The Cold Light of Mourning - By Elizabeth J. Duncan Page 0,75

come back I want to have a good look around Marks and Spencer. Be funny if we bumped into Mrs. Lloyd. She always shops there and then treats herself to a nice tea at Badgers. I’ve just realized that I’ve got nothing to wear. Must get my hair done and lose a pound or two, while I’m at it.”

Victoria smiled to herself as they turned in the direction of the pier, with its decorative turquoise wrought-iron balustrades and lattice-work railings.

“Imagine all the people who have made their way along here over the past hundred and some years,” mused Victoria as they stepped onto the pier. “Why do you suppose the Victorians had such a thing about piers? They must have loved them, they built so many of them.”

“Like God and poor people,” laughed Penny. “Maybe piers served as a safe destination for courting couples and were seen as a wholesome place for families to go, although exactly what people did beyond just hang out for a bit, I really don’t know. But look how crowded it is today, and this isn’t even a weekend. So whatever the attraction was, it’s still going on today, apparently.”

They walked on in silence, and then stopped to lean on the railing and admire the views out over Llandudno Bay toward Craig y Don. Seagulls called to one another and swooped over the blue waters of the bay.

After a few moments, they resumed walking, their footsteps making soft sounds on the pier’s wooden planks. A gentle breeze, carrying with it the unmistakable smell of the sea, rippled their hair.

Suddenly, Penny placed her hand on Victoria’s forearm, stopping her.

“What is it? What’s the matter?” Victoria said.

“That woman up ahead, in the head scarf. I think she’s the one who came to the shop that morning for a manicure. The wedding day! I think it’s her!”

“You’re kidding!” said Victoria.

“No, of course I’m not. Why on earth would I kid about something like that? And why do people always say that?” said Penny impatiently.

“Sorry, sorry,” said Victoria. “What should we do?”

“Let’s turn away so she can’t see us,” said Penny, as she shifted to face the railing and bent over pretending to tie her shoelace. She turned her head slightly to look up at Victoria.

“She doesn’t know you. You stand in front of me here and watch and see what she does and tell me what’s happening.”

Victoria swayed slightly to the right to get a better view and to block Penny.

“Right. Well, she’s just standing there looking around,” Victoria said quietly. “She has that anxious look about her that you get when you’re meeting someone. You know, have I come to the right place? Did I get the time right? I think she’s looking for someone. That’s what these piers are good for … meeting people. You know, I’ll meet you on the pier at two o’clock, that kind of thing.”

“Never mind that,” whispered Penny. “What’s happening now?”

“Nothing. She’s just standing there looking around but she seems, oh I don’t know what the word is, furtive. That’s it. She seems furtive. Maybe you should back off a bit in case she sees us. She might recognize you.”

“Good idea,” said Penny as she stood up and sidled a few steps toward shore.

Crowds of people drifted past them in both directions, and a few moments later Victoria let out a small gasp.

“I don’t believe it,” she said. “It can’t be. Don’t look now, but I think it’s …”

Penny turned her head a fraction and watched in amazement as a tall man, wearing blue jeans and a pale green golf shirt, approached the woman. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gently on both cheeks. As he turned to stand beside her, smiling, Penny recognized Emyr Gruffydd.

She closed her eyes for a second and, heart pounding, turned toward Victoria, who looked horrified.

“They’re coming back toward us,” Victoria whispered. “Look out over the water.”

The two women turned their backs to the pier and then, rotating slowly, saw Emyr and the woman begin to make their way casually back toward the town.

“What should we do?” whispered Victoria.

“We’ll have to follow them, and see where they go,” said Penny. “If we phone Gareth now it’ll take too long for him to get here. We want to find out as much as we can. Where’s your mobile?”

Victoria reached into her bag and pulled out her mobile phone. She switched it on, and then groaned.

“I forgot to charge the batteries,” she wailed. “It’s