‘It may take a while to choose the house, now that we no longer have my uncle’s guiding hand.’
Harry grinned. ‘We’ll just have to cope, won’t we?’
‘I’m confident that we shall.’
‘So am I.’
She met his gaze and they both laughed. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement and glanced round. Then her smile widened further.
‘Harry, look!’
He followed the line of her gaze. ‘Dolphins! Well, I’m blessed!’
The graceful creatures were no more than twenty yards off, keeping pace with the ship, cleaving the water with effortless ease. Elena was enchanted.
‘They’re beautiful! I hoped we might see some but I wasn’t sure we really would.’
He grinned. ‘They must have come especially to greet us.’
‘I think they have.’
‘Sailors believe they bring good fortune.’
‘Well, they should know.’ She glanced up at him. ‘We should take this as a good omen.’
Harry put his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. ‘I do, my love. Very much so.’
As he watched the leaping dolphins Harry felt his heart lighten, as though the last remnants of a great shadow had dissolved. While he would never forget the events of the past he had come to terms with them at last, as he had come to terms with self-knowledge. All he had to do now was move on and embrace his future. Good omens told him so.