“That,” said Dad when we were done, “Was much better than spending a night in front of the television. You were fantastic, girls. Really.”
“Thanks, Mr. Blake,” Amanda said, “You haven't seen the house yet, right? How about a tour?”
“I'd love that, thank you.”
“And, you know, I don't think Beth got a chance to see the grounds the other day,” she winked at me, “I think William should show her.”
Oh.
She was trying to give us some time alone.
I had no way to tell her that it wasn't necessary without alerting everyone to her plan. William didn't speak up either, and somehow we made it out into the garden alone. I wrapped my arms around my waist, and kept a safe distance from him as we strolled towards the trees. It was painfully silent, and I didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing.
“Your friends seem fun,” he said at last.
“They are.”
“A lot of them are guys.”
“That is very true,” I said.
“Is that Lewis kid your boyfriend?”
I snorted softly with laughter, “No. We have a history.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It was really heated, you know? So much passion, and we were going to run away, and get married. It was all so romantic.”
“You're joking.”
“No. It's all true,” I affirmed, “I mean, I was ten at the time, so I don't think I really understood what all that stuff meant.”
“Funny. Very funny. You could have just said you didn't have a boyfriend.”
“I never said that.”
“So you do?”
I grinned, “No. I'm incredibly single. And I think I'm going to stay that way for a long time.”
“Don't you think anyone likes you?”
“Nah. It's just that no one meets my standards,” I winked, “I'm a hell of a catch.”
“Okay, new subject. What was that with your Dad before?”
I stopped, and leaned against a nearby tree. William came to a halt to hear my explanation. It was difficult to tell him without going into a lot of my family history, and I didn't know if I had time for all of that. Then again, he'd seen us talking about something, and I couldn't tell him it didn't matter. William was kind of a prat, but he wasn't an idiot.
“I used to take piano lessons when I was little. And guitar, and singing, and I'm pretty good with a triangle, but I don't like showing off.”
“And you quit?”
“My teacher did. You met her, actually.”
It took him a second, then it all started coming together. He rose a brow, “Your Mum taught you?”
“She used to be a singer. Most of her stuff flopped, but he had enough one-hit-wonders that most of my Dad's generation knows who she is. The money ran out fast, but she's still riding her fame where she can,” I shrugged, “I guess that's why she likes marrying rich guys.”
“Doesn't your Dad own a garage?”
“He was racer. Lots of sponsorship deals, world travel, and nice shiny trophies. Mum liked the lifestyle, and he liked having her waiting in the pits for him when he won. They had me, and he kept on racing. We had to stay home, because I was too little to go along to the competitions. But Mum let me watch them on television. I remember the last race I saw him in,” I held my arms a little more tightly around myself, “It had been raining, and he was doing pretty well. Not great, but he could have made it onto the podium. Then a driver ahead of him lost control, and rolled his car. Dad swerved to avoid it, and the car behind him couldn't change course in time. It shunted his so hard that it flipped, and then stopped at the barrier.”
“How old were you?”
“Six.”
“And your Dad?”
“He was too injured to ever race again. His legs were broken in a lot of places, and he broke his back. The doctors thought he might not even walk, and Mum couldn't cope with that. Instead of helping him, she just left. We lived with my Grandpa at his garage while Dad got together, and when I wasn't in school, I helped where I could. I mean, I was a kid, and I sucked, but I was better than her.”
“And your Grandpa?”
“He died, and left the place to my Dad. He likes being close to cars, and all the trophies are in boxes. I think it hurts him to look at them.”
“Is that why you gave up music?” William asked, “Because you were busy helping your Dad?”
I scuffed my shoe in the dirt, using it as a distraction so I wouldn't have to look at him. I didn't want him to read the lie in my eyes when I said, “It was just something I played around with. I never took it that seriously.”
“I don't believe that.”
“Yeah, because you're stubborn,” I laughed, “You don't believe much of anything about me.”
“I believe you like playing the piano more than you let on.”
“I don't want to turn into my mother. I'd rather be poor and have some morals, than be rich and selfish.”
“No one could ever accuse you of being selfish,” he said with more sincerity than I'd ever seen from him, “Thank you, by the way.”
“For what?”
“Not talking about Gideon in front of my sister.”
“Well, I'm not really part of his fan club, any more.”
“Good.”
I let out a short breath, “I'm sorry about your nose.”
“It healed.”
“So I see. Look, I'm going to be down at the beach again tomorrow -”
“Surfing?”
“No, it's too cold that early. I usually walk down to watch the sunrise.”
“Alone?”
“You ask a lot of questions,” I said.
“Because I want to know the answers. It helps me to get to know you better.”
I smiled despite my better judgment, “Meet me at the café tomorrow morning at five, if you can wake up in time. You can see why I like it here so much.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I am afraid of alarming you.
Before going to William's house, I never would have believed he'd agree to an early morning walk on the beach with me. We hardly got along when we were in each other's company, and he didn't seem like the sort of guy who'd go out of his way for another person. Yet, as I sat on a vacant bench in the dark, I was cautiously optimistic that he'd arrive on time.
My faith paid off.
I knew it wasn't all that warm, but he was kind of overdressed. His thick coat, and leather gloves seemed like overkill to me. I smirked at him, and he asked, “What?”
“I'm amazed you own a pair of jeans.”
“ Of course I own jeans. I'm not that spoiled.”
In his opinion, perhaps.
I stood up, and stretched my arms above my head. I'd arrived early. I didn't know why. It couldn't be because I was excited to see him. I wasn't that mad, or desperate. I told myself it was because I hadn't been able to catch a sunrise since I got back, and I was eager to make it to this one in particular. The company didn't matter at all.
“We're not watching from here?”
“Nope, up there,” I said, and pointed to a cliff, “There's a path, so you don't have to climb or anything.”
“Even if we did have to climb, it wouldn't bother me.”
“Well, we can go to a higher point if you -”
“No. That one is fine.”
He was such a liar.
I pushed my hands deep into my pockets, and motioned with my head that we ought to get going. We didn't have long until it happened, and I wanted to be at the top of the cliff by then. If we were still walking, we would miss most of it. William's long legs allowed him to match my pace easily. Although we were silent while we walked, it wasn't awkward. Talking might have been better, I guessed, but there was a certain serenity one could only find at the beach in the early hours. Idle conversation would have ruined the atmosphere.
I breathed in deeply. The smell of the sea air was so comforting. I'd grown up with i
t, and whenever I was away at school, I missed it. The crowing of gulls as they emerged from their roosts, and the scent of baking bread from the town bakery were simple, but delightful pleasures. They reminded me that I was in my safe, familiar little world. The rich girls like Chantelle couldn't touch me while I was there, and nothing bad could possibly happen.
Not that I'd say as much out loud.
That would be tempting fate.
William lagged a little as we clambered up the cliff. When I said there was a path, I was being generous in giving it such a name. It was more of an incline. It just happened to be a little smoother than the rest of the rock, because so many people used it over the course of the summer. They'd worn it into the cliff, and as such it was the preferred route.
“Wow,” William said when he joined me, “This is amazing.”
“I know, right?”
“You can see for miles.”
“Imagine how much better the other cliff is.”
“ We're not climbing it,” he told me.
I shrugged, “Maybe not today. But some other time I might convince you.”
“You won't.”
“Stubborn.”
“Look who's talking,” he said, “This sunrise had better be worth it.”
“Obviously it will be. Don't you have any appreciation for nature?”
“I appreciate it enough.”
“Well, you'll feel that much better about it after you see this.”
The light began to break, and I took up the best seat on offer, which was right on the edge of the cliff. William was understandably hesitant about being so near a potential plummet to the sea, but he didn't want to act like a coward in front of me. I could see right through him, but I didn't point that out. I could tease him when it was over.
With such calm water, the orange and pink hues which lit up the sky were reflected in the gentle waves below. The higher it climbed, the brighter the day became, and those darker colours were banished from the air. It was all over in a matter of minutes. But every one had been precious, and as beautiful as the last. I smiled, and began to swing my dangling legs back and forth.
“Pretty, right?”
William smiled, “Yeah. It was worth it.”
“It's too bad there weren't any mermaids,” I lamented, “But they only appear during Midsummer sunrises. The rest of the time, they stay away from the shore.”
“Mermaids? Aren't you a little old to believe in that?”
“Everyone believes in them,” I said, “At least, here they do. Because they protect the surfers who come to our beach.”
William looked at me like I was completely insane. Sceptically, he asked, “Why would they do that?”
“We respect the water, and it respects us. If a surfer is too far out, then they guide him back to shore. But if he's about to die, then they take him down into the water, and keep him as one of their own. Everyone knows that.”
“I didn't.”
“Only because you don't surf. If you did, then you'd get told the story. Oh, they sing, too.”
“Of course they do...”
“Well, I was going to sing their song to you, but now I don't think you'll bother. Don't you have any imagination or anything?”
“I – I just can't believe in that sort of thing.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” I said, “It's because you're so boring.”
“I'm not boring!” he snapped, “Sing the stupid song, then.”
“ Say please.”
“No.”
I folded my arms across my chest, “Then, no song for you.”
William grumbled something inaudible. I wasn't moved by his attitude. I knew he'd give in. He asked in as polite a voice as he was able, “Please will you sing?”
“Gladly. Fear not lonely traveller, For the ocean is here, We are her maidens, Your salvation is near. To the shore you shall sail, And land you will find, But if you be weary, Leave your country behind. Let the waves be your cradle, The depths be your home, Your heart will be coral, And your soul is sea foam.”
“That's – uh – well -”
“Childish?”
“No,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “You're a good singer.”
“That kind of song's easy to sing. There's not much to it.”
“Still, it wasn't bad.”
I couldn't help asking, “Do you have an evil twin?”
“What?”
“All of this, like since you got here, is as if you had a personality transplant. I just thought there might be two of you running around. I mean, I hope not, because one of you is way more than enough.”
“I'm one of a kind,” he professed.
“Yeah, you can say that again.”
“Freddie wasn't happy about you leaving when you did,” William said, “He liked spending time with you.”
“He's a nice guy.”
“Unlike me?”
“I didn't say that,” I pointed out, “But, yes.”
“Okay, I deserve that,” he admitted, “You have to admit, though, you don't know me all that well either. So I might be nicer than you realise.”
“I think I have a pretty good measure of you, actually,” I said.
When we'd had our spat in France, I hadn't known him as well as I did at that moment. I saw him as this really uptight, snobbish guy, who'd ruined Gideon's life and Jenny's. After finding out that Gideon had lied to me, I was more open to seeing the best in William. He still hadn't fixed the situation with Charlie, but he'd managed to get him back in the country, and that was a step in the right direction. I was hoping that I could talk to him before he went back to school, or wherever he'd been hiding. His parents might not like it, but he deserved to know how Jenny felt.
“Is there anything I can do to improve your opinion?”
“I don't know,” I said, “Is there?”
William shuffled a little closer, and dared to place his hand over mine. It was hardly the forward gesture I'd come to know from him. I mean, he had tried to kiss me before, but for some reason it made my stomach fill with butterflies. Maybe it was because it was so gentle. Freddie had no issue sticking his tongue down my throat, Gideon was a total flirt, and Wyatt had pretty much pounced on me. I was so used to that sort of thing, that an innocent touch had much more value in my eyes.
“William -”
“ You can call me Will, if you want. William makes me sound like an old man or something.”
“ Okay, Will. I was going to say that – uh – at Christmas I -”
Whatever I was very poorly trying to articulate got cut off when my phone started to ring. I usually kept it on silent, but I'd turned the volume up so I'd hear the alarm that morning. At first, I was tempted to ignore it. Will and I were having a moment. I didn't know what kind of moment it might turn into, but I was eager to find out. I paused upon seeing the caller ID.
I hit the answer button quickly, and held the handset to my ear, “Jenny?”
“Beth! Did I wake you?”
“No, you didn't. What's up? Miss me already?”
“I'm sorry, I know it's early, but you were the first person I could think to call.”
The tone of her voice concerned me. I asked in a more serious voice, “Are you hurt?”
“I – I'm not, but... Is Lisa with you?”
“Last I heard she was still in Italy with you guys. Did she say she was flying back over or something?”
“I don’t want you to panic, but - but… Beth, what do I do?”
“Calm down, and tell me what's going on. Why do you think Lisa might be here?”
“Everything was fine on the first night. And yesterday we all went to the markets together, and she disappeared during free time. But she came back! Then – then this morning – oh, Beth, she's gone! She left a note for Chrissy, and none of us can find her anywhere!”
I held the phone away from my ear for a moment while Jenny sobbed. She was too loud for me to focus on the situation properly. Technicall
y, Lisa was an adult, and she was entitled to do whatever she wanted. But she was also a total idiot, and likely to get herself into trouble if she'd run off somewhere by herself. Furthermore, the school was responsible for her. If anything happened to her while she was in their care, there'd be absolute hell to pay.
One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation Page 20