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Celeste looked aghast. ‘Oh my word, Sirius, I’m so sorry! I completely forgot you didn’t know.’
‘Well, someone had better fill me in then,’ he said, through gritted teeth.
Briefly, Iliana explained what had happened earlier that day, and how Hector, Harley, and Romy had escorted John back to the island for safe keeping.
‘You’re letting him stay there?’ Sirius demanded incredulously. ‘Have you forgotten that we’ve been living there? Me and Trinity. We’ve been so happy, and it finally felt as if we were starting to heal, and now—now all this! He doesn’t get to contaminate our special place. If it weren’t for him none of this would have happened!’
‘Sirius, calm down, please,’ his mother urged him, but it was too late.
Sirius had already gone.
Emrick gave a heavy sigh. ‘I’d better go after him. The last thing Ewella needs right now is a scene, and I’m sure Romy could do without it, too.’ He turned to Killian. ‘Are you and Harley staying on the island or are you going to remain here at Castle Lodge for now?’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Killian said. ‘Make sure Sirius is okay and ask Harley what she wants to do. Will you be okay, Aidan, or do you want to come with us?’
Aidan gave him a resigned look. ‘I’d better be getting home,’ he said, a note of regret in his voice. ‘You know what they’re like, and it’s even worse now. They’re keeping close tabs on me until this wedding is done.’
He got to his feet and bowed to Iliana. ‘Thank you so much for your hospitality, Mrs St Clair. It was a delicious feast, worthy of Mammy Ryan. Not,’ he added with a grin, ‘that I’ll be telling her that. Now I’ll bid you a good evening. Killian, if you need my help again, just holler. I’ll be glad of an excuse to leave Ballydraiocht.’
With that, he also vanished.
Emrick and Killian quickly followed, and the rest of us sat at the table, trying to digest not only all that food, but the facts we’d just been given. Eventually, Iliana and Castor cleared the table in their usual fashion, and Celeste and Hector said goodnight and went upstairs, while Sky and Jethro headed back to 22 Hornbeam Close, their large, modern house on the edge of town.
Keely took my hand.
‘Come on,’ she said softly. ‘You’ve had an awful shock, and it’s been a heck of a long day. Time for bed.’
I wanted to argue, as there still seemed so much to do and say, and I couldn’t help feeling I should still be out there, searching for Trinity.
But Keely was right. It had been a long day. Frankly, I was shattered. I squeezed her hand in agreement, and together we headed up the stairs to our bedroom, Frey and Runa galloping ahead of us as usual.
Chapter 9
Trinity
What I wished, more than anything, was that I knew what time it was. There were no windows in this room, and no way of telling if it was day or night outside. As I had no idea how long I’d been unconscious I couldn’t possibly judge how many hours or days had passed since I’d arrived here, but I thought that, surely, someone had noticed I was missing by now?
The only way I could keep track of time passing was by the arrival of meals. I’d been gifted another two meals since that first surprise one, but since both consisted of cheese sandwiches, chocolate cake, and bottles of water, I had no idea if they were supposed to be lunch, dinner, or breakfast. Come to that, I had no idea if I was only being fed once a day. I could have been here ages.
‘Good job I’m not dairy or gluten intolerant,’ I muttered, hoping the cheese and cake were vegetarian. There was no one to ask, and I was too hungry to leave them.
When I’d last been outside it had been a hot sunny day, but it was chilly and damp in this room, and there was no way of knowing if the sun still shone or if it was pouring down with rain.
Having the light on constantly was a comfort, in a way, but made it even harder to sleep.
What I was most grateful for—even more grateful than for the food to be honest—was that, not long after the old woman had left me, a small cubicle had appeared against the wall, within my reach. Of course I’d investigated and had been beside myself with joy to find she’d provided me with toilet facilities. I mean, she was a vile kidnapper, but she was a considerate vile kidnapper. I wouldn’t be leaving her five stars on Trip Advisor, but I had to admit it could have been worse.
I thought about Sirius, wondering if he’d realised someone had taken me yet, or if he thought I was still having a snoop around Whitby, looking for the mysterious Sister Agnes.
My heart ached for him, and I wondered if I’d ever see him again. Who knew how long this madwoman intended to keep me here? Maybe, if I didn’t tell her who I was and why I wanted to see Sister Agnes, she’d never let me go. Maybe she’d just leave me here to rot.
But surely, if you intended to leave someone to rot, you didn’t give them chocolate cake and good quality quilted toilet paper?
I sighed, realising this could go on for a long time and I had to find a way of keeping myself occupied. I thought about the book I was currently working on with a client and tried to busy my brain with structural edits—not easy when the only copy of the story you have is in your memory.
I heard a rattling sound from the top of the stairs and looked up to see the old woman rushing in. She closed the door behind her and hobbled down the stairs, looking flustered and worried.
‘Oh dear,’ she said. ‘Oh dear, oh dear. This was never supposed to happen.’
