The sudden pain in his heart is sharp and he catches his breath. He turns away from the window with short fumbling steps and collapses into his chair, his stick falling to the floor. He can hear someone moving in the house, on the landing, and he calls out weakly, hoping it is Stella.
But it is Maxie who comes in to him, though Francis hasn’t the strength to speak to him. It is Maxie who kneels down beside him, and strokes his hair and croons to him, as if he knows that Francis is falling asleep. He takes his father’s cold hand in his large warm one and covers it with kisses and leans against him as though to keep him warm. With an enormous effort Francis raises his other hand and lays it on Maxie’s head, and then gives way to the pain. But it is not of Maxie that he thinks now, nor of Nell nor Liz nor of his boys. His last thought is of Father Theo, his intent look of compassionate love, and of his prayer . . .
. . . so I shall rejoice:
you will not delay, if I do not fail to hope.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marcia Willett’s early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist – a decision she has never regretted. She lives in a beautiful and wild part of Devon.
Find out more about Marcia Willett and her novels at www.marciawillett.co.uk
Also by Marcia Willett
FORGOTTEN LAUGHTER
A WEEK IN WINTER
WINNING THROUGH
HOLDING ON
LOOKING FORWARD
SECOND TIME AROUND
STARTING OVER
HATTIE’S MILL
THE COURTYARD
THEA’S PARROT
THOSE WHO SERVE
THE DIPPER
THE CHILDREN’S HOUR
THE BIRDCAGE
THE GOLDEN CUP
ECHOES OF THE DANCE
MEMORIES OF THE STORM
THE WAY WE WERE
THE PRODIGAL WIFE
THE SUMMER HOUSE
THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL
POSTCARDS FROM THE PAST
INDIAN SUMMER
SUMMER ON THE RIVER
TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
www.penguin.co.uk
Transworld is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies
whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com
First published in Great Britain in 2016 by Bantam Press
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Copyright © Marcia Willett 2016
Cover illustration © Janet Bell
Title lettering © Sarah J. Coleman
Cover design by Becky Glibbery/TW
Marcia Willett has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
The extract here from Sands of the Well by Denise Levertov is quoted by permission of Bloodaxe Books.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologize for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781473510722
ISBN 9780593074855
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2