Past

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(All rights to BBC)
I can't believe that "The Living And The Dead" fandom is so small! It's a crazy good show. But well, to you sane people who like it, here's another chapterXD

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Charlotte lay awake. Nathan hadn't come up yet. She was confused. Who was Arthur? If he really had been Nathan's best friend why didn't she now about him. He couldn't have seen him. That was for sure. He must have been tired. He couldn't be mad. He was older than her, but he was only thirty. Charlotte wiped a tear away. Everything would be okay tomorrow. But he said that he also had seen him in the forest. Charlotte hadn't thought too much about it. It had been strange, of course, but he had said that it was nothing, but it definitely wasn't nothing. Why hadn't he come up? It was completely dark outside. She stood up and took her robe on. Gwen must have left some time ago. She tiptoed down the stairs. She looked into his office, but there was no one. She looked in the living room with the books, the kitchen and the dining room, but it was first when she looked out of the window that she saw him. He sat on the little bridge that stood out in the small lake. He sat leaned up at the post and was dangerous close to the water. She hurried out to the hallway and out the front door. "Nathan"! She called. He didn't answer. When she got to him she tried to pull him away. He opened confused his eyes. "Were you sleeping"? She asked. Nathan looked up at her. "No" he said. "Liar. Why are you sleeping here? You could have fallen into the water" she said frightened. "I just needed to get out" he said. "Come inside" she said and tried to get him up. He stood up and followed her inside. It was a warm night. The moon lighted up the path to the front door. When they came up, she helped him out of his shirt and trousers and gave him his sleeping pants so he could put them on. He took them and lay himself over the blanket. She lay down beside him. He was staring up at the ceiling without really seeing anything. "Are you alright?" Charlotte asked. He turned his head to look at her. "I am now" he said and took her hand. She smiled. "Who was Arthur"? She asked. His smile stiffened a little. "Just somebody I once knew, as I said" he said and looked away again. "How did he die"? She asked carefully. "He got killed. Stabbed. I couldn't safe him" Nathan said. "I'm sorry" Charlotte said. "Me too" he said. He kissed her hand. "Sleep" he said. She smiled and closed his eyes. Nathan looked at her for a while. Why couldn't he just live with her in peace? Soon after her breath became slow and her face looked so peacefully. She was so beautiful. He took a lock of her hair and moved it away from her face. He closed his eyes and felt a sleep.

The time went fast. They had so much to do and suddenly an entire month had past. Charlotte was starting to get worried about her husband. He had started to be so remote. He was also a little peevish which he never had been before. But she would wait and see what the time would bring. She hoped that it just was a phase.
Nathan lay in there bed. When he woke up Charlotte wasn't there. He sighed and sat up. They would get a visit later from the neighbour farm's master so they could disguise some orders. Nathan stood up and looked out of the window. The sky was grey so he took a sweater over his shirt. When he was ready he walked down stairs. Gwen came running to him with his breakfast. "Where would you like to eat master"? She asked. Nathan didn't look at her he just walked past her. "I don't have any appetite" he said and walked out the door. He walked up at the hills to the fields. He had forgotten to tell Charlotte about the visit. The workers all nodded at him, but he ignored them. Charlotte looked a little tired up when he called her name. "The master from the neighbour farm is coming later to discuss the things that need to be discussed" he said a little distracted in thoughts. "What! Why haven't you told me" she said hysterical. "Forgot" he mumbled already on his way back. The workers all looked at them a little confused. Charlotte looked sad after him. There was something wrong with him. Could it really be what happened that night with priest? She left the fields to run after her husband. "When will he come"? She asked. "When he comes" Nathan mumbled. Charlotte stopped him. "I know that you are a little shaken or something, but you need to be more, you know, you self, when the guest arrives. This is an important deal" she said and looked him in the eyes. "What do you mean 'you self"? He asked. "Happier" she said and turned to continue home. Nathan didn't answer.
When they got home Nathan walked directly into his office and slammed the door. Charlotte sighed irritated. Gwen came in with a confused face. "What's wrong with the master"? She asked. Charlotte shook her head. "I actually don't know" she said. She looked at the closed door, but then she turned to Gwen. "We are getting visit soon. Can you make scones and tea"? She asked. "Yes of course mam" she said and went back into the kitchen. Charlotte hurried up in the bedroom to change to something more suitable for a woman in her standard. She chose a dark red dress with golden buttons. She braised her hair on her head and looked at her in the mirror. When she was happy about her look she went downstairs. She went into the office, but it was empty. She went into the kitchen where Gwen stood with a bowl. She had flour on her nose. "Have you seen my husband"? Charlotte asked. "He went outside a couple of minutes ago" Gwen told. Charlotte looked out of the window. "Is everything alright between you"? Gwen asked carefully. Charlotte nodded, but she couldn't help her eyes being filled with hot tears. Gwen looked at her for a moment, but then concentrated on the dough again. Charlotte went into the living room and found her little book. She had all her ideas about the farm written down in that book. She sat there in about an hour. She tried to concentrate on the hand written words, but her eyes kept wandering to the window. She jumped when Gwen pocked her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry mam, but Mr. Payne have arrived. Charlotte took a deep breath  and stood up. "Send him in" she said. Gwen nodded and left the room. Charlotte looked a last time out of the window before the door opened and a young man walked in. He had brown hair and a light grey suit on. He smiled warmly when he saw her. "Mrs. Appleby" Mr. Payne said. He walked over and shook her hand. "Is Mr. Appleby here"? He asked. Charlotte sighed. Typical that he wanted to speak with a man. "No, but I'm here" she said. "Yes, and I am grateful" he said with a smile. Charlotte smiled surprised, but happy. "I wanted to..." Mr. Payne started, but then turned when they heard the door close. Nathan walked past the door opening. He stopped and came back. "Mr. Payne"? Nathan asked. "Oh, Mr. Appleby. Glad to see you Sir" Mr. Payne said and smiled. The two men shook hands. "Well what do you want"? Nathan asked. Mr. Payne smiled confused, but then started talking: "I would like to buy your land there goes up to my farm" Mr. Payne said. "By the lane? It's worthless" Nathan said. Charlotte looked a little ashamed by her husband's behavior. "I want to drain it. Pump it" Mr. Payne said. "That's ambitious" Charlotte said and looked impressed. Nathan looked at her face a little sad before he again turned to the man. "Of course I will pay well for it" Mr. Payne said. "Of course you will. Advancing with yours speculation fortune. Step by step" Nathan said and walked close up to Mr. Payne there looked a little scared. "Parading your inversion and determination. A quality my wife admires" he continued. "Nathan" Charlotte said sharp. Nathan ignored her. "Until one night I felt this tap on my shoulder and I turned to find you here in my house" Nathan said with a threading tone. "I don't think Mr. Payne is plotting the occupation that you imply" Charlotte said angrily. "I'm only jest my dear" Nathan laughed and looked with crazy eyes on his wife. "My dear and my dear Sir" Nathan said still laughing. Mr. Payne let out a nervous laughter. Nathan clapped Mr. Payne on the shoulder and walked to the door. "The land is yours if my wife is willing to sell it" he said and walked out. There were an awkward silence. "I'm sorry. He has been working hard lately" Charlotte said. Mr. Payne smiled and nodded. "A gifted man" he said. Charlotte smiled. "Make you self comfortable. I will be right with you in a moment" she said. Gwen came in with a plate of still warm Scones and a pot of tea. Charlotte smiled relieved. She hurried up stairs. She looked into the bedroom. Nathan sat on the bed with his back at her. She walked into the room. "That was rude" she said angrily. Nathan groaned. "I thought you wanted more energy from me. More animation. It fells like you freezing over" he complained. "This is not the time for talking" Charlotte said cold. "That is what you said to me. That I had lost the spring in my step" he said irritated. Charlotte ignored him. "He is waiting for me. I'm going with him to look at the land, because we need money to pay for the railway" she said. Nathan sighed and turned away to look out of the window. "You keep going" he mumbled slowly. "You sound like you don't want to" she said. Nathan shook his head. "No, no" he mumbled. "I'm just a little tired, that's all." he said scratching his beard. Charlotte sighed and turned to leave. "He's a good man" Nathan sighed. Charlotte stopped, but didn't turn. "An ideal husband" he continued. Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment. Then she left her husband on the bed. Nathan didn't care. He just looked out of the window. He could hear there voices downstairs, but he couldn't hear what they were saying. He didn't care with it now. He had been over in the tavern and he had perhaps had a little bit too much to drink, but right now he needed it. He could hear the front door closing. They had left. Nathan stood up and took of his jacket. Then he went down stairs. Gwen was cleaning the living room. She looked a little frightened when he came in. "Master" she said. "Gwen" he said and walked over to her. Maybe a little to close. "You said that you made medicine" he asked. Gwen nodded and took a little step back. "Can I see what you have"? He asked. Gwen nodded and went over to the kitchen. Nathan followed her in her heels. She went over to the shelves and took down a little chest. She took a key from under a bowl and locked it up. She looked a bit nervous at him when she opened it. Nathan pushed her away so he could look down in it. There stood a lot of small bottles in it. He took some of them up and read the inscription before putting them back. "Opium" he read aloud. "I only use it in small doses else it will give versions and.." she said quickly. "I know what it is. I used it on some of my patients in London" he mumbled. Gwen nodded and looked down. Nathan sat the bottle back down and took another one up. "Bella Donna" he said. Gwen nodded. "For Whooping Cough" he said and looked up at Gwen there nodded. "Deadly in to big doses" Nathan said. Gwen looked a little shocked. "Yes I know that" she said. Nathan smiled and put it back down. "Of course" he said still smiling the bit creepy smile. "Thanks for letting me see" he said and closed the lit on the chest. He nodded at himself and then walked out. Gwen looked a little concerned after him, but then hid the key away again. It should not end up in the wrong hands.

Charlotte and Mr. Payne walked over the bumpy field. Her heels kept sinking down in the gutter. "So strawberries" he asked. She smiled. "Yes, I really like that thought" she said. Mr. Payne Nodded. "Oh let me help you" he said. Charlotte's dress was caught in a root. "Thank you" she said and blushed a little. They stopped a few moments later. "Here it is" Charlotte said. Mr. Payne smiled. "Yes, exactly" he said happily. Charlotte looked admiring at him. "I like how enthusiastic you are" she said. "I like to think big" he said and looked at her. Charlotte blushed again. They looked at each other for awhile. "Let's draw the borders" Charlotte said and took her eyes away from the young man in front of her.
When they were done Mr. Payne brought her home again in his horse-drawn carriage. "I will prepare the papers" Charlotte said when she jumped off. "Thank you" he said and smiled at her. She blushed for the third time that day and turned to go inside. She could hear the carriage drive away behind her. She closed the door and hung her jacket. She sighed and walked over to the office. She could hear Nathans pen racing over a paper. She opened the door and walked in. Nathan didn't look up. "Have you lost your knuckles"? He asked still looking down at his work. Charlotte stopped. "My what"? She asked sad of his behavior. "Your knuckles" Nathan said irritated and knocked on his desk to show what he meant. "So you can't knock" he continued. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that you were so private" Charlotte said with tears in her eyes. She couldn't understand what had happened to him. "It's not about privacy" he said irritated and looked down at his work again. Charlotte turned to go out again. She had to wipe away some tears. "What did you want"? Nathan asked without looking up. She turned. "I just wanted to ask if you wanted to eat dinner with me" she asked carefully. Nathan looked up at her. Charlotte couldn't understand the emotion in his eyes. Was it hurt? "Of course" he said. He made a last dot with the pen and then stood up. Charlotte smiled in relief. Nathan carefully took his arm around her waist. She leaned in against him. "I love you"? She said. Almost like a question. He smiled and kissed her temple. They walked slowly into the dining room. Gwen had made potatoes and bread. They didn't talk much while they ate. Nathan looked down at his food and Charlotte looked at him. His thick, dark brown hair. His beard and blue eyes with the long eyelashes. His sharp cheekbones and long nose. Every thing looked the same, but in the same time so different.
When they were done eating Nathan retired back into his office. Charlotte just sat on the chair. Gwen had cleaned the table, but she didn't know what to do. "Mam"? Gwen asked. Charlotte looked up. "It's time" Gwen said. Charlotte didn't know what she meant before she lifted her hand and showed something there looked like a paper stick. When she realized what it was she became very nervous. She slowly stood up. Gwen gave her the stick. "You know what to do" she said. Charlotte nodded. She went into the light bathroom. She took up her skirts to pee on the stick. She was so nervous that it was a little hard. Gwen stood behind her. When Charlotte was done she handed over the gravidity tester to Gwen. "I can't do it my self" she said. She leaned up against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. She had butterflies in her stomach. She just hoped that it wasn't all she had in there. "Don't hope too much" Charlotte suddenly said and looked at Gwen. "We have tried in two years now" she continued. Gwen smiled at her. "But you never had some of my magical poison before" she said. Charlotte laughed. It was a nervous laughter, but she was really, really nervous. "Can't you see it now"? Charlotte asked after a little while. Gwen looked down in her hands. Charlotte's heart started beating like crazy. What if she actually was pregnant? She suddenly felt so dizzy. Gwen lighted up in a big smile. "Congratulations" she said and looked up at the almost hyperventilated Charlotte. "You are going to be a mother" she said.

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I have really realised now how long my chapters are. Oh well<3
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