Family Secrets (Young Adult Edition) (Davenport Manor (Young Adult Edition)) by Melissa Zaroski

including
Daniel.
    “Hey Dan, thanks,” Emma quietly said
as she approached him. She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“And good morning!” she exclaimed with a smile.
    “Good morning!” he said as he hugged
her back. “Get everything you needed?”
    With a grin she replied, “Yup, we’re
all good,” and leaned close to his ear to add, “so no one will get
bitten.” She winked and he laughed. “Have you seen Todd yet? I have
a date with him; we’re going horseback riding today.”
    “He was down at breakfast, but went
back upstairs. He’s probably up in his room,” Dan
replied.
    “Alright, I’m going to go find him,”
she turned to Zachariah and added, “I’ll see you later, okay?” She
touched his arm as if trying to console him.
    “Okay, have fun.” He responded,
managing a small, but forced smile.
    Emma climbed the staircase and went
left to head towards the bedrooms. But, Todd’s scent made her look
to the right instead. He was standing in the portrait hallway
examining the paintings.
    She approached him and greeted, “Good
morning, love! What’cha doing?”
    He had a look of worry on his face and
she was afraid he might have figured her out. But, as she got
closer she realized he wasn’t looking at her portrait, but at
Elizabeth’s.
    “What’s wrong? You look confused or
something,” she asked.
    “I just…never mind, you’ll think I’m
crazy,” he shook his head. She would really start to question his
sanity now, especially after the tree incident.
    “What is it?” She urged.
    “Okay, you’re going to think I’ve gone
mad, but…” he hesitated and took a breath. “I had trouble falling
asleep last night and I swear I felt like I was being watched. You
know that weird feeling you get sometimes?”
    “Sure I do,” she answered
while thinking, Of course not, if someone
was watching me, I’d darn well know it.
    “Well, as I was lying there, I thought
I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. When I looked, I
saw a girl dressed in period clothing. I jumped of course, but then
I thought it was one of the actresses in my room and relaxed for a
moment. I asked her what she was doing in my room, but she didn’t
respond. She just stared at me,” his brow was furrowed now. She
could hear his heart pounding while explaining the
events.
    “So, who was it?”
    “Since she wasn’t answering me, I got
out of bed and went over to her…and as I approached her I realized
she was transparent. But, I got a good look at her face and I swear
it was her,” he said, pointing at Elizabeth’s portrait. “Elizabeth
Davenport. I think I saw a ghost.”
    Emma’s arms were crossed and she
absorbed the story he just told her. She looked at Elizabeth’s
portrait and if she could still get the chills, she would have
goosebumps on her arms right about now. Not out of fear, but out of
utter excitement.
    “So, she never spoke to you?” Emma
asked him.
    “No, she just looked at me, but she
looked concerned and maybe sad. But, the odd thing was, I wasn’t
afraid of her, I physically felt completely calm. I would think
that I would have freaked out if I ever saw a ghost, but she
radiated a serene energy.”
    Emma nodded, but on the inside her
mind was racing. She wished so much that she could see her,
too.
    “Is your house known to be haunted?”
He asked, snapping her away from her thoughts.
    “ I’ve never seen any,” she shrugged.
“Our dad, John had mentioned seeing her before.”
    “So, do you think I’m completely mad
now?”
    She shook her head, “I don’t think
you’re mad at all. I believe you actually. Perhaps if there is a
next time, try to talk to her…better yet, yell for me. I’m
fascinated with the supernatural and would love to meet a ghost,
especially one of my ancestors.”
    He relaxed and gave a slight chuckle,
“I will, although I hope there isn’t a ‘next time’!”
    “Come on, let’s go riding and we can
talk more.”

    Todd quickly