Rose had spent Friday night in the Magick flat, tossing and turning. That wasn’t only down to the bed needing a new mattress, but largely because she’d spent hours running over her conversation with Finn.
She’d allowed herself to imagine that her quest for her donor would be exciting and romantic, but it was already proving complicated. She found Finn very attractive, but she reminded herself she hadn’t come to fall for the first handsome man who came in her path – and that her primary purpose was work. She was also feeling embarrassed in case he’d misconstrued her comment about the party as some kind of pick-up line.
‘Arghh …’ Rose said, sorting out her bag ready for the day ahead.
Her sleepless night at least meant she was up super early to visit some of the more remote sites that were associated with myths and legends. She drove through rainy mist for over an hour to reach the high moorlands where the first site – a holed stone with the lovely name of Men-an-Tol – was situated. Rose thought the ‘mizzle’ only added to the atmosphere of peace and solitude. At this time of day, she was the only person parked in a lay-by at the roadside and the only one yomping over the heathland to the doughnut-shaped granite ring that was about the size of a cartwheel.
Her research found that the stone was associated with curative and magical powers – Oriel had mentioned many of her customers were keen on it and that was probably why. It had been said to do everything from curing rickets and back pain, to helping ‘barren’ women get pregnant and bringing farmers a bumper harvest.
You were supposed to pass through the stone to get the most benefit and while Rose thought she might just about squeeze through it, she didn’t want to end up stuck and having to call the fire service to rescue her. She had visions of Naomi turning up in her ambulance … no, Rose decided just to peer through the hole rather than risk becoming a local legend herself.
After taking lots of photos and treating herself to lunch in a local café, she drove back to Falford to write up her morning’s field trip. As the crow flew, it wasn’t that far, but on the narrow lanes that wound up and down river valleys, it took her well over an hour. While she wouldn’t have been able to sail to the sites, Oriel and Finn’s advice to use a boat for most travel made more sense by the minute.
She went upstairs and made a cup of tea before taking a mug down to Oriel. It felt good to enter the shop through the bead curtain rather than the door; somehow it made Rose feel like one of Falford’s own. Oriel was busy fixing a poster to the wall behind the till. It was an advert for the Falford Regatta, the same event, she assumed, she’d seen online when she’d been hunting down the Morvahs.
Oriel turned around and smiled at the sight of the mug.
‘Oh, lovely. I’ve had a busy day,’ she said, taking the mug. ‘There was a minibus of Americans in the village on a Daphne du Maurier tour. I sold two geodes, masses of candles, and even a pisky charm!’
‘Great. Glad you’ve been busy. Is that a regatta poster?’
‘Oh yes. It’s not until August but we like to advertise it early. It’s the highlight of the Falford year.’
It was said with a wry grin, so Rose wasn’t sure if Oriel was joking or not.
‘What happens at the regatta?’ she asked.
‘It’s one big party on and around the water. There’s a sailing regatta, swimming races, a sandcastle competition … but the best bit is the fancy-dress water pageant.’
‘That sounds exciting.’
‘It is. We all decorate our boats and the winner gets a prize, but it’s the glory that matters. Bloody Nigel won last year but I have plans this time.’ Oriel tapped the side of her nose.
‘Sounds mysterious …’ Rose said, with a smile.
‘It is and maybe you could join in if you fancied it?’
‘Um …’ Rose spluttered, surprised and unsure if she wanted to be so involved.
‘I’ll let you know more when we’ve finalised our plans so you can decide,’ Oriel said with a mysterious smile. ‘So, how did you get on, today?’ she said.
‘Good. I found Men-an-Tol.’ Rose was relieved to be back on more familiar ground.
‘Did you climb through the hole?’ Oriel said.
‘I didn’t dare in case I got stuck.’
‘Coward. The magic won’t work unless you do.’
‘What makes you think I need it?’
‘All those pills,’ Oriel said and eyed Rose. ‘They’re not for nothing, are they?’
Taken aback, Rose decided on some honesty – of a kind. She wasn’t yet ready for long explanations and the inevitable questions. ‘No. I had a bit of a problem with my blood but it’s under control now. I still need to take the meds but otherwise I’m fine.’ She smiled. ‘Now, what about this party? Is there a dress code?’
‘As long as you wear some kind of clothes and don’t walk in naked, anything goes but don’t forget we’ll be taking the boat so maybe ditch the six-inch stilettos.’
‘That’s OK,’ Rose said with a grin. ‘I don’t own any.’
At seven o’clock that evening, Rose had her first driving lesson. ‘Best you try now before you’ve had a few glasses of wine,’ Oriel said as they stood on the pub quay.
Rose had worn her smart jeans – her only pair – and a floaty top that was a favourite for drinks and parties, and slung her denim jacket over the top. She’d bought a pair of silver dangly earrings with turquoise stones from Cornish Magick and a toe ring that looked pretty with her leather sandals. Oriel had given her a bottle of glittery plum nail varnish, which wasn’t Rose’s colour but she loved it anyway.
The boat was a small motorboat with a canvas cover over the wheel, which was folded down. As Rose stepped into it from the pub jetty, it wobbled alarmingly. She pushed a strand of hair back into her twisted bun. She’d assumed it would be breezy on the water, even though the inlet was narrow, and the wind was blowing straight up from the main estuary.
‘This isn’t a Morvah boat, is it?’
Oriel snorted in derision. ‘You’re joking! This is a fibreglass hull. The Morvahs wouldn’t be seen dead with something like this. They make fancy wooden heritage yachts and dinghies. They cost a bomb and there’s not many people can afford them now, but they seem to do all right out of it. They do repairs as well, of course.’
With Rose at the helm, Oriel crouched on the quay and started to explain how the engine, throttle and tiller worked. ‘It’s easy,’ she said. ‘And very quiet this evening. All you have to do is make for the yacht club jetty and avoid running into any other boats.’
The terraces were quite busy with drinkers and diners, much to Rose’s alarm as she hadn’t expected to have an audience. A few were watching their departure.
Ignoring them, Oriel climbed in, untied the rope, started the engine and they were off.
Rose made it to the other side without any mishaps even though she was ‘driving like a snail’ according to Oriel, who took the tiller to guide them to a mooring at the club jetty. Minutes later, they were walking past masts and all manner of shiny craft into the small function room on the ground floor. She imagined being at the helm of one of them and smiled at herself. Maybe starting with something a bit smaller was a better idea.
Three sets of French doors opened onto a small terrace where people had spilled out with their drinks.
Despite her misgivings, Rose had been unable to rein in her curiosity to meet Joey Morvah – and to see Finn again. Her stomach churned.
‘Oh shit. Sophie’s here. Hold on.’ Oriel put a hand on her arm. ‘Let’s get a drink and go outside.’
With a glass of wine and half a lager for Oriel, they walked onto the terrace. Most of the people they passed smiled and nodded at Oriel and, Rose noted, cast the odd curious glance in her direction. After introducing Rose to the commodore of the yacht club and chatting to a couple of people, Oriel took Rose out to the terrace where around a dozen people were chatting and drinking. She pointed out the homes and boats of various people who lived in the communities on either side of the estuary. They’d been outside about ten minutes when Oriel grimaced.
‘Sophie’s coming over. It’ll be to find out everything she can about you so don’t tell her anything.’
Rose wasn’t sure whether to be amused or alarmed. Surely Sophie couldn’t be as horrible as Oriel painted her.
Sophie made a beeline for them. She was sipping a flute of fizz. Her hair was beautifully cut, and blow-dried into a bob. Rose knew her own had turned frizzy the moment she’d stepped out of the flat and the breeze on the water had probably made her look like a scarecrow.
‘Evening. You must be Rose?’
‘News travels fast,’ Oriel shot back. ‘This is Sophie,’ she said in a resigned tone, as if she was introducing Rose to a yappy chihuahua.
‘Hi,’ Rose said in a friendly tone, unable to think of any other reply that wouldn’t stoke the fires between Oriel and Sophie.
Sophie smiled. ‘Heard you’re going to be staying in Falford over the summer.’
‘Rose is living above my shop,’ Oriel said.
‘Your shop?’ Sophie’s eyebrows formed an impressive arch high up her forehead. ‘I thought it was your auntie’s place?’
‘I run the shop and I invited Rose to stay there,’ Oriel said.
‘Really? I thought you had to live and work in Cornwall to use that flat …’ Sophie said silkily. ‘Doesn’t it have a local occupancy clause?’
Rose opened her mouth to speak for herself, but Oriel was battling for her. ‘Rose is living here. She’s doing her research.’
‘I’m not sure that ticks all the boxes.’
‘And she’s helping me out in the shop.’ Oriel threw a triumphant glare at Sophie.
‘Am I?’ Rose blurted out. ‘I mean, of course, I’m very happy to help out when required,’ she added as a suspicious gleam lit up Sophie’s eyes. She would never drop Oriel in it.
‘With her specialist knowledge of our field, Rose is perfect,’ Oriel said.
Specialist knowledge? Of joss sticks and crystals? Rose knew more about boats … but she was determined to be loyal to her new landlady.
‘Oh look, Joey just arrived. This is going to be interesting.’ Oriel scanned the terrace. ‘I wonder where Finn is?’
‘Oh?’ Rose turned briefly and saw Joey on the terrace, chatting. He was … Rose could only think of one word:
Beautiful.
However fanciful, he reminded her of a classical statue of an archangel, though she sensed he’d be rightly horrified at the very idea. It was the strong regular features, the wavy honey blond hair. He was several inches over six feet, and his job had given him a body that was muscular and honed in a natural way.
Rose couldn’t take her eyes off him, loving the way the sinews and muscle flexed in his arms. He laughed and the two women talking to him were as transfixed as she was. No wonder Oriel, immune to Joey’s charms, had warned her.
Rose was disappointed not to see Finn too, but hoped he’d be along later. Meanwhile meeting Joey was going to be more than interesting. In fact, it had sent shivers of anticipation through her, and her fingers were slippery around her glass. She was about to come face to face with the man who might possibly have given her life itself.
Oriel waved at him.
Sophie pursed her lips and the gleam in her eye turned to annoyance. ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ she said. ‘Nice to meet you, Rose.’
Before Rose could say the same, Sophie had marched off towards the party room. She passed Joey without even looking at him.
Joey might have said something, but Rose wasn’t sure.
‘Here we go,’ Oriel said, rolling her eyes as Joey made his way over, exchanging words and smiles with a couple of younger men on the way. Anticipation made Rose’s pulse quicken.
‘Evenin’, ladies. Enjoying the party?’ Joey said in a soft Cornish accent, which to Rose, used to so many BBC-type accents, seemed exotic. The blue of his eyes was cornflower.
‘This is my new tenant,’ Oriel said proudly. ‘Rose.’
Joey had a gleam in his eye. ‘Watch yourself or Oriel will be checking what time you come home and what visitors you have.’
‘I’ll be keeping an eye on some of them, don’t you worry,’ Oriel said.
Joey raised an eyebrow. ‘Has Rose got anything to worry about, then?’
Wondering if Oriel was referring to Joey as a potential visitor, Rose laughed. ‘I don’t know but I’m glad Oriel’s looking out for me.’
‘Where’s Finn?’ Oriel asked.
‘Skippering in the Roseland sailing race,’ Joey said.
Oriel pulled a face. ‘That sounds exciting.’
‘You know Finn. Never could resist being in charge’
‘Is that in his own boat?’ Rose asked, crestfallen to find that Finn wouldn’t be at the party at all.
‘No, it’s for a friend,’ Joey said. ‘We often crew and skipper for other boats in races. He was asked to step in at the last minute because he knows the boat well.’ He smiled. ‘We both do. We built it.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Rose said, reminded of what a close-knit community Falford was, and feeling very much an outsider.
‘So, what’s led you to the bright lights of Falford, Rose?’ Joey asked.
‘Rose is an authority in our field. She’s an archaeologist,’ Oriel declared.
‘Wow. I thought you were an expert in fairies for a minute. Like Oriel here,’ Joey said, smiling.
‘I don’t believe in all that crap about elves and piskies Joey, as you well know.’
Even though Joey had a gleam in his eye and Oriel was well used to him, Rose was a bit annoyed with him for winding up her new friend. Sensing an air of tension, she tried to pour oil on troubled waters. ‘Actually, I don’t believe in the supernatural either. What Oriel probably means is that I’m interested in myths and legends, particularly those surrounding ancient sites. Actually, your brother told me that you’d once been to King Arthur’s Pool.’
Joey and Oriel stared at her.
‘You’ve already spoken to Finn?’ he said.
‘Well, we had a chat,’ she said, realising that Joey and Oriel had been taken by surprise. ‘He rescued my phone yesterday. I, er, dropped it out of the window of the flat. By accident,’ she added, already deciding to leave out the part about the pub drinks. ‘But he was in a rush to pick his kids up from school.’
‘His kids?’ Joey burst out.
‘He hasn’t got any kids,’ Oriel said.
‘Not that I know about,’ Joey shot back with a grin. ‘He would have meant Rob Brewster’s pair, Ethan and Ivy. Rob’s a single dad and he had to rush off on a lifeboat shout so Finn offered to collect them. They came to the office while they waited for their dad to come back.’
‘Oh, I see …’
Oriel raised an eyebrow. ‘I could have told you that,’ she said sharply.
‘Sorry, I didn’t think to mention it.’ She smiled, but both Joey and Oriel were clearly churning over the fact she’d already met Finn.
‘Look, your glasses are almost empty. Would you both like another one?’ Rose asked. ‘What are you having?’
‘I’ll come to the bar with you,’ Joey offered. ‘Help you carry the drinks.’
‘Thank you but I’m sure they can give me a tray,’ Rose said sweetly. ‘And I’m used to carrying masses of pints back from the college bar.’
Joey seemed a little taken aback but let her go. However, while she was waiting to be served, he turned up.
Instead of making a joke as she expected, his expression was serious. ‘Look, I’m not sure what Oriel has said about me, but wouldn’t it be better to make up your own mind?’ His eyes held hers. ‘I’m quite sure you will anyway.’
‘You’re right. I never make judgements without examining the evidence thoroughly,’ she said. ‘And for now, all I want to do is relax and get to know some new people. So shall we call a truce?’ She smiled. ‘For one night, anyway?’
Those blue eyes glinted. ‘Why do we need a truce? I didn’t even know there’d been a battle yet.’
‘I was making a pre-emptive strike,’ she said, amused and alarmed at the way he’d managed to draw her into a conversation she’d been determined not to have. She broke off to take the tray of drinks. ‘Now, shall we go back to the others?’
‘We’d better. Tongues will wag otherwise.’
‘Why? You’re only helping me with the drinks.’
‘Exactly, but plenty around here will want to make more of it.’
‘Then, we won’t let them.’ Rose took the tray, leaving him trailing in her wake, yet alarmingly, also wanting him to follow her. In some ways, he’d lived up to Oriel’s description, but she was still a long way from making up her mind.
She was desperate to know if Joey could have been the donor. Should she have steered the conversation in the direction of the past? Or simply ask Oriel if she knew if Joey had been on the register? When he’d given the stem cells he’d have had to spend a day in hospital, and attend screening and appointments. However, that really would sound weird.
When they were back from the bar, Oriel was telling Joey about one of the customers she’d had to deal with, but the talk soon turned to some of the boat-handling mishaps in the estuary, most of which seemed to involve overconfident local skippers. Rose suspected the stories had been related to ‘newcomers’ many times before. Still, she found herself laughing and relaxing as the evening flew by. The band started up, the buzz grew and more people arrived, spilling out onto the terrace and enjoying the evening sun sinking over the estuary.
Briefly, Joey left them and Rose spotted him talking to Sophie Crean again. When he came back, Oriel said something to him that Rose didn’t hear. She enjoyed hearing Joey’s gossipy tales about the sailing scene and how he and Finn had been taught to sail and work by their late grandfather. Their mother, Dorinda, sounded a formidable woman.
When Oriel whispered that they had to leave or be caught out by the falling tide, the stars were visible in the navy sky and Rose was genuinely disappointed. Oriel steered the boat home in the inky twilight before true night descended. Rose was quiet, preoccupied with trying to examine her feelings towards Joey as objectively as she could. She couldn’t deny that Joey was gorgeous, charming and sexy. She wanted to know so much more about him, ask him everything – and most of all, find out if he was the one who’d saved her life.