Chapter 30

As soon as they came out of Flora's, Peggy saw him. Half-hidden in shadows and standing on the opposite corner under the street signs.

She saw Binky cross the road diagonally past him seeming as if she hadn't seen him at all, which she probably hadn't. She wasn't sure about Ralph's reaction or if he would notice him as she had no experience of him recently. What she saw surprised her.

He walked across to the figure and they both stood there for uncounted moments until Ralph stepped back. He bent his head down in a gesture of respect and what puzzled Peggy even more was that the figure followed suit. Their dutiful reverences over, Ralph continued on his way with a brief look back at Peggy. The figure turned his face towards her or would have done if his face had been visible. Perhaps he would allow her to glimpse it again, but - perhaps not.

She crossed over to him, she knew her place, and stood in front of him. He spoke first, in that voice that you couldn't remember afterwards, as though it had drifted in on the air.

‘Margaret Harker'

‘Culhain' she greeted him. He acknowledged this with a tilt of his head.

‘She has surpassed expectations.' he said. Peggy nodded. There was a silence.

‘He has made good progress too' she said, to fill the silence.

‘That is so.'

He was obviously invested in their well-being. Peggy now privately thought about the connection between Culhain and the boy. Was he a messenger, reporting back – or something more? At least he knew the boy was someone to be proud of.

Then she took in a horrified breath until it rattled in her throat, when she realised there were no private thoughts where Culhain appeared. After an interminable moment for Peggy, he said,

‘Yes, someone to be proud of.'

She hung her head in embarrassment. She wanted to ask if everything would be okay but when she looked up to ask him, there was no one to be seen - but his voice could still be heard, close by.

‘ Things are as they should be.'

She felt he was still there but finished with her until the next time – yet those words were all she needed to know. She turned for her home.

*

Cal wandered over to Flora with a nonchalance that she knew he didn't feel. How someone could be so nervous, so loving, so generous and kind, whilst looking physically as though he could scowl for Britain and crush a thousand Victorian maiden's hearts, into the bargain, she just didn't know.

Finn greeted her first, nearly knocking her over in the process. She looked up at Cal and suddenly didn't want him to go. A forlorn hope.

‘Have another glass of champagne' she said.

‘ I have to get back to Fury' he started to say apologetically ‘but another? I haven't even had one yet, I'm driving.' He had left his four-track in the driveway behind Flora's car.

‘Oh well then, just a very small one, because you have to celebrate my first successful day at Wildflower Witch.'

‘One of many I hope' he said accepting the half-filled glass.

‘It's been' Flora struggled for words and settled for the old standby... ‘Wonderful!'

‘It has' agreed Cal, reaching for her, pulling her towards him. He bent his head down to kiss her lips and lost himself in the love, passion and comfort he found there. Pushing themselves apart reluctantly they sat down, chairs touching so their bodies could too. They toasted each other with what was left of the champagne.

‘Here's to you and the Wildflower Witch' he said.

She reached across and kissed him again.

‘And here's to us?' she asked.

‘And here's to us' he replied. He grabbed her spare hand with his and they gripped each other tightly.

‘There might be a way around this.' Their thoughts were obviously tuned to the same wavelength as Flora immediately knew what he meant. She didn't speak but waited for him to elaborate.

‘Sir Ralph... Ralph…' he looked awkward then finally decided ‘your father - has come up with a suggestion. Apparently, you mentioned my little dilemma to him.'

Flora had the grace to look embarrassed.

‘I just felt it was the right thing to do' she said apologetically.

‘I think that's probably true. Let's see if you agree.' He proceeded to tell her of his earlier conversation with her father and was rewarded with a happy beaming smile followed by a kiss that held the promise of a glorious future.

*

As Cal went into the driveway, he opened the back door to let Finn galumph into the backseat. As he opened the driver's door, he thought he caught sight of someone across the road but when he turned towards there, the place was deserted. Instead of feeling disturbed, he felt strangely elated. He smiled to himself and backed out, then drove up to the farmhouse on the moors.