Seacliff

Chapter five: The mysterious stranger

James turned his head and his strawberry mouth closed in. Their lips met briefly, somewhere between trance and truth, but in another instant, he was pushing her aside. Saoirse gasped for breath upon resurfacing to reality and jumped to her feet away from him.

"I'm sorry, forgive me," she mumbled, "I don't know what's come over me..."

But she covered her mouth, because she did know what had come over her.

It had been five years since her husband had left their home for the last time, four since his passing. In all that time, Saoirse had not taken another man to her bed and the abstinence, mingled with wretched melancholy and lonely exhaustion, had made her desperate.

So desperate, she'd lunged for a kiss from a man she strongly suspected to be queer.

"I should go," James said, gathering his coat and hat. "Do my rounds."

"Yes, of course." Saoirse walked him to the front hall. "I do apologise, that was – "

"No, don't." He wore a pitiful smile as he twisted the brim of his hat in his hands. "It's... it's my fault, too, I..." He gulped. "You must know, Saoirse, I never meant to confuse you, I do genuinely enjoy your company, only – "

"I know," she interceded, "I do know, James, which is why I hope you'll accept my apology – "

A sharp scream cut her short and they both rushed into the front room to find Sorley up on his feet, crying and shrieking.

"Sorley! Sorley, man, it's Dr Mortimer, you're all right – "

Though as James tried to approach the wounded man, Sorley shoved him aside, knocking him over.

"James!"

Saoirse crouched by the doctor crumpled in a corner of the room. He'd fallen with a worrisome thud, but he swatted her off, instructing her to pacify the perplexed patient instead. Sorley staggered around the room, groaning and growling. Saoirse stood herself at a safe distance in front of him.

"You're all right," she told Sorley in the most soothing voice she could muster. "Hey, listen to me..." His eyes flicked to her fingers beckoning him. "You're all right now, you'll be fine. I've got you, you're safe."

He took a cautious step forward. She dared to inch towards him, too, holding up her hands to show she meant no harm.

"I've got you, big man. You're with Sister Saoirse now, you'll be safe. Upon my word," her voice trembled with emotion, "you will be safe, if it's the last thing I do."

Her palms cupped his tear-stained cheeks and he folded in her arms, taking her to the floor with him as he sobbed at her chest.

*

Sorley couldn't recall how he'd ended up injured, or at sea, or anything else before all that. He didn't even know his own name, let alone Aunt Aoife or Dr Mortimer. Though he did remember manners.

"I'm sorry," Sorley told the doctor once they'd all sat down with cups of tea, "did I hurt you?"

"No, not in the slightest."

Sorley fidgeted with his teacup, too little for his large hands. Saoirse relieved him of its burden and the grateful smile he gave her broke her heart. He looked pitiful, wrapped up in a kilt that was dropping off his shoulders, his head bandaged, and his big, round eyes, black as coal, fogged over because of the pieces missing from his memory.

"Aren't you hungry?" she asked him. "I could fix you some breakfast. I know I could use some."

"I – yes, thank you, I am hungry."

"Stay put. Lie down, if you like. I'll bring the food over."

He stretched out on the settee as soon as she stood up and James followed her into the kitchen.

"We need to take him to a hospital," the doctor muttered.

"No, we do not."

"Saoirse, this is serious. His head wound must be worse than you expected."

"With all due respect, doctor," she busied herself with pots and pans, "I do believe I've seen more head wounds than you. Unless he's running a fever – which you have confirmed yourself he's not – there's nothing a hospital can do that I cannot. Besides," she turned to look him square in the eye, "no one must know about him. Aunt Aoife willed it so. Why that is, I have yet to find out, but until then, we do as she says."

James knew better than to question her extensive experience – or Aunt Aoife's immortal wisdom.

"All right. But if anything happens, you ring me right away and I'm driving him to Edinburgh. Understood?"

"Yes, yes, now go on," she ushered him away. "You're already late for your rounds. Tell those nosey chatterboxes I have a cold – or better yet, the flu. That'll keep them away if they're feeling curious."

"I'll think of something," James conceded. "And, Saoirse..."

Saoirse raised her eyebrows at him in lieu of a reply.

The doctor blushed, clearing his throat. "Don't let him fool you. He's not as... as innocent as he looks."

Saoirse suppressed her amusement. "I appreciate the concern, doctor, but I'm sure I will be fine. The poor man can't even remember his own name."

James's jaw twitched. "One can never be too careful." His lips fluttered into a smile as he fixed his hat on his head. "I'll see myself out. Good day, Saoirse."

She watched him go and, shaking her head, resumed breakfast preparations. Sorley was already snoring when she brought out the tray.