‘And she would be safer there,’ Bridget said. ‘Dear God. You must leave, then, my friend. You must not risk yourself. Go on the next boat. It would be madness to stay.’

‘I cannot leave Mary.’

Tears sprang to her eyes, ‘You are a better soul than Mary could ever have wished for.’

‘I have thought of little else but leaving with Mary, yet how can it be achieved without someone knowing?’

She was silent for some time then she turned to me. ‘It has to be possible. It must be, Elspeth. My sister lives on one of the neighbouring islands and could secure passage to the mainland. I will give you a letter. And there is a fisherman here who owes me a favour. He would not break his silence if I asked him to take you. I believe that he would. He could.’ She clutched my palm.

‘Are you certain?’

‘It’s dangerous but you have no other choice. You have money? I have spare if you need it.’

‘I have enough and sufficient to start again somewhere. We could go to London. I would find work.’

‘But if you were caught, you could go to prison,’ she said.

I smiled because I knew by then, without a doubt, that I would risk my life or imprisonment many times over to save Mary’s.

Finally, she said, ‘You’re a good girl, Elspeth. I shall miss you.’ Her composure broke and I thought she might cry.

‘I shall take everything I have of evidence to support my case should I be caught.’

‘I will do my part and let you know as soon as I have news.’

I rose. ‘I must get back. I don’t know how to thank you, Bridget.’

But she seemed lost in reflection and gave me only a small smile. I reached out and took her hand. ‘You have been a good friend to me. The best,’ I said.

Her eyes were sad. ‘I believe, in time, we would have become great companions, but it was not to be. I will miss you so much, dearest Elspeth.’

39

Outside, I paused. The valley was sculpted with the evening’s soft light. Iskar rose into the sky and I regarded it as if it were an enemy already vanquished. As clouds shifted and the setting sun glanced along its roofs and windows, I was aware of it as an entity, as if it were part of the island itself, a growth from the soil. Below it lay the sea, a silver ribbon cut with rock.

The house was still when I entered; the clock in the hall turned gratingly on the hour, as it had from that first day, and the portrait of the twins dulled in the lamplight. I stepped closer and searched William’s face. Whatever his sins, he had not deserved the fate that had awaited him.