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Alex moved around the counter and immediately turned the closed sign to face outwards. ‘I think I need some air. Do you feel like a walk?’
‘Not especially, but I’ll be glad to stroll alongside you if you don’t go too fast.’
‘We can find a bench in the gardens, just a few moments from here. It’s a mild evening.’
Bethany showed no objection and the two women emerged from the back entrance to walk across the flagged stones of Davygate.
‘We can take this thoroughfare as a shortcut,’ Alex explained. ‘It’s named after the man who supplied King Stephen’s larder in the twelfth century,’ she offered, knowing she was blathering.
‘How intriguing,’ Bethany remarked. She sounded breathless. ‘You may have to slow down for me, Alex. Forgive me, I’m not nearly as fit as you are.’
Alex slowed her stride and took deep breaths to calm her nervousness but she could do nothing about her scattering thoughts, which felt as though they were being shaken about in a baby’s rattle.
She led Bethany into the botanical gardens. ‘The remains of the original Roman walls pass through here,’ she remarked, simply for something to say into the awkward silence. ‘Um, and that angular tower has ten faces. I believe it was built to house a catapult in the very early centuries of Roman rule.’
‘Fascinating.’
‘This all belonged to St Mary’s Abbey,’ she continued, pointing to the Benedictine-style buildings. ‘It all fell into disrepair when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries.’
‘Ah, you’re making me remember my history lessons now.’
‘Sorry . . . shall we take a seat over there?’
‘We can catch the last blush of sunshine for the afternoon,’ Bethany agreed.
Once seated, they enjoyed a more comfortable silence and watched others going about their business as evening drew in.
Bethany broke the quiet. ‘Harry told me about you.’
Alex swallowed. ‘What did he say?’
Her companion studied her gloves. ‘Everything there was to say about the only woman he has ever loved.’
Alex gasped and turned sideways to face Bethany, offer an explanation, but Bethany shooshed her with a finger to her lips. ‘Alex, I didn’t come here to make accusations. I came here to explain something that I think it’s important for you to know.’
Alex breathed out silently. ‘Please go on.’
‘Thank you. There’s no easy way to say this, so you’re going to have to forgive how bluntly it is delivered.’
Alex studied her nemesis, blushing that she’d ever thought her hateful. Bethany looked like a precious china doll, tiny in build, with a milky complexion and peach-like cheeks. Her eyes were expressive, alert as though made wide and round so that she would never miss a moment of life or its interests. She could imagine Harry looked like a hulking bear next to her and Bethany’s petite size made her feel Amazonian with her long feet and tall legs. ‘You see, Alex, I’m dying.’
Alex hissed a breath this time and then held it, looking back at her companion in horror.
‘I’ve known I’ve been dying for a while.’
‘Does Harry . . .?’
‘Yes. I told him on the day we were reunited. He came home to us distracted and deeply saddened. His mother, Ellenor, put it down to all he’d seen during the war and then his next job recovering the fallen. Anyone would feel bleak, she assured me. But I’ve known Harry since I was a child; I’ve loved him for as long and I think I understand him better than most. I knew something had changed in his heart. I couldn’t bear to lose him, Alex, not when I finally . . .’ Her voice broke.
Alex reached over and took Bethany’s hand. ‘I understand. Harry and I always knew we couldn’t be together.’
‘No, wait. You need to hear it all. I know you came to visit. I don’t think Ellenor wanted to tell me but she feared talk in the village and that I might hear through gossip.’
Alex didn’t bother trying to argue otherwise; to lie now would be cowardly.
‘I gather Ellenor mentioned what a tearing hurry he was in for our nuptials. I tried to make him hold off until February as planned, but he wouldn’t hear of it.’
‘I’m sorry.’
