Triskele BOOKS

Gil l ian E. Hamer

THE CHARTER

First Edition, June 2012.

Copyright © 2012 by Gillian E. Hamer

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any

means (including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher, except in the

case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For

permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” as the email address below.

Cover design: J.D.Smith.

Printed in the United Kingdom by Lightning Source.

Published by G.E Hamer.

All enquiries to contact@gillianhamer.com.

ISBN 978-0-9571932-0-8

Acknowledgements

Heartfelt thanks to every single person who in some small way has helped make The Charter happen.

Huge thanks to my mum and dad for introducing me to North Wales and for all the opportunities you’ve given me. With thanks to Adrian, for his loyalty, patience, and for being my anchor in often stormy seas. And to my agent, Shelley Powers, for the trust she has shown in me, and her superb advice and commitment.

I’d also like to thank all the talented writers at the Writing Asylum who have given their time and energy in improving this story from its very humble beginnings. Particular mention must go to Kat Troth, for her invaluable support and Anglesey knowledge; to Sheila Bugler for her wisdom, warmth and enthusiasm; and to my wonderful muse Amanda Hodgkinson for understanding me. Thanks also to the uber-talented Jane Dixon-Smith for … everything!

And finally to my partners in crime, my fellow Triskys. Liza Perrat and Jill Marsh. I could not have done this without you, ladies – together we’ve turned the dream into a reality.

Thank you.

Prologue

October 26 1859

How can it be?I stand on the edge of a high cliff. Holding back hair

that whips across my face, I shield my eyes and squint through the stinging wind. Lifeless bodies dash against the rocks beneath me.

The ship disappears beneath the surface, battered by one huge wave after another. Rain mixes with tears that burn my eyes, and I feel as if I have woken from a nightmare of such terror my whole world has become horribly distorted. I know the sea. I have lived with the ocean all my life. I have been raised to respect Mother Nature, and to underestimate at my peril the power of the ocean. But I have never witnessed such a storm as this.

How can it be?I have no memory of reaching this cliff. The last thing I

remember is being wrapped in mother’s arms on the rolling deck as my da strapped a belt around my waist.

“Women and children first,” he said. “Now, hush! You keep your hand on this belt; it’s all we own in the world, my angel. My precious angel. You keep it safe for Da. And you take good care

6

The Charter

of your mam. I’ll see you on the other side.”Cold lips press into my cheek. Calloused palms cup my face

for the merest of seconds. The other side of where? I want to ask. But he’s gone and the ship is lurching violently beneath my feet.

“Da! Help … help me!” A sound like a gunshot rips through the air. “Port anchor’s let go!” someone shouts. “Sweet Lord! Brace

the yeards, lads, starboard won’t take the strain, else!”I bury my head in my mother’s bosom; she wraps her shawl

around me. The shrieking wind carries away the sounds of crying children, sobbing women, men barking orders. I cover my ears as strong hands lift me, push me towards the lifeboat. I grasp my mother’s hand tighter.

Bang!“Starboard anchor’s gone! We’re heading for the rocks! Get

Captain Taylor!”Seconds later, a ripping noise shakes the whole ship. The

wooden deck shudders, and the bow gives out a loud moan. The ship tilts and I lose my footing, screaming as I slide towards the inky blackness, pulled by the weight of the leather pockets about my waist.

Water engulfs me.Coldness engulfs me.Darkness engulfs me.How can it be?I watch from the cliff edge as a pale dawn breaks. No golden

rising sun, no blue skies, no welcoming warmth – just a gradual fading of blackness into misty grey.

The Royal Charter – the steamship that has carried my family from Hobson’s Bay, Australia to a ‘better life’ in England – is still being pounded by the storm. With every massive wave that crashes over her, I expect the ship to disappear, but after each surge of the tide she reappears as if trapped by the jagged rocks and unable to find release.

Bodies pulled and tossed by the furious tide, pushed inland

7

Gillian E. Hamer

one minute and dragged back into the white foam the next. Men I’d seen issuing orders; women I’d spoken to; children I’d spent many hours with over the past weeks. I close my ears to the screams and cries that circle my head like squawking gulls.

I stand there for seconds, minutes, hours, days … I know not. The spray of the ocean is on my face. I hear the roar in my

ears. I taste the salt on my lips. But I know it cannot be. I know this cannot be real. The truth hits me. Bile fills my mouth; I double over and

retch. When I straighten, I stand in silence and calmness. The storm

still rages all around me, but I am protected. As if in the eye of the hurricane, my own space is quiet and still.

The answer is suddenly clear.My name is Angelina Stewart. I am eleven years old.And I am dead.

Chapter One

November 2011

“Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust – in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection into eternal life.”

As the breeze carried away Reverend Thomas’s closing words, Sarah Morton raised her coat collar and stepped towards her father’s open grave. Knowing what was expected of her, but hating the ceremony of it all, she flashed a look at the mourners, lined up like crows on a power line. She shuddered and gave a weak smile, hoping to see even the tiniest glimmer of warmth in one of the pale faces. She saw none. They were all strangers, even the faces she vaguely recognised. Nothing had been voiced loud enough for Sarah to hear, of course, but she could well imagine the whispers and knowing looks passing among the small group.

The plaque on the mahogany casket gleamed as Sarah bent and lifted a handful of earth, pressing her fingers into the cool dampness before letting it drop. It rattled the coffin lid, making her wince. She lifted her other hand, kissed the single red rose and allowed it to fall.

“Goodbye, Father. I love you,” she whispered.

10

The Charter

It was terrible to think of her father lying inside that wooden box, cold and empty, lifeless as carved marble. He wasn’t there, she knew that. He’d be the first to tell her he’d already gone to a better place … but he wasn’t here to ask.

And it was his name, Owen Williams, (1942 – 2011) embossed on that small, bronze square that moved her now more than anything. It made it too real. It hurt too much. Seeing his name inscribed there as if he’d won some prize or been presented with a trophy.

She turned away, unable to bear the rattle of soil on the coffin lid, like the tapping of her father’s fingernails trying to attract her attention. An icy tide rushed through her veins, and she stumbled as her heels snagged in the green baize surrounding the grave. The ground spun suddenly nearer. She squealed, biting down on the noise, stirred by a wave of panic. Strong hands grabbed her elbows, pulling her away from the grave mouth.

“It’s okay, Sarah. Come on, now.” Warm breath and the reassuring voice of her husband

grounded her. Her head swam with the aromas of roses, lilies and freshly tilled earth, and the overwhelming need to cry burst to the surface, even as she tried to regain her composure.

“Take me home, Dom. Get me out of here. Please.”Wrapped in his arms, she allowed herself to be led away.

Keeping her eyes fixed on her patent leather boots, she concentrated on each step – but as she stumbled along, she couldn’t stop herself snatching another glance at the grave beside her father’s. She saw the grey marble, with years of green mould along edges that had once been white. The gold lettering had faded, so it was unreadable in parts, not that she had any desire to read the name. A clump of blackened flowers hung limply from a rusty wire vase, like twisted fingers reaching through from the earth beneath.

Dom’s arm tightened across her shoulders. Sarah knew he thought it was grief – accepting, if not fully understanding, the strength of her emotions. And partly it was. But mostly it was a

11

Gillian E. Hamer

sense of deep regret that made breathing, walking – functioning – difficult for her right now.

There were mumbled condolences and passing handshakes that Dominic handled with quiet authority. The weak, damp hand extended by Reverend Thomas offered little in the way of comfort, but Sarah managed a watery smile that failed to reach her eyes. She closed her ears to the meaningless string of words. Not once had she ever found solace in the church, and today was unlikely to be the day she found religion.

She kept her head down, chin tucked into her collar, trying her best to be invisible. No doubt someone would comment on her ignorance. For sure, it would be all around the village by nightfall that the young Williams lass was nothing more than a stuck-up London snob these days, too good for the likes of Moelfre. But she really didn’t care, not now. She was way past caring.

The strength of her antipathy astonished her and she questioned why she felt the need to protect Dom. Probably because she could imagine the hissed remarks. Back for a few short hours, and scarily, she could already see through Moelfre eyes. The cut of his navy suit – which even if they didn’t know was Armani, screamed expense – the Rolex, the sparkling smile and deep tan. Everything about Dom’s appearance that made Sarah’s pulse quicken, would count against him to this unforgiving breed. He was an outsider; a foreigner in their eyes, to be viewed with equal measures of suspicion and scorn. But then, so was she now, she remembered with a feeling of relief.

They reached the front of the small church. Sarah’s breathing returned to normal, calmed by the sight of the slate roof glistening in the damp autumn morning, and spiders’ webs, that laced across the ancient stonework like delicate ice crystals. A peal of bells rang out the hour; the chimes snatched by the wind and carried out to sea. Above the jutting spire, the sky hung in ashen ripples over mist that clung to the valley, and in the far distance the peaks of Snowdonia rose above low cloud. Even on

12

The Charter

a bleak day, the views across the island were enough to take her breath.

Sarah’s love of the island and its beauty had always worked in direct conflict with how she felt about her father. She was shocked to find the breakdown of the relationship still hurt more than a decade later. Surprised by how much she’d missed Anglesey. It felt good to be home, despite the circumstance.

Dom guided Sarah along the cobbled pathway, holding her tightly as she regained her strength. Her legs worked on their own, ploughing through the autumn leaves, the sanctuary of their BMW taking an age to arrive. She rummaged in her bag and fished out the keys. Soon, she’d be safe, cocooned inside, the outside world shut away.

“Mrs Morton! Excuse me, wait up. Mrs Morton!”Sarah turned to see a man in his late thirties, tubby with

ginger hair, trotting down the path. The bulk of his body strained against the shiny grey material of his double-breasted suit as he jogged. He swapped his briefcase into his left hand and came to a stop in front of them.

“So … so sorry to intrude at such a time. My sincere condolences.” He breathed deeply. Reaching into his inside pocket, he produced a business card. “Adrian Carter. Your father’s solicitor. I have a matter of some urgency to discuss with you and I wondered if I might arrange an appointment?”

Sarah took the card; the address was in Llangefni. From memory, her father had always used an old, established practice in Holyhead. He’d not mentioned anything about changing solicitors.

She cleared her throat and kept her voice low, aware of the dispersing mourners, who seemed to have slowed their departure. “Yes, obviously, the Will reading. But I’d appreciate leaving it a few days –”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible, Mrs Morton. Your father left specific instructions. As I said, it’s a matter of urgency. So, could I expect you in my office at eleven tomorrow?”

13

Gillian E. Hamer

Sarah met Dominic’s eyes. He shrugged and nodded.“Okay, yes. We’ll see you tomorrow,” she replied.“Oh.” Carter flashed a look at Dominic and back again. ”I’m

afraid you have to attend alone.” He returned the briefcase to his right hand as he backed away. “Very sorry and all that, but it was one of your father’s requests. You have the address, Mrs Morton. I’ll see you in the morning. Good day to you.”

With that he marched towards the car park, scattering the last of the lingering mourners. Their gazes joined hers as he squeezed himself into a shiny green MG and reversed out onto the road.

Sarah re-read the business card as she settled into the car seat.

Carter, Carter & Sons (Solicitors – Cyfreithwyr) Llangefni. “Okay now, babe?”Pulling off her winter gloves, she ran the back of her fingers

across Dom’s cheek, hoping to erase some of the worry lines embedded there.

“Get me through today and I will be. I promise.”

* * *

Red watched the BMW speed away, engine throbbing loud enough to dislodge late migrating starlings from the trees above. It sounded so out of place here in the middle of nowhere – even the cows paused in their chewing, turning to watch the car racing past their field. He listened, eyes closed, head tilted back, revelling in the throaty roar until it finally died out in the distance. He’d always wanted a car like that, dreamed of it, in fact. But if he had sixty or seventy thou in loose change, he wouldn’t choose a Beamer; he’d go for something classier. An Aston or a Maserati perhaps, but maybe still a convertible. He’d always fancied the thought of a soft-top – zooming along the country lanes with the sun on his shoulders and a hot bird at his side. One day.

14

The Charter

He took a last drag on his cigarette, ground the stub underfoot, and stepped from the shade of regimented fir trees that marked the western boundary of the graveyard. Other than the call of a distant pheasant in the woods, the only noise came from the two gravediggers, already covering old Owen in a good few feet of rich Welsh soil.

The scrape and chink of their spades, and the occasional phlegmy cough, kept Red company as he skirted the church car park, heading for the stile that took him across Caer Felin and out onto the side road where he’d parked. He didn’t think it a good idea to leave his car among the regular mourners’, and he’d congratulated himself on his decision even more so when he’d seen the chunky dude in the green MG pull up. His first impression – police – was soon discarded when he saw the briefcase. Solicitor was his second guess. But from what he knew of matters of the law – admittedly not that much – it seemed a bit unusual to turn up at a client’s funeral. He’d strained his ears to pick up a snippet of the conversation – along with half the village, nosey sods – but to no avail. He had, however, made a mental note of the car registration, so he should be able to put that to use later.

He unbuttoned the collar of his dark grey shirt as he followed the public footpath, dodging muddy puddles and slippery leaves. He was very particular about his clothes; he might not own that many decent pairs of shoes, but the ones he did he travelled all the way to Chester to buy, and he didn’t fancy getting them covered in mud. He detested funerals. Hated the whole experience of either genuine or pretend grief. He knew some people, usually the old duffers who’d nothing else to do in life other than count the passing of friends and associates, who made it a virtual hobby. Not him. He’d only been to two before today – and that was two too many.

He stepped out onto the lane, pausing to wipe his shoes carefully on the grass verge, and headed for his car. He hoped it had been worth the effort. He’d had no more than twenty

15

Gillian E. Hamer

seconds alone with the husband while Sarah was talking to Dreary Thomas. But he’d pushed his mobile number into the outstretched hand as he’d offered his condolences, then quickly hissed the words he’d spent all night rehearsing into the guy’s ear, and shook hands with a meaningful look as he backed away and disappeared behind the vestry.

He’d seen the anxious glances trying to search him out in the crowd during the interment, but he’d made sure to blend into the shadows. He just hoped the guy got the message; he’d gone out of his way to appear as unthreatening as possible – no easy feat for a bloke like him. But there’d been a flash of something like panic in the other man’s eyes. Still, no point in worrying. He’d know soon enough. If he didn’t get a call later that day, then he’d have no option but to put Plan B into action – and who could blame him then if things went wrong and people got hurt? It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried Plan A first, was it?

He climbed behind the wheel and lit up another ciggie. If nothing else, at least he’d had the opportunity to see Sarah Williams for the first time in God knows how many years. She still had the ability to render him speechless, even after all this time. No other woman, before or since, had made him feel fourteen again, made his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth so that words failed him even if he plucked up the courage to attempt speech. He recalled that deceptive fragility about her from her teenage years – just before she smacked you in the gob or aimed a kick at your nuts.

He smiled at the memories; he’d teased the bejesus out of that girl, he knew that, but only because he fancied her rotten and was desperate to make her notice him. The porcelain complexion, huge blue eyes and glossy blonde hair that he’d dreamed of grabbing hold of in the height of passion. Christ, she was head and shoulders above anything else he’d ever seen on the island. Just a shame she had inexplicable taste in men …

Red pulled his mobile from his pocket and checked the screen, just in case. No missed calls. Patience, my boy, he

16

The Charter

warned himself. Play this right, and his Maserati dream could be one step closer. He opened the window and blew out a stream of smoke, recalling Sarah’s tears at the graveside, the few words she’d spoken in church about her father. A shiver ran through him. Christ, she still had it. Whatever it was.

He hoped she’d come to understand he was doing this for her, to protect her and the family name. He’d do anything for Sarah Williams. Anything. He checked his mobile one last time before dropping it onto the passenger seat and starting the engine.

Come on, boyo, don’t let me down. Don’t let Sarah down. Ring, dammit. Ring.