Chapter Eighteen

Once Kate got settled, it was almost time for opening. She really didn't expect many people to come to the Spa area before mid-morning, but she was surprised. It seemed some were early starters and wanted to get into that pool before anyone else.

Cassie's Aidan had done a cracking job of restoring it and there were a couple of lifeguards installed as well. It was only a matter of time before the place was bouncing with guests. Kate was nicely sheltered by a canopy and she did a steady trade all morning. There really was no better place than Suffolk in the sunshine. It must have been close to eighty degrees by lunchtime and there were plenty of parents slapping sunscreen on their children.

It was almost two o'clock when her tummy rumbled and she realised she'd had nothing to eat since breakfast. She drained the last of her bottled water and decided she needed feeding.

Kate radioed Cassie and she answered on a crackle. ‘Hey Kate! How's it going?'

‘Great. I'm having a break soon — just so you know.'

‘No problem. I'll have Margaret bring the Gypsy Caravan down to the Spa so she can take over. Is it still as busy?'

She looked out at the heads in the pool and the people on the tennis courts. There was a steady stream of guests in and out of the squash courts too and Kate smiled. ‘It's pretty busy. You done well, girlfriend.'

Cassie laughed down the line. ‘It could have gone horribly wrong if it had rained.'

‘Yes, but it hasn't rained. Just enjoy it.'

‘I think it's forecast for tonight,' replied Cassie worriedly. Kate could imagine her perfect brow creasing in a frown.

‘That's tonight. It'll be great if it does. It'll clear the air and freshen everything up for tomorrow.'

‘You're right.' The smile was back in Cassie's voice.

‘Okay, I'll let you contact Margaret and when she comes here, I'll head off.'

She was just putting the walkie-talkie away, when a young woman with a mop of glorious, curly blonde hair stopped by the ice-cream bicycle. She seemed quite distracted, looking back the way she'd come to the Faerie Bridge and searching the landscaped gardens for something, a frown on her pretty face.

Then she surprised Kate by asking her a question: ‘Can you tell me if this place is haunted?'

Kate blinked and then smiled. ‘Oh, of course! Yes, it's got its stories. There's a highwayman supposed to ride through the woods, and the spirit of one of the little girls from the eighteenth century passed through not so long ago. And the nurseries apparently have a few ghosts as well. The present Countess swears she's seen them all apart from the highwayman; we think he's more like an urban myth though.' Elodie did indeed swear that she'd seen all the others. But then Elodie saw ghosts all the time. They all knew that.

The girl stared with round, eager eyes. ‘Seriously?'

‘Seriously.'

‘What about you? Have you seen anything?'

‘I don't know,' Kate said, honestly. What could she do? Tell her she'd seen the shades of Cat and Edward and Millie, all enjoying themselves at a ball, for instance? She didn't think she'd seen ghosts, exactly. She would say, if she was really really pressed, that she had experienced an evening in their company. And that she knew rather a lot about Cat's love life, which still made her blush, as it meant Theo was uppermost in her mind, every time she even considered it. But the people she had seen and interacted with had been as real as the visitors here today.

The girl looked around again and sighed happily. ‘I think I saw a ghost earlier, you know. She was so pretty. I'm hoping to find a picture of her in the house when I go inside.'

Kate's stomach knotted. ‘What did she look like?' If she had come back to Kate and said "you" she thought she might very well have freaked and run away, wide-legged trousers notwithstanding.

The girl turned back to Kate. ‘She had sort of light reddish hair.'

‘Strawberry blonde?' she asked carefully.

‘That's it. Lighter than yours. And she had dimples, because she smiled. And she was wearing a gorgeous dress. Like a really bright blue. She was over that side of the gardens, by that lovely bridge. She just appeared and disappeared. I thought it was one of the staff, but then she was gone so quickly, I wondered if I should ask you.'

Kate felt a little faint. ‘Hmm. It sounds like LadyAmelia,' she said, trying to sound authoritative. But it did sound just like Millie, in her peacock blue ballgown.

‘What a lovely name! So are there any pictures of her?'

Kate couldn't answer her. She didn't know.

She shook her head. ‘If there are any, Cassie might know. I'll radio through to her. She's around, she should be able to tell us, if you can hang on a minute?'

The girl nodded and Kate switched the walkie-talkie on again. ‘Cassie, I've got a lady here asking a question, and I thought you might know the answer.'

Cassie sounded amused. ‘I might know what?'

‘If there are any pictures of LadyAmelia around?'

‘Amelia?' There was a crackly sort of silence for a moment. ‘Oh! Amelia. As in Millie. From the eighteen-hundreds.'

Kate's stomach did that knot again. ‘That's her.' No need to check that she existed then.

‘Sure,' said Cassie. ‘Can the lady hear me if I speak up loud enough?'

Kate raised her eyebrows and the girl nodded.

‘Yes, she can hear you.' Kate moved the walkie-talkie between them. ‘Fire away.'

‘Okay. If you go through to the main dining room, there's a miniature of her on the wall by the fireplace. The girl in the blue dress. You'd never see her if you weren't looking for her.'

The blonde girl looked at Kate and smiled gratefully, then leaned over and shouted into the radio. ‘Thank you, thanks so much!'

‘You're welcome!' came Cassie's voice.

‘Thanks Cass.' Kate switched off the radio and smiled at the girl, her own heart racing as she wondered how soon she would be able to escape into the Hall to look for the picture herself.

‘Good luck!' she told the girl.

‘Thank you! I'm so excited! I'll have to eat this really fast now!' She held the ice-cream up and grinned, then hurried away.

Kate couldn't wait to get into the Hall and find the portrait — but unfortunately she had an event to deal with first; which might take a bit longer than simply scoffing an ice-cream.

Soon after that, Kate heard the clip-clop of hooves and saw Hughie approaching as he came around the corner. The children in the pool stopped splashing and screamed with delight — Horace, Margaret's spaniel and the ‘official' Hartsford estate dog, was balanced on Hughie's back, looking for all the world as if he belonged there.

Kate couldn't help laughing. Margaret drew the caravan up to the poolside and Kate waved at her.

‘Can I interest you in a sandwich?' she shouted. ‘I don't have many left, but you're welcome to cheese, cheese or tuna.'

‘I'll have cheese, please!' Kate dismounted and walked over to the caravan. Margaret looked slightly flustered, and a little red in the face, but she produced a sandwich, along with a bottle of cloudy lemonade and a packet of crisps. ‘You might as well take these as well, just in case the cheese is a bit warm.' Margaret frowned and looked up as three families headed towards her, rummaging for purses and wallets. ‘Oh dear, I hope they don't mind cheese either!'

‘It'll be fine,' Kate said. ‘Have you got enough ice-lollies and choc bars in your freezer? Or do you want my ice-box until I come back?'

‘No, sweetheart, I'm fine,' she said with a smile. ‘You get yourself off for a break.'

‘You know, I think I'll push the bicycle into a corner on my way, instead of leaving it here. Otherwise you'll be getting people asking for ices anyway.'

‘Good idea. Take your time. It's quieter towards the Faerie Bridge. I suggest you go and hide behind a tree over that way.'

‘Good plan.' Kate collected her lunch and tucked it into the basket. Her mobile was in there as well and she checked it quickly. Tom had sent a message asking how the day was going and she smiled, pleased he'd remembered. Kate texted her brother back, took hold of the handlebars and pushed the bicycle towards the Faerie Bridge, quietly hoping that if Millie had indeed been around, she might take the time to say "Hello" to Kate as well.

Kate only got stopped three times on the way for ice-creams. By the time she reached the trees near the Faerie Bridge she was actually quite relieved to push the bicycle into the shade and hide it with some well-placed branches. It was warm amongst the trees and the smell of the resin and earth was a welcome change to the sun-screen and chlorine over at the pool. Kate found a tree trunk and perched on it, unwrapping her sandwich and intending to enjoy her break.

Somewhere, across the estate, a clock chimed two. It might have been the church clock, or it might have been the bell-tower clock. But regardless of which one it was, Kate started to experience that woozy, otherworldly feeling and she braced herself for whatever might come next. Millie wasn't going to see her in Kate's own time, at any rate — but it seemed she might be about to see a glimpse of Cat's life. She squashed down that little bit of panic she felt every time this happened and took a deep breath. She just had to go with it — she just had to.

* * *

She was holding her train up, making her way very slowly towards the Faerie Bridge. She'd managed to sneak away from everyone and abandoned the Bath chair somewhere just on the edge of the lawns, beneath a young sapling. She'd escaped whilst everyone was playing tennis.

She found it incredibly boring just to sit and watch and had wheeled herself off under some pretext. She let the train drop, and chanced a look at the woods on the other side of the river. There were ghost stories aplenty at Hartsford Hall, not least the idea of the phantom highwayman who rode on moonlit nights through those very woods.

That story was still, as Kate knew, alive and well even in the twenty-first century. In fact, the whole Hall had this timeless quality about it. It made you think it was watching you, along with its former inhabitants — and you would possibly end up as some stone-tape theory yourself, in some unknown future. The lives and loves of the Aldrichs and everyone who had come before them were imprinted in those old walls. Was it really surprising that on days like this, when the stars were seemingly aligned and the mood was right, people who loved the Hall would slip back and visit those old lives — and the former residents would share some of their secrets?

Kate was scaring herself now, just thinking about that. Which was ridiculous, because she was obviously part of the stories, in some way or another; and all the Hall was doing was letting her replay it, safely. Or at least she hoped it was safely. Cassie had always believed that Hartsford drew people back to it — the people it loved, anyway. But Kate was more pragmatic than Cassie. Or at least she was, generally.

She didn't feel pragmatic today. There were shadows in the woods this afternoon, something dark flitting through the trees. Kate shuddered and turned away, focussing instead on the pretty stonework of the Faerie Bridge, steep and mossy and almost a semi-circle, straddling the river from the Hall grounds to the wilder estate land beyond.

A family of swans were sailing regally along, their five cygnets sandwiched between them. Willow trees dipped into the river along its length and it was incredibly beautiful and tranquil. Unfortunately, her limp was annoying her. There was no better place to stop than here, really, so she hitched up her skirts and perched on a tree stump. She turned her face to the Hall and the windows winked at her in the summer afternoon light. She wondered exactly how long she would have to stay there before something happened. Because something was going to happen, for sure. She couldn't explain it, but there was a certain electricity in the air — a sort of buzz and a sense of hope. It was so peaceful though. She'd never been alone in these little scenarios, so she determined to relax and just enjoy the sound of the water rushing by until whatever was going to happen revealed itself.

Kate didn't have to wait too long. Sailing silently beneath the bridge, on the other side of the river, was a small, paper boat, bouncing gently on the current. She stood up, steadying herself on the tree-trunk. She moved across to the water and watched the little boat as it sailed past.

She looked up. A figure stood at the other side of the bridge. It was a man — she could tell that because of his height and his build. And what was more, the height and build looked extremely familiar. Her suspicions were confirmed when the man raised an arm in acknowledgement.

‘Will!' The name came out as little more than a whisper. She raised her arm and waved back; then felt a huge smile begin to spread across her face. ‘Will!' That time, she shouted his name and, hoisting up the annoying train again, hurried as best she could to the Faerie Bridge. By the time she was at the foot of it, Will had partially crossed it and was standing at the apex waiting for her, Hector emerging from behind him, wagging his tail furiously.

‘How did you know I'd be here?'

‘I came along the path by the river and I saw your chair,' he said with an answering smile. ‘I could hear the shouts from the tennis court, and I knew you wouldn't be amongst that. So I guessed. Then I saw you here.'

She brought herself up short in front of him, and stared up into those dark eyes. She was longing to reach out and touch him, just to make sure he was real.

‘Cat, my love.' Will was suddenly serious. He looked down and took her hands in his. He pulled her towards him so they were barely inches apart. ‘I was taking a shortcut to the farm, and I wanted to try and catch you.' His voice was suddenly husky and her heart began to flip-flop. She hoped what she anticipated was going to come next. His lips looked extremely kissable. Kate focused on them to catch her breath before she fell any further into his eyes.

She parted her lips and leaned in a little, just so they were closer. But then he threw her with his next words.

‘I had a letter for you.' His eyes searched her face and she closed her lips. This didn't sound good. ‘But it's better that I can tell you in person, I think.'

‘The boat. Is that the letter?'

‘It is. I thought it might get your attention.'

‘Oh.' Over Will's shoulder, the little boat drifted off around a corner and lost itself in some reeds. Kate looked back at Will and their eyes met. Something shifted within her — she felt a little dizzy and a little breathless, and all she was conscious of was Will standing so very close to her, still holding her hand; and Hector, nuzzling at her ankles, shoring her up.

Eventually, Kate managed to stutter some words out. ‘What — what is it you need to tell me?' It was unsettling being this close to Will, because in Kate's mind, it was like being this close to Theo.

‘I want to see you in my mind for always and remember you just as you are this evening, just like this. Just like my Cat.'

Will's fingers touched her face and he traced the outline of her cheek from top to bottom. She literally felt her knees buckle and she doubted it had much to do with the ice-skating incident. It was, more than likely, the sheer intensity of being this close to the man she'd been secretly in love with for months.

‘Kiss me, Will. I don't know what you have to tell me, but kiss me first.'

Will didn't need telling twice. He dropped his hand from the side of her face and cupped her chin. She caught her breath and he took hold of her around the waist and pulled her even closer to him. Kate didn't resist. She fitted perfectly within his arms, and she relaxed against him, closing her eyes.

Eventually, they moved apart, her lips sweet and bruised.

‘Oh, my,' she managed, slightly dazed.

He drew her closer still, and she could feel the smile on his mouth as he kissed her a second time, more slowly and more sensually than before.

‘Cat. My beloved Cat. I think I've always loved you. From the first moment I saw you up at the Hall. The first time I came up to tend to the horses. You were sitting outside, watching me and trying to give me advice. Do you remember?'

She nodded. She did. She'd been fascinated by his work, the way he talked to the horses, soothing them as he ran his strong, capable hands up and down their legs.

‘You were the new blacksmith. I had to make sure you would treat the horses properly,' she whispered. The memories were flooding back, so strongly and so completely she could hardly believe she'd lived any other life; any life that he hadn't been part of.

‘I fell for you right then,' he told her, ‘but I knew that the way things were, I couldn't do anything about it. I still can't — not with me still working for the estate and you being part of the family. So I'm leaving, Cat. I'm going to find work elsewhere and then, when I've made enough to buy us a home and keep you like a lady, I'll come back. I can book a passage from Felixstowe and from there I can travel through Europe. I have good friends over the sea and they promise me there is money to be made and they can help set me up in business.' He touched his hand to her face. ‘Can you wait for me?'

‘Of course,' she said, a little stunned. ‘I have no plans to go anywhere. You do know we aren't important members of the family, though, don't you?'

‘You're important enough,' he said with a laugh. ‘And too good for me, a mere blacksmith. Which is why I have to do this.' He picked up her hand and kissed it briefly. ‘I'll come back and claim you, I swear. No matter how long it takes. You're here.' He touched his heart. ‘And, God willing, you'll always be mine.' He transferred the kiss to his lips, then he touched her face and smiled. ‘I'm grateful you had the accident, you know. It gave me the chance I'd longed for. When I held you, that first time and carried you back to my cottage, I almost believed we were wed and I was carrying you across the threshold.' He shook his head, reddening slightly. ‘I know. I'm a dreamer, aren't I?'

‘I like your dreams. I liked being in your cottage. Why do you think I keep searching for you and visiting you? You don't have to do this, you know. I'd move into the cottage tomorrow.'

‘Oh, how I wish that was possible.' He smiled. ‘But for my own self-respect, I have to go. And in answer to your question, I leave next week. It'll be an adventure, my love.'

Kate felt a twenty-first century warning at that word — damn Cassie and her opinions. Kate didn't feel adventurous at all.

She crushed the thought. ‘So we still have some time together,' she said instead.

‘We do. But now, I'm afraid I have to go. I need to see to the horses on the farm before nightfall. I am glad I saw you, Cat.'

‘And I you.'

‘One more thing,' he said with a hint of mischief in those eyes. He scooped her up in his arms and strode across the bridge. ‘After you promise to look after Hector for me, I'm going to take you back to that chair and you're going to behave. You're going to sit in it and let your leg heal, and then when I come back, I'm going to walk you down that aisle and you're going to dance back up it.'

As he lifted her, Kate caught a glance of the reeds where the paper boat was trapped, and her eyes widened as the boat collapsed in on itself and sank, sodden by the water, lost for all time. For a crazy moment, she wanted Will to take her over there, so she could fish it out and dry it off. She just wanted something tangible remaining of him, if he was leaving her like this.

‘Your boat—'

‘It was never meant to be seaworthy. Look, we're here anyway.' He settled her into that awful chair. ‘I'll take you so far up the pathway,' he said, smoothing her skirt down gently where the frills had ruffled up, ‘then leave you and your family to enjoy yourselves.'

Far in the distance, the bells in the church began to strike three. At that moment, Kate hated them. She hated the sound of them and she hated what would happen next. She wanted to stay there, crippled or not, safely in Will's heart and loved by the Hall.

‘No,' she whispered. She reached for his hand, desperately entwining her fingers in his. ‘Please don't. I want to stay here, with you . . .'

* * *

It was done. It was the hardest thing Will had ever had to do in his life — walk away from her and try to make a life elsewhere, even if it was just for a little while. Just until he could come back to Hartsford and claim her. And he'd do that. He swore it to the river and to the woods and to the Hall, standing guard over it all; and he swore it to her. No matter how long it would take him, he would come back for her.

It was a promise nothing could break.