Not that the American who presumably owned it had necessarily done anything wrong, but Scofield could reappear if it did. Thus far no one had reported seeing him, including the ferry operator. But then, he hadn’t taken the ferry here that morning either. According to Lady Emily, he had several friends with yachts and had probably come and gone by himself. There had been a pleasure craft docked at the port in Hugh Town for a few hours the other day, which gave credence to the thought.

“I still can’t believe that telegram Lady Emily received.” Oliver shook his head, eyes troubled. “They can’t have meant it, can they? That she isn’t welcome home until she’s sorted things out with her brother?”

“I can’t imagine so. But she certainly seemed to believe it.” Libby didn’t think she’d ever forget the look in Lady Emily’s eyes either. Filled with tears. Hopeless. Dejected.

But she was among friends, at least. They’d see she was all right.

They walked in silence, comfortable and familiar. So much had already been said over the past two days. So much needed to be said still. But for now, it was heavenly just to listen to the chirping of the birds, the buzz of insects, the breeze running its fingers through the Cornish palms’ fronds. To be walking here with this man she’d dreamed about for years and who so surpassed all she’d ever hoped about him. This man she loved in a way she hadn’t quite thought herself capable of.

The path wound around another grove of trees, and Libby smiled. “This is the way your grandmother and I walked the day we met. I don’t believe I’ve come this way since. There was so much else to explore.”

“You’ll be needing a new notebook soon, I suspect. I did especially love your painting of the lily of the Nile.”

The Agapanthus was to be seen all over the islands, and she loved the purple blooms. “Would you like to know a secret?” She tilted her face up, grinning. “I usually sing ‘L’amour est un oiseau rebelle’ while I’m painting.”

Oh, his smile. She could get lost in it. “Well. Mamm-wynn did try to tell me weeks ago it was one of your favorites. I suppose I should have believed her.”

“Did she?” Odd. But she was beyond asking how at this point when it came to his grandmother. “You should have indeed, then. You ought to know by now that she’s always right.”