Page 64 of A Snowy Seaside Christmas
‘It was Bobby who alerted me to where you were. He’s a little star. Dad’s been calling him the hero of the day. He had an extra special bowl of food that afternoon. Went down a treat. Not sure he tasted much of it, he devoured it that fast in typical Labrador fashion.’
‘Good old Bobby.’ Nate’s chuckle was like music to Lark’s ears. ‘And did you mean what you said when we were in the cellar?’ He opened his eyes, fixing them on her.
‘You mean when I told you that I love you.’
‘Yeah, that.’
‘I meant every single word.’ She leant forward and kissed him again.
‘The things I had to go through to get you to say that.’ He rolled his eyes playfully. ‘Don’t suppose you fancy reminding me, do you?’
Lark didn’t have a problem reminding him. In fact, she was so relieved he was okay, she’d be happy to shout it from the rooftops.
‘Nate Wilkinson, I love you.’
He heaved a happy sigh. ‘And I love you too, Lark. Have done for years. You stole my heart the minute I set eyes on you with all your quirky, hippie, boho stuff.’
‘It’s good to see you looking brighter.’ A smiley-faced nurse arrived at the foot of the bed, a tray of medication in her hand which Lark took as her cue to leave.
Nate told Lark later that he’d gone to Crayke’s Cottage, armed with the old key from the suitcase, and with the intention of having a final check around. After what had happened between him and Lark, he hadn’t troubled her to accompany him. He didn’t realise at the time how grateful he’d be for taking Bobby with him.
He’d patiently checked the walls and cupboards for any likely places that could potentially hide a secret drawer or panel, and was just about to give up when the oak panel had popped open.
Armed with a torch, he entered what he quickly realised was a tunnel and was making his way along when he heard a sound behind him. He turned to see two men wearing balaclavas. They immediately started demanding where the money was, saying if he didn’t tell them, then they’d lock him in there and he’d never get out.
They didn’t seem to believe that he didn’t know where any money was and started pushing him about. They only stopped when a spine-chilling howling sound started echoing all around the tunnel. The thugs had seemed genuinely terrified, yelling that the place was haunted and cursed. They’d made a run for it, knocking Nate over in their panic.
It was while Lark and her dad were with Nate, waiting for the paramedics to arrive, that they realised the strange, haunting sounds both she and Nate had heard there before were nothing more sinister than the wind whistling through the tunnel and into the house. The shrillness of the shrieking increased according to the strength of the wind. No doubt it was where the stories of the house being haunted had originated. Lark could imagine such rumours served the smugglers well, keeping unwelcome visitors and the prying eyes of the customs men away.
FORTY-ONE
THURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER
Wrapping Christmas presents was one of Lark’s very favourite things to do. It was something she liked to take her time over and always put in a great deal of effort, matching the trim and the label – which she also made herself – to the recipient, while at the same time, making the parcels look delightfully festive. She trimmed them with a variety of re-purposed items, including vintage ribbons and lace, buttons and beads, and even pieces of fabric she considered suitable. These treasures were stored in a box she kept tucked under the stairs, and it always sent a thrill dancing through her when she lifted the lid.
With her father helping Louisa at the heritage centre and likely to remain there for a good few hours, and with Zara holding the fort at Lark’s Vintage Bazaar, Lark decided that her free afternoon would be the perfect opportunity to indulge in a spot of present wrapping. There was no chance Nate would get in the way, since he was snoring contentedly on the sofa, where he’d been stretched out for the last hour, Bobby and Luna snuggled up beside him. So, with a mug of hot chocolate freshly made, she retrieved the box of gift-wrapping goodies, removed the bowl of fruit from the kitchen table and set to work.
She’d just finished writing the label of the gift for her new assistant – a pair of silver hoop earrings finished with tiny shells from the shop’s stock that Zara had admired – when the ringing of her mobile broke through her thoughts. Setting the pen down, Lark reached for her phone, her eyebrows dipping as she saw Louisa’s number. Her first thought was that her father must be on his way home; she’d have to scrabble his yet-to-be-wrapped gifts together and quickly tuck them out of the way before he returned. Lark tapped on the screen and accepted the call.
‘Hi, Louisa.’
‘Hello there, Lark lovey, I hope I’m not intruding on your afternoon off work.’ Louisa’s voice was filled with the familiar warmth Lark had come to associate with her. It sent a smile spreading over her face.
‘No, not at all, it’s good to hear from you. Is my dad still with you? I’m only asking cos I’m in the middle of a Christmas pressie wrapping session and don’t want him to burst in and see Santa’s gifts for him,’ she said with a chuckle.
Louisa giggled too. ‘Ah, well, I can put your mind at rest as far as that’s concerned, he’s still here.’
‘Phew!’ Lark said jokingly.
‘Actually, there’s someone else here, too, and they’re the reason I’m calling.’
‘Oh?’ Lark’s mind started whirring but before her thoughts could get very far, Louisa spoke again.
‘I’ll totally understand if you’re too busy, but I don’t suppose you could spare some time to pop across to the heritage centre in the next hour, could you? Only, Bethany Roberts is here –ourBetty’s great-granddaughter – and I feel it’s only right that you and Nate are here, too, when I show her the case of her great-grandmother’s clothes – if Nate’s up to it, of course. And it’s not just that, Bethany’s brought some things I think you’d both be rather keen to see, too.’ The thrill in Louisa’s voice wasunmistakable and sent a burst of excitement rushing through Lark. The present wrapping could wait!
‘Ooh, talk about intriguing! Nate’s here with me actually, and I’m sure he’d love to come – he’s been having a bit of a grumble about being bored with having to take things easy since his accident.’ She looked up as the man himself shuffled into the kitchen, all ruffle-haired and sleepy-eyed. Lark had been watching him like a hawk since his accident, relieved to see an improvement with every day that passed. ‘You okay?’ she mouthed to him. He gave a heart-melting smile and a thumbs-up. Lark returned his smile and went back to her conversation with Louisa. ‘I reckon we could be at the heritage centre in about twenty minutes, if that’s okay? I assume Bethany’s not in a rush to head off.’
‘Fabulous! And Bethany’s already told me she’s in no hurry to get away, so don’t worry about that. Your father’s been having a good chat with her about local history; he’s in his element,’ Louisa said fondly.
