The Bride's Curse Read Online Free Page B

looking at all the gowns, get some idea of what you’re really looking for.”
    Daria raised one questioning eyebrow, but gracefully stood and walked around the store. She was obviously a woman who knew what she wanted as she quickly viewed and discarded several dresses. She seemed drawn to the back wall alcove where Kelly had hidden the Cursed Bridal Gown.
    Noelia, frowning, quickly stepped forward to redirect her. “Are you looking for a de la Renta gown? I noticed your suit … ”
    “Yes, he has beautiful designs. I’ve looked at his wedding styles, but I do really want a vintage gown. Like that one over there … ”
    Daria crossed the room and stepped around Noelia as she headed for the vintage gown as if drawn there by an invisible string. “Oh, it really is beautiful.” Her brown eyes glowed as she fingered the soft silk. “This is it, isn’t it? The gown everyone is talking about?”
    “You don’t want that one—it’s cursed!” Noelia blurted out. For a split second, Kelly wanted to throttle her assistant.
    But Daria was unfazed. “I don’t believe in curses. Anyway, Drake and I have been together a long time. Our relationship is too grounded for some silly rumor about witchery to affect us.”
    Kelly took a deep breath of relief. This sale—and any additional services Daria wanted—would put their bank account out of the danger zone. She studiously ignored Noelia’s expression of horror and suggested Daria try the dress on.
    The other woman glanced at her watch. “Darn, I've got a meeting in twenty minutes. I’m staying at the Captain’s House B & B, the former Peterson place. Could you bring the dress over to me tomorrow afternoon? I’ll try it on and you can arrange to do whatever alterations are necessary then … ” She stopped speaking as she saw the expressions on the faces of the other two women.
    Kelly was the first to speak. “Captain’s House?” she stammered.
    “Yes, I know about the murders that took place there. Cal Peterson shot his son’s lover and the boy turned the gun on himself, and then the old man had a massive coronary. It’s a terribly sad story but the family was deeply involved in organized crime and, well, I guess violence begets violence. Anyhow, like I said, I’m not superstitious about curses and things that go bump in the night.”
    Kelly swallowed. If ever a place was haunted, it was surely the Captain’s House. Long before the tragedy Daria referred to, there were all kinds of rumors about the place and the happenings there, including the suspicious death of one of the early Peterson wives. She wasn’t keen to test her status as a magnet for the restless dead, but for a sale of this size she’d gladly walk into the first ring of Hell. Kelly tried to keep her reluctance out of her voice as she agreed to meet with Daria the next afternoon at two o’clock.
    “One other thing. While I don’t believe in curses, I do think that sometimes bad memories leave their mark behind. Your store gives every indication something bad may have happened here in the past. It feels so chilled—has anyone mentioned the depressing atmosphere?” Seeing Kelly’s stormy look, she hastily added, “I didn’t mean to offend you or anything, the store is lovely. I’ve worked a lot with old buildings and sometimes they get, well, a feel to them. Maybe you should have a look at the history of this place.”
    And she was gone, in a whiff of Prada perfume and the clack of designer heels.
    Kelly and Noelia sank down on the elegant Victorian chairs, both looking shell-shocked.
    “Whoa! That woman’s like a whirlwind through your head,” Noelia declared.
    Kelly just nodded. Relief mingled with apprehension.
    After all, she had arranged to meet that whirlwind tomorrow in a house where very bad things had happened. Had the three victims left the impression of their rage and fear and grief in the walls of the old mansion? Or would their restless spirits recognize Kelly’s special