The Shock Box: A Gothic Romance (Templesea Tales)
Page 20
"I don't think my father would like the house nowadays," Branwell said, smiling.
"That's a good thing. From what I can tell he was fond of shadows and darkness."
Branwell gave her a long, sweet kiss.
"I love you too," he said. "In the light and the shade."
Adeline touched her lips to his, her heart swelling. "I'm glad you came out of the shadows," she said.
Chapter 51
The ship, Hermaphrodite, sailed in on September winds blowing from the south-west.
Beneath Sea Witch Cove, Lydia bade farewell to her daughters. They had chosen not to swim in the old way, out into the wild oceans and to the far corners of the watery earth. Instead, they were to take the ship to the Aegean. They planned to spend a few seasons cavorting with a group of sea nymphs and satyrs who lived around the Greek islands and then they'd decide where to go next.
Lydia sat on the rock at the entrance to her cave, watching the sunset walking over the waters in golden shoes. She sipped a glass of blue lotus wine, wiping away tears with a kerchief embroidered with shells.
It was always sad to see them go. Yet she had to stay home where her work was here, to guard and protect the little town of Templesea.
Many would come and many would go but she would remain, because she'd always been there for as far back as records went and further back than that. She was older than the buildings which sprang up year by year, almost as old as the stone circle on the Black Dog Hills, and she was a part of the sea, the guardian of the temple.
And a guide. To the souls with a connection to this strange beautiful place. To those not yet born, the children who grew, and to those who died and were buried in this soil.
She dived into the cool waters, washing away her tears as her legs fused into a tail and she became that which she had always been.
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Afterword
If you enjoyed this book it would be lovely if you could leave a review. And if you have done so, thank you, dear reader. They make all the difference.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank everyone who supported me during a time of illness while I was preparing this manuscript. Especially to Tania and Julie, who kept me inspired despite everything.
About the Author
Jill Harris is an emerging author in a variety of genres. This is Jill’s fourth book in the Templesea Romance series.
One of them is an exclusive short story only to be found on Jill’s website at www.jillharrisbooks.org.
Also by Jill Harris
Templesea tales…
Song of the Siren
An Experiment With Flight
Love is the Way [and exclusive short story only available from www.jillharrisbooks.org]
Fantasy science fiction…
Ash
Ishi
Coming soon:
Epic fantasy romance…
Tourniquet