Sympathy pinched at Tilly’s features. “You were my best friend, Kate. I was happy to be there for you. It’s what friends do.”

The realisation of how deeply she had missed Tilly struck her, sudden and sharp. She forced a smile. “Again, Til, congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you.”

Kate stepped aside for Lockie as he wandered down the garden path toward the convent. “I, uh, I have a lot of work to do inside…” She gestured behind to the school.

“Of course,” Tilly said. “When would you like to sit down and discuss the Literature class we’re sharing?”

Kate thought for a moment. “I’d say tonight, but…is tomorrow afternoon okay? I want to meet half the boarders at Mornington Pier tomorrow morning and get them back here to settle in. Then I have the rest of the girls coming in on an afternoon ferry, and I’d like to fetch them, too… Can we say midday? We can go through the syllabus and I can introduce you to some of the girls.”

“Midday is perfect.” Tilly smiled. “Do you usually eat dinner in the convent?”

Nope. No. No way in hell. “Nah,” she said casually. “I cook for myself. I can cook for you too. We can eat together. Tonight. I mean, if you want.” Jesus H. Christ…

“Oh,” Tilly said. “That sounds really nice, but the sisters are so looking forward to dinner tonight…”

“Right.” Kate nodded. “Of course.”

Tilly’s expression brightened. “Join us.”

“That’s okay. I already have chicken defrosting.” Kate shoved her hands into the back pockets of her shorts. “Anyway, I’ve put your bags in the guest room. Make yourself at home…”

“Thank you, Kate.”

She turned from Tilly, her heartbeat quickening as she reached for the latch of the garden gate. It was her sweaty, shaky fingers that did it—her own dumb fault. She pressed too desperately at the lever, and in the blink of an eye, captured the pad of her index finger between the fixtures. A soundless squeal catching at the back of her throat, she tugged at the catch and released her finger, the tip already purpling in its agony.

Like a soundtrack to her anguish, the convent bells announced the hour. Kate mouthed curse words at the clouds until the fourth and final bell rang, drowning out her low groan. She turned back to an oblivious Tilly and forced a smile, relieved when Tilly disappeared back into the convent.

Kate yanked open the gate and started toward the school. When the Lord closed a door, the sisters constantly avowed, he always opened a window. Nothing had ever been said, Kate thought, about a bloody garden gate.

Chapter Three

The deafening chime of the seven thirty convent bells had Kate blinking awake, struggling to get her wits about her as the notes played on, an eternal punishment. She groaned into her pillow. Come January, and back in the real world, she was actually looking forward to setting an alarm.

As the tail end of the final chime faded, she reached across her nightstand for her glasses and rolled onto her back. She pulled the covers up to her neck—the recent warm weather had been such a tease—and listened closely as she stared at the peeling bedroom ceiling. It was an odd thing, she thought, to hear the shower running in her own cottage.