Epilogue #2
‘I know. I’m so lucky.’ Jean’s voice wobbled as her eyes misted over. ‘With Mum, Cleggie and Old Patrick in an almshouse each, and this qualified warden moving into the gatehouse, they’ll be better looked after than with me up at Potter’s Meadow.’
More arrivals came to express their good wishes and, excusing themselves, Ellie spotted Anna and Oliver at a table with Matt and Gemma, so she and Will headed over.
‘Come sit by me,’ Anna urged her. ‘Lauren and Daniel have gone off to mingle. Love your dress! The fastenings down the back are so cute.’
Warmth filled Ellie’s cheeks when she saw Will’s mouth twitch as he turned to speak to Matt. She knew exactly what he was thinking!
Catching up with everyone after having been away for a month, Ellie sipped her champagne, her gaze constantly drifting towards Will.
He and Matt had fallen into a swift friendship based on mutual respect and a shared desire to keep their once-public lives as private as they could.
The cove appeared to be the haven they both sought, and Ellie – catching Gemma’s amused eyes on her – raised her glass in salute.
Anna dragged Oliver over to talk to the locals who usually frequented their kitchen table, and Ellie moved round to sit by Gemma.
‘So how’s the planning going?’ she asked.
Gemma pursed her lips, then grinned. ‘Let’s say it’s ebbing and flowing like the tide just now.’
‘Oh, why’s that?’
‘This.’ Gemma waved a hand round at the happy faces, the contented murmur of conversation punctuated by laughter and the clink of glasses as greetings and congratulations were shared.
‘I thought you were going to disappear somewhere secluded?’
‘Oh, we are.’ Gemma turned sparkling green eyes on Ellie. She had the most splendid auburn curls, which were caught up in pearly combs either side of her face and cascaded down her back. ‘We’ve found the perfect place – a tucked-away villa on Lake Como.’
‘Nice.’ Ellie smiled and lightly touched her glass to Gemma’s. ‘Here’s to weddings away from the crowd.’
‘Italy was a must, after Matt proposed there. It’s going to be a small event – about thirty people – at Villa Balbianello in this tiny cove called Lenno.
’ Gemma grinned. ‘It was the cove that sold it to me. But Auntie Dee isn’t really up to the journey, so we’ve decided to do something like this when we get back. Not so big, of course.’
There was a disturbance then, as someone Ellie vaguely recognised arrived to claim Gemma’s hand for a dance.
‘This is Roddy. He’s an old bandmate of Matt’s,’ Gemma explained before allowing him to bear her off to the dance floor. Ellie’s astonished gaze followed them.
‘Am I in danger?’ Will said softly in her ear as he took Gemma’s seat.
‘Definitely not. It was a teenage crush. I’m far too mature for such silliness these days.’ She raised her chin, sending him a sideways look, trying not to smile, and Will leaned down and kissed her swiftly.
‘Good.’
‘Nice to see you two lovebirds back in the cove.’
Will shook Hamish’s hand as Nicki sat down.
‘You look well,’ Ellie exclaimed, giving Hamish a hug.
‘Been out on the boat a few times. Not solo, mind. But it’s a start.’
Leaving the men to talk, Nicki turned to her cousin.
‘It’s a shame you missed the service. Not a dry eye in the house, mostly from laughter.’
Ellie laughed. ‘Don’t tell me. Mrs L up to her tricks?’
‘The whole lot of them. You know they’ve all moved into the renovated almshouses?’
They chatted about village news for a while, including the latest on Jean’s ice cream shop, which Phoenix was taking over. Then, Nicki sent Ellie a keen look.
‘Have you spoken with Bella lately? I haven’t heard a squeak.’
‘She called me last week. She’d been in London, so we met there for lunch. She’s still somewhere between friendship and a relationship with Alex, did you know?’
‘There are rumours.’ Nicki winked as she drained her flute. ‘You know the cove.’
‘Apparently, she’s roped him in to volunteering at the nearest pet rescue centre, which seems a bit unfair to the animals. Do you think it has legs, Alex and Bells?’
‘Hmm,’ Nicki mused. ‘Let’s just say they might need to borrow Cleggie’s mobility scooter now and again.
Time will tell. I suspect all this philanthropy conceals a hidden desire to make Bella’s point.
At least Alex is being true to his word here.
Anna says the truce with Oliver is holding, and he’s getting actively involved in the community.
He’s the driving force behind the changes the estate’s making. ’
‘Did you hear he’s offered me a retainer? I’m going to be resident photographer for events here at the manor.’
Nicki grinned. ‘That’s great! He’s also appointed Lauren as the part-time estate manager, so he can stay in London more. Did you know Daniel is his cousin? That way, he feels he’s keeping it in the family.’
They excitedly discussed how much fun it would be to live so close, then Nicki clutched her midriff. ‘Come on, something’s telling me we need to find the buffet.’
They’d almost reached the long table displaying a tempting array of nibbles and light bites when Ellie’s eye was caught by someone waving. She sent Nicki ahead, telling her not to hoover everything up, and walked over to the nearest table.
‘Alright, my lovely?’ Mrs Clegg reached for Ellie’s hand and dropped a kiss on it.
‘Hello everyone,’ Ellie greeted them, smiling round at Old Patrick, looking rather dapper in a tweed blazer that was surely too warm for the day, Mrs Lovelace, sporting a jaunty-looking fascinator in her silver-grey curls, and Ryther, pale but smiling.
‘’Tis good to see you back in the cove, young’un,’ Patrick said, raising his glass of beer in Ellie’s direction.
She mouthed ‘thank you’, then took the vacant seat beside Mrs Lovelace.
‘And how are you? Nicki says you’ve all moved into the almshouses now.’
‘Aye, young Ellie, and she’s not wrong. A bit of an upheaval, but we’m right proper sorted.
Not often at our time of life we get a fresh start like this.
All mod cons and the like, and no stairs.
And Ryther, there,’ she nodded across the table, the fascinator wobbling precariously, ‘gave us all enemas, he did. One of they Japanese types.’
Ellie’s startled gaze flew to the man in question, who seemed oblivious.
‘Anemones, you silly mare,’ Patrick chuntered, turning to Ellie. ‘For the communal garden.’
‘Master Oliver has seen us to rights,’ Mrs Clegg added, reaching for a piece of wedding cake. ‘We all have one of those pull things in case we need anythin’ day or night. There’s this lovely warden lady moving into the gatehouse next week.’
‘It’s not for anything ,’ Patrick scoffed, taking a slurp of beer. ‘’Tis for emergencies only. The maid’ll be useful, mind.’
Mrs Clegg smiled at Ellie. ‘When’s your big day, then? It’s all about weddings lately, with Jean and then Gemma next.’
‘We’re still talking about it,’ Ellie said gently, turning to Mrs Lovelace, whose beady eyes were transfixed on her daughter, now taking to the dance floor in the arms of her new husband. ‘You’ll miss her.’
‘More than I would ever let her know, young’un. But bless my Jeannie. It’s her time now, and I’ve got Gemma not too far away. And Cleggie and Pat – they’m family, as like as not. Jeannie will visit, mind. The cove gets under your skin, becomes part of you. She’ll not stay away too long at a time.’
Will remained deep in conversation with Matt, so Ellie excused herself to join Kate and Dev, who had come to sit beside Ryther.
‘Kate’s fretting. Mollie has her first beau,’ Ryther said, eyes sparkling in a tired face.
‘I’m fine,’ Kate said firmly. ‘It’s just she’s starting her GCSEs, and I don’t want her distracted.’
Dev merely shook his head as he met Ellie’s amused look. ‘She could do worse, Kate. The young lad happened to mention he’d visited Hever Castle, and Mollie was immediately smitten.’
They chatted about Dev’s son, Theo, for a bit, then Ellie turned her attention to Ryther, who was watching the dance floor.
‘What’s that?’ She indicated a small, copper-coloured object he held in his fingers.
Laying it on his palm, Ryther revealed a pretty shell. ‘It’s a flat periwinkle, quite common in Cornish rock pools.’
At Ryther’s invitation, Ellie examined the polished shell, admiring its rich colour and the distinctive pattern on its surface as best she could in the ever-changing light inside the barn.
‘It was Meg—’ Ryther stopped. ‘You know of the lady who lived in Westerleigh and her connection to Anna?’
‘Yes. At least, a bit.’
A wistful expression settled on the elderly gentleman’s features.
‘This was her favourite type of shell. It looks like a miniature garden snail, see?’ He took it from Ellie and held it up to catch the lamplight.
‘But this, like Meg, is – despite its delicate appearance – tougher and brighter. There are so many shades and variations, but she only ever found two of this particular hue, and I discovered not so long ago that she gave this one to Anna, who kept it in the bowl in the hallway.’
‘It means a lot to you. Like Meg did.’
‘Indeed.’ A soft, nostalgic smile touched his lips. ‘She gave the other one to me, though I’m not sure she knew it, when she was in the hospice. Her mind had all but gone, but it was as though she suddenly knew me. She told me to follow the shells. It was a message I didn’t understand at the time.’
‘And do you still have it?’
‘No. I gave it back to her. After she passed away.’ Ryther tucked the shell into his waistcoat pocket, raised Ellie’s hand to press a kiss on it, and she leaned over to return the gesture on his cheek.
‘You had a chance to change the story, Ellie, my dear.’ He inclined his head towards where Will stood in conversation. ‘I can’t tell you what peace it brings me to know that the cove has healed the both of you in a way it never could me and Meg.’
Tears pricking the back of her eyes, Ellie stood, then leaned down to hug him. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Don’t be, my dear. We will soon be together again. Now,’ he cleared his throat, his keen eyes brimming with emotion, ‘be off with you. And be happy, Ellie.’
With a final squeeze of his hand, Ellie released Ryther and looked around for Will. He and Matt had moved over to the entrance, where she could see them talking to Daniel – the husband of Anna’s best mate, Lauren, who sat beside Anna now, a hand resting on her bump, tapping it in time to the music.
Ellie made her way over, Will reaching out to take her hand, drawing her to his side.
‘We’re hatching a scheme.’ He nodded towards Matt and Daniel, who’d headed off towards the bar. ‘I’ll tell you about it later—’ He broke off. ‘Hey, are you okay? You look upset.’
‘I’m fine. Can we get some air?’
‘Gladly.’
Will led Ellie across the manicured lawns, then up some ancient stone steps.
‘I used to come up here when I wanted to get away from the multitudes in the house.’
Dusk had come sweeping in across the sea, draping a silken mantle over the cove, its gentle touch caressing their skin as they reached a stone platform, which in turn led onto the castellated rooftop.
Ellie raised her face to the soft breeze, relishing in the now-familiar salty air and the faint chug of a boat heading out to the nighttime fishing grounds.
Lights flickered across the far side of the cove, and faint music could be heard emanating from The Lugger.
Owls hooted hauntingly in the tall trees above Tremayne Manor, and sail lines rattled against masts in the harbour below.
Draping an arm across her shoulders, Will held Ellie close, then pointed across the water.
‘See that, up there?’
Ellie followed Will’s hand, pointing to a large, stone building still visible in the fading light, lit up by the lampposts along the lane below.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s one of the estate properties Alex wants to offload. Used to be a grain store for the farms up on the hilltop. It’s got planning permission for a stunning barn conversion. It’s too large a project for Oliver’s community scheme.’
‘I bet it will be gorgeous when it’s done.’
Will turned Ellie to face him, his dark eyes probing hers in the dim light. ‘That might depend on you.’
Her brow furrowed. ‘How come?’
‘We did say Peaches, much as we love it, isn’t practical size-wise.
Dev still doesn’t have any local takers for it, and if he does, we’ll give it up, but I thought we could keep it as a bolthole for now and live there while the renovations on the grain store take place.
Daniel’s keen to be involved; he loves a bit of DIY. ’
Ellie’s eyes widened as her heart skipped in delight. ‘For us? We could live there?’
‘Only if you want to.’
She silenced him with a kiss, which became prolonged, arms wrapped around each other as they sealed the pact.
‘You could have a whole room to yourself to mess up.’
Laughing, Ellie allowed Will to drag her over to a low stone wall against the cliff behind the manor house, and she settled beside him, hands clasped, her eyes fixed on the barn. Their future home. Here. In the cove.
‘Matt gets it.’ Will spoke softly. ‘He says Polkerran Point has become the home he’d always longed for.
The locals just accept him, leave him in peace.
Here, he’s just Matt, Anna’s brother. Well, unless you’re Mrs L, to whom he’s just Matt, the “magician”.
’ Will grinned. ‘He says he’s tried to convince her his wizardry is on the guitar not with a wand, but she’s not having it. ’
Ellie drew in a contented breath. She loved the cove with all her heart, the perfect blend of scenery and silliness. Thank heavens she’d had to return.
Her smile was tremulous as she turned to face Will, more content than she could ever imagine herself being. ‘I lost my heart here. To you. I didn’t understand, all those years ago, that I needed to return to find it again.’
Will placed a palm against her cheek, those rich, dark eyes fastened on Ellie’s.
‘Nor did I. But Anna says this place has a way of encircling your heart, cocooning you in its warm embrace so that you never want to let go. Of it, or the way it makes you feel.’
‘She may well be right,’ Ellie breathed, her gaze dropping to Will’s firm mouth as it edged closer. ‘I’ve totally fallen for Polkerran Point, and without it, we’d never have met.’
‘Or been reconciled,’ he whispered, lips almost upon hers. ‘It’s fate. The cove offered us a second chance at first love. We were always meant to be.’
And Will sealed the declaration with a kiss.