Page 24 of The Path to the Last House Before the Sea

‘Sorry,’ said Alyssa. ‘I don’t mean to intrude on your preparations.’

‘You’re not.’ Rosie smiled. ‘So, what brings you up here?’

Alyssa couldn’t help but smile back – Rosie was glowing and, even in jeans and a baggy jumper, looked every inch the radiant bride-to-be. ‘It’s such a beautiful day, I felt like a walk and I was interested in seeing Driftwood House again. I’m putting together a tour about smuggling in Heaven’s Cove and I’ve discovered a possible link to the disappearance of Charity Hawkins and Josiah Gathergill in 1753. I found out that Charity once lived up here so I thought…’ Alyssa pressed her lips together. She was burbling on, when Rosie didn’t care what she thought, not while her head was filled with wedding plans.

But Rosie gave her a wide grin. ‘That sounds fascinating. I love a bit of history. Would you like a cup of tea, and I can tell you what I know about Charity, which, I warn you, isn’t much?’

‘I don’t want to take up your time when you’re busy.’

Rosie smiled again, her russet-brown eyes twinkling. ‘I’m only getting in everyone’s way, and I could do with a cup of tea myself.’

‘In that case, thank you, that would be great.’

Alyssa looked around her curiously after walking into Driftwood House. You could see the house, perched high on the cliff, from most places in Heaven’s Cove. But she’d never been inside before.

Her first impression was of light and space. The walls in the large square hallway were painted a soft yellow that seemed to bring the sunshine indoors. And the black and white floor tiles were gleaming.

A curved staircase with polished banister rail led upstairs. And in the corner stood a small wooden desk, presumably for checking in guests when they arrived. Alyssa had learned soon after arriving in Heaven’s Cove that Rosie had turned Driftwood into a successful guesthouse.

‘Do you have many guests staying at the moment?’

‘No, thank goodness.’ Rosie laughed. ‘I blocked out a couple of weeks around the wedding. I couldn’t cope with demanding guests on top of pre-wedding nerves. Come on into the kitchen.’

Rosie didn’t seem nervous. She seemed completely at ease with herself and the approaching ceremony. She was happy, Alyssa realised as she sat at the kitchen table. Completely and utterly happy with the way her life was panning out.

Lucky woman.

‘So, you live in Magda’s caravan. What’s that like?’ asked Rosie, placing a steaming mug of tea onto the table. ‘I’ve been dying to ask but our paths have hardly crossed since you moved in.’

‘I like living there. It’s very small, obviously, but that means there’s hardly any housework to do.’

‘Which,’ said Rosie, dropping into the chair opposite, ‘sounds fantastic. You wouldn’t believe how long I spend cleaning this place, changing beds and cooking.’

‘Don’t you have any help?’

‘Some, and Liam is as helpful as he can be, though he’s got a farm to run. Do you know Liam?’

‘I’ve met your fiancé a couple of times, when he’s come into Stan’s shop. He seems like a very nice man.’

‘He is a very, very nice man.’Rosie’s smile was brighter than the sunbeams dappling the flagstone floor.

‘I need to thank you, actually,’ said Alyssa, curling her fingers around her mug.

‘Why?’

‘For sending some of your guests my way. They said you’d recommended my myths and legends tour.’

‘You’re welcome. I’ve heard lots of good things about it, and I’m delighted you might be expanding your tour repertoire.’ Rosie picked up her own drink and cradled it in her hands. ‘So, you’re particularly interested in poor Charity.’

‘That’s right. I’d love to find out what really happened to her. I realise that’s probably impossible because it was so long ago, but I thought I’d try.’

‘You don’t believe she was dragged into the ocean by a sea monster, then?’

Alyssa wrinkled her nose. ‘Probably not.’

‘And you don’t think Josiah killed her?’

Alyssa shrugged. ‘Maybe he did, but it seems to me that he’s been found guilty without a trial.’

---