A Safe Harbour by Benita Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

 
    ‘Jos said?’ someone asked.  
    ‘Aye. Now that he’s gone we mustn’t forget.’ She couldn’t make out who had said that but the others were nodding in agreement. And they were clearly agitated.  
    ‘We must act together . . .’  
    ‘Show Adamson we won’t be beat . . .’  
    ‘Sink the bastard . . .’  
    Kate heard further snatches of the conversation but then the cry of a child further down the hall made one of the men look round. He saw Kate, coughed and sat back. She had no idea how he had managed to convey that they were no longer alone but suddenly the tone and the content of the conversation changed. Matthew seemed to be telling the others about a strange and ugly fish he’d once caught. He’d taken it to the College of Science in Newcastle but nobody knew what it was. It was there still, pickled in a jar.  
    Suddenly the air of conspiracy had dissipated. Conspirators? Is that what they had looked like, Kate wondered? What in God’s name had they been talking about? And if there was a conspiracy, what had Jos had to do with it? Good-natured, easy-going Jos. He’d shared everything with her, hadn’t he? And yet now it seemed there had been secrets . . .  
    ‘Are those for us, Kate?’ Thomas stood up and came towards her. ‘Here, let me take them.’ He reached for the sandwiches. ‘Do you want to sit by the fire for a while? You look cold. Shall I get you a chair?’  
    ‘No, it’s all right. The kitchen’s warm and Aunt Meg has a plate waiting for me.’  
    ‘Are you sure?’  
    ‘Yes. I’d rather.’  
    Thomas made no further attempt to persuade her, and although everyone in the group smiled sympathetically at her, she had the impression that they were glad she had chosen not to join them. She thought her brother looked uncomfortable. He shot her a glance that she could only interpret as guilty before she turned and left them.  
    Thomas will tell me what this is about, she thought as she returned to the kitchen. Kate was the elder twin, and even though it was only by a few minutes she had always taken the lead. When they were children she had been the adventurous one who had as often as not led her more docile brother into trouble. As they grew she had still taken the lead. Brighter than he was, she had often helped him at school and now they were grown Thomas still came to her for advice.  
    That was why this was so puzzling. Thomas, like Jos, had never hidden any secrets from her. She decided she would ask her brother outright what the group by the fire had been talking about. She was confident that he would tell her.  
    Apart from Kate and her aunt, the Lintons were the last to leave. James and Mary Linton along with their surviving son, Matthew, stood together and acknowledged the murmured condolences of the departing guests. There was dignity in the way they held themselves but Kate, watching from the kitchen doorway, saw that Mary Linton was being supported by both her husband and her son. If they had removed their arms she would surely have fallen to the floor.  
    And then, when everybody had gone, they stood there alone, looking as if they weren’t quite sure what to do next. Kate approached them. All three of them looked at her but they didn’t speak.  
    ‘I . . . I’ll come and see you, Mrs Linton . . . perhaps tomorrow,’ Kate said.  
    ‘No. Don’t.’  
    Kate’s eyes widened. ‘But why not? I don’t understand.’  
    ‘Every time I look at you I’ll remember. I’ll remember the wedding we planned. The happiness. I just couldn’t bear it.’  
    Mary Linton turned towards her husband and he put his arm round her and led her away. Matthew lingered. He looked at Kate helplessly. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘She’s taken it badly. Try to understand.’ He left her without a backward glance and the door swung shut behind him.  
    Aunt Meg moved quietly about the kitchen. Kate stood alone in the hall as the shadows lengthened. It seemed she had