The Secret Kiss of Darkness (22 page)

She hadn’t run away screaming this evening. She’d just looked a bit stunned, then sad. And she hadn’t kissed him back. Wes didn’t know if his kiss had made her remember what she’d lost or if he’d confused her.
Did she like it?
It was hard to tell.

Maybe he’d lost the knack? It was ages since he’d kissed anyone after all. Just because he was still shaking with desire didn’t mean he’d had the same effect on Kayla. He’d have to try harder.

He took a deep breath. Yes, that was it, the only way to find out, and he could deal with rejection, couldn’t he? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The walk down to the cliffs seemed to pass all too swiftly and John’s few token attempts at resistance were met by guffaws from the men. He was almost paralysed with fear and had trouble making his legs move fast enough to keep up with the long strides of Jago and his helpers. The two brawniest of the men held his arms fast so that whenever he stumbled he still stayed upright. He didn’t register pain, however, as his terror threatened to erupt into full-blown panic at any moment and blocked out any physical sensations.

The night was as black as the previous one, but the roar of the surf below the cliffs could be heard clearly. Louder and louder, the noise reverberated inside his head, making him want to scream. Why hadn’t he realised how loud it was the night before? He suddenly understood how Eliza must have felt and bile rose in his throat.

Eliza. He now knew he’d been correct in his suspicions. She had indeed cuckolded him, and with his half-brother of all people, a common innkeeper despite the Marcombe blood which ran in his veins. The thought was unbearable, slicing through him like a sharpened scythe. Jago’s son was lying in the Marcombe nursery, not his, never his. It was so unfair.

However, he wished he had taken less drastic measures to punish Eliza. He should have waited until morning, when the first heat of his anger would have subsided, as well as the effects of the brandy. A sound beating and divorce would have been enough. Then he could have kept the child, since he was never likely to have another. He could acknowledge it now, when it no longer mattered.

He wasn’t able to have children.

When his first wife failed to produce any offspring he had blamed it on her and been relieved when she died of a fever. However, as the years passed and Eliza didn’t become pregnant either, he started to suspect that the fault lay with him. None of his mistresses had ever come to him asking him to support any children, and he’d heard enough such tales from his friends to know this was common practice. What a fool he’d been. He should have taken what Eliza had offered him, and had his revenge later by depriving her of her son. It would have been just as satisfying. After all, he’d seen the way she was gazing at her child. But it was too late now. All too late.

The cliff edge came ever closer until finally he was so near he could have touched it with his foot. The two men released him and he turned to face his judge and jury.

‘Have you brought me here to scare me into confessing?’ He still didn’t want to believe they’d go through with this, despite what they’d made him write earlier.

Jago laughed, that cold mirthless laughter which so grated on John’s ears. ‘No, brother, we already know you’re guilty. Now it’s time to pay for your crime. It’s your turn to die. As we can’t trust the local judge to sentence you correctly we’ve decided to do it ourselves. Besides, dying the same way as your victim is much more fitting than a hangman’s noose, don’t you think? I’d call it poetic justice but what do I know? I’m but a poor innkeeper.’

The leering faces of the other men came closer and John began to shiver violently.

‘Enough! You’ve had your fun and games, now let me go. I had nothing to do with Eliza’s death. She was unhinged after the birthing and must have run out and thrown herself off the cliff.’ John’s teeth were chattering, but he managed what he hoped was a look of defiance.

Jago smiled. ‘And how do you know that’s the way she died? No one has found her body yet, have they? In fact, how do you even know she’s dead? I saw no body lying in state up at the Hall. Didn’t you claim she was upstairs, safe in her bed?’

John gulped for air. It was true. He had waited all day for news of his wife’s death to reach the household, but there had been no word. Only the wet nurse had asked about Lady Marcombe’s whereabouts, and John had fobbed her off with some lie about the lady resting. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound emerged. He’d been caught out.

‘Go on John, over the cliff, and all the way down to the beach. Just like Eliza. Only this time, no one is going to do any pushing. And I doubt if you’ll end up in the same place afterwards. Your remains won’t even lie in the churchyard with your ancestors – suicides aren’t allowed that privilege.’ More chuckles and some outright laughter greeted this sally.

Swivelling around frantically to find a way of escape, John nevertheless stood rooted to the spot. His legs wouldn’t obey him.

‘So what do you think men? Is he guilty?’ Jago shouted.

‘Guilty!’ yelled the impromptu jury and the circle of men suddenly advanced on John with an almighty roar of rage. He took an involuntary step backwards out of sheer fright and his foot encountered nothing but air. In the next moment he was hurtling down towards the beach, down towards eternity, down towards what he knew was his rightful punishment … then darkness claimed him.

‘We’ve got Gypsies camped in the top field,’ Annie told Kayla the next morning, looking very cheerful about it. ‘They have permission to be there, so it’s nothing to worry about. Just thought I’d let you know in case you come across them, like. Wouldn’t want you to be scared.’

‘Right, thanks.’ Kayla remembered the will she had found which had stated that the Travellers had the right to stay on Marcombe land whenever they wished. Naturally, she couldn’t tell Annie she already knew about it, so she pretended as if it was news to her. ‘Do they come every year, then?’

‘Yes, sometimes more than once. It’s not always the same group. There are several families who use that field.’

‘I see.’

‘You should go and see them. The women usually tell fortunes.’ Annie laughed. ‘Told me I’d win on the lottery, but it hasn’t happened so far. I reckon that’ll be in another life. And as for meeting someone tall, dark and handsome – fat chance. I think I’ll just stick to my husband, thank you very much.’

‘Actually I’d rather not know what the future will bring, especially not if it’s something bad. I’m a bit superstitious that way.’

‘Oh, it’s all a load of rubbish and it’s just a bit of fun really.’

Kayla wasn’t as sure as she would have been a few months ago. Now that she knew there were such things as ghosts, or whatever one might call Jago, she couldn’t see any reason why second sight shouldn’t exist. Perhaps she should have her fortune told after all? It might help her to decide what to do with her life.

Wes kept her busy all morning and she forgot about the Gypsies for a while. The fact that Wes acted as if the previous evening’s kiss had never happened exercised her mind to a far greater extent than the Travellers. She was typing on automatic, while her brain endlessly replayed the scene. He stroked her cheek, he told her she had a dimple when she smiled, he kissed her … and then he pulled back. She went over it again and again, her mind running around in circles. Where had she gone wrong? Should she have leaned forward more, thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him back with abandon, or said something? Was it just that he didn’t find her attractive enough?
Why
didn’t he find her attractive?

‘Annoying man,’ she muttered finally, trying to banish all thoughts of him for the moment. She was obviously wasting her time.

While she was having her lunch her thoughts returned to the Gypsies and she made up her mind to go and see them. What harm could it do after all? Annie was right, it was probably just a bit of fun and she could do with some cheering up, that was for sure.

Wes had gone out to a meeting, so Kayla made her way towards the collection of camper vans as soon as she’d finished eating. As she approached the site she heard the shrieks of children playing and voices raised in laughter. One of the Gypsies caught sight of her and the conversations stopped abruptly. After saying something to the others, the woman walked towards Kayla.

‘Hello, can I help you?’ She was young and pretty in a sultry way with long, black hair hanging over one shoulder. Her colourful clothes became her well and she moved with confidence and grace. Kayla felt awkward by contrast.

‘Uhm, yes, I was told you tell fortunes and I wondered if by any chance you would have the time to do mine?’

‘Of course, follow me.’

Kayla trailed behind the woman, who led her over to an older lady seated at a table under a parasol. There was a second, empty chair and the women indicated that Kayla should take a seat.

‘You have come for some answers, am I right?’ the old lady said. She had eyes as dark as sloe berries, buried deeply among the tanned wrinkles. Kayla got the feeling those eyes had seen a lot and they blazed with intelligence and amusement.

‘Well, yes, I suppose I have. Although you could say it was just curiosity that brought me. Annie told me you wouldn’t mind.’ She shrugged. ‘How much do you charge?’

The woman smiled, a broad almost toothless grin. ‘Friends of Jago don’t have to pay. It’ll be my pleasure to tell you what you want to know.’

Kayla gasped and felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. ‘You, you … what? How do you know about Jago?’ she stammered. She hadn’t actually believed these people possessed the second sight until that moment, but how else could the old lady know such things? Kayla hadn’t told a soul other than Maddie.

A cackling laugh greeted her words and the woman just tapped the side of her nose and nodded. ‘Never you mind. That’s my business. Now, what is it you wish?’

Kayla took a deep breath to steady herself. This wasn’t turning out at all the way she’d expected. The light-hearted palm reading or gazing into a crystal ball she had imagined was far from the truth. The uncomfortable truth. Kayla almost changed her mind and had to force herself to stay seated. She took another steadying breath.

‘Well, the thing is, recently I should have been … that is to say, I was going to get married but I broke off the engagement,’ she said. ‘I need to know – did I do the right thing or did I make a huge mistake? My family all seemed to think so, but it didn’t feel like it to me, so I’m just confused. And, and … what do I do now?’

‘Give me your hand.’ The old lady grabbed Kayla’s hand and turned it palm upwards before the latter had a chance to comply of her own accord. The Gypsy muttered something unintelligible, before saying, ‘yes’ emphatically.

‘Yes?’ Kayla tried to keep her hand steady, although she longed to snatch it away.

‘You did right. He wasn’t for you, the blond one. You were wise to back away. There would have been only heartbreak with that one.’ The woman traced some of the lines on her hand with one finger. ‘I see a dark man. He occupies your mind. You can’t rid yourself of him until it’s over.’

‘Until what is over?’

The old one ignored her question and continued, ‘There is danger here, you must beware. Dark places, enclosed spaces. Yes, darkness, keep away from the darkness and stairs.’ She had her eyes closed now and her eyelids flickered slightly as she spoke as if she was seeing images.

‘What do you mean? What sort of darkness?’

‘Take care of the little one, she needs you. I see water and pain, a red stain spreading over white …’ She was silent for a moment, then added, ‘Jago will make it all right.’ Then she opened her eyes and let go of Kayla’s hand. ‘That’s all,’ she said. ‘I can’t tell you any more.’

‘But what …?’

‘There’s no point asking questions, I can’t explain. It will all become clear eventually. Just follow your instincts and you’ll be all right.’

‘You think so?’ Kayla gave a shaky laugh. ‘But all that stuff about darkness and danger. I thought you were meant to tell me I’d be rich and famous and would marry a handsome stranger.’

The old lady gave her a shrewd look. ‘You wouldn’t be fooled by that, not like some. I told you the truth. I owe it to Jago.’

‘I, I see. Well, thank you very much. Are you sure I can’t pay you?’

‘No. Friends of his are friends of mine. No payment necessary.’

Back in the office, Kayla sat and stared blankly at her computer screen for quite some time before she managed to get any work done. She still felt a bit shaky and wondered if she’d done the right thing in going to see the Gypsies. She was none the wiser after the woman’s cryptic utterances, but at least she’d found out one thing – she’d been right not to marry Mike. But then she didn’t need a Gypsy to tell her that. Deep down she had already known.

‘Katerina, good to see you again! Are you well?’

Wes settled himself under the old Gypsy’s parasol and smiled at her. They were old friends, since she and her fellow Travellers came every year. In fact, she was almost like an honorary grandmother to him, his own having died young. Katerina always made time for him and his brother when they were children, treating them as family, and a strong bond had formed between them. When he’d spotted the caravans on the way home from his meeting, he’d decided to make a detour.

‘Never better, especially now I’m here again.’ Katerina beamed back. ‘And yourself?’

‘Fine, fine.’ Wes replied automatically, but something about the way Katerina looked at him made him take a deep breath and amend his answer. ‘Well, a few problems, but nothing I can’t handle. I think.’

She nodded and held out her hand. ‘Want me to take a look?’