by Suzy Watts

Created on: January 20, 2011

Ghost Story

When I arrived at my destination, the station was deserted.  The staff agency that had arranged this position had assured me I would be met and taken to the manor house where I would be starting my new position as nanny, but no-one had appeared.  My luggage was too bulky to carry any distance, so I had no choice but to wait on the platform, and try to keep warm.  Eventually, a car pulled up outside the station and an elderly man in a chauffeur’s uniform walked onto the platform.  He enquired if I was the person he was here to collect, not tricky to work out as I was the only person in sight, and he gestured towards the car and between us we loaded my cases into the boot.

It was good to be out of the wind.  We drove slowly along country roads for about thirty minutes until we arrived at a large set of gates, which magically opened as we approached, and we entered and drove up the long driveway.  Eventually a large, imposing building came into view, and we drew to a halt in front of the main door.  While I went to ring the doorbell, the car was driven round the side of the house. 

After a long delay, the door opened creakily and an ancient butler stood before me and waved me inside, then gestured towards the study which I duly entered.  After looking round the book-lined room, I sat down to await my employer.  I was very tired from my long journey, and must have dozed off where I sat.  I awoke to the sound of the front door slamming shut, then the study door was suddenly flung open, and there stood a tall, distinguished man in his forties.  He looked surprised to see me, and asked who I was and why I was in his study.  I told him my name and informed him that I was the new nanny and handed him my letter of introduction from the agency.  He snatched the letter from my hand and quickly read the contents, looking at me from time to time.  When he had finished reading, he moved over to a chair beside the fire and motioned for me to do the same.

“There must be some mistake,” he said eventually.

“I have no need for the services of a nanny, as I have no children.”

“Someone is playing a sick joke on you, or me, or both of us.  I live here alone, with only my servants for company.  Tell me the story of how you came to apply for this phantom position.”

I explained that I had seen an advertisement in The Lady magazine for a live-in nanny for two young children, as their mother had recently died, and I contacted the agency which placed the advert and was interviewed by them last month.  They wrote to say I had been accepted for the position and sent me instructions and travel documents which I used to arrive here tonight.  I asked him why, when he did not expect my arrival, he had sent his car to collect me.

He looked horrified.  “What car?  Who was driving the car?”

I thought it strange that he did not know his own car and his own chauffeur but I explained the manner of my collection and delivery to this house.

He grew pale.  “I do not have a chauffeur.  My last driver died in an accident in which my wife and my two young children were also killed one year ago today.”

“Then who drove me from the station?”

Learn more about this author, Suzy Watts.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.