Page 6 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
“Yes. Come and see.” He tugged her again, and she let her fingers drift over the blooms as he headed for the edge of the depression on the far side. She climbed the rough path over it with his help. She drew a breath as she reached the top, and the relentless sea breeze hit her, bringing along the smell of brine and tugging at her hair.
They stood atop a wide cliff with the vast expanse of the sea before them. Marveling, Kara clutched her husband’s arm. “How could the fire not burn in your belly?”
“Exactly. I practically wore a path from the forge, across the meadow, to the edge of the cliff, lost in thought. It felt like I could pull ideas from the very air.”
“The quiet, the beauty, the sea. I can understand it,” Kara said. The picture formed vividly in her mind. She could almost see her tall, strong husband in the ratty kilt he liked to work in, pacing back and forth as he worked out an idea in his head.
Niall gestured back toward the meadow. “The forge is small, but there is a cot in there. I had the notion that Gyda might like to stay there, someday soon. I know she is not in a frame of mind to create right now…”
“No. She’s not as recovered as she would like us to believe. She’s barely sleeping.” Kara pressed her lips together in worry. “She’s still slipping out every night. For hours, she just sits, staring at the sky.”
“I know she wants to return to London.”
“She’s looking for something to distract her,” Kara guessed.
“And that might be just what she needs right now, but someday she’ll be ready to start creating again, and I thought, when the time comes, she might wish to come up here for a few weeks.”
“That’s a lovely offer.” Worry pressed down on her. She shook it off and started for the cliff’s edge. “I could sit here for hours.”
Niall reached out to grab her wrist. “Tread carefully,” he warned. “There are hollows, depressions in the ground that can be difficult to see—especially when your gaze is fixed on that.” He gestured toward the deep blue expanse.
“Oh.” She frowned at the grass-covered cliff ahead.
Squeezing her wrist, he raised both brows and gave her a suggestive smile. “Couples sometimes come up here to take advantage of them. Find one the right size and you can recline in there, completely hidden.”
Kara pursed her lips and lowered her tone. “That’s a tradition I wouldn’t mind putting to the test.”
He laughed. “I had that very thought in mind, but you will have to wait until later. I asked Gyda to meet us up here. I wanted to remind her how lovely it is before I made the offer.”
“Later?” she asked, stepping closer and putting a hand on his chest. “The air might be cooler then. What if we grow cold?”
Grabbing her hand, he kissed it. “I’m sure we can think of a way to keep warm.” Growing serious, he let out a sigh. “Saints, but I’m glad you are here, Kara. You know there have been some bad memories associated with this place, but seeing you, standing there? I can feel them starting to drift away.”
She stared up into his dark gaze. “Let’s make some new memories, then.”
“Kara! Niall!”
“Here she is,” he said. They turned as Gyda climbed up from the meadow.
She waved a paper above her head. “Is there a way to leave tonight, instead of in the morning?”
“What is it?” Kara clutched at Niall, her mind racing. Resentment bloomed in her chest. They were entirely too accustomed to bad news, in her opinion.
“It’s nothing drastic,” Gyda hurried to assure her.
With relief, Kara let go of Niall.
“I’m worried about Beth,” Gyda continued. “It seems there really is some trouble brewing at the charity where she has been working.”
Kara frowned, reaching for the memory. “The Waif’s Wardrobe, isn’t it?”
“That’s the one. There is dissension in the ranks, it seems, and Beth is worried it might grow serious.”
“Are you feeling up to dealing with that sort of drama?” Niall asked in a careful tone.
Gyda nodded, then tossed him a feral grin. “It might feel good to wade in and set some people straight. Perhaps knock a few heads about.” She sighed. “It might be nice to focus on someone else’s troubles for a while.”
“By all means, then,” Niall said briskly. “Let’s go back to the village and see if we can round up Turner and Harold.”
