‘How can you say that? It’s not the same for me as it is for you. When we cross over, you’ll get everything you ever wanted. But I’m going to lose everything. And nothing can stop it.’

‘A wave will rise on quiet water, Mhairi,’ Flora said, smoothing back Mhairi’s flame-coloured hair and reaching for her hand. ‘You have to just trust your happiness lies in another place.’

Mhairi snatched her hand away. ‘You keep saying that, but what’s being asked of me . . . it’s too much!’ Her grey eyes burned. She was rarely given to anger. She had a gentle nature and an open heart, but neither had served her well in bringing her to this point.

‘I know. And I’d be raging too. I’d be mad with grief if it was me who had to do it,’ Flora agreed warmly. ‘But you’re a better person than me. You’re good all the way through. I’m not even good skin deep.’

‘You’re not that bad,’ Effie protested, rolling her eyes.

‘Aren’t I? I lose my temper if the wind messes my hair. I curse if I bang my knee in kirk. If it wasn’t for this . . .’ She framed her beautiful face with cupped hands. ‘They’d have thrown me over the top years ago.’

There was a short silence. Slowly, Flora gave an impish smile.

Mhairi chuckled softly, in spite of herself. ‘They would not,’ she chided, fondly slapping Flora’s knee. ‘You have lots of good qualities.’

‘I’m a beautiful monster,’ Flora argued, looking not in the least concerned by it. ‘And Effie’s a tow-haired wildling . . .’

‘Oi!’ Effie protested, her long trousers covering the multitude of scabs on her knees and shins from scrambling over the rocks.

‘You’re the best of us, Mhairi. There’s no way you’re not going to get your reward. It is coming,’ Flora said with her usual determination. ‘Even if you can’t see it yet. You have to believe it’s coming.’

Mhairi shook her head sadly, but she gave no more reply. Flora’s passion could normally convince them all that the sky was green and the sea was black, but Mhairi had no wish to imagine an unseeable future when all that she wanted, she already had. If they could only stay here . . . But their paths had been set and the outcome couldn’t be altered now. Not for any of them.

‘The same goes for you.’