Where the Heart Belongs (16 page)

‘I think I can,' said Jack.

‘Then go.'

He turned to Shona. ‘Shall we? My car's at the front.' Moments later they were driving away.

‘Where are we going?' she asked as they passed Bessie's Kitchen.

‘That place Tamsin told me you liked. Leckie Shore?'

Leckie Shore, she thought, opposite the island where the tide used to roll out as far as it would go as it never had for her since she had returned to Galloway.

‘I'd like that,' she said faintly.

Jack drove in silence until they went bumping along the rough track to the shoreline.

‘The
tide's right out today,' she said in wonder.

‘And there's the island,' said Jack as he parked and they got out.

The breeze felt fresh on Shona's face.

He looked anxious. ‘Are you cold without a jacket?'

‘Not a bit,' she said, intent of looking across at the island. The higher ground was silhouetted against the sky, and it seemed like a fairytale place at this time of the morning. ‘Shall we walk across?' he asked.

The wet sand was soggy in places but Shona remembered from long ago that there was an almost invisible causeway that linked the island to the mainland that was firm underfoot.

‘I phoned Ingrid's mobile,' Jack said as they set out. ‘I was able to put on some pressure to find out exactly where they were and then set off at once. I found them easily enough. We had unfinished business, Felix Langholme and I. Ingrid too.'

‘Where were they?'

‘Not as far away as I expected. A place called Dumthorne. There's a good hotel there where I spent the night. We had a lot of talking to do and arrangements to make.'

‘I see.'

‘In the end he admitted that the ugly rumours he's been spreading weren't true and that his squandering his share of the proceeds
of
the sale of the castle had nothing to do with me.

‘I'm glad,' Shona said simply.

They reached the shore of the island and stood looking back the way they had come. The sky over the distant mountains was brightening to azure as the clouds moved away.

‘So how long are they staying at this place, Dumthorne?'

‘For three weeks or so until their wedding.'

‘They're getting married?'

Jack's gaze was intent as he turned to look at her. ‘That's the way it is.'

‘I hope they'll both be happy,' she said.

‘You mean that?'

She nodded. ‘But it doesn't help Tamsin.'

‘And that upsets you more than anything?'

‘More than anything connected with Felix.'

He let out a long breath. ‘That's why I went after them.'

‘You went for my sake?' she marvelled.

‘We've agreed that in future Tamsin's home will be at Ferniehope Castle,' he said. ‘Her father will support her financially, pay her school fees and so on. And every now and again the two of them will go off on their own for some quality time. If you can call it that.'

‘Oh Jack,' she said faintly.

‘Mags will get a letter from Ingrid very soon, I hope she'll understand what made her daughter do this. Donald too.'

‘Mags
is big-hearted. And she loves Ingrid.'

‘And I love you, Shona,' Jack said, his voice deep. ‘I can't do without you, my dearest love.'

She gazed at him in wonder, knowing she couldn't live without him either. ‘Jack?'

At once she was in his arms. ‘Dearest Shona, I love you for your concern about the girl,' he whispered, his breath warm on her cheek. ‘Have you enough to spare for me too?'

She felt herself quiver in his arms. ‘How can you doubt it?' she said, marvelling at the joy flooding through her.

‘I love you, Shona,' he said, his voice stronger now. ‘Will you marry me and be concerned about me forever?'

She gave a little giggle. ‘And will you be concerned for Tamsin?'

‘Mags will if I'm not,' he said. ‘She likes someone to spoil. And Liz too down at Bessie's Kitchen maybe needing her help sometimes, so Tamsin knows she's needed as well as loved. That girl's not going to lack for anything.'

‘And I won't lack for anything either,' Shona said. ‘I love you truly, Jack.'

He held her so close she could hardly breathe. ‘Shona,' he murmured, his voice vibrating a little.

His kiss was long and passionate and she felt herself melt into it until she felt she was drowning.

She pulled away at last. ‘The tide'll soon be
on
the turn,' she said breathlessly. ‘The water rolls in fast.'

‘Then come on, my love. Let's go.'

Together they walked back across the causeway.

‘Shall we put a couple more stones for luck on the cairn of stones, my love?' he said when they reached the beach.

Shona smiled, knowing that all the good fortune in the world was already hers.