‘You mean…?’
‘You know what it’s like to want to die because you’re an outcast, don’t you? I bet you even tried to work up the courage to end it all while languishing in that cave. You and everyone else will think it’s my own fault I’m despised. I accept that. But there’s nothing left for me now. Let me walk away from you. You and your wretched cousin will never see me again.’
Douglas stood back, mouth hanging down in horror. ‘You’re crazy.’
‘Maybe, but that’s my business. Leave me and let me get on with it. I don’t expect you’ll lose any sleep over it.’
‘Certainly bloody won’t. The cove will be a safer place without you in it. I won’t say goodbye, you’re not worth it. You’re the nastiest piece of work I’ve ever had the misfortune to know. I hope Evie doesn’t cry over you for long.’
‘Me too.’
Davey waited five minutes after Douglas had gone then he slipped through the alleys until he was up on the cliff path. Then striding along, his mind entirely on Cyrus, he took his last long walk.
Thirty-One
For some time Beth had been looking out of the terrace windows, and over the lawn to the cliff and the sea. The waters were grey-green and choppy but not in a restless way. It was Christmas Eve and the day was dry and sunny, a disappointment for those wishing for a white Christmas. Beth was disappointed for a different reason. It was going to be a very quiet festive season without Kitty, who had left her presents behind when she had journeyed home with Stuart. People had said they would call in tomorrow, but the Christmas dinner and tea table would see only her mother, Joe and herself.
The invitation to Kitty to spend Christmas at Owles House had been eagerly repeated, and to include Stuart, who Beth found she enjoyed talking to regularly over the telephone, but last week Kitty had travelled with Stuart to Ireland to spend a few days with Louis and Martha, staying at a hotel close to Connie’s parents’ property. Kitty had said she did not know when they would be back and that they might stay over in London, taking in a Christmas show. Beth could not help feeling a little rejected, but accepted it was too early yet for things to return to how they had once been.
Mrs Reseigh had been here today. After helping Beth and Christina to prepare for tomorrow’s fare she had sipped sherry and eaten mince pies with them, and then Beth had driven her down to the cove so she could get on with her own arrangements. Mrs Reseigh, Mark and Rowella were to spend Christmas Day at the Opies. Beth did not envy them that, although Mrs Reseigh and Mark were not at all fazed by Marjorie Opie’s pompous ways, they refused to allow her to make them feel inferior. On New Year’s Day a small engagement party was to be held at the Grand Sea View Hotel. Marjorie, while annoyingly creating her usual fuss, was proud that her daughter was getting married, and Mrs Reseigh had no concerns that she would make Mark a nightmarish mother-in-law.
Ken would drop in tomorrow but he would be too busy at the pub to stay long. Jacob Benedict would be seen late tonight when Beth, Christina and Joe arrived for Midnight Mass, a tradition nearly the whole cove looked forward to since Mr Benedict’s arrival, when people of different dominations and none attended, and chatted excitedly afterwards when they walked home in torch and lantern light very early on Christmas morning. Mr Benedict would ply Beth and Christina with questions about Kitty. He wrote to her often and it was glaringly apparent he waited eagerly for her replies, but he was always avid for more snippets of news about her. His frustration at her not coming to Portcowl for Christmas was as clear as mountain spring water.
Then, of course there was Evie. She and Rob were expected here just after breakfast tomorrow to exchange presents, after they had placed a wreath on Davey’s grave. The coroner had recorded his verdict as accidental death, but almost everyone, including a distraught Evie, believed he had deliberately jumped off the cliff. His body had been snagged on rocks and not washed out to sea, and a holidaying walker had made the dreadful discovery. Most thought he had committed suicide out of bitterness at losing Evie to Rob, and although none had said so to Evie’s face, that she was well rid of him. Now she could get on with her life with Rob, whose love and devotion to her included allowing her to have as much freedom as she liked. They would have a successful marriage, and in time, no doubt, raise a happy family. Beth envied Evie that. Beth had made a total hash of her love life and had not even known true romance. Evie and Rob would spend the rest of Christmas Day at Wildflower Cottage for the usual delightful squash of Praeds celebrating.
Beth could not rid herself of an invasion of loneliness but she faced the fact full on that it was all her own fault. Shaking her shoulders she affected a, hopefully, cheerful smile for Christina’s sake. Humming a carol she made for the drawing room to suggest to her mother and Joe, and Richard and Lily who were there, a game of charades.
Chaplin started barking and Christina and Joe were shouting to Beth. Her breath fixed in her lungs and she felt sick. No! Not a disaster at Christmas. All sorts of terrible things ran through her mind from a log falling out of the grate and setting the rug alight to someone taking a bad fall. Then Beth realized the commotion was excited and elated. She flew to the drawing room but everyone was out in the hall and Joe was opening the door. ‘What’s happening?’ She heard a car horn tooting.
‘It’s Kitty and Stuart!’ Christina pointed enthusiastically down the drive. ‘Go on, go out to them. Now your Christmas will be made, darling.’
Beth flew after Joe and Chaplin down the steps. The others followed and all waved madly to the newcomers, who were hanging out of the windows waving back. Stuart was driving his own motor car and Beth was thrilled to see it was packed to capacity with luggage. He pulled up and reached back to open the door to let Grace out. The dogs raced off in flurry of greeting and play fighting.
Running to Kitty, Beth found herself caught in a tight affectionate embrace. ‘Hope you don’t mind the surprise,’ Kitty squealed, in the old girlish way that was hers. ‘I know we’re very naughty but as soon as we stepped off the ferry, and we had a lovely time with the children, we knew right away the only place where we could possibly spend Christmas was here. Furthermore, we’re staying for good, somewhere in the area.’
‘Oh Kitty, I can’t tell you how pleased we all are to have you here. It just wouldn’t have been the same.’ Beth squeezed and kissed her.
‘Hello, Christina,’ Kitty said, ‘I promise we won’t be any bother. If we can stay we’ll see to our rooms.’
‘Of course you will stay!’ Christina laughed. ‘Mrs Reseigh and I have made sure rooms are ready for you both just in case.’
A short time later Beth was helping Kitty and Stuart put their presents under the Christmas tree. ‘Mr Benedict will be over the moon when he sees you at Midnight Mass.’ Beth winked at Kitty.
‘I know. Actually we’ll be seeing a lot of each from now on.’ Kitty winked back.
‘Kitty! That’s wonderful.’
Later again, Beth was touched on the arm by Stuart. ‘Do you think we could have a moment alone?’
‘Of course,’ she replied at once. ‘Let’s slip away to the terrace windows. Now it’s dark you’ll see the marvellous spectacle of the cove’s festive lights.’
After Stuart had admired the multicoloured twinkling lights, Beth sensed his mood turn serious and, as in the old days, he became become a little shy and bumbling, something she had found captivating. She said, ‘What is it?’
He gazed earnestly into her eyes. ‘I just wanted to ask you if you mind me turning up with Kitty. It’s an imposition.’
‘No it isn’t.’ She smiled at him.
‘Thank goodness –’ he pressed a hand to his chest – ‘Kitty so wanted to be here and I couldn’t bear the thought of spending Christmas alone.’
‘I wouldn’t have wanted you to, Stuart. You are as welcome here as Kitty is.’
‘And you don’t mind the prospect of me living around here? Not long ago you would have been horrified. I’m really sorry I brought a lot
of complications into your life.’
‘Those days are past. And I’m glad it all happened and is done with. I’m sorry that Louis and Martha are so far away.’
‘It’s not as bad as it seems. Connie is keen for the children to see as much of me as possible and they will be spending a lot of the school holidays with me. Louis and Martha are happy I’ll be settling in Cornwall. They’re both looking forward to seeing Portcowl and other local places in the summer. They’re happier with Connie. I was struggling quite a bit. So it’s all turned out for the best really.’
‘Let’s go and prepare the mulled wine before we get ready for Midnight Mass and then we’ll take a drink to that. Happy Christmas, Stuart.’
‘Happy Christmas, Beth.’
‘And let’s drink to a happy future.’
‘Great.’ Stuart offered Beth his arm and she laughed as she slipped hers through his. ‘To the kitchen it is then.’
The Leaving Shades Sagas
Leaving Shades
Reflections
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First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Severn House Publishers LTD
This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
57 Shepherds Lane
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2DU
United Kingdom
Copyright © Gloria Cook, 2010
The moral right of Gloria Cook to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781788636513
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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