Curious, Hanna stood and crossed the room to the covered dress form. She took care not to knock anything over or tug it out of place as she removed the obscuring cloth.
A grand reveal indeed. The dress had to have come from one of the great designers of the time. Only they could have created this vision in deep blue velvet and silk, with its masterful detail and gorgeous lines. The ballgown snugged to the bodice before trailing down into a full, graceful skirt. Hand-beaded patterns traced over it, adding both sparkle and class in the tasteful application. A small, matching shrug clung to the dress form, perfect for warding off a chill or the judgemental gaze of those who found shoulders a danger to decency.
Hanna hadn’t realized she’d stood immobile, staring wide-eyed at the dress, until Vivian said, “You like it, then, I take it.”
“It’sbeautiful,” Hanna said, but found the word inadequate. She tried again. “It’s stunning. Just incredible. Gorgeous. You got to wear this?”
“I didn’t. I bought it for a party I didn’t attend after all.” Vivian’s tiny smile was complicated, filled with layers that spoke of a deep past.
“Why didn’t you go?”
“Because it was my engagement party, and as it happened, he was not the right man. I called the engagement off before the party, and I never wore this dress.” Vivian reached out as if to touch it, then let her hand fall into her lap. “For all it has some bad memories to it, it also has good ones. This is one of my favorite memories, in fact. Not because I lost one of the loves of my life, but because I was strong enough to end it despite the love I had. This is a memory of power. Of claiming myself.”
Hanna’s eyes misted over as she looked at the elderly woman, whose back stood straight despite the weight of age, and whose eyes shone with echoes of that same power. Never had Hanna seen a woman more beautiful than this one, who still held the power to look on the remnant of her failed engagement and call it a mark of strength.
“Then it’s even more beautiful than I thought,” Hanna said.
“I think so, too. Everyone used to ask me why I kept it, when it was such bad luck. I told them it wasgoodluck. It kept me out of a marriage that would have been terrible for me. What do you young people say? I dodged a bullet.”
Hanna laughed. “Yes. That’s what we say.”
“See? I am hip to the lingo.”
“…no, please, let’s not say that anymore.”
Vivian grinned, and Hanna knew the older woman was just being a shit, now. “Anyway. This is the kind of dress you wear for the right man. The one you mean to marry the pants off of. I keep it for when my prince shows up on his horse to carry me off.”
“When he shows up, I’ll rush right upstairs to help you dress.”
“Good. I’m sure I could still pull it off.” She reached up with one thin hand to primp her hair. Then, as Hanna giggled, Vivian asked, “Did you hear any more about Stuart?”
“I did. He was definitely part of Operation Pied Piper. He evacuated early on to come here. Stuart was chosen to live with a woman called Marion Pritchard. She was a widow then, and had a big, empty house to herself. This one.” Hanna gestured around them.
Vivian glanced around, too. “It’s nice to know this home offered someone safety.”
“That’s– That’s actually in question.” Hanna winced. “The Widow Pritchard had lost several children to some questionable circumstances. All her children were listed as ‘sickened and died’. Which I thought might just be a sad tragedy of genetics until I found that Stuart, otherwise healthy when he arrived here, was also listed as ‘sickened and died’, and by the same doctor who’d taken care of Missus Pritchard’s children.”
One of Vivian’s eyebrows raised. “That does sound a bit strange.”
“Especially since Stuart’s spirit lingers here. My friend, who knows a great deal about ghosts, says they don’t hang about unless there’s something preventing their rest. Often unresolved feelings, or a past situation that’s unresolved.”
“So if he’d truly sickened and died naturally, he might not be here.”
“Yes. And…” Hanna paused, unsure if she wanted to say anything else aloud after last night.I don’t feel anything else here. Vivian hasn’t said she sees anyone.Quietly, Hanna added, “I think the widow’s spirit is still here as well. I’m pretty convinced something fishy happened here. Maybe a number of somethings.”
Vivian pursed her lips. “I haven’t seen anyone but Stuart. I suppose she could be hiding. Is there a way to get more information about this?”
“Possibly. The doctor’s family seems to still work in Norwich. The research says the doctor himself had to flee Norwich before the Blitz, but returned to settle with his family after it rebuilt. His granddaughter has a practice there still. I thought about going to see her.”
“Secrets have a way of passing between generations. That’s a good idea.” Vivian cocked her eyebrow again. “You should take Gregory with you.”
Hanna pinked. “Didn’t we just talk about how he and I are only friends?”
“Then take him out as a friend. He could use a day off to unwind before this ridiculous party. But didn’t we also just talk about letting me see about changing circumstances?”
“We did.”
“I’m glad you remember. Take him out to lunch. If he tries to give you guff about not having time, you tell him I said so.” Vivian pointed a stern finger at her. “Whatever it is, you two go out and have a nice time together. Or else I’ll start a conversation about politics at the dinner table.”