House of Enchantment — Jeanne Judson

Invitation.

Peggy McKnight had never seen the ghost of Annetke Van Tyl, but she believed in her -- just as she believed all the other legends about the South Street area of New York City where she had grown up and which she loved. And because she loved it, she was eager to accept a job on a project to restore it to its past glory -- a job that gave her a chance to meet people like Hugh Ferris, a brilliant young entomologist. Surprisingly, it also brought an old admirer back into her life. Clifford Avery, public relations man for the realty firm Peggy had formerly worked for, which had just bought the old Van Tyl mansion, intending to restore it and open an exclusive restaurant there. When Clifford invited her to tour the historic house with him, Peggy was delighted to accept -- and a little afraid ... not that she expected Annetke's ghost to appear in broad daylight! Certainly she never dreamed that the visit would change her whole life

Also published as: The Spellbound Heart

Peggy McKnight, a vivacious strawberry blonde, was somewhat psychic. She saw things other people didn't see, such as a ship sailing along the East River, manned by a pirate who lived in another century. Peggy's folks were naturally skeptical, but old friend Cornelius De Groot heartily agreed that Peggy knew what she was talking about.

Peggy's home near the South Street Seaport also afforded her frequent views of the old Van Tyl mansion; of all the old houses along the riverfront that were being considered for restoration by the Seaport's restoration program, none frightened nor fascinated her more. The legend that Annetke Van Tyl's spirit still haunted the house was a very real thing to Peggy, and she dreaded the day when her fear of seeing Annetke would come true.

After Peggy began volunteer work at the South Street Seaport, her life took a sudden turn. She met black-bearded Hugh Ferris, a promising entomologist, whose sensibility contrasted dramatically with the arrogance of blond Clifford Avery, a public relations man for the real estate firm where Peggy had once worked. Clifford told Peggy that his firm's interest in restoring the Van Tyl mansion, and it was then that Peggy had a chance to discover the reality or myth of Annetke's existence. With Hugh's help, she was able to uncover just what lay beneath the surface of this house of enchantment; she was also able to realize one of her fondest dreams.