A week after Roland’s death, I came out of the Bradford hospital and was taken to London with Joel, Rebecca and Celeste.
Rebecca said, “As soon as you are well enough, I am going to take you to Cornwall.
The quiet and peace of High Tor is what you need.”
I wanted to be with her. I wanted to tell her about Roland who had started by planning to murder me and had ended by saving my life.
I thought of him often... of the many kindnesses, the loving care he had given me. I believe he had truly loved me. Poor Roland, he had not been a strong man. He had been born into a family which lived by the gun. He had been brought up to hate; and such a man had made the supreme sacrifice for love. It was wonderful to be in Cornwall. Rebecca took me back with her, and there was a very warm welcome for me from Pedrek and the children. I loved the peace of the place which struck me afresh every morning when I awakened. There were, of course, times when I took a fearful look out of the window; then I would remind myself of the hat, the cloak and the wig as I had seen them lying on the bed in that room at Gray Stone House. The dreams came too... now and then; although even in those dreams the knowledge that that phase of my life was over was becoming more frequent.
Joel came down to Cornwall. We rode together. We went to Branok Pool and there I would think of Jenny Stubbs who-as Roland had-gave her life for mine. How strange that there should have been two people in my life who cared for me enough to do that. Joel knew this spot and of its special significance for me. He said to me as we stood there, looking over that eerie pool, “When I came back from Buganda we were to announce our engagement. Do you remember?” Of course I remembered.
“Hasn’t there been too much delay?”
And I agreed that there had been.
A year after that terrible experience in the stables, Joel and I were married. It was a quiet wedding which was what we both wanted.
Belinda was present-safely married to Bobby now-and both immensely proud of their son and heir, young Robert.
I am deeply happy. I am putting the past right behind me, though there are still times when I dream of gliding so gracefully across the lake. Then he comes toward me and steps ashore-changed into a figure in an opera cloak and hat ... and he takes off the hat and bows.
I awake in fear. But Joel is beside me. He takes me into his arms and says, “It’s all right, my love. I’m here, Lucie. There is nothing to fear anymore.” And I can laugh at my folly, for I know, as time passes, the reality of the present will overcome the nightmare of the past and I shall cease to dream of.