The evening was not going well for James. Having spent the day hunting, shooting and fishing on his Laird's estate, he was now expected to act as chief organiser for the guest's entertainment in the evening.

James loathed these festivities - the stories, the tales and the exaggerations of the achievements and the small talk, which involved each guest trying to outdo the other. His Laird was a quiet and fair man and both of them had a great deal of respect for the other. James's family having fallen on hard times the Laird out of friendship and neighbourliness had promised to take in the boy and educate him in the ways that would prove most suitable for him.

The Laird had no son of his own - his wife had died giving birth to a stillborn male - and James had subsequently fulfilled that role.

His mind on other things and deep in thought James descended the castle staircase when he glimpsed a stunningly beautiful lady dressed in grey emerge rapidly from the castle chapel. The lady seemed in some great distress, but nevertheless passed quickly down the corridor upon which James lost sight of her.

Dinner, that warm and balmy evening, was an exceptional banquet and celebration. Naturally James expected to see his Grey Lady, but as the evening wore on it became apparent that she was not in attendance. Tiring of the falseness and small talk, James made a decision to clear his head and decided to walk down to Dunans Bridge - the only access to Dunans Castle which spanned a 60-foot ravine and through which the river Ruel cascaded and fell. He left the castle quietly by the back door, walking slowly and deep in thought, down the long drive to the bridge over the ravine. What he saw next defied explanation.

On the bridge a beautiful young lady dressed from head to toe in grey was kneeling in supplication and wringing her hands. She was sobbing and pleading vehemently with a richly attired young man to love her despite her lack of worldly wealth and position.

The young man appeared to consider her pleas and then surmise that his wealth, position and lifestyle was worth far more than the young woman's love, whereupon the young girl deciding that her life was now worthless, rose slowly to her feet, and, holding out her arms, entreated him one last time. As he pushed her away she stumbled. Then, taking several quick steps, with a dramatic leap the woman launched herself into the maw of the 60-foot ravine, and plunged into the foam of the rushing and cascading river. The young man made no attempt even to look over the parapet of the bridge and simply turned on the heel of his expensive leather boots and made his way up the drive to the castle.

The night was warm and the moon washed the entire castle in a strange and eerie light which shone as brightly as if it were day. The young man however, appeared not to notice James standing on the drive. James was transfixed as the figure passed so closely to him that a cold rush of air seemed to follow.

No longer rooted to the spot James rushed forward to the bridge parapet and uselessly peered into the depth of the ravine, knowing that he would see nothing and hear only the crashing of the cascading waters of the Ruel against the rock.

Not wishing to raise an alarm and spoil the party atmosphere, James returned to the castle and quietly alerted his staff to search as discreetly as possible through the estate in order to identify any missing female guest. He gave orders that, at first light, the ravine was to be thoroughly searched for the body and that the whole matter was to be kept as quiet as possible.

Though the staff searched throughout many hours, not trace of a body was found in the grounds, and perhaps, more surprisingly, no female guests was unaccounted for. Neither could James recognise among the guests the face of the cold-hearted young blade who had so remorsefully turned away from the beautiful girl on the bridge.

Many weeks passed and though James did not forget the incident, it was stored in the recesses of his memory. His life was busy and demanding and there was little time for fanciful speculation or for unexplained occurrences.

Many months later James found that he could not sleep and in the early hours he rose, descended to the kitchens to make a soothing drink and then return to his bed. As he climbed the stairs to his room a powerful force overtook him and seemed to pull him upwards. Not breaking his stride he passed by his room and up the stairs to the castle chapel, almost without any conscious will, he turned the huge old lock on the door and entered the private family place of worship.

Kneeling before the altar, her body shaking and racked with sobs, was the Grey Lady that James had last seen on that fateful night. Feeling as if he had intruded upon some private grief James was about to leave when something made him approach the figure and stretch out his hand to place upon her shoulder.

"Is there anything I can do?", he whispered somewhat lamely. The Grey Lady turned slowly to him and what James saw was a ghastly caricature of the beautiful face he has seen upon the bridge. Folds of raw flesh hung down, one eyeball hung out, and the mouth was a gaping hole with all the teeth missing and the lips battered and bruised. James drew back in horror.

"Kind Sir," the Grey Lady replied. "I am tied here to this earthly state because of a true love that was unrequited. My man promised to love me and married me here in this chapel, but when I was with child he forsook me saying it was no true marriage and that he would wed another, more suitable to his station. Though I begged and pleaded he would have none of it, and because death was preferable to the pain of such a great unrequited love and to bearing an illegitimate child I took my own and my child's life."

At this she rose and staggered towards him whereupon James could see that her body was broken and her limbs twisted.

"What you see here sir is the body that lay at the bottom of the ravine that night, and because I took my own life, I am here bound to wander this estate and weep until I find a man to truly marry me in this chapel and be faithful forever."

Knowing how it was to feel an outcast and be unwanted James immediately felt sympathy for the Grey Lady.

"Madam," he replied, "Gladly would I help you, but in your current appearance, it would be difficult to persuade a minister to perform the ceremony."

"Sir, if you would perform this service for me and we should agree to meet here at the appointed time then for the required period I can appear as I did before my demise. However there is a price that you must pay and there is no reward for this service should you do it for me. We must exchange vows and rings, and the man that agrees to marry me must also agree never to marry in his earthly life. Should he do so his bride will throw herself off the bridge on their Wedding Night."

James, having at that time no intentions of an earthly marriage, thus was quite willing to assist such a beautiful lady in distress, though he asked for time to consider the proposition. If he agreed the Grey Lady stated that he was to arrange for a minister to marry them in the chapel a week hence at midnight.

Seven days later James and the minister stood before the Family Chapel altar. As the castle clock struck twelve unbidden and by some unearthly force, the organ began to play and the heavy oak chapel door swung slowly open. A lady of incredible beauty dressed in a bridal gown silently glided towards them.

James stood awe-struck seeing his bride to be for the first time at such close quarters. The minister, not knowing anything was amiss, proceeded to perform the ceremony. The bridal couple exchanged vows and rings, and at the conclusion of the ceremony the minister took his leave of the newly married couple.

James turned to his bride as she spoke softly.

"Thank you Sir. You have released me and my unborn child from this earthly torment, and now I must take my leave. To truly fulfil your promise you must always wear the ring that I have given you as a sign of our pledge. Sadly, In return, all you have is my gratitude and the knowledge that you cannot marry. Please remember both for your own sake and that of any woman you may come to love it would be certain death for her should you marry."

Before his eyes his beautiful bride began to transform into the broken Grey Lady as she had appeared to him in the chapel a week earlier, and dissolve into a freezing cold mist which swirled quickly around and flew out of the chapel open window.

Months passed, and though James never forgot, the incident was consigned to the back of his mind as he threw himself into his duties.

One summer evening sometime later the Laird summoned him to the Clan Room.

"James," he said. "You know that you are as a son to me since sadly I have no heir of my body. I intend to leave my estates to you, but before I die, I desperately want a grandson to carry on my line. As I accepted you into my family and clan, you will be as my flesh and blood. To fulfil my wishes you need to marry and I have already discussed the matter with the head of another clan. With your acquiescence we shall arrange a union between the clans immediately with a very beautiful young woman who is the only daughter of the chief."

James recoiled as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt. He felt for his wedding ring and twisted it in desperation upon his finger.

"Laird, I cannot ever marry," he blurted out.

"Why on earth not, James?", questioned the Laird. "You are free, and as my adopted son you have position and status. You will have my wealth and fortune and you are not promised to another. You have been as my son for many years and I love you."

"Laird, I cannot speak of the reasons, but I cannot marry. It would be death for my bride."

"James I know what you are thinking. Although my beloved Katherine died trying to bear me a son and I have never remarried many women die in childbirth, it is the way of the world. Your bride is young and strong - as Katherine was not - and will bear you many sons.

"Laird, I cannot. My bride would on our marriage be going to her certain death."

"Then James, much as I love you and it grieves me, I must pass my estate to another, but I shall give you time to consider your position, and ask you me come to me a week hence with your decision."

Heavy of heart James left the Laird. Immediately he went to his room and packed his belongings intending to leave the castle forever. Quietly, so that no one would know of his departure, James made his way to the stables and saddled his horse to begin a journey that would last for almost the rest of his life. As he left the castle James did not look behind him fearing that his resolve would crumble. As he sped away little did he know that he would travel the world having many adventures, and never returning to the castle until fate took a hand many decades later.

On a raw winters day when the sky was heavy with snow, James found himself journeying through familiar territory. Looking up through the freezing blizzard, James suddenly saw the castle at which he had spent many happy years, the memory of which had remained locked in his heart. Apprehensively he approached the huge wooden door and knocked. A small child could be heard and suddenly the door swung open and the child rushed past James out into the snow.

"May I see the Laird Duncan?", ventured James to the extremely large lady who had opened the door.

"Good Sir, the old Laird died many years ago of a broken heart, not long after his adopted son disappeared, and his brother Michael became the new Laird. Michael is away at the moment. But please, come in, warm yourself and take some sustenance with us."

As James walked through the familiar rooms, he saw how the castle had fallen into disrepair. The housekeeper explained that Michael was of a womanising, gambling and drinking bent, and that he had worked his way through the family fortunes with great rapidity. The boy child that James had seen was Michael's illegitimate and only issue, of little concern to Michael and the last of the bloodline.

As James sat in the kitchen and talked to the housekeeper she explained the hard times that the estate had fallen on and, almost without wanting to, James found that his story - so long guarded and suppressed - tumbled forth from his lips.

At that moment a rider came galloping to the castle and almost threw himself off his horse in his urgency to deliver the news.

"The laird is dead." he cried.

"God rest his soul, but how?" exclaimed the housekeeper.

"He drank so much that he fell from a window in a stupor during a gambling bout." gasped the rider.

"What is to become of us?" wailed the housekeeper, clasping her hands to her ample bosom, and then slowly she turned her eyes to James with a look of desperation in her eyes.

"Sir, if you are truly who you say you are then only you can save us, you would be returning home and Laird Duncan's soul could rest in peace."

James, feeling that his wandering days were numbered, considered the matter. Truly he had no roots apart from those at the castle, and since the matter of his marriage would no longer be an issue, he could safely return.

Thus, unexpectedly and after many years, fate had taken a hand and James returned to live at the castle. The castle's fortunes took a turn for the better; the illegitimate boy child orphan of Laird Michael was adopted by James and flourished under James's supervision.

Some years later James, unable to sleep, rose and descended the stairs to make himself a soothing. As he returned to his room, his steps involuntarily continued past the door and upwards towards the family chapel.

Without his touching it the heavy oak door swung open. James entered the moonlight chapel and sat down at a pew. The moonlight streamed through the chapel windows and a scent of roses filled the air. It was a warm night and James, now an elderly man, began to drift into a semi-sleep.

From the edge of his vision James could see some movement and a beautiful lady dressed in grey began to move silently towards him. Gently she took his hand in hers and spoke softly to him.

"James, my husband, despite all the trials and tribulations, all the sacrifices that you had to make, and the great costs to yourself, you remained true to your promise. That fidelity and promise released me and my unborn male child from earthly ties and our spirits have passed onto happier pastures. It is now time for you to join us and we shall be together for eternity. Because of your fidelity to us, our spirit boy child will live on in the earthly form of Michael's orphan. You have been as a father that he has never known - not even when Michael was alive - and thus your line will live on.

Suddenly there were steps on the stairs and a form appeared in the chapel door. A handsome young man stood in the doorway transfixed by the sight of a stunningly beautiful woman taking James by the hand and walking towards the altar. In disbelief the young man raised his hands to rub his eyes and then quickly opened them , only to see the form of his adopted parent slumped as if in sleep, on the chapel pew.

Contributed by Ewa Countess Korab-Karpinska - After many years at the fore of the medical/legal and tele-communications field and most definitely in the 'rat race' we decided that the quality of life was the most important thing to us so we retired from our high power stress lives to Scotland, which we considered to be the loveliest place in the U.K. Dunans Castle was originally bought as a family home but since it had never been open to the public and possibly the 'best kept secret in Scotland ' - even few locals knew of its existence - we decided to make it a working house and open it for accommodation, conferencing, sport etc. It is the best example of Franco-Scottish baronial and the only castle in Glendaruel. The castle not only has the second largest salmon yield river outside its front door, but also the tallest tree in the U.K. - a Douglas Fir is 100 metres from the front door. I now divide my time between entertaining visitors and organising sporting events - fishing, hunts, shoots etc. We live at the castle with our family and personally welcome all guests in order to make them feel at home.

Editor's Note: For those with a spirit of adventure, Dunans Castle is located 15 miles from Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula. Holy Loch separates the area from Glasgow, which is 59 miles away by road but only 20 minutes across the Loch by ferry.

Links:

Dunans Castle Official Website