THE STORY SO FAR
Australian Sophie Maddox, now living in London, was recently dumped and is nursing a broken heart. When she bumps into an old college friend, Kitty, she accepts an offer to spend Christmas at Kitty’s family home in Yorkshire, Abrahart House, while Kitty and her family are away on a skiing holiday. Sophie will actually be staying at Willow Cottage in the grounds while overseeing the empty house. Soon after arriving, however, Sophie feels uneasy in the cottage. Just as disconcertingly, Abrahart House isn’t empty – Kitty’s half-brother, actor Milo Sharpe, has taken refuge there after walking off the set of his latest TV show, following a row with his co-star, Stella Stockington. Despite getting off to a rocky start with Sophie, Milo brings a Christmas tree to Willow Cottage and admits the cottage may be haunted by a former occupant, Lady Isobel Franklin. But whoever the ghost is, Milo adds, they don’t take kindly to strangers.
I’m not trying to scare you,’ Milo grimaced. ‘No one’s ever been chased out of the cottage by a scary apparition, if that’s any consolation.’
‘It isn’t!’ snorted Sophie. She told him about the noises she’d heard, and the door she’d left shut that she then found open.
‘I could delve deeper into it, if you like,’ offered Milo. ‘The internet doesn’t give a lot to go on, but old books up at the house might yield more clues. Some belonged to the library of the original house.’
Sophie considered. ‘That would be helpful, thanks. As you know, Willow Cottage doesn’t have