‘What is this place?’ She gestured toward the opening.
‘It’s Selina’s cave. Hang on, I’ll organise some light.’
Pulling his mobile from his jeans’ pocket, he switched it to torch mode and disappeared inside. She peered into the entrance watching his shadowy form disappear into the darkness. So this is where Selina kept her alter ego, as her father had called it. The flicker of candlelight revealed a smallpassageway leading to a larger cave beyond. Shadows danced on the walls revealing tantalising glimpses of Selina’s secret place. Then Luke reappeared extending a hand, inviting her in.
The passageway eventually opened out into a large square area with a high ceiling. Something told Cat this wasn’t a natural phenomenon, that smugglers had created this place to hide their contraband away from the customs men many centuries ago. She turned to Luke, her eyes wide with amazement as she took in the aged wall hangings, the once bright colours now pale and dusty. ‘Goodness … so it really does exist.’
‘You knew about it?’
‘Yes.’ Cat nodded. ‘My father mentioned Selina had a secret place where she used to change, but I never thought it would look like this.’
‘I expect you’ve also been told my grandparents didn’t agree with modern fashion; not for her anyway. Selina was something of a rebel and this was where she kept her forbidden clothes. She’d leave the house and come here to change before she left to join her friends.’ He moved over to a heavy metal-bound trunk in the corner and lifted the lid. ‘This is where she kept her secret wardrobe.’
He stood back, allowing Cat to look into the trunk where a pile of dark clothes were neatly folded as if waiting for their owner’s return. ‘It’s fascinating,’ she said, as she gazed around the walls, taking in faded posters, an age-spotted mirror and several strings of beads. ‘How did you find it?’
‘She’d often mentioned this secret place in the cliffs above Tern Bay. When I came to live at Clyffe House, Evie was quite happy as long as I was out of the way. One day I remembered my mother’s story and decided to try and locate it. I found this here, too.’ He twisted the silver and jet cuff he was wearing on his right wrist. ‘I cleaned it up. I often wonder who gave it to her.’
‘I’ve never seen you wear that before,’ she said as he held out his arm, and she read the inscriptionSeize the Momentengraved around it.
‘I don’t usually. I keep it at home, but tonight as we were coming here I wanted you to see it. After all, it’s a part of who she was.’
‘Has anyone else been here with you?’
‘No, you’re the first person I’ve ever thought special enough to bring here.’
Cat nodded, turning her attention to a pair of white lace gloves which sat on a small shelf next to a pile of jewellery: a cross on a long thin chain, pearls and some outrageously large earrings. ‘I love it,’ she said turning to him with a smile. ‘Here she was the person she wanted to be; young, free, alive – the real Selina.’
‘Yes and sadly one I’ll never know.’ Luke’s voice was filled with regret. ‘I grew up with a very different person. By the time I found this cave she was gone. Going through her things I began to appreciate how being pregnant with me had changed her whole life. Whoever bought her this cuff,’ he said, twisting it around his wrist, ‘had no idea what her future would be. There was certainly no “seizing the moment” in the life she had with Ross or at any time afterwards. She achieved very little.’
They stood silently together for a moment, Luke’s sad declaration echoing in Cat’s head. It was clear Selina’s life had been a tough one, filled with disappointment and broken dreams. But Luke was wrong, she had achieved something amazing, even though she hadn’t lived long enough to see it. She’d raised a strong, clever, decent son. One she would have been proud of.
‘I guess we should be getting back before it gets dark.’ Luke’s voice broke into her thoughts.
‘Yes, I suppose we should,’ she said pulling herself away from her deliberations.
‘You go first. I need to snuff out these candles,’ Luke said as he stepped forward, reaching out to kill the flame on the first of the waxy stubs. Cat moved towards the entrance, eager to breathe in fresh air and leave behind the sad atmosphere that had invaded the confined space of the cave. With her gaze totally fixed on the light ahead she didn’t notice the uneven ground beneath her feet until it was too late. She pitched forward with a cry of surprise, her hands going out to lessen the impact against the rock as it loomed towards her. From nowhere, strong arms were around her, saving her as they pulled her away from the wall of the cave.
Luke set her on her feet and turned her to face him, his hands moving over her shoulders, concerned grey eyes meeting hers.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes, fine. Serves me right for not looking where I was going.’ She managed a grin, feeling foolish.
She was aware of the warmth of his fingers through the thin cotton of her shirt as he looked down at her. His expression was unreadable as he studied her face for a moment, his breath measured and even. Half the candles were now extinguished the cave in semi-darkness and casting shadows over his handsome features. Cat tilted her face, her body tingling with anticipation as she waited for the inevitable to happen. Surely he was going to …
Instead he took a deep breath and released her, turning his attention back to the remaining candles. Cat left the cave and stood watching the tide wash against the beach below, trying to bring familiar feelings of disappointment and frustration under control.
Moments later Luke emerged from the cave and she shook off her negative thoughts, falling in behind him as they began making their way back down the cliff path.
‘There’s a squall heading our way,’ he observed, stopping for a moment to glance out to the horizon where the setting sun was now obscured by grey mist. ‘Hopefully we’ll make it back in time.’
The rain began as they were halfway along West Beach. Luke quickly pulled her into the shelter of overhanging rocks, where they huddled together, waiting for the storm to pass. Pulling off his jacket he wrapped it around Cat’s shoulders, using his body as a protective shield against the downpour, which now lashed against the cliff above. Within minutes his T-shirt was saturated and he could feel water trickling down his back, soaking first into the waistband of his jeans and then progressing down his thighs. Wrapped around Cat he became aware of her floral scent. With his face buried in her hair, other enticing aromas soon began to assault his senses: shampoo, shower gel, and that natural freshness he had become accustomed to whenever she was near him. He shifted slightly as his jeans suddenly became tight and uncomfortable. The last thing he wanted to do was to alert her to the way his body was beginning to react to her closeness.
He felt the rain on his back lessening slightly and eased himself away from her. Taking a quick look out to sea, where a weak sun hovered on the edge of the horizon, he noticed the storm was passing. In a few more moments they could leave. Eventually everything stilled and a single mournful gull’s cry drew him to his feet. There was another squall coming in but he calculated they’d make it back before it hit. Reaching down for Cat he helped her up.
‘Luke, you’re wet through,’ she said, dusting damp sand from her jeans and fixing him with concerned brown eyes. ‘Come on, we need to get you home before you catch your death.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ he protested. ‘I’ll walk you back to your car then I’ll sort myself out. It’s water, not vomit.’ He grinned, reminding her of the way their relationship had got started.
