The Moors: Some secrets are better left buried Read Online Free Page A

on, my love,’ said Margaret, interrupting Amanda’s thoughts as she coaxed her away.
    Amanda keenly observed the layout of the house as Margaret led her through the downstairs hallway.
    ‘Living room, dining room, kitchen,’ Margaret said, pointing to her right. ‘Christian’s office, Christian’s bedroom, Malcolm’s bedroom,’ she continued, pointing to her left. ‘Malcolm’s the only one of our children who sleeps downstairs. The rest are up on the first floor with us. Underneath the stairs is where we keep the children’s toys and right here is the communal toilet and bathroom. It’s the only one we have, I’m afraid,’ she confirmed as she led Amanda upstairs.
    The house was somehow even bigger than it seemed from the outside. The walls were painted in warm colours – rich oranges and reds, with large candle holders lined neatly along each wall.
    ‘Amanda Green…’ said Margaret aloud. ‘I don’t recognise the name but you seem awfully familiar. Might I know you from somewhere?’
    ‘I don’t think so,’ dismissed Amanda.
    Upon reaching the first floor, Amanda observed that there were four rooms to her left and three to her right, with another hallway branching off to the right at the end of the corridor. Only some of the doors were numbered – 2 and 3 labelled the two middle doors on her left with 4 and 5 marking the adjacent rooms to her right. Amanda noted how different the place felt compared to the ground floor. The décor was the same but it felt darker, colder and much less homely. The ceilings appeared lower in the hallway and the seven doorways in view made the space appear more congested. Without any explanation regarding the layout, Margaret led Amanda straight towards the first room on their left and pushed the door open.
    ‘This is where you’ll be staying,’ she said, wearing a grin as she stood aside invitingly.
    As Amanda entered she saw that her suitcase had been placed at the foot of the large double bed that lay in wait for her. She inadvertently twirled around as she absorbed the room. It appeared freshly decorated with vibrant colours that enriched her mood. She had a generously sized wardrobe and an elegant dresser that sat underneath a large window, offering a picturesque view of the moors. A beautiful blue lake lay in the distance. Suddenly, Amanda slipped into her dumfounded persona a little too easily, bewitched by the efforts they had made for her. As she looked back to Margaret, who keenly observed her reaction, she fought to contain the little girl inside of her who wanted to burst in delight. Instead, she simply nodded in approval.
    ‘It’s much bigger than I expected,’ was the understated response she allowed to pass her lips.
    It was still enough to make Margaret smile proudly.
    ‘You like it?’ she pressed.
    ‘Very much,’ Amanda assured her.
    ‘Good. I’m glad,’ said Margaret, her happiness clear.
    It was almost impossible to spend time with Margaret without wanting to hug her.
    If only all mothers were like this. Amanda secretly contemplated.
    ‘I’m gonna let you get settled. You’ll probably want to get some rest,’ presumed Margaret.
    ‘Thank you, Margaret,’ said Amanda, from a much deeper place than the woman could have known.
    ‘Maggie. Please,’ she replied, letting the new recruit know she was already considered a friend.
    Amanda nodded and looked at the woman, this vibrant woman whose love and affection was so clear, as it had been many years earlier. This was not the kind of person Amanda had expected to find and as Margaret quietly disappeared into the hallway, Amanda hoped the others would be just like her.

CHAPTER THREE
The Story Begins
Friday 11 th February, 1972
     
    Amanda wasted no time before examining the nooks and crannies of the room. Her movements were rather militant as she explored the wardrobe. She found a portable radio that had been placed out of the way on the top shelf. It was old and a thick layer of dust