Page 58 of Beloved Beast

“With everything I am. We will be reunited soon. I will see to it.”

Marcus fell into step next to him. “Until then, it should give us time to get to know each other.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes, it is. Now, let’s go and pick up your belongings. After, you’ll come to the estate and stay a few nights to get your bearings and allow me to tend your wound. It needs further attention.” Marcus slapped Luke on the back. “I’ve a brandy almost as old as you, and Mrs. Potter, my cook, can fix us a late supper. I have fine bullock steaks I managed to purchase on the black market.”

Luke smiled. “Marcus, I think this is the start of a wonderful friendship.”

Chapter 24

July 13, 1943

Halifax, Nova Scotia

During the past five months, Gillian had experienced many emotional ups and downs. After saying good-bye to Fred Parker in Liverpool, she spent the entirety of her voyage in her cabin, even having meals in her room. She felt too miserable and heartbroken to venture out on deck or interact with the other passengers, though she was happy to hear Fred and Joan had fallen in love. Whirlwind romances for them all—who could have predicted it?

As promised, two agents met her at Pier 21 at Halifax Harbor when she disembarked, one from MI-6, the other a female officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Gillian particularly liked Miss Catherine Keyes’s friendly but officious manner, which made the adjustment a little easier to bear.

She remained in Halifax for one month, living at a small lodging house on Salter Street. Since staying in her room and pouting no longer held any appeal, she began to venture out. Walking about the downtown streets, visiting the many shops along Barrington Street and taking afternoon tea at The Green Lantern became part of her daily ritual.

The port city bustled with excitement, but Gillian soon learned it was overcrowded due to its new significance as “the most important port in the world” and the center for all North Atlantic fleets. Sailors and soldiers filled the streets, which made the queues at restaurants and the cinema daunting. Prices were high, no doubt because local businesses could jack them up due to demand.

Because of all this, Gillian was told she would be relocating to a small town outside the city limits, about an hour and a half’s drive.

She remembered the day clearly. Miss Keyes stopped at a petrol station in the village of Elmsdale to buy a couple of gallons of gasoline. Gillian got out of the car to take in the sun and fresh air when a 1930s Buick pulled up at the pump next to her. A young lad jumped out of the car, followed by a tall, lean man. In heavily accented English he said, “Gaza, go to the bathroom fast, okay?”

The boy smiled. “Yes, Papa.”

The child scampered off and the man smiled and tipped his hat politely to her. Gillian returned the greeting. It was easy to forget a war still raged overseas, especially during quiet periods like this. But the man and his son, obviously from some part of Europe considering the accent, reminded Gillian of why she had joined the war effort. Why the war was fought in the first place. It was for them. To have a better life.

Though disappointed to be leaving Halifax, Gillian soon grew accustomed to life in Truro. Her small flat was comfortable, and she had a clerical position at the hospital. Life settled into a comfortable sameness she sorely needed.

Luke did not leave her thoughts the entire time. Her first night on the ship, she found the note he’d slipped into her suitcase. Short and to the point: ‘Escape me? Never—Beloved! While I am I, and you are you, so long as the world contains us both. Me the loving and you the loth. While the one eludes, must the other pursue.’ I love you, Gillian, and will see you soon.

She’d recognized the Robert Browning poem, could imagine Luke’s beautiful voice reading it to her. During the next few months, she kept the slip of paper under her pillow as she crossed off the days on the calendar. The loving words gave her strength and banished doubts when they formed. Would he meet her at the Public Gardens? Perhaps his ardor had cooled with the separation.

No. Not after what they shared. The experiences they endured. Together. The passion flared with an almighty heat, the love that quickly grew and took root deep inside them both. She would not entertain any further misgivings.

Gillian did as he asked, thinking long and hard about what their future may bring. It would be difficult to age and he not. Her scenario of him sitting by her bedside as old age overtook her would probably come to pass. But she decided forgoing decades of loving Luke because she would grow old without him was not a good enough reason to push him away.

With the money the British government settled on her and her salary, she obtained a secondhand motor car. It took a while to become used to driving on the opposite side of the road, but at least she had a vehicle for her trip to Halifax.

On the morning of July thirteenth, she arrived at the Public Gardens and parked on Summer Street. It was three hours yet before their meeting, so Gillian walked about, enjoying the sunny summer day. The seventeen-acre site surrounded by black wrought iron fencing was breathtaking, a Victorian garden that bespoke of the era. A suitable setting for their meeting considering Luke’s past.

Besides the many flower beds, there were impressive fountains, such as the one commemorating the Boer War and World War I. And Queen Victoria herself. Birdsong filled the air, the gentle laughter of the other patrons either walking the paths or sitting on the many park benches. Along with the native flowers and plants were sub-tropical and exotic species she’d never seen or heard of.

Minutes before three o’clock, she found herself standing before the bandstand, her heart pounding at a fierce rate. She touched her hair. Would he even recognize her? It was a good deal longer and dyed a few shades lighter than her own color. She styled it differently, using the popular rolls and pin curls.

She began to pace, wringing her hands nervously. Today she chose to wear a floral dress and light sweater with a small clutch purse tucked under her arm. Again, a style he’d never seen her wear. What if he didn’t come? How could she contact him, if at all?

Looking up, her breath caught in her throat. Love surged in her heart. Luke stood several feet away on the path, his hands in his pockets, a crooked smile curling about his lips. He wore a light gray suit with a white shirt and gray striped tie, but no hat, his wavy black hair ruffling from the summer breeze. The smile grew wider.

He had come to her. At last.

* * * *

Luke’s heart soared with joy. Gillian was here, and how beautiful she looked. He nearly didn’t recognize her, but found the lighter shade of blond complimented her luminescent skin. Already his body responded, and he was tempted to escort her to a shaded spot, lean her against a tree, and take her right there. Easy.