“That’s why you kept pushing books off the shelves. You were trying to figure out what Duncan was.”

Ralph squeaked an assent.

“Well, you got it right, pal, only a little bit too late. Sorry …” I added, seeing his bright eyes looking up at me beseechingly. “We were all too late. Bill is gone …”

Ralph squeaked and jumped out of my lap, ran a few feet, and then looked over his shoulder at me.

“Okay, Lassie,” I said managing a weak smile, “take me to Timmie.”

I got up and followed Ralph. As we climbed the stairs we came to muddy footprints. Ralph paused at them and looked back at me. “Men,” I said. “They never remember to wipe their feet.”

Ralph squeaked and followed the footprints upstairs where a trail of them led to the front bedroom. To Liam’s old study. I walked slowly down the hall, willing myself not to break into a run, my heart beating, afraid of the hope that was whispering in my ear. He’s come back! Somehow he’s survived and come back! I turned the knob with a shaking hand and opened the door …

Onto an empty room. I almost sank onto the floor again, but I watched as Ralph scurried across the room and up onto the windowsill where a grey river stone was balanced on the ledge of the open window weighing down a folded sheet of paper that fluttered in the breeze.

Bill had left me a note!

I crossed the room and lifted the stone, its cool weight like a balm in my blistered palm.

Bill had left me a love note!

But when I opened the note I saw he’d left me something much better. There was a single line on the page. It read:

There’s another door.

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM EBURY PRESS:

Mistress of the Sea

Jenny Barden

Mistress Cooksley may be a wealthy merchant’s daughter, but she blushes at my words and meets my eyes look for look. Yet I cannot hope to court her without fortune, and a dalliance with a pretty maid will not hinder me from my path. Captain Drake’s endeavour might bring me gold, but I, Will Doonan, will have my revenge.

The Spaniards captured my brother and have likely tortured and killed him. For God and St George, we’ll strike at the dogs and see justice done.

I thought I’d left Mistress Cooksley behind to gamble everything and follow Drake, and here she is playing the boy at the ends of the world. She’s a fool with a heart as brave as any man’s. Yet her presence here could be the ruin of us all…

Praise for Mistress of the Sea

‘Fantastic, really fantastic. Very exciting, and moving, vivid characters, great ending’ RICHARD LEE, founder of the Historical Novel Society

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM EBURY PRESS:

The Queen’s Confidante

Karen Harper

The War of the Roses may be over,