The Distant Shores by Santa Montefiore

Author:Santa Montefiore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2021-07-07T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Colm sent Mrs B to bed and he and Margot remained, tidying up the room and dispensing of every trace of alcohol that they could find in the house. They emptied the decanters into the sink and carried the bottles of whiskey, wine and other spirits in boxes to Colm’s car, battling the wind and rain as the storm showed no sign of abating. It was midnight when they finished. The library was almost completely restored to its original neatness, apart from the odd shattered ornament and broken glass that could not be mended. A good vacuum would give it its final polish. By now the fire had dimmed in the grate, only the embers glowed quietly as the final pieces of charred wood were gradually reduced to ash. ‘I can’t thank you enough,’ said Colm. He looked weary and anxious as he escorted her down the corridor to the front door. ‘I’m going to stay over, so that I’m here in the morning when Dad wakes up. You’re welcome to stay if you like. There are plenty of bedrooms. It’s not a night to be on the road.’

‘Thanks, but I’ll be fine. It’s only a short drive to the castle and my car is tougher than it looks.’ She put a hand on his arm, moved suddenly by the raw emotion in his eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, Colm.’

He knew now that she meant it. ‘It’s a real help to have your support, Margot.’ He sighed. ‘Since Mum and my sisters left for America, I’ve had to deal with Dad on my own and it hasn’t been easy.’

‘Well, you’re not on your own now. You have me.’ She smiled sympathetically.

His eyes lingered on her face. They seemed to be delving inside her. She did not look away. She had revealed too much of herself tonight to be coy now. ‘Listen, I’m sorry I misjudged you,’ he said softly. ‘I realize now how wrong I was.’

‘I understand why you did, Colm,’ she replied. ‘I didn’t think about your family when I set out on my project. But I’m thinking about them now.’

He nodded. ‘I know you are.’

He pulled her into a fierce embrace. She hadn’t expected him to and for a second she felt as if a line had been crossed. They were no longer journalist and subject, but two people united by a common pain. Two people who needed each other. Margot closed her eyes. It felt good to have his arms around her, to give up her resistance and yield. She was too tired to resist tonight. Colm held her close for a long moment and Margot realized how very tired she was, not because of lack of sleep or even because of exhausted emotion, but because of holding on to the armour plating she’d wrapped around her heart. She realized too that he needed this embrace as much as she did. She put her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. She had told him everything.

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