The Netherfield Phantom: Lizzy Bennet Ghost Hunter, #1

By Jemma Thorne

A mystery at Netherfield Park…and Lizzy Bennet is going to unravel it. 

Lizzy Bennet first chased ghosts as a lark. A merry pursuit to enliven her carefree days. Her sister Jane is less sanguine; she’s the one the spirits appear to, the sister unhappily gifted with the sight.  But with the Netherfield phantom, all of that will change. 

Lizzy Bennet Ghost Hunter is a series of haunted short stories inspired by Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice, and by the sort of tall tales best heard among the shadows and wavering glow that surrounds a campfire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jemma Thorne
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519957894

Jemma Thorne

Jemma Thorne is a romance addict. She loves the thrill of new love to be found again and again in the pages of books, whether it’s a modern or historical setting, or better yet, one full of magic and mystery. She’s been writing for years (and years). She lives in a stunning land of magic and mystery herself, a place called Oregon, along with her husband and daughters. 

Book preview

Chapter 1

E lizabeth Bennet , our mother is going to have our heads if she finds us out of bed at this hour.

You wouldn’t have us trying this by day, would you? I shot back. I kept my current course; I would see Netherfield tonight. I’d been hearing of too many odd occurrences there in past days. I had to find out for myself if there was anything to them.

Jane huffed an exasperated breath. She started to say something, then seemed to think better of it and began again with, Oh, you had better sew me something pretty to make up for this, Lizzy. If I were in my right mind, I’d forget all about your tragic lack of sense and return to my bed. But apparently I haven’t any sense either, so here we are.

The empty estate loomed ahead of us, its front in shadow due to the bright full moon rising behind it.

I gasped, for a second-floor window was lit! Picking up my skirts, I moved more quickly. We would catch whoever was playing at a haunting in Netherfield Park!

Lizzy! Jane whispered from behind me. Falling farther behind, from the sound of it. Ah well, I didn’t need her for this part. Now...if there was something other than human inside…

We were approaching under the lit window and as I looked up I saw a shadow move in the room beyond. My breath whistled through my teeth as I urged my legs faster, faster.

The stories said the house was haunted. All it took was a couple of years of misuse to turn a property’s sterling reputation to dirt—or ghosts. But I would prove the stories wrong. I would show it was merely a man playing with the town’s fears.

Jane and I had reason to know the difference. We’d faced spirits before. Twice. Neither was a time I liked to dwell on, but the experiences had made us strong.

Reaching the door, I put my shoulder to it and urged it open slowly, praying the heavy piece of lumber wouldn’t squeak on its hinges as I did. The squeak was slight, thankfully, and I pressed on, with Jane soon behind me.

The cavernous front hall felt forlorn, bereft of the warmth of human occupants.

We should not confront him ourselves, Jane whispered. If it’s a vagrant, he’ll still be here tomorrow, I don’t see why we can’t come back with Father—

We’re going upstairs, Jane. I waited for no further questions, ascending the stairs rapidly and only slowing my pace to remain quiet and avoid tripping as I stepped down the dark second-floor hallway. It felt colder in here than it had outside. I brushed my hands over my arms to warm them.

At one end of the hallway was a window, but even the light from the full moon only penetrated so far. A door stood open between us and the end of the hall, spilling another patch of light onto the floor in front of it. That’s the light we’d seen from outside. This was it.

Oh… Jane whispered.

I spun to take her in—her eyes were wide and darting. She was breathing rapidly, on the edge of panic.

Take a breath, Jane. Do you see anything? Any...spirits?

No...but Lizzy, I have a bad feeling. A really bad feeling. Can we go now? Was she shaking?

First, I’m looking into that room, I insisted. I brandished a knife I’d taken from the kitchen before we left, with Jane none the wiser.

Her eyes widened further. No! Don’t...Lizzy, I’m scared!

I ignored her and moved toward the open door.

She followed, but I suspected that was because she did not want to be left alone in the empty and dark upstairs hallway of unoccupied Netherfield Park.

I peered through the open door and blinked as my eyes adjusted to the