ELEMENTS: Acquiesce by Kathryn Andrews (snow like ashes series .TXT) 📕

“That’s the stairway to Heaven,” said Breck, “so my mother told me.”

Cordelia rested her cheek against Breck’s shirt and smiled a little.

“You’re freezing,” said Breck.

“I’m fine, really.”

“At least come and dry off by the fire. Your clothes are wet through.”

They squelched their way into the hut where Breck removed his shirt and hung it by the fire. Cordelia knew he was strong but she wasn’t expecting him to be quite so muscular, especially since most of the people in town were fading away to nothing. He caught her looking. Embarrassed, she quickly averted her eyes.

“What’s the matter? Haven’t you seen a man’s body before?”

Cordelia blushed and cleared her throat. “It’s not that. I just wasn’t expecting you to strip off. I hope you’re not expecting me to do the same.”

Breck laughed. “If you want to stay in wet clothes that’s up to you, but you should at least sit by the fire.”

Cordelia watched in astonishment as Breck proceeded to remove his boots and trousers. He certainly knew how to lift a girl’s spirits but she wasn’t going to tell him that, especially since they’d just buried Jerry’s family. She perched on the stool next to the fire where Keeva had been sitting.

“Tell me about her,” Cordelia said.

“Who?”

“Keeva. What’s she like?”

“Ah, she’s alright. She can be a bit of a madam but that’s because she fancies me.”

“Her own cousin?”

“Aye,” Breck smiled.

“I suppose it’s quite fashionable to marry your cousin. Queen Victoria did after all.”

Breck shrugged. “I’ve never been much of a fashion expert.”

“Would you?”

“Would I what?”

“Marry your cousin?”

Breck smiled again, this time with a glint in his eye. “I have eyes for someone else.”

“Cordelia! Cordelia!” shouted her friends.

Cordelia jumped up from the stool and peered out from the hut. Lana and the twins were walking along the track.

“I have to go.”

“Wait!” Breck pulled Cordelia’s arm and spun her round.

With one hand he pulled her in close, with the other he gently lifted her chin. It all happened quite fast but in that moment time seemed to stand still. Cordelia hesitantly rested her hand on Breck’s naked chest. She felt her breathing quicken as blood pulsed through her veins. All the other sounds diminished, the waves breaking on the rocks, the pitter patter of rain on the tin roof, her friends calling her name, all drowned out by the deafening sound of her own heart beat. She looked into his eyes, trying hard to control her breathing so she didn’t breathe hot air all over him. As he leaned in closer, Cordelia’s eyes settled on his lips. She followed his lips as they edged closer, until she was almost cross-eyed and then he kissed her. Cordelia closed her eyes as Breck’s lips pressed hard against hers. She pulled away briefly and breathed in his scent, a mixture of sweat, horse and turf. Breck cupped her face with both hands and pulled her in for a second kiss, biting her lower lip gently. Cordelia was thoroughly enjoying the moment, a feeling she didn’t know existed, until something forced them apart.

“Ouch!” cried Cordelia touching her lip to check for blood. “Did you bite me?”

“No, no, I’m sorry,” said Breck, gently moving her hand away to check if she was okay.

“Cordelia!” called her friends again.

“I’m sorry, I have to go,” said Cordelia and she walked briskly towards the track.

“We’ve been looking for you all over,” said Lana.

“We were worried about you,” said Nerissa.

“Where were you anyway?” asked Masika.

“Oh, I took shelter from the rain in that old shack.”

“There’s a fire burning in there,” said Nerissa.

“Is someone else in there?” asked Lana.

“Just an old friend,” lied Cordelia.

Lana looked worried. “Do they know about us?”

“No,” insisted Cordelia, telling the truth this time. “Come on, we’d better head back, it’s getting late.”

As they marched over the cliff tops, Cordelia felt now was as good a time as any to raise the subject of Morwen.

“Have you heard anymore about Morwen?”

“How do you know about that?” asked Lana. “You’ve been out all afternoon.

“Missing in action like Morwen,” jibed Nerissa.

“Are you sure it wasn’t Morwen in the shack with you?” asked Masika.

“As if,” said Cordelia, slightly confused by their comments.

“Morwen didn’t turn up for afternoon lessons so we had Marilla all afternoon,” explained Lana. “Nobody knows where she is, not even father.”

Cordelia stopped walking. “Are you messing with me?” she asked.

“God’s honest truth,” said Lana. “There’s no sign of her.”

“With a bit of luck she’s gone for good,” said Masika.

Concerned, Cordelia asked, “Do you remember what happened just before lunch?”

“It was just a bit of snow,” said Masika. “I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you.”

EIGHT

BRECK

When Cordelia and her friends arrived back at the lighthouse most of the students were leaving the dining hall. As they walked past, it was obvious that they too had no recollection of the morning’s events. Cordelia squeezed her way through the hustle and bustle to the doorway of the dining hall. As she suspected, Marilla wasn’t there.

Cordelia patted her clothes, “They’re still wet from the rain, I think I’ll go and change.”

“We’ll be in the library if you want to meet us later,” said Lana.

“Maybe,” replied Cordelia and she made her escape.

She walked along the crowded tunnel to her chamber where once inside she closed the door and leaned her back against it, taking a moment to digest it all. To collect her thoughts. To breathe. She checked her lip in the mirror; there was no mark. Realising there was no time to lose, Cordelia quickly changed, pulling her clothes off and flinging them into a heap on the floor. She grabbed a dry skirt and stepped into it. Then she slipped on a clean blouse, fastened her belt and slumped down on the bed to pull on her boots over her damp socks. How she wanted to lie there, to curl up with her pillow and be alone for a while. Determined to find out