a moment longer.
‘Cador, you mean? He’s a Cornish Charmer, and if anyone can reach your grandmother he will.’
‘Oh? How?’
‘He has these powers. Some call him a white witch.’
‘A witch? But I thought witches were women,’ Merry said.
Her mother smiled. ‘There are men with the gift too. Cador is special. He can cast charms and heal. He’ll spend
a while talking to your grandmother and find out what’s troubling her.’
‘But we already know that,’ Merry frowned.
‘Do we? All we know is that it has something to do with that dreadful night Jenna and Ma Somers died. We don’t know exactly what happened, though, do we?’
Merry put down her pins and thought for a moment. What her mother said was true.
‘And if he does find out, then what?’ she asked.
‘He’ll help her heal.’
‘How will he do that?’
Karenza shook her head. ‘That will be between him and your grandmother. Now let’s get knitting or you’ll not have enough to take to Mr Fairbright.’
Merry opened her mouth to say how betrayed she felt that she’d told Nicco when she was next going to Plymouth, then saw how much happier her mother was looking and shut it again. There’d be time enough to take her to task when Grozen was well again.
As she resumed her knitting, she saw Lady Sutherland come out of her granite house on the opposite side of the harbour. Today she was dressed in a rose-pink dress with a toning cape draped elegantly around her shoulders. As she stepped daintily into the waiting carriage, Merry thought of the stalls she’d seen in Plymouth with their brightly coloured cloths and trimmings, and her spirits rose. If she saved hard she might have enough for the fabric to make an outfit just like that. Next time she went she would be sure to look at the prices. Oh, there was so much to see, so much to experience; she couldn’t wait.
‘Come along, Dolly Daydream,’ her mother’s voice
interrupted her musing. ‘Let’s go and see if Cador has worked his magic on your grandmother.’
‘I hope he has, Mother, for I can’t bear to see Grozen so unhappy.’
‘Me neither, Merry.’
‘I’ve never heard of this Cador before. Is he local?’ she asked as they made their way back down the path.
Her mother shrugged. ‘He just seems to be around when you need him.’
They arrived back at the cottage just as the man was taking his leave.
‘Is everything all right?’ Karenza whispered.
‘Do stop whispering, Karenza – haven’t I told you it’s rude?’ As Grozen’s strident tones rang through the living room, they smiled. It seemed everything was very all right.
‘Why, she sounds back to normal,’ Merry gasped.
‘I don’t know what you’ve said or done, Cador, but once again you have my undying thanks,’ her mother said. ‘Won’t you stay and share our midday meal? You’re most welcome.’
‘That is kind, my dear, but I have to be in another place. Your daughter has grown into a beautiful young woman,’ he said, looking at Merry.
Karenza smiled. ‘Yes, you were right, Cador. Although I found it hard to believe all would be well at the time.’
Merry hardly heard her mother’s words for this strange man’s intense gaze seemed to be burning into her. Then he smiled.
‘Your sister in blood wants you to know she is happy and at peace.’ Merry stared at him in astonishment. How
could he possibly know? But those green eyes were on her again. It was as if he was peering into her very soul. ‘I see the yen to travel. You will, however, find your life and love lies here in Porthsallos. Good day.’ And with a nod he was gone.
What rubbish, Merry thought, pushing the door firmly shut behind him. Yet how did he know about her and Jenna being blood sisters? They’d been the only ones in the yard when they’d nicked their wrists and swapped blood to tie them together all those years ago. They’d sworn each other to secrecy and Jenna would never have told. Her grandmother’s chuckle
‘Cador, you mean? He’s a Cornish Charmer, and if anyone can reach your grandmother he will.’
‘Oh? How?’
‘He has these powers. Some call him a white witch.’
‘A witch? But I thought witches were women,’ Merry said.
Her mother smiled. ‘There are men with the gift too. Cador is special. He can cast charms and heal. He’ll spend
a while talking to your grandmother and find out what’s troubling her.’
‘But we already know that,’ Merry frowned.
‘Do we? All we know is that it has something to do with that dreadful night Jenna and Ma Somers died. We don’t know exactly what happened, though, do we?’
Merry put down her pins and thought for a moment. What her mother said was true.
‘And if he does find out, then what?’ she asked.
‘He’ll help her heal.’
‘How will he do that?’
Karenza shook her head. ‘That will be between him and your grandmother. Now let’s get knitting or you’ll not have enough to take to Mr Fairbright.’
Merry opened her mouth to say how betrayed she felt that she’d told Nicco when she was next going to Plymouth, then saw how much happier her mother was looking and shut it again. There’d be time enough to take her to task when Grozen was well again.
As she resumed her knitting, she saw Lady Sutherland come out of her granite house on the opposite side of the harbour. Today she was dressed in a rose-pink dress with a toning cape draped elegantly around her shoulders. As she stepped daintily into the waiting carriage, Merry thought of the stalls she’d seen in Plymouth with their brightly coloured cloths and trimmings, and her spirits rose. If she saved hard she might have enough for the fabric to make an outfit just like that. Next time she went she would be sure to look at the prices. Oh, there was so much to see, so much to experience; she couldn’t wait.
‘Come along, Dolly Daydream,’ her mother’s voice
interrupted her musing. ‘Let’s go and see if Cador has worked his magic on your grandmother.’
‘I hope he has, Mother, for I can’t bear to see Grozen so unhappy.’
‘Me neither, Merry.’
‘I’ve never heard of this Cador before. Is he local?’ she asked as they made their way back down the path.
Her mother shrugged. ‘He just seems to be around when you need him.’
They arrived back at the cottage just as the man was taking his leave.
‘Is everything all right?’ Karenza whispered.
‘Do stop whispering, Karenza – haven’t I told you it’s rude?’ As Grozen’s strident tones rang through the living room, they smiled. It seemed everything was very all right.
‘Why, she sounds back to normal,’ Merry gasped.
‘I don’t know what you’ve said or done, Cador, but once again you have my undying thanks,’ her mother said. ‘Won’t you stay and share our midday meal? You’re most welcome.’
‘That is kind, my dear, but I have to be in another place. Your daughter has grown into a beautiful young woman,’ he said, looking at Merry.
Karenza smiled. ‘Yes, you were right, Cador. Although I found it hard to believe all would be well at the time.’
Merry hardly heard her mother’s words for this strange man’s intense gaze seemed to be burning into her. Then he smiled.
‘Your sister in blood wants you to know she is happy and at peace.’ Merry stared at him in astonishment. How
could he possibly know? But those green eyes were on her again. It was as if he was peering into her very soul. ‘I see the yen to travel. You will, however, find your life and love lies here in Porthsallos. Good day.’ And with a nod he was gone.
What rubbish, Merry thought, pushing the door firmly shut behind him. Yet how did he know about her and Jenna being blood sisters? They’d been the only ones in the yard when they’d nicked their wrists and swapped blood to tie them together all those years ago. They’d sworn each other to secrecy and Jenna would never have told. Her grandmother’s chuckle
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