Chapter Fourteen
The evening after her father’s departure, Luke met Cat at The Smugglers where they had a couple of drinks before heading off out of the small port for their evening walk.
A semi-circular sweep of pathway took them down towards West Beach.
With the ending of the day, the crowds had gone and the beach was deserted.
Even the evening clean up of litter had been completed, the tractor unit returned to its shed next to the lifeboat station.
All that was left was the gentle wash of the tide against the beach and a few gulls hanging on the evening breeze further out to sea.
Luke was first to reach the sand, kicking off his shoes. Slipping off her sandals Cat followed him down to the water’s edge, the tide washing over their ankles, wet sand sucking at their feet as they walked.
Usually, their evening strolls along the beach were slow and leisurely, but tonight was different. There was somewhere he wanted to take her, he’d told her in the pub. Something he wanted her to see.
‘Luke, slow down,’ she called out, realising he was now striding along the beach ahead of her.
He stopped, allowing her to catch up. ‘Sorry,’ he said as she reached him. ‘I was caught up in my thoughts.’
‘Where exactly are you taking me anyway?’ she asked, resting her hands on her hips as she got her breath back. ‘Is it far?’
‘Can’t tell you, that would spoil the surprise.’ He grinned mischievously. ‘And no, it’s not far. Come on.’
Reaching the end of the wide stretch of golden sand, Carrenporth now far in the distance, Luke helped her over a dark cluster of rocks which separated West Beach from the next smaller stretch of sand the locals referred to as Tern Bay. ‘Nearly there,’ he reassured her.
She gazed up at the high, imposing cliffs, wondering where in the world they could be heading. There was nothing here but sea, sand and dark rock.
Halfway along the beach he stopped and pulled on his shoes. ‘Ah, here it is,’ he said, pointing upwards.
Cat frowned. ‘I don’t see anything except grey cliffs and outcrops of grass.’
‘This way.’ Luke reached for her hand and pulled her gently forward so she could see the narrow gap cut into the rock.
He waited while she slipped on her sandals and then he led and she followed, carefully picking their way along the path, which zigzagged upwards towards the summit.
Ahead of them, two huge boulders appeared to block the path.
‘Is this it?’
He turned to see her puzzled expression. ‘Not quite. As we get closer you’ll see the boulders overlap. All we do is slip between them and we’re there. Come on, you first.’
‘A cave,’ she said, as he joined her on the other side. Staring at the large dark hole in front of them she hesitated. ‘I don’t think this is such a good idea,’ she said, taking a step back. ‘What if there are bats in there? Or something even bigger with claws and teeth?’
‘Cat, I can assure you it’s empty. I wouldn’t have brought you here if there had been any danger.’
‘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 small passageway 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 inscription Seize the Moment engraved 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.’