Séance at Inveraray
It was Patience’s last day at school. Not only was Patience Denham Hall’s head prefect, she was also the Boadicea dormitory monitor.
The farewell was held in the dining room and also included were the sixth form girls from the other dorms.
Being her last day at school the girls were excitedly clustered around Patience. She was very well-liked. She was also my very best friend and had been at Denham Hall as long as I can remember, well at least three years. On more than one occasion she had been our guest at Inveraray Castle.
Among the crowd of well-wishers I could see Miss Pringle earnestly talking to Patience, no doubt inquiring about her plans for the future.
Tamsin asked Jessica what Patience had in mind for a career.
Jessica replied, “She is thinking of either studying to be a solicitor or going into teaching”.
Tamsin said “I know what I would do. I would take up soliciting. Surely there is more money in it and far less agro”.
Not hard of hearing, big ears Miss Pringle, looking over Patience’s shoulder, said crossly “I would be careful what you say Miss Lacey”.
Tamsin answered defensively “But miss, miss …”
I thought, ‘hello, we have been here before’. It was when Miss Pringle was explaining to the class that a farrier re-shoes horse’s hooves and a shoe repairer repairs people’s shoes. Tamsin had cried out “that’s cobblers miss”. That remark was enough for Miss Pringle to send Tamsin on a round trip to see the headmistress. Pleading with a “but miss, miss” to Miss Pringle did not help. After the visit to Miss Sefton’s office, I believe the misunderstanding was all sorted out.
Patience’s impending departure also left me with a small headache. You see, as I wrote earlier, Patience was my very best friend now I am left with the problem as to who would take her place. At this stage, there are three contenders, Tamsin, Phaedra, and Jessica.
Tamsin is the favorite for the top spot as she is currently my second best friend but at least Phaedra and Jessica will move up one place. Patience will remain on my Facebook friends’ list.
It was the first week of the holidays and I was back with my family. I had invited Tamsin and Phaedra to stay at Inveraray which really pleased mother. You see mother had arranged another séance but after the disaster of the previous one the numbers were always going to be a problem. Father again found some lame excuse why he could not attend.
Mrs Dalrymple was again going to lead the séance and the less experienced medium Mrs Pasta, the Italian kitchen hand, was to be a ‘back-up’. Again, Mr Flowers, the assistant gardener and his wife Betty had been ‘invited’ to attend.
For my gentle readers, I should explain Inveraray Castle is one of the most haunted castles in Scotland. There are said to be a quintet of ghosts. Whether this is hearsay or not, who knows? It is said that the castle is haunted by the ghost of a harpist who was hanged in 1644 for peeping at the lady of the house.
Tamsin commented the punishment was somewhat harsh, yes even uncalled for.
Visitors have reported hearing a mysterious harp playing at the castle. But other stories relate a different tale. The legend goes that in 1644 the Duke of Argyll fled his castle to escape capture from the Marquess of Montrose. When he deserted, he left behind a young Irish boy who had been in his employment as a harpist.
From the castle records, and here I quote ‘the marquess had deployed Irish mercenaries who, outraged that a fellow countryman could be in the employ of their sworn enemy, slaughtered the boy, leaving his dismembered body on the duke’s bed’.
Again Tamsin commented on the needless severity of the said punishment.
It is said when a member of the family is about to die in the castle harp music can be heard coming from this room. The last report of this ghostly phenomenon being when the 10th Duke died in 1949. Elsewhere in the house, a bagpiper has been heard playing on the balcony of the Brown Library.
You can understand Mrs Dalrymple really needs to nominate who she is calling on the other side to avoid any confusion with the other spirits. As we assembled in the gallery we made sure Mr Winston the dog was removed from the room. We did not want a repeat performance of the last séance with signals that did not originate from the ‘other side’ but rather from ‘underneath’ by Mr Winston who had been asleep under the table.
Candles were lit; the lights were dimmed. We held hands. Mrs Dalrymple paused as she composed herself then cast her eyes………er to the high vaulted ceilings.
The séance commenced. Mrs Dalrymple intoned “Our beloved harpist, we bring you gifts from life into death. Commune with us. Please move among us”.
I don’t know where she learns this stuff.
Mrs Dalrymple repeated the request.
Silence. Nothing. Zilch!
“Spirit show yourself. Spirit reveal. Spirit come to me so I know you are real”.
She paused. There was a sound but it was difficult to understand the spirit’s reply.
Mrs Dalrymple asked “Mrs Pasta would you be so kind as to try and make contact”.
There were definitely sounds. Whether it was a reply, well it was hard to say as the sounds made no sense.
Mrs Pasta inquired of Mrs Dalrymple “Do you know if the slaughtered boy’s remains were left on the duke's bed or were they removed to the ceiling?”
“Well Mrs Pasta, for the life of me, I am not sure why the remains would have been placed in the ceiling in the first place and regarding the boy’s remains being left on his bed that is most unlikely as well. If they were removed to the ceiling you can appreciate, after a while, there is a strong likelihood the remains would start to……………”
Mrs Pasta visibly annoyed replied “Yes, yes I know. I know”.
This was developing into a music hall script. Nevertheless, there were sounds coming from the ceiling. Tamsin was enjoying this. I can imagine her relating this story in the dorm after lights out.
Spirits were abundant at Inveraray. There was a good selection to call on. I suspect this was Mrs Dalrymple’s last-ditch attempt to contact the ‘dear departed’.
I whispered to Tamsin and asked if she would you like to have a go at summoning the dead. She declined.
In desperation, Mrs Dalrymple was going to invoke the spirits with a tried and tested summons that has stood the test of time, but I suspect this one may have been lifted from a Black Sabbath.
“Witches course through time; we are in need of assistance. Oh spirit come, we beckon you. Share your stories. Come until the morning light”.
There was definite movement and sounds from the ceiling but no answer of a spiritual nature.
Mrs Dalrymple instructed “You may release hands. The spirits are not ready to make contact with earthly entities”.
She spoke to mother. “Lady Delilah, I must apologize again. We will have to try another time. At least we may have awoken the spirits and alerted them we wish to make contact”.
Mother said “Of course Mrs Dalrymple but thank you for coming. We look forward to you conducting another séance in the near future”.
The group broke up and retired to the library. Father was already waiting. He had returned from visiting Colonel Carter-Brown. Drinks were served to the séance guests and speculation as to why the spirits chose not to reveal themselves was raised.
I had the feeling that father, by his demeanor, was up to something. He said little but was listening intently to Mrs Dalrymple’s account of the difficulty making contact with the house ghosts.
Father said “your séance Mrs Dalrymple was most interesting. I am sorry you did not connect with the spirits living in the castle. My evening has been less exciting. I have been round to Colonel Carter-Brown’s place and he tells me maintenance men are going to have to explore the roof above the library here. It appears we have a family of squirrels living in the ceiling”. I think father was also beginning to enjoy this evening.
But gentle readers wait there is more. Visitors to the castle have reported the existence of yet another spirit in the old kitchen - a more cheery spirit in the form of a laundry maid who has been heard laughing hysterically on a number of occasions. Maybe it was the reaction by our spirit friends with a sense of humour after witnessing Mrs Dalrymple’s séances. Was this their reaction to her efforts at summoning the ghosts of Inveraray Castle or maybe it might be a ghostly ancestor of Mrs Pasta do you think?”
