‘How did I get here?’ he asked.
‘It wasn’t easy,’ she told him. ‘But I had some help.’
‘Did I black out or something?’
‘Yes. We lost you back there for a moment. I think you might have hit your head quite hard when you fell. I’ve bathed the cut for you. Do you remember anything?’
Luke frowned. ‘I’m not sure. I went to the beach. That’s where I saw you, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right.’
Luke frowned, trying his hardest to remember. ‘I don’t remember much else. I don’t think I ate much yesterday.’
‘I think it was probably more than a lack of food.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You – you were saying your wife’s name over and over again.’
‘No.’
‘You were calling for her.’
‘That’s not possible.’
There was a pause full of awkwardness and she moved closer to him.
‘Listen – my name’s Orla and I think we got off on the wrong foot.’
Luke sat up straighter. ‘I’m Luke.’
Orla nodded. ‘I’m sorry I ran away from you on the beach when you were trying to tell me something so important,’ she said.
‘I’m sorry I scared you.’
She looked up at him and smiled nervously, although he still felt that he was somehow scaring her. Perhaps this visit hadn’t been a good idea after all.
‘I’m sorry to put you through all this,’ he told her. ‘I’ll be on my way.’
He made to move and found that he couldn’t. His head felt as if it was going to explode and he cradled it in his hands.
‘Oh!’ Orla cried.
‘It’s okay,’ he assured her. ‘I’ll be fine in a minute.’
Orla shook her head. ‘Perhaps – erm – you should rest? Just for a little while.’ Her fingers were tying themselves into knots and she’d gone horribly pale.
‘No, no – I’ll make a move.’ But the truth was, Luke found that he couldn’t. ‘Whoa!’ he said as he tried to get up again. He glanced up at Orla, who was looking around the room as if in distress. ‘Just give me a moment.’
Orla took a deep breath. ‘Look, you’re obviously exhausted. Why don’t you rest here? Or I can make a bed up for you if you think you’d be more comfortable.’
Luke felt awful at putting her out like this. ‘But I can’t stay here.’
Orla looked as if she were instantly regretting inviting him to stay.
‘I don’t think you’re in any state to go anywhere,’ she said eventually, her voice full of anxiety. Luke felt it was more for herself than for him and felt guilty all over again.
‘But I’ve caused you enough trouble already. First I scare you and then I go and pass out.’
‘It’s okay,’ she said, but she sounded far from sure about the situation he’d put her in.
He shook his head. ‘No, it’s not.’
‘We don’t need to talk about this now,’ Orla said. ‘The important thing, I think, is to get some rest.’
‘I should just go home.’
‘And where’s that?’
‘Kent.’
Orla looked momentarily shocked. ‘You’re seriously thinking of driving to Kent?’
‘Sure. Why not?’
‘Because you’re as weak as a kitten,’ she told him. ‘You really shouldn’t move at all.’ She chewed her lower lip. ‘Why not just lie back and rest and I’ll make a bed up for you?’
‘I can’t,’ Luke said, attempting to get up again and swaying unsteadily once more.
‘Still dizzy?’
He sunk back onto the sofa. ‘Maybe I’ll rest – just for a moment.’
Orla nodded and gave a hesitant smile.
Still feeling anxious and perplexed by the events of the day, Orla made up a bed in one of the castle’s many rooms. It was only a small one with simple white walls, a pretty rug thrown over the dark floorboards and a pair of curtains in a heavy navy and gold fabric. The bed at the centre was a fine piece at least two hundred years old, with an ornate headboard in dark oak which Orla had bought at an online auction. It was the only guest room she had in the place and was only ever used when her mother, Bernadette, visited.
As Orla quickly fitted clean sheets, she wondered if she should ring her mother now and tell her what was going on. From past experience, she knew that Bernadette would have something to say about things. However, the more she thought about it, the more she bucked against the idea of ringing her. She just couldn’t deal with the deluge of advice her mother would be sure to give on top of everything else that had happened that day. Anyway, she knew what Bernadette would say.
‘Get him out of there! What were you thinking, bringing him into your home?’
Yes, Orla thought, Bernadette was of the opinion that her daughter should have nothing to do with the outside world. She’d been only too pleased when Orla had bought the castle and locked herself away inside it.
‘It’s for the best,’ her mother had told her, and Orla had believed her.
Now, she drew the curtains and then returned to Luke, carefully leading him up the stairs, showing him where the bathroom was and leaving a glass of water by the bedside.
‘Can I get you anything else?’
‘No, thank you,’ he said, looking as if he was ready to collapse into a deep sleep at any second.
‘Did you want to see a doctor?’ she asked.
‘God, no!’
Orla was relieved. She felt she had to ask, but the last thing she wanted was another stranger in her home.
‘I’ll leave you to it, then,’ Orla said, backing out of the room and closing the door.
‘Thank you,’ he called after her.
It was beyond strange, having somebody in the castle with her. Even stranger that the person was a man. That, she thought, was a first.
‘You do trust him, don’t you, One Ear?’ she asked the dog when she returned to the great hall. ‘And you will protect me from him if you change your mind?’ The big dog cocked his head to one side. ‘Well, you’d better.’
She still wasn’t sure it was wise having this man in her home. She’d spent the last
