Page 97 of The Midnight Secret

Jayne’s eyes looked for David again, but he was nowhere to be seen. He was keeping his distance with the same diligence he’d once kept watch in her kitchen. He’d not left a note in her prayer book, nor met her on the path to walk home since. She cooked in her kitchen alone, silent, staring at the spot on the kitchen table where he now wasn’t but where their ghosts still played. She’d lost not only the man she loved, but her best friend.

The room had filled rapidly again, everyone pouring drinks and the children hovering around the food now that the party had officially started. James was looking overwhelmed but pleased as he was brought into the villagers’ fold and greeted as one of their own. Everyone wanted to hear about his near-death experience in Greenland.

‘Flora, you’ve returned!’

Jayne heard Norman’s voice and turned to see him walk over to greet Flora too.

‘Oh my goodness, Norman!’ Flora laughed as she took in the sight of his black eye, cuts and bruises. ‘Have you been fighting bears?’

‘Something like that,’ he grinned.

Jayne tensed at his light-hearted volley. As if it was all fun.Funny.He had no shame before her. He hadn’t apologized for what had happened, as if it hadn’t happened to her as well as him. He had come back that evening expecting his dinner on the table – of course there had been none; she had never been served at the butcher’s, after all – and he’d given her no account of how he had come by his injuries as she tended to them.

She could no longer pretend to be ignorant, to turn the other cheek, even though it had served her so well till now. He knew that she knew – and still he didn’t care. His wanton disregard for her feelings was so blatant, she felt completely frozen inside. Dead.

‘And what’s this I hear about a return to St Kilda tomorrow evening?’ Flora asked, as Effie came over with a glass of sherry for her.

‘Ah, well, now there’s a story,’ Effie said with a roll of her eyes.

‘Is it on account of good news between you and Sholto?’ Flora asked hopefully.

Effie’s smile slid off her lips. ‘...Not exactly.’

‘Oh, Eff,’ Flora said, reaching a hand to her arm. ‘I had hoped...’

‘We have to face facts, Flora. We’re from different worlds.’

‘But—’ Flora opened her mouth to protest to the contrary, Jayne knew. After all, she had married a rich man. Then she seemed to think better of it and simply nodded. ‘Pa says there’s quite a crowd going over with you now?’

‘Aye, seems so. Me, Mhairi, Angus, Fin, David and Mad Annie...Old Fin wants to go too, but Ma Peg say he’s not up to the crossing.’ Effie shrugged. ‘We’ll see.’

‘Are you going, Jayne?’ Flora asked her, bringing her into the conversation.

Jayne glanced at Norman. ‘...Eh, no. No, there’s no need,’ she murmured.

‘What’s need got to do with it?’ Flora asked. ‘Don’t you want to see the old place again?’

‘We have to work,’ Norman said sombrely. ‘Can’t afford to miss the wages.’

‘Norman’s been made deputy manager at the Forestry,’ Jayne said, just as David squeezed past their group in thecrowd. He must have heard the small boast, for his gaze tangled with hers, and she recoiled at what she saw in his eyes: dismay was turning to something closer to disgust.

‘Is that so?’ Flora asked with an impressed look. ‘You’re going places in the world, Norman.’

‘Perhaps not as far – or as fast – as y’, Flora,’ Norman admitted, looking irritated by the concession that her light dimmed his. ‘Still, it’s something to pull us up by the bootstraps.’

‘And so what’s the occasion for the trip?’ Flora asked, looking back at Effie.

‘The earl has bought the archipelago from MacLeod.’

‘Has he now? Well, I’m not surprised he wants shot of it after all that’s happened with Mathieson.’ Flora rolled her eyes in disdain. It didn’t matter that the man was dead; her contempt for him lingered.

‘Aye, so they’re having a handover ceremony of sorts.’

‘And they invited you?’ Flora looked quizzical.

Effie nodded.

‘But why you specifically, Eff? If you and Sholto aren’t together...?’

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