Death's Desire — Stevie Woods

Hugh Preston arrives at Simmercy Hall for his first visit to the country estate of his mother's cousin. Hugh has purposely kept apart from the Simmercy family for three years as his feelings for his oldest friend, Charles Simmercy, are not seemly and he has done his best in the intervening years to overcome them. Charles seems happy enough to see his old friend, but Hugh senses a touch of reluctance.

When Hugh encounters a ghost from one hundred and fifty years in the past, will it help or hinder his relationship with Charles? And, is the ghost's desire more than Hugh and Charles can cope with?

This short story is part of the Past Shadows anthology.