Page 16 of The Book of Unwritten Stories

Dora tugged the tiny drawstring apart and pulled out the most beautiful gold band that was engraved with delicate flowers around it. Whoever made it had taken time to make it so intricate and pretty. She turned it over and saw the word witch engraved on the inside, and next to it a tiny crescent moon and she laughed with glee.

‘Oh, Ambrose, ’tis so pretty. Where did you get this?’ She looked up at his face which was now a dark shade of vermillion.

‘You like it?’

‘I love it.’ Dora slipped it onto her wedding ring finger.

‘It was your wedding ring.’

She lifted her hand and studied her fingers, yes, it fit perfectly and she loved it more than anything.

‘I’m sorry, Ambrose, I don’t remember. I wish that I did; it breaks my heart that I, we, have lived so many lifetimes yet all I know is this one. I sometimes see the pair of us on a sailing ship with two young children, but that is only snippets and I don’t know if it’s real or not.’

‘It’s okay, I know you don’t, hopefully in time you will. The sailing ship was an adventure, I captained a schooner in 1764 that sailed into the port of Salem town and saw you there on the portside in a stunning emerald gown, the same colour as your eyes, and I knew that I was smitten. It was only my second life and I didn’t have the same memories back then as I do now.’

‘The children, the boy and girl who I only ever see from behind, were they our children?’

‘Unfortunately, not. Thomas and Bridget were orphans who lived in Salem town and spent their days begging by the busy sea port. When we realised your life was in danger you agreed to come with me on the boat and insisted we brought the children with us.’

Dora sighed, why did she not remember this? ‘I’m afraid to ask, what happened to them?’

Ambrose’s eyes shone with tears. ‘They died, caught smallpox but not before we shared some incredible adventures with them. We had such a wonderful time, exploring the world until the world decided we’d had enough fun and took it all away, yet again.’

Dora felt her own eyes brim with tears for this life and all of the others she had lived, for Thomas and Bridget, for herself and her aunts. Ambrose took hold of her hand, holding it softly.

‘But the year I first gave you the ring was 1898. The year after Lenny sprung you out of that horrendous lunatic asylum in Edinburgh. I asked you to marry me to keep you safe and you said yes. A goldsmith called Ebeneezer, fresh out of his apprenticeship, made me this to give to you. It was I think his finest work. He went on to become very famous, and his work is highly sought after and it fetches a lot of money now, but money is nothing compared to this ring because it meant so much to you.’

The lump in Dora’s throat was hard to swallow, and she looked into Ambrose’s eyes, the colour of the calmest, bluest sea. Then she leaned towards him, hugging him with one hand while trying not to spill her coffee all over the pair of them. A group of tourists began clapping and cheering making them pull apart. The leader called out, ‘Congratulations, guys.’

And Dora’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Ambrose laughed. ‘Thank you, but she hasn’t said yes yet.’

The group, all grinning at the pair of them sitting there, turned back to listen to their history tour and Dora whispered, ‘Well, that was a bit awkward.’

Ambrose laughed. ‘Such is Salem.’

She sighed. ‘And this is why I love it so much. You really are the sweetest. Thank you, I shall treasure it forever.’

She realised that he made her heart feel whole, made her feel complete and if he asked her to marry him, she would go with him right this minute to find someone to officiate, even if it was Borah the very green, hilariously loud witch who was one of her favourite buskers on Essex Street. She knew she would not hesitate for a moment, yet still there was this feeling of uneasiness inside of her heart that she could not ignore, just a niggle but it was there all the same. She didn’t know what it meant but for now she would try and live her life to its fullest.

THIRTEEN

The Hawthorne Hotel took up an entire block and the red brick exterior really was stunning. Dora had decided to try and look elegant in a simple black dress and her Doc Marten boots. She felt her jaw drop as Sephy pushed open the glazed doors into the reception area. Classical music was playing; there was a beautiful flower arrangement that was full centre, of fiery orange blooms which were perfect for the Halloween season. The sofas and armchairs looked so comfortable that Dora had a sudden urge to throw herself onto one and offer to wait for Sephy down here. A beautiful, blonde-haired woman walked out of an office tucked away next to The Tavern, which was a stunning, oak-panelled bar and dining room. Sephy held her arms wide open.

‘KrisTina, it’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.’

KrisTina smiled and hugged Sephy back. ‘It really has, what have you been up to, Sephy? How’s the shop in all this Halloween madness?’

‘Crazy, but in the best way. How’s London? How old is he now, twelve?’

‘Thirteen.’

‘Already?’

KrisTina laughed. ‘Already, have you come to dine with us?’

Sephy shook her head. ‘Unfortunately not, although I will make reservations for when Lenny is back in town. This is my niece, Dora, we have been summoned.’