Into Daylight or Introducing a Victorian Gentleman into the 21st Century by Rose Elli & Wolcott Sara & Mitchell Marina

Author:Rose, Elli & Wolcott, Sara & Mitchell, Marina [Rose, Elli]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2012-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Pine Cove is a small settlement on the first cluster of islands dotting the Straight, its small wharf lined by tiny restaurants, bakeries and souvenir shops against the backdrop of a thick, dark forest, like a pioneer town making its stand against the wilderness. This is in fact the very atmosphere the townspeople are trying to create; each building carefully remodeled after early structures that had existed during the late 19 th century and painted quaint shades of white, green, yellow and blue. As I see it glowing at me from the shore, I am reminded of one of those cardboard villages I used to make with my sister as a child, covered in plaster and left to dry before we adorned them with bright colors. The street is lit with gas lamps, lining the way for the tourists to meander between the shops or lounge outside to drink tea under boughs of flowers and potpourri. It never ceases to amaze me how there seems to be nothing on either side of this main and only street, which stands as if on a radiant stage, both ends dropping off into the darkness on either side of it.

The small dock leads directly onto the street and I am lucky to find an opening to tie up the boat. I didn’t really fancy the prospect of rowing ashore in the small rowboat my uncle keeps stored away on deck, since I usually take forever – although, with Lewis along we probably would have made pretty good time. The little bay before Pine Cove is already sprinkled with bobbing sailboats anchoring for the night; I can hear pearls of laughter and shouts echoing from the water, joining in the bustle from the street.

I smile broadly at Lewis as he helps me from the boat, feeling a strange sense of exhilaration. I hug his jacket around me as we walk into town, the faint scent of lavender and spices wafting out to greet us. The street has something of a fairground atmosphere to it; from somewhere I smell the faintest trace of popcorn and butter and see children carrying balloons strolling towards us. I see that wrought iron lanterns have been hung from several of the storefront facades and the illumination is almost gaudy. I have the urge to take Lewis by the arm, to lean up against him as the sound of a music box drifts onto the street. But I don’t, merely glancing at him on the sly, seeing the relaxed, jovial expression on his face as his eyes meet mine.

“Have you ever seen balloons before?” I ask him.

“I heard of ‘em,” he says. “Toy balloons. There was once a real big one near where I was with the army, one that could carry a man or so I heard. Never did see it though, ‘cause I was sick at the time,” he shrugs and then gives me a mischievous grin. “But I guess I did my share of flyin’ now too, didn’t I?”

“You sure did.

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