Once upon a time, on a rocky island with enchantment under the ocean ... Cadence Bell left the windswept Northern Isles and his parents’ inn for the theaters and royal masques and glitter of Londre, swearing he’d make his fortune as a playwright and poet, trading fish stew and rain for fame and adoration and a place at the Queen’s Court. Now his parents are gone and Cade’s inheritance brings him back home, where he’d never wanted to return. But magic lurks beneath the waves, a stray pearl might be a key to another world, and even the quiet local schoolteacher has secrets of his own. Jeremiah Carver never meant to hide secrets. But he promised to tell no one about the other world he’s seen, and he keeps his word. Even if that means concealing magic from Cadence Bell. Which is difficult, since Cade’s not only a dazzling literary success, but also the person Jeremiah’s loved from afar since their years-ago childhood. And he’s afraid he’s falling for Cade all over again now. When Cadence falls under the siren spell of the ocean’s magic, Jeremiah has to make a choice and return to a world he’s left behind once before to rescue his heart from the sea.

Cadence and the Pearl

Harry these days was soft and small and neat as a sparrow, older the way they’d all grown older, with lines around his eyes. He still had thick dark hair, like Miri’s, and tidy shopkeeper’s hands. He’d offered reassurances, at first, about not knowing, about possibilities, about Jer resurfacing; he’d made cocoa, and stayed quiet, after some time. The quiet was better; Richard had not the faintest idea how to talk to someone wanting to comfort him. Not ever, and not at all in this.


Harry’s competent hands and restful low voice could not help. Richard could say nothing.


The hours had ticked on. The day, for the rest of them, had needed to continue; fishing-boats had gone out, market-stalls had opened, the postal delivery had wended its way up to The Bell. Life, out of necessity, moved on.


And then, as the rain sleeted down, boats had spun around in the waves. The harbor rang with confusion. Waves foamed and frothed and whirlpooled where they shouldn’t.


Chapter 66