‘Were you in love?’
He smiled and looked down at her. ‘I was in love. She had other things on her mind at the time.’
‘What like?’
Her father smiled fondly at her. ‘You, although I didn’t know it then.’
‘You must have loved her very much to take me on too.’
‘Yes. Very much.’
Grace smiled. Her father rarely spoke of his love for his wife, although she knew he often shared it with her mother bywhispered words of endearment, when her parents thought they were alone.
‘Did you always love Mother?’
He turned his steady gaze to the horizon. ‘Always.’
‘Even when you found out about me?’
‘Love is a powerful thing, Grace. It can overcome everything. Remember that.’
Grace returned her gaze to Hel Tor. It looked so peaceful, a place to be alone with her thoughts.
‘I think I will take a walk,’ she said, her gaze not leaving the rocky outcrop reaching for the sky. ‘It will do me good. I may be some time.’
* * *
The base of Hel Tor was a haphazard mixture of earth, grass and granite, but as Grace climbed higher, the earth lessened and the granite became larger and smoother. The precariously balanced rock formations gave the impression of fragility, as if they had been placed there rather than carved by ice and erosion over time. In reality the strange rock formations had been standing for thousands of years and would last a thousand more, accompanied by the remains of bronze age settlements scattered at its base.
Her favourite spot was near the summit, as it offered the finest view, yet shielded her from the wind. She had not visited it for some time, but it had remained unchanged and still held the memory of when she had first seen Talek and had accused him of murder. That moment in time still felt fresh. In reality, he had been attempting to enhance his sister’s life, not destroy it. So much had happened since then. Their initial resentment and distrust for each other had gradually turned to a fragile respect, friendship and eventually deep passion. Moments in time that had all played out against a backdrop of an unlikely sanctuary,Roseland, surrounded by a horizon scarred by dense trees and the tall white peaks of clay spoil. She had arrived with little hope for her future, but for a short while there had been a promise for a bright one. There was no hint of a promise when they had ultimately said goodbye. It felt too final to not be true.
She found a patch of wind swept grass, furnished with the natural sloping seats of smooth granite boulders. It was the perfect place to sit. The grass was soft and welcoming, but ultimately too damp to sit on as it still held onto the glistening morning dew. Grace lay back on one of the large grey rocks and rested her head on the cradle of her bent arm.
The white clouds merged and parted above her, forming new shapes against the blue sky. Slowly the tension she did not know she held began to drain away. Molly and her parents were right, she needed this. Hel Tor, despite its macabre name, always soothed her.
After some time she eased herself upright. Her gaze inevitably strayed to the horizon in front of her. Just below it the white tips of the clay lands were just visible. She hadn’t realised she could see them from here. To the left was a small patch of forest. Despite the distance, she recognised it instantly and knew, in its depth, was a hidden gem. Was Talek in his study right now, head bowed over his accounts, but his heart full of grief? Was Margaret with him, sitting by the open fire and with the reflection of the fire’s amber flames dancing in her raven hair? Was she providing the comfort and support he would so desperately need in the wake of his sister’s tragic accident or had they passed that phase of grief already? Perhaps they were finally free to enjoy their passion for one another? A passion that ran so deep, it survived betrayal, elopement and more. Why, when the peak of Hel Tor brought Grace so close to heaven, did she sometimes feel as if her heart was in hell?
She stood up, stoically blinking away her tears. She would admire the horizon on the other side, she told herself turning round. The haze between sky and land was thick today. She searched for the glint of the ocean that lay cushioned between two distant hills, but the sea presence remained elusive, hidden and waiting for the sun’s rays to reach the coast. As her gaze wandered away, something caught her eye, a lone figure walking along the well-trodden path that snaked through the undulations of the moor. At first she couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman, but as the figure came closer the long measured strides of a man became more defined. A few yards more and his agility and stamina told her he was young. She calmly watched, expecting him to pass the base of the tor as she suspected he was just another villager taking a short cut to the village beyond. His stride, unbroken by hesitation, suddenly took him away from the path and straight towards the base of Hel Tor. Grace’s breath caught in her throat. There was still some distance between them, but she already knew who he was and who he was intending to meet. She knew long before she could see the fine tailoring of his clothes, the handsome lines of his face, or the dark centres of his eyes. It was Talek and from the determination of his gait, he had something to say.
Grace reached out to a boulder for support. Thankfully, the length of his climb gave her time to recover as she watched his slow advance. Unlike the first time she had seen him, he was agile as he was not weighed down by the fragile body of his sister. His steps were daring, as he reached, stepped and jumped across deep fissures, balanced on narrow ledges and climbed large rocks. Each methodical step brought him closer to her, but she was ready this time. At least she hoped she was.
She took a deep breath and braced herself as Talek finally appeared, rising up before her from the sloping grassy patch, still wet from dew. Even now, despite the warning, she stillcouldn’t quite believe he had travelled all this way and was standing in front of her. She had thought there was still much to say, yet all the things she had planned had been snatched from her mind and carried away on the wind.
Talek, on the other hand, appeared more prepared for the meeting and came to her rescue by speaking first.
‘Your father said you would be here.’
Despite the climb, he wasn’t breathless or at least if he was he hid it well.
‘I wanted to see you,’ he said, stepping towards her.
Grace’s hope rose. ‘You do?’
‘Yes. I have something to tell you.’
Tell, notask. Her heart sank. His visit was not some great romantic proposal after all. She hadn’t realised she hoped it was — until now. It suddenly dawned on her what he was about to say. Best she said it first.
‘You are going to marry Margaret.’
