Page 87 of One Cornish Summer With You
‘I feel as if I’ve trampled all over her private life with my muddy boots.’
‘Not trampled, and it’s too late to unsee the letter now.’
‘I think I have to go and see Kathleen. I need to return her letter.’
‘And find out more about the house and Walter – and you?’ Polly said.
‘If I can … but most of all, I need to return what is hers. I can’t keep it. I wonder if she’ll see me. Could yousound Deidre out and if Kathleen agrees, pass on her phone number?’
‘Of course. I’ll do it as soon as I get back to the manor. In the meantime, sort out whatever is going on between you and that lovely girl. Any man who gets me to ride across half of Cornwall to get to a music festival must be very persuasive.’
From Ruan’s memory, Polly had needed no persuasion, but she’d ended the call before he could say as much.
He went back to the house and opened Walter’s box. He was sure that the pressed rose was intended for Kathleen. He could now see why Walter had been so rude to poor old Hicks the gardener – making a mess of Walter’s precious rambler.
He messaged Tammy to ask again if she was OK and was amazed when she called him back.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Tammy let Ruan into her flat the following day. He looked tired and very serious yet the gravitas only added to his physical attractiveness. Part of her wanted to fling her arms around him.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked. Judging by the concern etched on his face, she must have looked rough herself.
Even though she felt much better physically since her migraine, her mind had still been whirling with Davey’s prostate revelation. She’d tried to understand that Ruan had delayed his news for Davey’s sake and he had shown her her father’s letter immediately. However, she was still struggling to deal with the fact he’d kept Rosewarne a secret from her for so long. With so many other things on her mind, she’d had to lock that issue in a room to deal with later.
‘How are you now?’ Ruan asked, arms kept firmly by his sides as if he was trying to resist the urge to hold her. He was obviously very wary around her, unsure of her feelings towards him – and probably his towards her.
Tammy would have loved a hug, yet said briskly, ‘Better. Look, there’s something I have to ask you about my mum – and Walter.’
‘Ask away but there’s something I need to tell you too. The day after I left you, I went to see Polly Tremain.’
Her pulse skittered. ‘Why?’
‘Because I thought she might be able to shed some light on Walter,’ he said, sitting down on her sofa. ‘Polly’s cousin was friendly with Kathleen before she went off to Scotland with her parents and cut off all contact with Walter. Polly also knew Walter slightly when she was young. Actually, she tried to avoid him because he used to scare off the locals from using the bridleway past Seaspray … Rosewarne,’ he corrected himself. ‘Obviously, I didn’t say a word about the note from your father. Only you have seen that.’
‘And Dad and Walter …’ Tammy imagined her father’s state of mind when he wrote the warning to his old enemy and grew cold. Even allowing for Walter’s vindictive nature, she couldn’t shy away from the implications of the note.
‘Polly and Deidre said that Walter’s father was a bully. I’m not surprised he turned out how he did, but that’s no excuse for the misery he inflicted on others.’
It all felt tragic, yet she couldn’t feel sorry for the man considering the pain he’d caused, both during his life and after his death.
‘You said Kathleen is still alive?’ Tammy asked.
‘Yes. And she still lives in Scotland.’
‘So does my mum …’ Tammy said slowly. ‘And I’d like to visit her. Ineedto visit her to find out the truth. Until I do that, I don’t feel I know where I came from or where I’m heading. Do you understand?’
‘Yes. I think I do.’
‘You could see Kathleen too. You want to return her letter and ask more about Walter, don’t you?’
Ruan sat back in the seat and grimaced as if he was by no means sure about the plan. ‘I had thought about going but Scotland’s a big place if you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking.’
‘My mother lives in a little town north of Glasgow,’ Tammy said. ‘What about Kathleen? Don’t say she lives on some remote island.’
‘Not now. Polly said she moved to Loch Lomond to be near her family. I suppose it might not be that far from your mum’s place.’
Tammy stood up, and to her relief, her head didn’t hurt. In fact, she felt fired up with fresh energy. ‘Then let’s go together. You could visit Kathleen and I could see Mum. We can share the driving.’
