Castle In The Clouds, Chapters 23 & 24 (standard:drama, 3718 words) [12/21] show all parts
Author: Brian Cross	Added: Mar 11 2010	Views/Reads: 2257/1668	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Dorothea is determined to exact revenge on her brother, Thomas Llewellyn - and Veronica Day is the perfect tool. Approaching the climax of my drama set on a North Sea island.

Chapter Twenty Three 

Veronica perched on a bench in the priory cloisters, the broad mediaeval
arches shielding her from rain which drove down amidst squally gusts. 
She sat with forearms on thighs, face down reflectively, her long red 
hair swept around by a wind approaching gale force. It was a posture 
which troubled Hambleton the moment he laid eyes on her; the normally 
vibrant woman seemed a wearied, troubled soul, so deep in her own 
thoughts she'd seemed unaware of his approach. He found his own 
misgivings rising to the surface. 'Why, Miss Veronica, it is a pleasure 
to see you, though preferably not looking so perturbed.' 

'Mr. Hambleton -' her eyes widened in surprise. 'I thought you would
have left the island once -' 

'Permit me to interrupt, but I find matters too troublesome to allow
imminent departure.'  He raised a hand, glancing at the skies. 'It has 
turned into an unfavourable day, would you mind if I joined you in 
shelter?' 

'Why, not at all.' Veronica regarded him through her shrewd, narrowed
green eyes. 'It is a pleasure to see you though it appears we both have 
our problems.' Clasping her hands together she added, 'Let us see if we 
can share them.' 

‘Veronica, I fear our two problems are one,' Hambleton said sombrely,
taking a seat on the bench beside her. 'I could not leave sensing you 
were in danger -' 

Veronica gave a lop-sided smile. 'Danger, oh come on now, we've been
through this before.' 

'In all honesty Veronica, can you say you are completely comfortable in
Llewellyn's presence?' 

Veronica shrugged. 'There is a considerable difference between not
feeling completely comfortable and feeling vulnerable.' 

Hambleton followed the gulls looping lazily through the air before
turning to Veronica. 'He is a volatile man, much like the weather but 
becoming increasingly so – I have seen it in his eyes – and he has a 
yearning that you do not share.' 

Veronica twisted her palms together. 'Do you think I do not understand
as much? Last evening he made a proposal of marriage that I cannot 
accept, but that does not make him dangerous.' 

Hambleton grunted. 'Your words are of no surprise, but have you told him
outright of your rejection?' 

Veronica hesitated. 'I cannot as yet, I need time; I need to help -'
'Gibbings is a closed book,' Hambleton interrupted with a shake of the 
head. 'It is a dangerous game you play – every moment you spend within 
the castle walls deepens Llewellyn's obsessions and still you will 
never be able to help Gibbings. In your own interest you should leave 
the island forthwith.' 

Veronica hung her head, then raised it slowly to meet Hambleton's gaze.
'I have given myself three days, - no longer.' 

'Then you acknowledge the danger?' 

'I acknowledge only the insecurity,' she replied calmly. Hambleton got
to his feet. 'Then I pray for your welfare. I shall be staying at the 
inn for the time being. Please do not hesitate to visit me there. 

*                               * 

Dorothea had seen what Llewellyn had missed in his eagerness to confront
Veronica in the hall. She had watched Gibbings ram his hoe into the 
ground with force and then leaning into the gale trudge back towards 
the cottage. 

Envisaging the first thorn driven into her brother's flesh Dorothea
downed a double measure of whisky and then draping her coat around her 


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