Chapter 43 Safe Haven
Safe Haven
I sat there for a long time after I’d finished reading, ignoring the summons of the lunch gong, because I simply wasn’t hungry.
Finally, I wrapped up warmly and slipped out of the house without seeing anyone, heading for the place that had so quickly become my sanctuary when I needed one: the heart of the oak grove on the hill.
It was a cold, clear day and as I sank down on the mossy stone by the pool, the sun slanted down through the trees and small white clouds were reflected on the still surface of the water.
Comfort seemed to seep into me. I was sure this was a place of old magic, even if Evie would have laughed at the idea.
*
I forgot time and only came back to reality when a twig snapped loudly behind me. When I turned round, there was Rhys, looking as if he’d been caught in a game of Statues.
‘You weren’t at lunch, so I thought you might be here – but I’ll go away again if you want me to,’ he said apologetically.
‘No, I’m glad you’re here,’ I said, rising stiffly and accepting a hand up.
Then he pulled me into his arms, and I snuggled gratefully against him, shivering.
‘You’re freezing!’ he exclaimed, laying his warm cheek against my icy one. ‘How long have you been up here?’
‘I don’t know – ages,’ I said vaguely. ‘This place is very healing, don’t you think?’
‘Did you need healing?’
‘I certainly needed to come to terms with the past, but as my mother keeps pointing out, it is all in the past and dwelling on it isn’t going to make me happy.’
‘She’s quite right. Nothing I’ve found out today affects the way I feel about you, Ginny, and I hope it hasn’t altered the way you feel about me, either. Or,’ he added, ‘about making Triskelion your home.’
‘No, it hasn’t changed my mind and the house itself is a happy, welcoming place. I felt that the moment I arrived. And if Arwen could put the past behind her and make a happy life for herself, I can too.’
‘She was a strong character,’ he said. ‘I’m only sorry she didn’t have a happy-ever-after ending.’
‘But she did! Ma was right. It might not have lasted long, but one of the last things she said to Milly was that you couldn’t measure happiness in time.’
‘Wise as well as brave,’ he said, then looked lovingly down at me, smiling. ‘Do you realize we’re standing under the mistletoe again?’
I looked up into the most venerable of the oak trees, bearded with white-berried mistletoe, just like the little silver and pearl brooch I’d worn every day since he’d given it to me.
‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to kiss you again,’ he said, and suited the action to the words.
*
At dinner that evening, it seemed as if some kind of spell – an invisible tension that I had not been previously aware of – had been broken, and it was a cheerful party who met together for the penultimate time.
I felt as if I had been at Triskelion for months, not merely a couple of weeks, for so much had happened, so many revelations had occurred and I’d learned that I could get along with all kinds of people, and that some, like Kate, had hidden depths.
She was looking forward to her stay with Teddy Bear Man on the way back and then returning to her circle of friends in London.
Toby and Pearl, too, while sad to be leaving, were full of their own plans.
‘I’ll be back often. I feel quite one of the family!
’ said Evie, with a wicked grin at Nerys and Timon.
‘But I’ll stay with Noel. I’ve found out so much about women artists working in this area that I need to do more digging.
I feel there’s a whole book just about female Welsh artists waiting to be written. ’
‘You’ll always be most welcome, dear Evie,’ Noel said, with his gentle smile, and they exchanged looks …
Well, they do say opposites attract, don’t they?
‘As for me,’ I said, ‘my belongings will arrive in a few days and then I’ll move into the lodge.’
Although not, perhaps, for as long as I’d originally thought I’d need to!
‘I still don’t see why you can’t just stay here,’ said Cariad, who had returned earlier with plaster casts of small dinosaur footprints and pencil rubbings of fossils.
‘The kittens will be ready to leave their mum in a couple of weeks and it would be so much better if yours and mine could come here together.’
‘You mustn’t hassle Ginny,’ Rhys told her, smiling at me. ‘She can take as long as she wants. And we have a wedding to organize as well, don’t forget.’
‘You and Mel could be bridesmaids,’ suggested Nerys, and Cariad looked revolted.
‘Would I have to wear an awful shiny pink frock?’
‘Absolutely not,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t inflict that on you.’
‘She could come as a Victorian female archaeologist, in a long linen jacket and skirt, and a sola topee,’ suggested Evie with one of her grins.
‘I don’t mind if she does,’ I told her. ‘And Mel could wear her best riding clothes.’
‘In that case, it’s definitely going to be a different sort of wedding,’ Timon said, smiling.
‘It would be lovely if you could all come back for it,’ Nerys suggested to the others.
‘Thank you! And we’ll invite you to ours, when we’ve set a date, won’t we, Pearl?’ said Toby.
‘Of course!’ she agreed. ‘But I still can’t believe it’s the penultimate night already and we’ll be leaving on Friday morning.’
‘We’ve still got Twelfth Night to enjoy tomorrow,’ consoled Noel.
‘What exactly happens?’ asked Kate. ‘I did read that little brochure in my room, but I’ve forgotten.’
‘All the mummers arrive here after dinner, which is early again, and then they go from house to house in the village, collecting money for charity,’ explained Noel.
‘Twelfth Night is a very local affair. After that, they come back here, where mulled wine, the Twelfth Night cake and Star pies are laid out in the hall. That’s the main part of the proceedings. ’
‘But I, as the Druid, walk up the hill to sprinkle the libation of wassail on the oak tree roots and Mab’s Grave again, but usually alone,’ said Rhys.
Then he looked at me, one eyebrow and the side of his mouth quirking up into that familiar, quizzical grin. ‘Although perhaps this year Ginny would like to come, too?’
‘I’d love to!’
‘Tomorrow morning, we take down all the Christmas decorations and put them away,’ Nerys said. ‘So if anyone wants to help, that would be very welcome!’
We said we would, except Kate, who never seemed to think that kind of suggestion had anything to do with her.
‘Oh, good, thank you,’ said Nerys. ‘And the cleaners will be in on Friday afternoon. There’s always lots of pine needles and glitter to clear up, once the tree and decorations are down.’
‘I hate seeing the Christmas decorations come down,’ complained Cariad. ‘But the Twelfth Night procession round the village is always fun.’
‘And there’s a Twelfth Night cake,’ Kate murmured. ‘I wonder if it’s as delicious as the wassail cake?’
‘It is. It’s a large and very rich fruit cake,’ Noel assured her, twinkling.
‘It sounds like a wonderful ending to our stay here,’ Pearl said, her eyes shining, and I thought she looked a totally different girl from the one who had arrived here, so pale, thin and almost entirely under the sway of her stronger sister.
Love can change so many things …