The Light Between Oceans(59)

‘Yes,’ replied Isabel, nausea creeping into her belly. She looked around, as though trying to escape with her eyes.

Mrs Captain was beginning to regret the introduction. The Potts girls had never really mixed much with the locals. And then, after all that business with the German, well, the sister … Oh dear … She was considering how to rescue the situation when Gwen gestured to Hannah, standing a few feet away.

‘Hannah, did you realise Mr Sherbourne who gave that speech just now is married to Isabel Graysmark? You know, the headmaster’s daughter.’

‘No, I didn’t know,’ said Hannah, whose thoughts seemed elsewhere as she approached.

Isabel froze, unable to speak, as a gaunt face slowly turned towards her. She clutched Lucy tighter and tried to utter a greeting, but no words came.

‘What’s your little one’s name?’ asked Gwen with a smile.

‘Lucy.’ It was only by supreme effort that Isabel managed not to run from the room.

‘Lovely name,’ said Gwen.

‘Lucy,’ said Hannah, as if pronouncing a word from a foreign language. She was staring at the child, and reached out to touch her arm.

Isabel flinched with terror at the look in Hannah’s eyes as she surveyed the little girl.

Lucy seemed hypnotised by the woman’s touch. She studied the dark eyes, and neither smiled nor frowned, as though concentrating on a puzzle. ‘Mamma,’ she said, and both women blinked. She turned to Isabel. ‘Mamma,’ she said again, ‘I’m sleepy,’ and rubbed her eyes.

For the briefest of moments, Isabel pictured herself handing Hannah the child. She was the mother. She had the right. But she was hallucinating. No, she had thought about it so many times. There was no going back on her decision. Whatever God meant by this, Isabel had to stay with the plan, go along with His will. She cast about in her mind for something to say.

‘Oh look,’ said Mrs Hasluck, seeing Tom approach, ‘here’s the man of the moment,’ and pulled him in as she moved off to another little group. Tom had been anxious to catch Isabel and slip away, as people converged on the trestle tables of sausage rolls and sandwiches. As he realised who Isabel was talking to, his neck tingled, and his pulse raced harder.

‘Tom, this is Hannah and Gwen Potts,’ said Isabel, attempting a smile.

Tom stared as his wife, with Lucy on her hip, put her hand on his arm.

‘Hello,’ said Gwen.

‘Pleased to meet you again, properly,’ said Hannah, finally tearing her eyes from the child.

Tom could find no words.

‘“Properly”?’ queried Gwen.

‘We actually met years ago, but I never knew his name.’

Now Isabel was looking anxiously from one to the other.

‘Your husband was very gallant. Rescued me from a fellow who – well, who was bothering me. On a boat from Sydney.’ She answered Gwen’s silent question. ‘Oh, I’ll tell you about it later. It’s all a long time ago now.’ To Tom, she said, ‘I had no idea you were on Janus.’

There was a heavy silence as they stood, inches from each other.

‘Dadda,’ said Lucy finally, and held out her arms to him. Isabel resisted, but the child put her arms around his neck and Tom let her climb on to him and rest her head against his chest, listening to the drumbeat of his heart.

Tom was about to take the chance to move away, when Hannah touched his elbow. ‘I liked what you said, by the way, about the light being there for whoever needed it.’ She took a moment to work up to her next words. ‘Could I ask you something, Mr Sherbourne?’

The request filled him with dread, but he said, ‘What’s that?’

‘It may seem a strange question, but do ships ever rescue people far out to sea? Have you ever heard of boats being picked up? Survivors taken to the other side of the world, perhaps? I was just wondering whether you’d ever come across stories …’

Tom cleared his throat. ‘When it comes to the ocean, anything’s possible, I suppose. Anything at all.’

‘I see … Thank you.’ Hannah took a deep breath, and looked again at Lucy. ‘I took your advice,’ she added. ‘About that fellow on the boat back then. Like you said, he had enough problems.’ She turned to her sister. ‘Gwen, I’m ready for home. I’m not much of a one for this kind of do. Will you say goodbye to Dad for me? I don’t want to interrupt him.’ Then to Tom and Isabel, ‘Excuse me.’ She was about to leave when Lucy gave a sleepy ‘Ta-ta’ and a wave. Hannah tried to smile. ‘Ta-ta,’ she replied. Through tears she said, ‘You have a very lovely daughter. Excuse me,’ and hurried to the door.

‘So sorry about that,’ Gwen said. ‘Hannah had a terrible tragedy a few years ago. Family lost at sea – her husband, and a daughter who would have been about your girl’s age by now. She’s always asking that sort of thing. Seeing little ones sets her off.’

‘Dreadful,’ Isabel managed to mutter.

‘I’d better go and see she’s all right.’

As Gwen left, Isabel’s mother joined them. ‘Aren’t you proud of your daddy, Lucy? Isn’t he a clever fellow, giving speeches and what have you?’ She turned to Isabel. ‘Shall I take her home? You and Tom can enjoy the party. Must be years since you’ve been to a dance.’