Page 53 of The Diary at the Last House Before the Sea

‘That’s clever! No one could crack the code unless they realised the significance of the dictionary and had a copy of it.’

‘Which is probably why she removed it from the library and had it in her bedroom.’

River narrowed his eyes. ‘You could have told Bartie about this.’

‘And have him think that I’m a crazy woman who’s obsessed with dead people?’

‘There is that. Though I notice it’s all right for me to think that about you.’

‘It’s fine because you know the real me already. You know what I’m truly like.’

Bartie’s words at the picnic echoed in Clara’s head: I’m still looking for that one person who gets me for who I truly am.

She and River had known each other inside out as teenagers – weirdness, neuroses, fears and all – and they’d still liked each other and found solace in one another’s company. A wave of sadness for what the two of them had lost washed over Clara.

River leaned closer. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Mmm.’ She nodded. ‘Anyway, do you want to hear what I found out?’

‘Of course I do. What secret was she hiding?’

‘I’m afraid it’s not very pleasant. The coded words reveal that Audrey was physically abused by Edwin and was incredibly lonely. He more or less imprisoned her in the house and it got to a point where she wasn’t even allowed to talk to the staff.’

She paused with a lump in her throat as the injustice of Audrey’s situation fully hit her. The poor woman had a husband who could treat her however he liked, at a time when domestic violence was a ‘behind closed doors’ secret that was rarely discussed, there were no women’s refuges, and women who did speak out were often blamed or shamed.

River massaged his temples as if his head was aching. ‘It’s hard to believe that my grandfather was abusive.’

‘I know, but why would Audrey lie about something like that?’

‘My father spoke about Edwin last night and admitted he wasn’t an easy man to live with, but he never said anything about him being abusive.’

‘People don’t always know, especially if they’re not on the receiving end of any violence. Your dad was only a child, and maybe Audrey was good at hiding what was happening.’

‘Did Edwin hurt her?’ asked River, sounding appalled.

‘He hit her and she had bruises. That’s all she says in the diary, except that he flew into a jealous rage after the ball and put his hands around her throat and promised to kill her.’

Clara blinked, feeling close to tears. She could imagine Audrey’s terror and powerlessness in the face of such aggression.

‘That’s dreadful!’ A deep crease appeared between River’s eyebrows. ‘Is that why she walked into the sea? Was she so frightened of my grandfather, so worn down by him, that she wanted to end it all?’

He sank down onto his haunches as if his legs no longer had the strength to carry him.

Clara stooped down beside him. ‘She wanted to end her life here at Brellasham Manor, but not her life completely.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘I also deciphered the note that’s in my grandmother’s handwriting, that was in the back of Audrey’s diary.’

‘Please tell me it said that your grandmother was going to contact the police or get social services involved.’

‘I don’t think it worked like that in those days. I did a bit of research, and domestic abuse in the 1950s was swept under the carpet. There was a stigma attached to it. I know, I know.’ Clara raised her hand as River opened his mouth to protest. ‘It’s awful and wrong, but that’s the way it was back then. There weren’t really laws to protect women or services to help those affected.’

‘So Audrey was on her own.’

‘She was until my gran stepped in. She wasn’t allowed to speak to Audrey by that stage but she must have known about the code and used it to communicate with her. The note says: boat off headland point at seven on Tuesday.’

‘So do you think?—’

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