Across the Sands of Time Read Online Free Page A

pile of papers.
    For several minutes they worked in silence, sifting, sorting, placing the documents into separate piles. Dwelling houses, farmsteads, holdings, shop premises. All at once Thea let out a startled little gasp.
    â€˜Look at this! It says The Harbour House . It must be a set of deeds to the place Geoff and I are going to do up. I thought Dad had them all.’
    â€˜It’s easy for these things to go astray, particularly when the building’s got a bit of age about it. Is it all there?’
    She sorted hastily through her pile and found another page. Dominic did the same and came up with the final section.
    â€˜Well now, and isn’t that a turn up for the books?’
    â€˜Isn’t it just!’ More excited by the minute, Thea ran her eye over the faded copperplate with its stilted wording. ‘It’s headed The Harbour House School For Boys . Goodness! I never knew it was once a school. I don’t think Mum and Dad did either.’
    Dominic took the documents from her.
    â€˜It says for fifteen boys aged from seven years to sixteen. Not very big, was it?’
    â€˜No, but that’s how it was in those times. Does it give a date? Oh, yes, look, Twelfth Day of August in the Year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Thirty-Five . I’ve got to tell Geoff. When we break for coffee I’ll ring him.’
    Her headache forgotten, Thea delved further into the box.
    A little later, she went outside and took out her mobile phone. Geoff answered instantly.
    â€˜Deeds, eh?’ He chuckled. ‘Wow!’
    â€˜Geoff, the house was once a school and none of us knew. Isn’t that weird? I’ll take them home with me if you like, then you can see them.’

    â€˜Sorry I couldn’t make the meeting tonight. Dad wasn’t feeling too well and by the time I’d done the milking and fed everything the evening was half over.’
    â€˜Not to worry. How’s Mike now?’
    â€˜He’s OK. Just been overdoing it. Look, I was going to call at the Harbour House later on.’
    â€˜What for?’
    â€˜I want to measure up outside.’
    â€˜For a garage, you mean?’
    â€˜No, a boat.’
    Thea grinned. She might have known what Geoff’s priorities were.
    â€˜Why not meet me there later?’ he continued. ‘And bring those deeds with you. We’ll read through them together.’
    â€˜OK. See you later, darling. ‘Bye.’
    Some time afterwards she was driving carefully along the main street known as The Parade, graced on one side with houses and small shops in a pleasing mix of black and white timber, sandstone and old brick, and on the other by the saltmarsh with its crisscrossing waterways and ancient low harbour wall.
    As she travelled, the feeling of being out of sorts returned in full force. Putting a hand briefly to her hot forehead, Thea thought longingly of home. She half wished she hadn’t promised to meet Geoff, and then felt a rush of guilt. It would be good to see him and show him her find.
    Her route took her right through the village and down a rutted farm track, at the end of which stood her future home. She drove round to the back of the house and pulled up on the weed-matted cobblestones of the yard.
    Geoff hadn’t arrived yet, Thea saw. Leaving her car, she delved into her bag for the big black iron key to the premises and fitted it into the lock. The solid oak front door, its layers of paint scratched and scored by the years, swung open with a creak.
    Making a mental note to bring a can of oil next time, Thea went on and through into the main living area. At the far end of the room was a bow window with a seat and she made for it thankfully, aware of a sickly weariness.

    It was very quiet and warm in the window, with the last rays of the evening sun slanting in through the dirty panes of glass. Yawning, Thea recalled she still had things to do before she could turn in. She hoped Geoff wouldn’t