Standing next to Matt, holding Felix by the hand, I watch as Isabel’s bones are laid carefully over Edmund’s coffin and the tomb is resealed. I let the words of the service roll over me and I remember the times when she was happy: lying next to Edmund, strumming with the pleasure of his touch; laughing with her son; riding over the golden moors with the wind in her hair. Her bones are here, but her spirit is riding on and on towards the horizon with Edmund beside her. A new plaque sits ready to be attached to the tomb. It is my gift to her, in thanks for letting me share the happiness of her life.
In memory of Edmund Vavasour and
his beloved wife, Isabel, and of their son,
Christopher Vavasour. Requiescant in pace.
Rest in peace.
Acknowledgements
Writing the story is only the first step in making a book. I am grateful, as always, for the support of my editor, Louise Buckley, of Wayne Brookes and of the whole team at Pan Macmillan, who take my words and turn them into a real book. In particular, I would like to mention the copy-editor for House of Shadows, Mary Chamberlain, who sorted out my muddled dates and tidied up my original manuscript with awesome efficiency.
Special thanks are due to Julia Pokora for advice on Polish, and Antonella Gramola Sands on Latin; to Ailsa Mainman, who knows people who know about old bones; and most especially to Mary Abbott, who was so helpful about Kate’s medical care and physiotherapy, and who scratched her head to make the treatment fit the needs of the story. Thank you, Mary: you get to be the best of physios in fiction, as in real life! Needless to say, any mistakes on any subject are all of my own making.
I’d like to take the opportunity to thank, too, all the new friends and readers I have made through my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PamelaHartshorneAuthor. Their enthusiasm for my books and general encouragement means more than they can possibly know.
By Pamela Hartshorne
Time’s Echo
The Memory of Midnight
The Edge of Dark
House of Shadows
First published 2015 by Macmillan
This electronic edition published 2015 by Macmillan
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-4959-7
Copyright © Pamela Hartshorne, 2015
Family tree © Fred van Deelen
Cover Image: House © Philip Talmage / Mary Evans Picture Library
The right of Pamela Hartshorne to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third party websites referred to in or on this book.
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