sweets on sticks might prove popular with the visitors.’
‘That’s a splendid idea,’ he cried. ‘We shall make some as soon as we close. What particular flavour did you have in mind, Miss Carne?’
‘All sorts, Mr Goss. I can just picture the window now, a kaleidoscope of colour to stop the customers and tempt them in.’
‘If it looks half as good as the roses on your cheeks, then we will indeed attract a lot of attention.’ Although he said it lightly, the tone of his voice told her he meant it as a compliment.
Their gaze met and held. Embarrassed, Colenso turned and began tidying the counter. They’d been getting on really well together and recently Garren had been treating her more like an equal than an employee. She sensed his feelings for her were deepening and, although she liked him a lot, there was still that Kitto-shaped hole in her heart.
‘Come on,’ he said, going over and flipping the sign to closed. ‘Let’s have supper and you can tell me about the other ideas you’ve come up with. And don’t say you haven’t, because I’ve heard that brain of yours buzzing away like a bumblebee,’ he added as Colenso opened her mouth to protest. Grinning, she followed him through to the workshop, not minding that a long evening of sweet-making lay ahead. As well as having to keep the stocks replenished, they needed to come up with new ways of attracting customers to stay ahead of the other confectioners in the town.
Over plates of cold ham and pickles, they discussed various colour and flavour combinations.
‘Right, as this is your idea, you can choose the colourings and flavourings while I make the sugar syrup,’ he said as soon as they’d finished eating. A tingle of excitement, which she hadn’t experienced in months, ran through her as she looked along the little bottles, selecting orange, lemon, strawberry and even mint.
‘Mint lollipops? You have the strangest of tastes, Miss Carne.’
‘Or maybe I’m just more adventurous than you, Mr Goss,’ she quipped.
‘Is that so?’ he frowned. He returned to his stirring and was quiet for a few moments. Goodness, she hadn’t offended him, had she? Colenso wondered. But soon he was back to his joking self, and by the end of the evening the workshop was filled with the heady aroma of mixed fruits and mint, and the cooling tables lined with a rainbow of lollipops.
‘A job well done,’ Garren pronounced. ‘Any other bright ideas, Miss Carne?’
‘Yes, actually. I noticed how drab and dreary the paper twists look. If we are to complete with the other confectioners we need to address that. I believe I’ve mentioned the bright cones we used on the Panam. They were always well received by both children and parents alike and they would certainly stand out against the other confectioners’ plain bags. As it’s Sunday tomorrow, I could make some up and place them in the window.’ He shook his head. ‘Oh well, it was only an idea,’ she said, wondering why he was against it.
‘I was shaking my head about you doing it tomorrow,’ Garren explained. ‘Because surprisingly, Miss Carne, I have come up with an idea of my own,’ he told her, eyes gleaming.
‘Oh, and what may I ask are we making tomorrow?’ she asked.
‘Merry,’ he replied.
‘Merry what?’ she asked, wondering if the effects of the colourings had gone to his head.
‘Tomorrow, we are taking ourselves off to make merry.’
That night Colenso slept soundly and for once nightmares didn’t torment her, so that she woke refreshed and eager for the day ahead.
‘Oh, are we not going to the beach?’ she asked when Garren turned towards the countryside.
‘Time for a change,’ he smiled, clearly enjoying his little mystery. ‘Now, let’s relax and enjoy the freedom of being in the great outdoors. Look at that heather, isn’t it a riot of colour? It’s a good job we don’t have mauve colouring or you’d be making purple lollipops next.’
‘And why not?’ she asked. ‘In fact, if we were to mix some red with blue, we could create some.’
‘Mon dieu, the woman is mad,’ he cried, waving his hands in the air. ‘Ah listen, a skylark. Is that not the sound of summer?’ She smiled. He was certainly in good spirits this morning.
They tramped on, venturing deeper into the countryside alive with golden gorse, its coconut fragrance wafting on the breeze.
‘What that we could bottle that aroma,’ Garren sighed. ‘We’d make a fortune.’
‘Fortune favours those who help themselves,’ Colenso told him. ‘At least that’s what Mammwynn used to say.’
‘She was probably right. Oh look, here we are,’ he said as they arrived at a gentle sloping field.
‘Goodness, what are all those?’ she asked, hopping up and down as she stared at the circle of stones.
‘Those, Miss Carne, are known as the Merry Maidens and you’d better not jig around like that,’ he instructed, laughing at her puzzled expression. ‘For I have it on good authority that these were once young girls who were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath.’
‘You’re joking, of course,’ she chuckled.
‘Maybe, maybe not, but it is the Sabbath so I wouldn’t risk it,’ he replied, his grin belying his serious tone. ‘Look at the way they’ve been placed. See how they get smaller from the south-west to the north-east there,’ he said, gesturing with his arm. ‘Some tales suggest they were arranged to mirror the waxing and waning of the moon, though personally I prefer the Merry Maidens story,’ he grinned.
‘Hence making merry today?’ she replied.
‘Absolutely,’ he nodded. ‘And that stone over there tucked into the hedgerow is known as the Gun Rith Standing Stone, which could have formed part of the processional alignment with the Merry Maidens.’
‘So this place was used for sacred ceremonies?’ she asked, gazing around in wonder.
‘Well, it was also known as Dans Meyn, which would suggest that here was used for rituals involving dance.’
‘You can feel the magic in the air. Mammwynn would have loved it here,’ she cried, surprised not to feel the necklace thumping madly at her chest. Then she realized she was no longer wearing it. She would put it back on tonight, she vowed. Suddenly, she became aware of Garren gazing at her intently.
‘I can feel magic in the air too,’ he said quietly. ‘And I’m hoping it will look favourably on what I am about to ask.’ He swallowed hard. ‘Colenso, I have loved you from the moment I first saw you standing all bedraggled in my workshop. Would you … could you consider becoming my wife?’
‘Oh,’ she gasped, her eyes widening.
‘I’m reliable and would always look after you,’ he declared, taking her hand in his. ‘We both love children and I could provide you and them with a good home, so … what do you say?’
‘Well, you’ve taken me by surprise,’ she stammered.
‘I
