Outside in the keen air Catherine said, "Now we are alone." She allowed him to help her into the little trap. Then she shook the reins and waved to some people who were still walking down from the church.
She said, "I am so happy, Richard. When you left, the parting almost broke my heart. An eternity, and yet I had expected far worse. Now you are with me. I am yours, and soon it will be Christmas. I remember you once told me when you shared Christmas with me that it was the first you had had ashore since you were a midshipman. And the New Year -we can face that together too. The country still at war, the King insane… nothing makes any reason or sense but ourselves."
He put his arm around her and felt his longing for her, as in the dreams he had shared with her even though they had been apart.
She threw back her head and allowed her long dark hair to be free. When she looked towards the sea beyond Rosemullion Point she said softly, "All our friends are out there somewhere. Val, poor Adam, James Tyacke and the rest, and others who will never come back." She looked at him, her eyes flashing, "But we can remember them! "
The mood changed, and she pulled at the reins to turn the pony on to a narrow side-track.
She said, "I have visited Unis Polin several times. She is a good woman, right for him. He needs love as much as we do."
Bolitho held her arm. "You are all mystery, Kate! "
She tossed her head but did not look at him. "But for this icy wind I would take you to our private cove. And I would give you mystery which would shock you! "
They turned a corner where the small inn stood, strangely deserted, and Bolitho guessed that most of the local folk were celebrating in Roxby's barn.
The Stag's Head would be waiting for Allday from now on.
He stared at the inn sign moving very gently in the breeze. Except that it was no longer called the Stag's Head. It was a perfect painting of a ship-of-the-line in half a gale, her gun ports almost awash, and he knew Catherine must have arranged it. The inn's name had become The Old Hyperion.
She said, "I heard John Allday speak of your old ship so often. She was, after all, a very special one for some of us. She brought you to me at Antigua when I thought I had lost you." All the time she was watching his face. Through her, Unis met her previous husband, and because of her Allday discovered the love of his life."
Bolitho watched the swaying sign, as if the old ship were really alive.
He said, "The ship that refused to die, they used to say."
She nodded, satisfied. "Now she never will." She handed him the reins and nestled against him. "Now take us home, please. Where we belong."