Page 21 of The Path to the Last House Before the Sea

‘It looks as if they’ve started putting up the marquee. I was thinking of taking a walk up there, actually, before my tour, but I don’t want to get in the way.’

Magda shrugged. ‘It’s a big clifftop so I don’t think it would be a problem.’

‘Are your plans for the Big Day all in hand?’

‘They were, until Soraya decided to go off travelling and left me short-staffed.’

‘Oh, no.’ Alyssa pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Would you like me to help instead? I’m a dab hand at putting cake and doilies on plates.’

When she grinned, Magda couldn’t help but smile back. That would solve one problem she could tick off her anxiety list.

‘That would be extremely helpful, a real life-saver. Thank you so much. So, when will you start your smuggling tours?’

‘Soon, I hope. I’ve uncovered some fascinating tales of smuggling in the village. It was all hush-hush at the time but there was a lot of it going on. And I’ve been reading up about the castle, and I’m thinking of running a tour that focuses on its history.’

‘Smugglers and castles! It sounds like you’re keen to expand.’

‘Absolutely. Today, an extra tour or two in Heaven’s Cove, tomorrow…’ – Alyssa widened her blue-green eyes – ‘global domination.’

‘And all masterminded from the caravan at the bottom of my garden.’

‘Definitely. I’ve got nowhere else to go.’

Magda frowned. She’d grown fond of Alyssa over the last few months. She was the perfect tenant who paid her rent on time, kept noise to a minimum and always had a friendly smile. But she knew as little about her now as she had on their first meeting.

Why had this personable young woman’s life shrunk to a wooden caravan in a village garden? She was obviously keeping secrets. No one was that buttoned up about their past without having something to hide.

But then she, Magda, had her own secrets too.

It was only when Alyssa reached across the table and gently touched her arm that Magda realised she’d been staring morosely into her empty glass.

‘Earth to Magda! Are you OK? You don’t seem yourself today.’

‘I’m fine,’ said Magda automatically, realising as the words left her mouth that she was never truly fine. And she never could be, not while she loved a man who remained oblivious to her devotion.

‘The seventeen hundreds were a prime smuggling time, were they?’ she asked, to deflect attention from herself.

Surprise at Magda’s swift change of subject flickered across Alyssa’s face.‘It seems so,’ she said, settling back in her chair. ‘There was a raid by customs men in 1753 that broke apart the secret smuggling ring in the village. Actually, the raid was on the same night that Charity and Josiah went missing.’

‘The sea-dragon couple? That’s quite a coincidence.’

‘I think so. I’d love to find out what really happened to them, but I’m not sure that Jack is too keen on me playing detective. He says Josiah is a thief and a murderer and that’s that.’

Magda noticed a faint flush rising across Alyssa’s cheeks. It was the second time, she noticed, that she’d mentioned Jack in as many minutes.

‘Jack’s view of life can be very black and white. How are you two youngsters getting on? You must be together in the shop sometimes.’

‘I’m not sure we have a lot in common. In fact’ – Alyssa leaned forward – ‘I don’t think he likes me very much.’

Magda smiled. ‘Don’t be fooled by Jack’s manner. His bark is worse than his bite. He’s a sweetheart really and he’s been through a lot, like you.’

Alyssa jumped as if Magda had reached across the table and slapped her.‘What do you mean? What have I been through?’

Magda spread her arms wide. ‘I don’t know. But we’ve all been through something, haven’t we? Some pain that’s brought us to where we are. Some terrible heartache that’s left scars. Some secret we can never tell, however much we might wish we could.’

Oh, for goodness’ sake, was she crying? Magda touched her face, alarmed by the tears snaking down her cheeks. This wouldn’t do, crying in public. She was a respected local businesswoman with a reputation to uphold. She dipped her head and searched in her handbag for her handkerchief.

Alyssa passed a clean tissue across the table. ‘I don’t want to pry but if I can help in any way, I hope you’ll let me know.’

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