“Oh that?” Rose made a face. “It’s a headhunter’s sword from Borneo. Those are the teeth of his victims. Isn’t it horrible? We’ve also got some shrunken heads somewhere. But come and see the pretty little conservatory at the end of the hall. That has nothing disgusting in it and it’s lovely to sit there on sunny days.”

The conservatory was delightful, filled with white wicker furniture and tall green plants. “There were also some orchids,” Rose said. “But I’m afraid I don’t have a green thumb. I tried taking care of them and I killed them. Mrs. Mannering was angry, I know. But I wanted to do something useful. It’s strange having nothing to do expect be waited on.”

“I know how you feel,” I said. “You should get a dog. Several dogs. They always make a house feel more like home and they are great companions.”

“I’m afraid of dogs,” Rose said. “I was bitten once as a child, by your grandmother’s dog, Belinda.”

“What, old Spingo? He was the only dog I remember and he was harmless.”

Rose shook her head. “Well, he bit me,” she said.

“Dogs always know who is afraid,” I said. “They sense fear and that makes them nervous.”

“Tony keeps saying he wants dogs,” Rose said. “Jonquil had a couple but they were put down when she died.”

“How horrid—who did that?” I asked, being incredibly fond of the dogs I’d grown up with.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t anywhere around here in those days,” Rose said. “I was up in London, remember.”

“Of course.”

As we spoke I had been admiring the view. The conservatory faced the back grounds with a view over the cliffs to the ocean beyond. It must have been spectacular on sunny days. Today, however, the rain peppered against the glass and angry waves raced up the river. It could have been a lovely house in many ways but everywhere felt so cold, the corridors so long and dark, and I found I was looking over my shoulder.

“Is Trewoma supposed to be haunted?” I blurted out the words before I decided they weren’t exactly tactful. After all, Rose had to live there.

Rose nodded. “There’s a haunted room upstairs. Over the porch. A young woman’s ghost visits anyone who isn’t a family member. Needless to say I haven’t ever slept in there. Tony did once, for a dare, when he was married to Jonquil but he said the ghost didn’t bother him because he was married to a family member, which was just as good.”

We finished our tour then went up to change for dinner. Mrs. Mannering appeared from nowhere as we were going up the stairs. “Since I can only offer you one maid to help with your attire perhaps I could assist the other young lady,” she said.