***
The cold wind whipped across the water, churning the waves. If she chose, Laura could reach down and touch the white tips of the gray-green ocean as the swell rolled past them at great speed. The salty air stung her nose. She fumbled in a pocket for a handkerchief, and then abandoned the idea. Despite her caped coat, her legs were cold in the fawn seersucker gown which offered more freedom of movement. What she wouldn’t give for Cilla’s dividedskirt!
Her chilled fingers clutched the yacht’s rail again in a slippery grip. Sailing proved both frightening and exhilarating. How easy it would be to topple into that dark, roiling water and sink without a trace. Her gaze returned to the man at the helm, his big, capable hand on the tiller, his dark head turned toward the rocks a frightening few yards tostarboard.
Nathaniel had explained the rudiments of sailing, and when his troubled gaze met hers, she desperately wanted to reach out to him and try to bridge the ever-widening gap between them. Didn’t he want to know who was in Amanda’s bedroom? Or did he think she was being overly dramatic? If he couldn’t take her at her word, they would soon lose the genuine passion and regard they shared. A bond which had drawn them together like a strong thread from their first meeting. She would fight to stop that from happening, whatever it took, and yearned for when he would take her to bed without words and make love to her, even though it fell short of what she craved. But not only did he show little desire for her, he remained tightly coiled within himself, his actions brisk and formal when he was forced to touchher.
The foam-crested waves swirled around the boat, and the sea’s roar made it impossible for her to make herself heard, even if she could manage the words that might smooth things between them. She watched him in his element with intense admiration. He was a graceful man, and that grace did not desert him on the water. He moved with assurance, raising the sail and yelling at her to avoid the swing of the boom. The noisy gulls followed above in the pale blue sky, perhaps in the hope of a freemeal.
The boat tilted, drenching Laura’s skirt in salt spray. She gasped as icy water ran down her neck. Oblivious to any discomfort, Nathaniel tacked into the wind, and the boat swung around. They passed the abbey, its ancient beauty stirring within her a sense of foolish pride that this was her home. She craned her neck as it disappeared behind the granite cliffs. She glanced at her husband’s handsome profile. He looked her way, his face filled with grimpleasure.
“I love you,” she shouted, knowing her words would be torn from her and carried away by thewind.
Nathaniel gave no indication that he’d heard. He stared ahead as they sailed around the rocky headland, past rocks worn razor sharp from the sea’s assault. Gravity-defying wildflowers, grasses and seabirds’ nests decorated the sheer rock face. Somewhere along these cliffs, Amanda had plunged to her death. The horror of it became so real that Laurashivered.
She could see the roof of Cilla’s idyllic cottage; from here, it looked like it was teetering on theedge.
Close to the cliff where the waves beat against the rocks, a dark shape, like a bundle of rags, churned in the water. Laura called out to Nathaniel, but he had seen it too. He swung the tiller and guided the boat closer. The wind caught the sail, driving them back. Cursing, Nathaniel lowered the canvas and picked up the oars. He began to row, pulling the boat through the seething waves. Only a few yards from them, a body rose and fell with the waves to be dashed on the rocks, then drift awayagain.
“Oh, dear heaven!” Laura put a hand to her mouth with a strangledsob.
Nathaniel brought the boat as close as he could. It was a man, face down, arms outspread. He wore a tan leather jerkin like one she’d seenbefore.
“Take the tiller, Laura. Careful how you go.”
As the boat rocked, Laura moved uneasily toward Nathaniel. She sat and grasped the slick woodentiller.
Nathaniel placed his big hands over hers with a firm grip. “Like this. Hold it steady.”
Nathaniel rowed back to the man. He reached down and grabbed an arm, heaving the man over the side. Any frail hope that he might still be alive dissolved when he fell like a sodden sack of produce into the bottom of the boat. Laura couldn’t breathe; it was as though the air had been squeezed from her lungs. She dizzily dragged in huge breaths and tried unsuccessfully to avert her gaze, afraid she’d be sick. Nathaniel turned the man over, revealing a face reduced to a mass of bloodless flesh, his features torn away by the rocks. His hair, although plastered wet to his head, was brightgold.
“It’s Theo Mallory!” shecried.
“Don’t look, Laura.” Nathaniel pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and laid it over the man’s face, then he took the tiller from her and turned the boat for home.
Chapter Twenty
Wet through, Laura stood shivering on thewharf.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Nathaniel wrapped his arm around her in a comforting gesture. She wanted to turn her face to his chest and cry, but she steadied herself, noddingdully.
“Go up and change; there’s no reason for you to be here.” He released her. “It might be a while before Teg brings the constable.”
Some hours later, from her window, Laura saw the police constable arrive. She hurried downstairs. Theo Mallory had been positively identified and the body removed to the undertakers in the village. Nathaniel and the constable had gone down to give the bad news to Mrs.Madge.
Laura followed them, wanting to offer the woman comfort. A wail rose from thekitchen.
“Bring Mrs. Madge some brandy, Rudge.” Nathaniel took Mrs. Madge’s arm and helped her to a stool. “Is there somewhere you can go? You must take time away from Wolfram to recover. As long as it takes.”
The tearful maids clustered around, clutching their aprons.
Mrs. Madge seemed of sterner stuff. She shook her head vehemently, saying hard work was the best cure-all for grief. Rising from the stool, she looked vaguely about her and sipped the brandy Rudge had quickly fetched for her.
“I have your dinner party to prepare for,” she said in a brisk tone. “You can’t do without me.”
It was surely inappropriate to hold the dinner now. Laura placed her arm around the distressed woman. “You need not concern yourself with that. The dinner will be postponed until your return.”
“Oh no, my lady.” Mrs. Madge’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I’m so looking forward to it. I haven’t cooked for a dinner party in such a long time.” She turned crimson and glanced from Laura to Nathaniel, no doubt with the thought that the last dinner was prepared forAmanda.
