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Appearance
“Didn’t the telegraph accomplish that?” Mrs. Ashton’s question was a valid one.
“Yes, but the lawyers suggested a photograph be taken of the pair of us together so that they will know for sure that the telegraph was sent by Meg and not someone simply pretending to be her,” Charlie further explained.
“That does make sense,” Mr. Ashton nodded.
“So… we’ll discuss the details tomorrow, Mother, but I’d like to do it the night after next. Here. With only a small number of guests.”
Mrs. Ashton had a smile frozen on her face. “We’ll discuss it tomorrow. I’m not even sure if your sister is free and can make it down that quickly.”
“She’ll manage,” Charlie assured his mother. “I apologize for leaving dinner before it’s finished, but I’m not feeling well, and I’m afraid I’ll need to excuse myself.”
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Meg raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? See whom?”He pursed his lips together, as if he wasn’t sure whether or not he could tell her. “I mean a specific sort of doctor who specializes in this sort of thing.”Her other eyebrow shot up. “You mean… a psychiatrist?”He nodded. “I know it might sound desperate. It’s only… I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want anyone to think I’m crazy….”“A psychiatrist would be the one to say that, though, wouldn’t he?”“Possibly,” Charlie shrugged. “I think I’m sane enough to stay out of an institution. I hope I am anyway. But I’ve been reading, and some of the techniques these doctors have come up with might help me. Have you read anything by Freud? Or Jung?”She had heard of Freud but not that other person. “I don’t know much about psychia
Ghosts of Southampton Intoxicated
Charlie slowly shook his head. “I can’t imagine. Are you certain?”“I’m sad to say I certainly know how to tell when someone is intoxicated—and the smell of whisky cloaked with mint will be ingrained in my brain until the day they bury me.”“I suppose I’ve been so preoccupied with my own problems that I hadn’t even noticed.”“I know, and no one can blame you for that.”“Possibly. But what sort of a friend am I if I didn’t even notice that he was suffering?” He ran his hand through his hair, and Meg wished she hadn’t said anything at all.And yet, she found herself pressing on into dangerous territory. “Charlie, I think there might be other aspects of Jonathan’s life you’re not quite seeing.”He tilted his head to the side and looked deeply into her eyes as if he were trying to read what she was getting at. “No,
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A few moments later, they heard a distinct throat clearing at the end of the hallway and realized Jonathan was waiting for them. Pulling themselves apart, Meg brushed the tear streaks from her face, and Charlie looped his arm through hers and led her down the hall, as if they were walking to the firing squad instead of a group of alleged friends.Once they reached the end of the hallway where Jonathan stood, the liegeman whispered sharply, “Your sister is about to have a conniption thinking you’ve snuck off somewhere.”“We are just slow walkers,” Charlie assured him, amused.“I’ll let you explain yourself to her. She assumed you were right behind her.”“We were. Right behind her—far, far behind her.” Charlie looked at Meg, a twinkle in his eyes.“I believe you will need the ring back if you’re to give her the ring in front of everyone,” Jonathan reminded them.
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Most of the crowd was so absorbed in staring at the bright, colorful lights overhead, they likely didn’t even notice their host and his bride-to-be had been transported to another time. It wasn’t until Meg and Jonathan began to guide Charlie back toward the house that some of them seemed to see something was the matter as the trio had to pass through many of the guests in order to get inside. As she approached the door, her arm around Charlie’s midsection as Jonathan held him from behind, Meg realized she’d collected Kelly and Daniel who looked just as frightened as Meg felt.Once inside, Meg kept right on walking, headed toward the parlor where she thought guests might leave them be and the firecrackers might not be so loud, though the popping sound followed them through the house, and each time another burst, all of them jumped to some degree or another.Meg led Charlie over to the sofa and forced him to sit as he began to stammer out some sor
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