The sun was already low when Cesca and Will stepped through the gates of Silver Hill House, hand in hand, late enough in the day for the bravest rabbits to have emerged from their burrows out onto the roadside. When they’d finally been able to tear themselves from each other’s arms, Cesca had phoned ahead to tell Harper they wanted to talk to her. Without making it too obvious to Will, Cesca wanted to make sure Harper knew exactly what she was giving up gifting the reward money to the restoration fund, and although Will didn’t say so, she had a feeling he understood that. She was relieved to note he clearly thought it was the right thing to do too and offered no argument over the visit.

After their amazing afternoon, the evening was so mellow and tranquil, the moment so perfect, it had seemed only right that they walk the road to the farm together. If nothing else, it would give them the time to discuss plans for Silver Hill House, as they’d intended to before they’d become distracted by rather less academic pursuits. The bread had burnt, and the food they were supposed to be eating still lay untouched in the fridge. But Cesca felt giddy and content, and food was the last thing on her mind. She was quite sure that if she never ate again she could live off this feeling forever.

‘Just think,’ Cesca said as Will locked the gate behind them and they emerged onto the narrow path that tracked the road down the hill and along to the farm, ‘if Harper hadn’t found that treasure we wouldn’t be here now.’

‘It is strange,’ he agreed. ‘I suppose that despite not having my family’s belongings returned to me, I have found treasure of a different kind. I hope it may yet prove to be more valuable.’

Cesca beamed, too embarrassed and overwhelmed to acknowledge his compliment.

‘It’s almost as if,’ he continued thoughtfully, ‘that all the while the gold was buried, our family’s good fortune was buried too. By recovering it, perhaps our happiness and good fortune will also be recovered.’

‘So much for your curse,’ she said with a smile.

‘It was a curse of sorts…’

‘A backwards one? Like whoever disturbed Tutankhamun’s tomb was cursed, but in this case, as long as the treasure was hidden the family was cursed until it came back to light. It’s a new theory on me but I quite like it.’

‘As do I,’ he said, squeezing her hand. ‘That’s assuming you want to see me again?’ he added, uncertainty now creeping into his tone.

‘What do you think?’ Cesca shot him a look of mock disapproval.

‘I didn’t want to assume anything,’ he replied sheepishly. ‘I’ve tussled over the matter for many nights. I had thought, for a while, you rather fancied that Norwegian chap.’

‘Kristofer?’ Cesca smiled. ‘He is handsome, very sweet and charming… super intelligent too…’

‘Sounds like the perfect match.’

‘On paper, maybe. But sometimes there’s just something missing no matter how right someone appears to be for you. That special something that defies explanation or logic. You know what I mean?’

‘I do. Although I feel somehow unworthy after that magnificent description of him.’

‘Don’t,’ Cesca said, laughing. ‘Besides, you don’t need to worry at all because he’s going back to Norway next week. At least he says he is.’

‘You don’t think he means it?’

‘Well, it’s just a bit sudden. One minute he’s happy as Larry living here and the next he’s packing. It’s odd, that’s all. But who knows what goes on in the private lives of people? One phone call can change everything. Like today, for example…’ She threw him a sly smile, and if she hadn’t known him incapable of such emotion she would have sworn he’d blushed.

‘I hadn’t intended to seduce you when I made that call, I can assure you.’

‘Oh. Now I’m disappointed.’

‘That’s not to say I didn’t find you incredibly attractive.’

‘I should hope so in light of the afternoon’s activities.’ Cesca shot him a sideways glance and he grinned as his gaze dipped to the floor. For the first time, she saw that he actually had dimples. He was always so serious, so aloof, that she’d never witnessed a smile wide enough to show them before. ‘It’s a shame Kristofer won’t be around though. He would have loved getting stuck into the fundraising efforts for the house. In fact, he suggested it independently of me mentioning it to him. He’s passionate about history and heritage – in fact, I think he’s passionate about lots of things. He’d have been a good person to have on our team.’

‘Speaking of which,’ Will began slowly, ‘I know this is perhaps terribly premature of me, but I want to put something to you.’

‘Sounds serious. Should I be worried?’

‘I hope not. But I don’t want you to reply straight away, and I want you to know that no offence will be caused by a refusal.’

‘Now I am worried! What is it?’

‘I realise it’s a long way off yet, but when the house is ready I may open sections of it to the public or use it for other purposes in order to pay for its upkeep.’

‘It’s the only way you can keep on top of it, so I’d fully expect you to consider those options. But you know my opinion on it if that’s what you’re asking for.’

‘Not exactly. Well, yes, because your opinion is valuable, but I’d like to ask if you might consider managing the scheme. Perhaps overseeing the restoration project too. I need a dependable income first, of course, but I hope to be able to match your salary at the museum at the very least. And I completely understand if you’d rather not leave your position, because I know that you love what you do, but I can think of no person I’d rather have by my side through the upheavals than you. It would be a great honour and a privilege.’

‘Wow! I was not expecting that!’ Cesca stared out over the golden fields, slightly dazed and wondering if she’d fallen asleep at her desk that morning and everything since had been a dream.

‘It’s too early to say, I know that,’ he said.

‘I must admit I’m already dealing with some pretty seismic shifts in the status quo of my personal situation,’ she said, smiling. ‘I mean we’ve only just begun as a couple; it’s a lot to take in all at once. But I’m hugely flattered.’

‘If you’re willing to give it some consideration then I can ask no more.’

‘I will, absolutely. But first we have to get the money, and that could take some time to happen. Perhaps for the time being, while I’m all for optimism, we should focus on the here and now.’

‘If it includes you then I’m more than happy to give the here and now my fullest attention.’ He smiled down at her, and Cesca’s pulse began to race again.

Face forward, she thought, don’t look. If she lost herself in those eyes again, they might never make it down to the farm before sunset.

---

The Saturday trade had been brisker than Harper had been expecting. It was due, in part, to a cheese festival in a nearby village, though she’d only discovered this by accident on chatting to a customer who’d travelled in to visit the festival and had then decided to see what else the area had to offer, stumbling across Silver Hill Farm quite by chance. She wasn’t complaining, of course – the revenue was always welcome – but she’d heaved a secret sigh of relief that Pip had come home early from London after all. Without her calm and able assistance, Harper would have been on the verge of a breakdown by four o’clock, she was sure, and though he tried his best, Shay was about as much use as a pair of concrete skates. In fact, more than once that day she’d almost wished he’d go home to let her and Pip get on with things, his help proving to be more of a hindrance. On any other Saturday he would have done – eager for a lazy day in bed after a tough week on various building sites, and Harper didn’t mind that because she knew he worked hard during the week. She’d even suggested it at one point, but he’d simply reassured her that he was perfectly happy where he was and then proceeded to knock a freshly made latte across the counter. Thankfully, Pip had intervened and cleaned the mess up quickly to save Harper from exploding with frustration. All week when she’d needed him he’d been missing; now, when she’d really rather manage without him, she couldn’t keep him away.

‘What did you do to Shay last night?’ Pip had asked during a rare moment of privacy. ‘He’s not usually this interested in the tearoom.’

‘I have absolutely no idea. I wish he’d sod off though – he’s like a bloody limpet today; won’t leave me alone.’

‘Or maybe you just feel that way because you wish it was someone else sticking to you.’ Pip had raised her eyebrows and given Harper a significant look that she couldn’t fail to interpret, but she’d merely sighed loudly to show her contempt for the theory, leaving Pip to chuckle as she went off to clear a table.

Come five o’clock, all Harper wanted to do was lock the door and slump in front of the TV. But Shay would expect to spend the evening there, with all that entailed. She really wasn’t in the mood, but without provoking a week-long sulk, it was difficult to tell him that. Pip saw the last customer out and took the keys to lock up while Harper stripped down the coffee machine and Shay dumped the rubbish in the backyard.

‘Oh, hi…’

Harper looked up to see Pip open the door to someone.

‘We were just about to close… Is there anything I can do for you?’

The man stepped around Pip and looked at Harper.

‘Greg?’ Harper smoothed her frown away and forced a bright smile. Though she’d met him on a handful of occasions, she’d never really warmed to Greg Wicklow. After seeing the state Allie had been in at the Rising Sun the previous night, she liked him even less. But he was a neighbour, and she always did her best to be courteous no matter what. She’d never seen him in her tearoom, though, and she had to wonder what had brought him here.

‘It’s you I’ve come to see,’ he said, nodding a brief acknowledgement to Pip, who was doing a far worse job of hiding her curiosity as she watched him approach the counter. ‘Is there somewhere we can have a quick word in private?’

‘Of course—’ she began, but Shay’s voice came from behind her. She turned to see him at the doorway of the kitchen, his expression somewhere between fear and distaste.

‘What’s he doing here?’ Shay addressed Harper, but his gaze never moved from Greg.

Harper was about to reply – Shay had no right to insult a neighbour in their café no matter how much he disliked him – but Greg got in first.

‘I’d have thought that much was obvious,’ he said.

It took a moment of uncertainty, but as the pieces slotted into place Harper’s heart began to thump in her chest. She looked from one to the other. Surely this wasn’t how it looked? Her stricken gaze turned to Shay.

‘Please tell me it’s not true.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Greg said, ‘but he’s been seeing my wife.’

‘But that was ages ago…’

Greg shook his head. ‘I thought it was over too. Allie told me time and time again. But then I find her in his bed.’

‘When?’

‘Last week.’

Harper turned to Shay, her eyes swimming, sick to her stomach. ‘Tell me it’s not true. You said…’

Shay didn’t deny it. He was silent, and the twist in Harper’s gut tightened. All this time she’d defended him, trusted him, promised her life, her heart and her loyalty… had fought off the most incredible temptations for his sake. And he’d been laughing at her while he lay in Allie Wicklow’s bed? She doubled over, the cry of anguish in her throat choking her. Pip raced over to catch her as she began to sob, while Shay turned his rage on Greg.

‘You couldn’t keep your nose out, could you? Your marriage is ruined so everyone else has to be miserable too!’

‘My marriage is ruined because of you!’ Greg yelled. He stabbed at his temple. ‘Have you got a screw loose or something? You thought you could take my wife, wreck my marriage and go back to your girlfriend and nobody would call you to account? You think you get to live as you please because you’re Shay McArthur and the world fucking loves you? It doesn’t work like that, and I’m going to make sure your life is screwed, just like mine is.’

‘Allie went with me because you couldn’t give her what she needed! She told me—’

Greg launched himself at Shay, barrelling him into the doorway, both crashing to the floor together. The shock dried Harper’s tears instantly.

‘Stop it!’ she cried. ‘Stop! Do you think this is helping?’

But they were deaf to her pleas as they traded blows; not majestic bare-chested fighting like you saw in films, but savage, animalistic scrapping as they rolled on the floor pummelling and pulling, biting and punching.

‘Please! Shay, please!’

‘Let them get on with it,’ Pip said, pulling Harper away as she danced to get between the men. ‘If they beat each other to death they’d be doing everyone a favour.’

‘That’s just what they will do!’ Harper cried. ‘Shay… get off him!’ She wrenched herself from Pip’s hold and dragged Shay by the collar to pull him up. All she succeeded in doing was pulling him across the floor, so that he skidded to a halt at the base of the counter while Greg sat up and glared at him as he licked a feather of blood from his lip. ‘For the love of God!’

‘You know what the worst thing is?’ Greg spat. ‘She actually thought you cared about her. But you don’t care about anyone. Better for Harper to find out now that the only person you love is yourself.’

‘You’d better leave right now,’ Shay said, getting to his feet as Greg did the same. It looked dangerously close to round two, and neither Harper nor Pip – had she been inclined and she didn’t appear to be – would be strong enough to stop them if they went for each other again.

‘You probably should go, Greg,’ Harper agreed. Greg looked from one to the other.

‘Don’t tell me you’re going to let him off!’ he said, exasperation in his tone. ‘Surely you can’t be that weak-willed and forgiving—’

‘Don’t tell me what to do!’ Harper yelled, finally snapping. ‘Nobody in this room gets to tell me what to do! If I want to talk to Shay about this then I will, but you…’ she pointed at Greg, trying hard to level her voice, ‘or you…’ then she jabbed a finger at Shay, ‘do not get a say. I decide how I deal with this and when I deal with it! Now please, Greg… I appreciate why you came here but you need to leave.’

Greg stared at her. But then he grabbed his jacket where it had been wrenched from his shoulder and pulled it straight. ‘Don’t let him make a fool of you like he did Allie.’

The room was silent as he turned for the door. But then Harper’s stomach lurched as she heard Shay utter a single word.

‘Prick.’

Greg whipped round, taking the room in three strides, a right hook connecting with the side of Shay’s face and sending him sprawling across a nearby table.

Harper ran forward as Greg moved in for a second go, Pip screaming at her to come away, and in the chaos nobody noticed the newcomers. But Harper felt hands close around her arms, pulling her back, and heard a familiar voice yell, ‘Wicklow! Whatever he’s done it’s not worth it!’

Harper wrenched herself free and spun round to find Will trying to restrain Greg. Greg shook him off and turned on him this time, Cesca running to get between them, and as she did, Shay sent a blow to Greg’s kidneys that crumpled him. She stared as he lay gasping on the floor. Then Shay rounded on Will.

‘That’s all I need – a Frampton trying to save me!’

‘I was saving Greg, you idiot! He’s got a reputation to uphold, one which brawling would do nothing but damage, but you have not.’

‘You pompous twat!’ Shay hissed, and this time he charged at Will. But Greg was on his feet again, and he threw himself into the fray, pulling Shay back. Shay twisted to land a blow, but Greg was too close. Will moved to get hold of Greg again, trying to break it up, but succeeded only in widening the gap so that Shay now had a clear shot – which he took. Greg dodged at the last moment and the punch meant for him landed squarely in Will’s face. He went down, Cesca screaming as she ran to catch him. For the briefest moment, both Shay and Greg looked shocked as they turned to where Will lay, groaning and barely conscious on the floor. Cesca pulled his head onto her lap and stroked the hair from his forehead.

‘Will…’ she whispered. ‘Oh God, Will… are you OK?’

‘Get out.’ Harper stood before Shay and Greg.

Shay turned to Greg, wiping a sleeve across his brow. ‘You heard her.’

Harper looked at him. ‘No,’ she said, her voice strangely calm now. ‘I meant you, Shay.’

‘You can’t be serious?’

‘Get out. Leave my property now and don’t come back.’

‘But…’

‘Go! You’ve done more damage than a thousand years of apologies would fix. Go now or I’ll call the police and have them throw you off my land!’

Pip appeared at her side. ‘You heard her.’

Shay’s lip curled into a sneer. ‘Of course you’d side with her… you never wanted us to be together. Probably wanted her for yourself, you—’

‘One more word, Shay, and I swear to God I’ll knock you out myself!’ Harper shouted.

He stared at them all in turn: Greg breathing heavily, a cut to his lip and his hair sticking up; Will now coming to on the ground where Cesca was kissing his head and murmuring to him; Pip with her arms folded tight across her chest and a defiant tilt of her chin; and Harper, fighting back the tears that she would never let him see again.

‘This is not over,’ he said.

‘Yes, it is.’ Harper nodded towards the door. ‘Please leave. I don’t want to see you again.’

He cast one last glance around the room and then left, slamming the door behind him.