Page 9 of The Runner
‘Very well. Get your cloak, in case of sudden rain, and we shall take a stroll to the village, or shall we ride in the carriage?’ Caroline asked, realising that could be the way to avoid Ralph.
‘Carriages are so very dull,’ said Olivia. ‘I never get to see anything when I’m hidden away in the carriage under Mother’s watchful eye.’
‘I hope you don’t mistake me for some kind of flighty fool who will let you do anything that takes your fancy, young lady. I have undertaken the responsibility to take good care of you,’ said Caroline, smiling to take the sting out of her reprimand.
Olivia tilted her golden hair to one side and smiled alluringly. ‘I’m so very grateful that you have come, dear Caroline. I fear I may have died of boredom without you. It’s been quite dreadful since Nanny left. Now, let us hurry to the village while the sun still shines.’
They left the grounds of Willow Manor, walking at quite a speed. Olivia chatted happily like a little bird released from her cage, while Caroline tried not to think of Ralph and what would happen if they were to meet him on the way.
CHAPTER5
Willow Manor, York - Present day
Cara twiddledwith the silver pendant necklace George gave her as a birthday gift. Now she regretted not telling him more details about the previous night when he woke her from the disturbing dream.
George paused near the open bookshelf, torch in hand, and turned to her. ‘That sounds ominous. What… what didn’t you tell me?’
Cara cleared her throat as she struggled to choose the right words. She didn’t want to make a big deal of it, but it was only fair to tell him. And she wanted him to know because they didn’t keep things from each other. The dark, secretive days when they first met and lived double lives were over, which made it even more precious that they didn’t need to hide anything from each other anymore.
It was such a relief for Cara to share her innermost fears with George, and she sensed it was the same for him. Cara had learned they were like mirrors, triggering their wounds and insecurities for each other to heal. When Twin Flames achieve union, it’s said they shine so brightly as their true loving selves, they naturally raise the consciousness of the planet with their soul vibration. Cara never felt so fully herself until she met George.
They both experienced deep healing since those turbulent early days. George realised he wasn’t responsible for others’ happiness, and it was safe to be honest about his own needs and desires. Cara confronted her deepest fear of not being enough, which had followed her like a dark cloud ever since she was abandoned as a child. She had no memory of her parents, but the feeling of being deserted had stayed with her, even after she was adopted by a wonderful man who she thought of as her true father.
Only through the emotional rollercoaster of their intense love affair had she finally experienced unconditional love for herself and for George.
‘Darling? What is it?’ said George, interrupting Cara’s thoughts.
‘Oh sorry, I was miles away. Um… it was Ralph Knight in my dream, you know… the karmic warrior. The guy who hypnotised me in Tudorville, remember?’ Cara swallowed hard, her pulse tip-tapping in her neck.
‘Of course, I remember. The rotten impudence of the man. I thought we’d seen the back of him.’ George crossed to where Cara stood, the torch immediately forgotten. He guided her towards the sofa. ‘Let’s sit down for a minute. The priest hole or whatever it is can wait. What more did you see in the dream?’
Cara sank down onto the sofa, grateful for his calm and compassionate nature. ‘I don’t know how much I can remember or explain clearly—you know what dreams are like. It’s all a bit hazy.’
‘Take it slowly, my darling. It’s all okay,’ he said, reaching for her hand.
‘Well, you know I told you I thought I’d seen another version of us?’
George nodded and listened intently as Cara explained the dream was about the young woman, Caroline, who she first saw when Ralph Knight hypnotised her in Tudorville in 1536.
‘I have a foreboding that I’m being drawn into that timeline when I was Caroline. What if I actually time travelled to 1729 through the passageway but my memory hasn’t updated yet, and the dream was a warning?’ She looked at the hole in the wall. ‘I wish I’d never found it now,’ she said, lowering her head into her hands.
‘Let’s not jump to any conclusions. It may have just been a dream, and that might just be a priest hole.’ He tried to diffuse her worry with his most charming smile. ‘Shall we check it out together?’
‘I hope you’re right,’ she said. ‘Okay, let’s get it over with.’
Holding hands, they moved towards the opening. George picked up the torch, squeezed Cara’s hand for a second, and then released it and stepped into the dark space. He shone the torch ahead and then turned back to help Cara join him in the narrow space. They stood there looking about the partially lit passageway.
‘Ready?’ said George.
‘Yes, let’s see if there really is a wall,’ she said, her voice almost a whisper.
They took cautious steps. George went ahead and Cara was right behind him.
‘What do you see? We must be reaching the end by now,’ Cara said.
Cara watched George stretch his hand out in front of him, illuminated by the soft glow of the torchlight. She held her breath.
He said, ‘Look, it is a wall. It’s solid. I think we have ourselves a priest hole, as you thought. I’ll research it when I have a chance and see if there’s any mention of a priest hiding out here during the reformation.’
