Across the Sands of Time (20 page)

A husband, and whatever life he could offer her, or this. The choice had to be Polly's. Always supposing he could find her.

 

Some miles away, Polly stirred on her pallet to the clatter of pots and pans. Her head throbbed, her mouth was dry. Her whole body felt on fire. Forcing open her sweat-slicked eyes, she strove to look about her. But the room swam sickeningly before her gaze and she uttered a small, croaking sob of sheer helplessness.

At once there was the rustle of skirts and the delicious whiff of herbs. A cool, dampened cloth was placed on her brow.

‘Easy, my maid,' The voice seemed familiar. ‘Easy, now.'

 

One of the ponies raked an impatient hoof against the manger. The sound reverberated throughout the wooden structure, jerking Thea to wakefulness. Chilled and shivering, at first she thought she was Polly, gripped in the confusing throes of fever. But then she realized where she was and, berating herself for having dozed in such uncomfortable surroundings, she pulled stiffly to her feet.

That was when she discovered that the small white pebble she had clutched in her hand was no longer there.

Anxiously, she searched the straw where she had sat, hoping for the glisten of white crystal. To her sorrow the pebble did not come to light, and giving a hopeless little sigh, she cast the now-resting ponies a final glance and left.

To Thea the loss of her talisman felt monumental. It had been symbolic of her relationship with Dominic, a fragile thread holding
them together. Now, that thread was snapped. Could it signify an ending?

Not for the first time the present-day, sensible side of her cautioned of over-reaction, reminding of the crippling effects of mental and physical fatigue … made worse by the ache of unresolved quarrel in her heart.

But that tiny kernel of superstition that is inherent in most told her otherwise, and the message it imparted filled her with dread.

She knew just how John had felt when he believed his love to be lost to him for good.

Above, the sky was pin-pricked with stars. It was so quiet that Thea could hear the distant slap-slap of the estuary as the tide turned. Shaking the last residue of the dream from her mind, she thrust her cold hands deep into her pockets and set off for home.

 

‘Trust Thea! The weekend was going just fine. Why did she have to walk in unannounced and ruin it all!'

After the quarrel, Bryony had bounded up to her room at Woodhey and rung Geoff to come and pick her up. There had been a short delay while she tended her mother who, unable to cope with what had gone on, had suffered a return of the migraine and taken herself off to bed.

Now Bryony and Geoff were driving back through the starlit night to her flat. All the way she had fumed and fretted. Geoff had borne it patiently, concentrating on the road ahead.

Realizing she had at last come to a stop, he drew a careful breath.

‘What you have to remember, Bryony, is that Woodhey is Thea's home, too. She's perfectly entitled to “walk in”, as you put it, any time she likes.'

‘So? That doesn't mean she can turn on me the way she did.'

Briefly, his hand left the steering wheel to give her hand a comforting squeeze.

‘No, you're right. But she's got things on her mind. This trouble Dominic's in won't help. I once crossed swords with Bob Perrit myself. He's the one who's stirring things up. He can be an ugly customer if he wants.'

Momentarily distracted, Bryony turned to face him.

‘What happened?'

‘Oh, some barney over a patch of land. It was when Dad was alive. Dad wasn't too well and Perrit came lording it to the farm saying we were using a field that wasn't our property. Apparently he'd rented some extra grazing next to our boundary for the horses and there was some confusion over the land registry number. It all got sorted eventually. But at a cost.'

‘It made your dad poorly?'

He nodded.

‘Things had started to play on his mind by that time. He couldn't let it rest and ended up back in hospital.'

‘Oh, Geoff … and was it Roseacre land after all?'

Geoff slowed as an animal shot across the road, a stoat or a weasel.

‘Yes, of course it was. At least Perrit had the decency to apologize. He's an oddball. Never happy unless he's got something to gripe over. His wife's no better. Ma says she's the one responsible for spreading much of the gossip about Dominic.'

‘Do you think there's any truth in it?'

‘No, I don't. I'd trust Dominic with my animals any day. There's two sides to every story, and if Dominic was brought to task over a doping issue, as the talk implies, I'd put my money on his innocence. Vets as dedicated as he is don't fall for that sort of game, no matter what.'

‘I suppose you're right. I remember Dad saying much the same thing. Dominic was called out to Thea's ponies once and he was really good with them. Which reminds me—'

Geoff affected a groan.

‘We're not back on the confrontation with Thea, are we?'

‘I'm still shocked at her behaviour. It's not like her at all. Thea's usually so calm and in control. Today she just lost it.'

They had reached the small township of Neston now. Parking in the street, Geoff hustled Bryony along the slushy pavement and into the dark and empty flat.

‘It's none too warm in here.' She shivered. ‘Let's have the fire on.
Oh – no lights, either. We're probably out of electricity. It was Liz's turn to buy the cards. Bet she's forgotten! She'll have gone out and won't bother till tomorrow.'

‘Actually, I stocked up when I was in town earlier.' Geoff pulled a generous wad of electricity cards from his wallet. ‘Let's feed the meter.'

The shabby little room sprang into brightness. Bryony sent him a tremulous smile.

‘Thanks, Geoff. That was really thoughtful. How much do I owe you?'

‘Not a thing. Be a good girl and put the kettle on. Ma was about to make a cuppa when you rang. I left her to it and came over.'

‘Oh. Sorry.'

He grinned.

‘I needed petrol anyway.'

He followed her through to the kitchen which the girls had made cheerful with new paint and brightly coloured crockery.

‘Picked up something else while I was out.'

He placed a flimsy computer print-out on to the worktop. Frowning, Bryony studied it and her face instantly changed.

‘Oh, wow! Two tickets for The Pink Parrot next Saturday! Oh, Geoff – you absolute darling!'

She flung her arms round him and planted a kiss on his lips. She tasted of honey and all things sweet and Geoff, looking down into her flushed face, felt his heart contract.

What a lovely woman she had become! There was none of the flighty teenager he'd once known in her expressions. It was all female, powerful, and Geoff found himself unable to drag his gaze away.

Bryony was the one to break the spell.

‘Kettle's boiling. Tea or coffee? Oh, sorry, we're clean out of instant. It'll have to be tea. Milk and two sugars?'

They took the steaming mugs back into the sitting-room and sat down by the fire, sipping the warming tea.

‘And another thing,' Bryony said suddenly, setting her mug aside. ‘This afternoon I slogged my guts out seeing to Thea's
ponies – filling feed troughs, hauling tons of hay in from the store, humping buckets of water. And did I get one word of appreciation? Did I heck!'

‘Can't say I've ever heard an animal saying thanks for dinner myself,' Geoff remarked mildly. ‘They just tuck in as if it's their due.'

‘Very funny … I'm serious, Geoff. It's like she's turned into someone else.'

‘Bryony, what happened earlier doesn't count. If Thea wasn't herself there's a reason behind it. So let's leave it there, OK?'

‘Why should I? I gave up my plans to fall in with other people, clearing up the house after Dad. It had only been a matter of hours and the place looked as if a herd of cows had stampeded through it. And he hadn't even bothered to take off his wellies first. I had to get down on my hands and knees and scrub it clean – and that was just the start. I was absolutely done in but nobody cares one jot!'

‘Yes, they do,' Geoff said quietly. He saw how she noted the difference in his tone, going very still. ‘I care, Bryony. I care very much.'

‘You … you do?' A guarded look flashed in the blue. ‘Why so?'

‘Because I love you, you fool!'

Putting down his tea, Geoff took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. The kiss went on and on and both of them were gasping when finally they broke loose.

‘Now listen to me,' Geoff said, love, joy and laughter brimming in his eyes. ‘Sooner or later, this upset in your family is going to be resolved. Right?'

‘Right.'

‘We're going to make allowances for people from now on, and that includes Thea. Right?'

‘Well … OK.'

‘We give it time, be around if we're needed, but we get on with our own lives.' Geoff paused emphatically. ‘Love me?'

‘Oh yes. I really do.'

‘Then let's quit putting the world to rights and give me another kiss,' Geoff said.

Dominic wound his way through the laughing, chattering groups of clubbers, seeking the bar where Richard and Tracey sat with members of the band. It was for the mid-evening break. Drummer, forever hungry, was tucking into a bar snack.

Tracey was sipping a strawberry smoothie. Richard, deep in conversation with the lead guitarist, suddenly caught sight of Dominic and waved him over.

‘Dominic! Come and join us. What are you drinking?'

‘Half of bitter would be great, thanks.' Dominic settled his long body on a stool and sent the other members of the party a nod. ‘Hi, boys. Tracey … sure, if you don't look prettier every time I see you!'

‘Charmer!' She sent him a teasing look under long lashes. ‘Save you blarney for Thea. She might take you more seriously.'

The comment made in jest brought an unexpected frown to Dominic's face, quickly checked.

‘Congratulations on the album. I hear it's doing well.'

‘Couldn't be better,' Richard said.

Dominic's drink arrived. Richard paid for it, shunting the glass across to him. ‘So how're things? You look exhausted. Has something happened?'

‘Not as such. I needed to chill out and decided to come over here. Heard the end of the first half. You were great.'

‘Thanks.'

Tracey and the others had turned away and begun discussing the next half of the programme in loud voices. Richard drew his stool next to Dominic.

‘I saw Murty Miles's obituary in the paper. He had an interesting life.'

‘He did. Funny thing, it only seems like yesterday I was making the funeral arrangements but it was weeks ago.'

‘Well, you've had other things on your mind,' Richard said understandingly. He lowered his voice. ‘Any word yet?'

‘About the hearing? Not officially. That could arrive any day
now. Word came through the back door this morning from my lawyer. I'm in the clear.'

‘Dominic, that's great news. Does Thea know?'

Again the swift frown.

‘Not yet. I'll tell her soon, of course. But until I get official notice, I'd appreciate it if you didn't broadcast this.'

‘No problem.'

‘I don't think it's properly sunk in yet, to be honest,' Dominic went on. ‘It all went through as the lawyer predicted. Once the true facts came to light, the rest was mere formality. But mud always sticks. I'm not going to live this down right away.'

‘No need to look on the black side, man. Your name's cleared. You can hold your head up again – not that you didn't.'

‘Hadn't any need. I was simply seething at the injustice of it.'

And there had been the concern over Aisling's suspected part in the whole sorry proceedings. Dominic had been gladdened and relieved to learn that she was innocent all along, but did she have to pursue him the way she was doing? He had made it clear that their relationship was ended.

Once, on the occasion when she had first taken him to see Murty, he had truly thought she had got the message. How wrong he was? Ever since there had been the phone calls, the emails, the turning up out of the blue expecting to be taken out on the town.

Aisling simply wouldn't take no for answer. It had ended in words, a blazing row in which Dominic had pointed out that he now had other plans so would she get right out of his life?

Something in his attitude had struck home. That had been three days ago. So far, the phone had remained mercifully silent.

Aware of the other man's waiting gaze, Dominic downed his drink, brightening.

‘Anyway, the worst's over. Tell me now, what are your plans for the band? Will you be staying here a while longer?'

‘Couple more weeks, then we need to sort out the next stage in the master plan with our agent. I want to call in at home some time. I've a few things to put right.'