Page 53 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

‘Good idea. Take your time. It’s quieter towards the Faerie Bridge. I suggest you go and hide behind a tree over that way.’

‘Good plan.’ Kate collected her lunch and tucked it into the basket. Her mobile was in there as well and she checked it quickly. Tom had sent a message asking how the day was going and she smiled, pleased he’d remembered. Kate texted her brother back, took hold of the handlebars and pushed the bicycle towards the Faerie Bridge, quietly hoping that if Millie had indeed been around, she might take the time to say “Hello” to Kate as well.

Kate only got stopped three times on the way for ice-creams. By the time she reached the trees near the Faerie Bridge she was actually quite relieved to push the bicycle into the shade and hide it with some well-placed branches. It was warm amongst the trees and the smell of the resin and earth was a welcome change to the sun-screen and chlorine over at the pool. Kate found a tree trunk and perched on it, unwrapping her sandwich and intending to enjoy her break.

Somewhere, across the estate, a clock chimed two. It might have been the church clock, or it might have been the bell-tower clock. But regardless of which one it was, Kate started to experience that woozy, otherworldly feeling and she braced herself for whatever might come next. Millie wasn’t going to see her in Kate’s own time, at any rate — but it seemed she might be about to see a glimpse of Cat’s life. She squashed down that little bit of panic she felt every time this happened and took a deep breath. She just had to go with it — she just had to.

* * *

She was holding her train up, making her way very slowly towards the Faerie Bridge. She’d managed to sneak away from everyone and abandoned the Bath chair somewhere just on the edge of the lawns, beneath a young sapling. She’d escaped whilst everyone was playing tennis.

She found it incredibly boring just to sit and watch and had wheeled herself off under some pretext. She let the train drop, and chanced a look at the woods on the other side of the river. There were ghost stories aplenty at Hartsford Hall, not least the idea of the phantom highwayman who rode on moonlit nights through those very woods.

That story was still, as Kate knew, alive and well even in the twenty-first century. In fact, the whole Hall had this timeless quality about it. It made you think it was watching you, along with its former inhabitants — and you would possibly end up as some stone-tape theory yourself, in some unknown future. The lives and loves of the Aldrichs and everyone who had come before them were imprinted in those old walls. Was it really surprising that on days like this, when the stars were seemingly aligned and the mood was right, people who loved the Hall would slip back and visit those old lives — and the former residents would share some of their secrets?

Kate was scaring herself now, just thinking about that. Which was ridiculous, because she was obviously part of the stories, in some way or another; and all the Hall was doing was letting her replay it, safely. Or at least she hoped it was safely. Cassie had always believed that Hartsford drew people back to it — the people it loved, anyway. But Kate was more pragmatic than Cassie. Or at least she was, generally.

She didn’t feel pragmatic today. There were shadows in the woods this afternoon, something dark flitting through the trees. Kate shuddered and turned away, focussing instead on the pretty stonework of the Faerie Bridge, steep and mossy and almost a semi-circle, straddling the river from the Hall grounds to the wilder estate land beyond.

A family of swans were sailing regally along, their five cygnets sandwiched between them. Willow trees dipped into the river along its length and it was incredibly beautiful and tranquil. Unfortunately, her limp was annoying her. There was no better place to stop than here, really, so she hitched up her skirts and perched on a tree stump. She turned her face to the Hall and the windows winked at her in the summer afternoon light. She wondered exactly how long she would have to stay there before something happened. Because something was going to happen, for sure. She couldn’t explain it, but there was a certain electricity in the air — a sort of buzz and a sense of hope. It was so peaceful though. She’d never been alone in these little scenarios, so she determined to relax and just enjoy the sound of the water rushing by until whatever was going to happen revealed itself.

Kate didn’t have to wait too long. Sailing silently beneath the bridge, on the other side of the river, was a small, paper boat, bouncing gently on the current. She stood up, steadying herself on the tree-trunk. She moved across to the water and watched the little boat as it sailed past.

She looked up. A figure stood at the other side of the bridge. It was a man — she could tell that because of his height and his build. And what was more, the height and build looked extremely familiar. Her suspicions were confirmed when the man raised an arm in acknowledgement.

‘Will!’ The name came out as little more than a whisper. She raised her arm and waved back; then felt a huge smile begin to spread across her face. ‘Will!’ That time, she shouted his name and, hoisting up the annoying train again, hurried as best she could to the Faerie Bridge. By the time she was at the foot of it, Will had partially crossed it and was standing at the apex waiting for her, Hector emerging from behind him, wagging his tail furiously.

‘How did you know I’d be here?’

‘I came along the path by the river and I saw your chair,’ he said with an answering smile. ‘I could hear the shouts from the tennis court, and I knew you wouldn’t be amongst that. So I guessed. Then I saw you here.’

She brought herself up short in front of him, and stared up into those dark eyes. She was longing to reach out and touch him, just to make sure he was real.

‘Cat, my love.’ Will was suddenly serious. He looked down and took her hands in his. He pulled her towards him so they were barely inches apart. ‘I was taking a shortcut to the farm, and I wanted to try and catch you.’ His voice was suddenly husky and her heart began to flip-flop. She hoped what she anticipated was going to come next. His lips looked extremely kissable. Kate focused on them to catch her breath before she fell any further into his eyes.

She parted her lips and leaned in a little, just so they were closer. But then he threw her with his next words.

‘I had a letter for you.’ His eyes searched her face and she closed her lips. This didn’t sound good. ‘But it’s better that I can tell you in person, I think.’

‘The boat. Is that the letter?’

‘It is. I thought it might get your attention.’

‘Oh.’ Over Will’s shoulder, the little boat drifted off around a corner and lost itself in some reeds. Kate looked back at Will and their eyes met. Something shifted within her — she felt a little dizzy and a little breathless, and all she was conscious of was Will standing so very close to her, still holding her hand; and Hector, nuzzling at her ankles, shoring her up.

Eventually, Kate managed to stutter some words out. ‘What — what is it you need to tell me?’ It was unsettling being this close to Will, because in Kate’s mind, it was like being this close to Theo.

‘I want to see you in my mind for always and remember you just as you are this evening, just like this. Just like my Cat.’

Will’s fingers touched her face and he traced the outline of her cheek from top to bottom. She literally felt her knees buckle and she doubted it had much to do with the ice-skating incident. It was, more than likely, the sheer intensity of being this close to the man she’d been secretly in love with for months.

‘Kiss me, Will. I don’t know what you have to tell me, but kiss me first.’

Will didn’t need telling twice. He dropped his hand from the side of her face and cupped her chin. She caught her breath and he took hold of her around the waist and pulled her even closer to him. Kate didn’t resist. She fitted perfectly within his arms, and she relaxed against him, closing her eyes.

Eventually, they moved apart, her lips sweet and bruised.

‘Oh, my,’ she managed, slightly dazed.