Page 5 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“Slowly.” He sighed. “It was a great loss she suffered. The peace of the priory was good for her, but we all agreed, it’s time to go back to London.” Niall smiled. “And now, with the prospect of your being there—it’s all the better.” He crossed to the door so that he could look out upon Eyemouth’s long fishing harbor, feel the sea air in his face, and listen to the cries of the gulls. He’d been so young when he started out here. So full of hopes—and fear that his family secrets would unravel them.
A splash of color caught his eye, and he turned to see his wife strolling toward him, her skirts blowing in the breeze. His heart fluttered too, in joy and gratitude. Back then he never could have imagined the convoluted path he would travel, nor how happy he would be. “Kara’s coming,” he said, turning back to Rob. “I’m going to take her up to the house.”
“What’s left of it, you mean,” Rob corrected him with a frown. “Is that a good idea?”
“It’s fine. It’s why we stopped here on our way back. We all wished to see you—and I wanted to show Kara and Harold everything.”
“Everything?” asked Rob.
“No need to worry. Malina will never come between us. Kara knows the full story.” Niall grinned. “And I want to show her the littleforge on the meadow, and the view.”
Rob smirked. “It is a good spot. I may have taken a girl or two up there myself.”
“We’ll be setting out for London tomorrow morning. Will you be ready to travel with us?”
“No, but I won’t be far behind you.”
“Good. Come straight to Bluefield Park. You can stay with us until you are settled in your new job and comfortable in the city.”
Rob nodded. “Thank you, Niall. You are a good friend.”
“As are you.” Niall clasped Rob’s arm. “You shared your family with me when we were young. I’m more than happy to return the favor now.”
He left his friend and walked out to meet his wife. Sweeping her up in his arms, he swung her around and kissed her. “Ready for a walk? I can scarcely wait to show you the place.”
Kara beamed up at him. “I can scarcely wait to see it.”
*
“Oh, how grandthat will be,” Kara said, listening to her husband relate Rob’s news. She glanced up at him. “Do you think Beth factored into his decision at all?”
Beth Williams, their young friend who had been writing—and worrying—Gyda, had at one time carried a torch for Rob McRae. Niall’s friend had spent some time in London last year, and he and Beth had met in the course of all the adventures that had come with the spilling of Niall’s family secrets. They had suspected that Rob might return the girl’s interest, but he had returned to Eyemouth without any formal declarations. Beth had asked after him a few times, in a studiedly casual manner that didn’t fool anyone.
“He didn’t mention her,” Niall replied.
“Hmm. She hasn’t mentioned him in a while, either.”
“Have you had a letter from her?” he asked.
“Not since she took on that position at the charity. I think she’s been kept busy, which was what she was hoping for. She and Gyda have corresponded more frequently, however.”
“Gyda always was good for the girl.”
“Yes. You know how shy Beth is. It was Gyda’s idea for her to find a place to volunteer, and I think she writes regularly, asking for Gyda’s advice on handling different relationships.” Kara paused as they crested a rise, and their destination lay before them. “Ooh,” she breathed.
A clearing stretched out before them, grasses and weeds grown knee high. At the far end sat a shell of a cottage, partially burned out. It was backed by a thick grove of trees that spread out and thickened along the right side of the space. It was lonely and desolate now, but once… “It must have been lovely,” she whispered.
“It was.” She could hear the sadness and resignation in Niall’s voice, and knew he was thinking of his first, disastrous love. She took his hand.
“It’s the forge I’d really like to show you,” he said, tugging her into the weeds and pulling her toward the line of trees. As they grew closer, she saw a faint path leading in. Kara slowed as they entered the grove. It was cool and sun dappled and lovely. A breeze whispered through the branches above. She tilted her head back to watch them dance as they moved through, but as they reached the end, Niall stepped away so that she could see ahead.
She stopped. “Oh, Niall.”
It was a meadow, full of wildflowers, tucked into a depression in the earth. A small building sat to the right. He led her over. Several locks had to be undone before he could slide the door aside to reveal the tiny forge.
“This is where it began—my dream of creating art.” He grinned at her. “Where I lit the fire in my belly.”
Stepping inside, she ran her hand along the anvil and went to standbefore the cold hearth, staring out. “You worked here, looking out across the meadow, to the blue sky and the clouds over the sea.” She could hear the crash of the surf.
