grant you that, Ness. There has always been nun talk. It comes and goes, but I’ve never seen Ursula.’
‘Neither has Martha, but she said she didn’t expect to, bein’ as how Ursula only appears to lovers.’
‘Yes, I’ve heard that, too. I’ve also heard that very few see her – or will admit to it.’
‘Why? Did she frighten them or sumthin’, because she was so ugly?’
‘No, that’s just it, you see. Those who saw her – who allegedly saw her – weren’t a bit afraid, until they realized they’d just walked past a ghost. They must have felt a bit queer when the penny dropped, but by then she had gone – just vanished. But the most amazing thing – if it’s true, of course – is that she walks past them looking like a real flesh and blood person.’
‘A person in nun’s habit?’
‘I would presume so. And it’s said they can hear her footsteps on the path as if she’s – well, real …’
‘But ghosts don’t – shouldn’t – have footsteps, surely?’
‘I’d have thought that myself, Ness. But Ursula Ainsty walks like a real person, it’s said, and since you seem so taken up with our ghost, you might as well have the lot! People who are supposed to have seen her say she is absolutely beautiful. It’s another reason why they don’t realize it’s Ursula because people assume she was deformed. But it’s just talk. So many different versions that I don’t believe any of them.’
‘Beautiful?’ Ness whispered, turning to gaze at the wood behind them as if she were waiting for the sound of footsteps.
‘Well, if you believe in heaven, which I do, you’ll accept that all ills are banished, and Ursula would be whole and complete – no harelip or anything …’
‘Well, I’m not so sure about heaven,’ Ness hesitated. ‘Think I’d rather believe in the power of love. Dickon loved her, didn’t he? Perhaps his love was good – decent. That would be enough for me, if I were in Ursula’s shoes.’
‘Loving and being loved makes all things right? It’s a theory. But I can say, hand on heart, that all I know of the nun is folklore. I haven’t seen her, nor have I met anyone who is prepared to say they have. I’m sorry, but until she crosses my path then I’m a disbeliever.’
‘But tell me,’ Ness urged, ‘those women who told Martha they’d seen her – were they women in love?’
‘That I don’t know. Seems they must have been, but you wouldn’t get their names out of Martha for love nor money. Said people would lose faith in her and her powers if she blabbed all over the village.’
‘So any of them could have been married, even?’
‘They could have, I suppose. Mind, I don’t think any of the women in question came from the village – or so Martha said. Perhaps they lived in Meltonby.’
‘Ar. Martha admitted to me that she reads palms, though she doesn’t like doin’ the cards. Martha’s got the gift, you know. You were right about her being a medium, even though she doesn’t hold seances. Maybe it’s her aura that Ursula uses when she wants to do a spot of haunting – zooms in on Martha’s vibrations.’
‘If what my grandpa told me is true, then Ursula was doing her spot of haunting long before Martha Hugwitty came to the village. So don’t get too carried away, Ness. Ghosts are fun. You’ve got to treat them as fun. Part of the local folklore.’
‘Ar. Like you say – fun. Till you see one, that is!’
‘When I’ve seen Ursula you’ll be the first one to know, I promise you,’ Lorna smiled complacently. ‘And what are you looking at me like that for – like I’ve got a smut on my nose. Have I?’
‘As a matter of fact, I was looking at your hair.’
‘A mess, I know. I just washed it this afternoon. Hurts like mad to get the brush through it.’
‘I know. I’ve dealt with more frizzy heads of curls than you’ve had hot dinners, girl. I’m a hairdresser – or was.’
‘It follows. Your own hair is so beautiful that it doesn’t surprise me. I should have realized.’
‘Hmm. Your hair is a lovely colour; ash blonde it would be if you was gettin’ it out of a bottle. Women would kill for natural curls like yours, Lorna. But you’ve got too much hair if you don’t mind me saying so – professional opinion, like. It needs shaping and thinning. If ever you want it seeing to, just let me know.’
‘Well, I do find it a nuisance. And I agree my hair must look like a bush on top of my head. But William doesn’t ever want me to cut it. He likes it long.’
‘And you like it long, too?’
‘No. I’d like it shorter, but William –’
‘Must be obeyed. Even though you have to drag a wire brush through it and do it no end of harm, William knows best, does he? Anyway, whose hair is it?’
‘You’re right, Ness!’ And because William had been dogmatic and dictatorial and had no right to tell her whom she should and should not have in her house, she walked into the hall and gazed into the mirror. Then she turned and smiling said,
‘OK, Ness. Let’s give it a go! Thin it out a bit.’
‘You’re sure? Mind, I know what it’ll look like when I’ve finished, but once it’s off there’ll be nothing you can do about it, till it grows again.’
‘I’m sure. And you must let me pay you.’
‘I don’t want paying. All I want is to get some order into that mass of frizz and for you to throw that dratted brush away – OK?’
‘OK! Shall we get on with it, then?’ Why was her heart thudding so?
‘If you’re absolutely sure, I’ll nip upstairs for my scissors and get a towel from the bathroom.’
She would enjoy doing Lorna’s hair because for one thing it looked quite ridiculous on one so young, and for another, because she was indirectly, she supposed, taking a swipe at William who didn’t like land girls!
‘Tell me how long it takes to be a hairdresser?’ Lorna wasn’t really interested, but Ness was trying to part her hair and pin it into sections, which hurt, and talking about anything at all took her mind off the sharp, tugging pains.
‘Am I hurting you?’
‘A little, but it’s all right …’
‘Well never mind, queen, when I’ve sorted this lot you’ll be able to comb it with your fingers, I guarantee it. You’ll wash it and leave it to dry naturally, then you’ll run your fingers through it and flick the curls whichever way you want. You’ll like it – honest. It took me a long time gettin’ to be a good hairdresser, because I am good. I was the best cutter in the salon and I had an improver working under me, and two apprentices to teach.’
‘What’s
