Ellen smiled, feeling both the trepidation and excitement course within her

After Louisa and Jed had married, Ellen was standing on the side of the barnyard tapping her foot in time to the tune the best of the island’s musicians were making with fiddle, banjo, and bass. Colourful skirts whirled around her as couples took to the floor. Despite his selfproclaimed two left feet, Jed had taken Louisa to dance and was moving with careful steps. Louisa, as radiant as ever, didn’t seem to mind. “Care to dance, Ellen?”

Ellen turned to see Lucas smiling at her. They hadn’t spoken much since Lucas had declared his love for her, and she felt an uncomfortable awkwardness at seeing him now.

“I’m...” she began, and Lucas smiled wryly. “For old times’ sake, if nothing else?”

“Not just old times, Lucas,” Ellen replied. Regret rushed through her at the thought of how things had changed between them; they’d once been friends. “I’m honoured to dance with you.”

She took his hand and soon they were dancing amidst the other couples. “Are you looking forward to going back to Queen’s?” Ellen asked.

“No. I am looking forward to resuming my studies for my last year.” He smiled whimsically. “I’ll have to start buckling down, you know. Looking for work.”

Deep breath

“What are you thinking?”

He shrugged. “Law seems practical.” “Law?” Ellen stared at him in surprise. “But history has always been your first love.”

“Yes, but reading dusty books isn’t much of a profession.”

“Still...”

“I think I could enjoy law, if I put my mind to it. And I’ll like living in a city. Kingston or Ottawa, perhaps Toronto. What about you, Ellen?”

Ellen took a deep breath. She’d been intending to tell the McCaffertys first, but it made sense to speak to Lucas alone. He’d always been the one who had encouraged her love of drawing, and he’d suggested she exhibit some of her sketches here on the island.

She hadn’t possessed the courage to follow through with his suggestion, but she’d appreciated his enthusiasm. She hoped he’d be happy for her now.

“What, then?” he asked.

The dance had ended and in the lull between numbers Ellen and Lucas were left standing there, hands still linked as Lucas gazed at her with narrowed eyes. “What are you hiding, Ellen?”

“It’s not a secret, exactly. I wanted to wait until Louisa and Jed’s wedding was over before I told anyone.”

“Wait.” Lucas led her across the yard to the back porch of the Lymans’ house. The wooden boards creaked as she bunched her skirts and sat down on the old weathered steps.

Lucas sat next to her, and they were silent as they gazed out at the starlit sky. “Tell me,” he said finally. “What are you planning? Because you’re certainly planning something.”

Ellen laughed softly. “You know me well, Lucas.” “I’d like to think I know you well,” Lucas replied. Ellen could see the sincerity in his eyes and hear it in his voice. She was reminded, painfully, of how that same sincerity had throbbed in his voice and shone in his eyes when he’d confessed his love for her.

Astonishment

She swallowed and looked away. “I am planning something. I’ve been accepted to art school.”

“Art school!” Lucas reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m so pleased for you. Where are you going? Ottawa? Montreal?”

“Glasgow, actually.”

“Glasgow?” Lucas stared at her in astonishment. “But that’s in Scotland.”

“Yes, it is,” Ellen answered teasingly. “You know your geography, Lucas.”

“But why so far away?”

“I met one of the trustees of the school on the train to Chicago,” Ellen explained. “I was working on some sketches, and he happened to see them and he gave me his card. It was all very proper, of course,” she added, and Lucas smiled faintly, although she saw a frown between his brows.

“Of course.”

“When I returned here I sent him my best drawings, and a few weeks ago I received a reply. I’ve been accepted to the Glasgow School of Art on a bursary.” She smiled, feeling both the trepidation and excitement course within her. “I’ll begin my studies at the school in October.”

“So soon.” Lucas still looked shocked, and Ellen felt a rush of sympathy.

“The school has a few lady artists studying there,” she said. “Some are even teachers. The head, Francis Newbery, has been encouraging ladies to apply.” She clutched her knees, trying to visualise this new life that had come her way so unexpectedly. “I’ll be boarding with one of the teachers, the head of drawing, Miss Gray.”

“I see.” Lucas finally rallied with a smile. “I’m pleased for you, of course. And surprised.” He drew a deep breath, his smile wry. “You know, of course, that I wanted things to be different for you. For us.”

Ellen’s cheeks warmed and she looked away. “I know,” she whispered. “I haven’t given up hope,” Lucas continued. “Maybe that’s foolish of me, but it’s the truth.”

“Oh, Lucas.” Ellen turned to gaze at him helplessly. How many times had she wished she’d fallen in love with him instead of Jed? Yet the spark wasn’t there.

“Never mind,” he told her quickly. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it. You’ll come back, though, won’t you?”

Soft

“I can’t imagine not coming back,” Ellen answered. “The island will always be my home.”

They were silent for a few minutes, listening to the faint strumming of the banjo, the merry fiddling.

A burst of laughter sounded from the barnyard and Lucas rose from the steps.

“We’ve been gone long enough,” he said. “Jed and Louisa will be saying their goodbyes. They’re spending the night in Ogdensburg. Captain Jonah is taking them across specially.”

Lucas stretched out his hand to help Ellen from the steps, and then he pulled her close enough to kiss her cheek.

She felt the rasp of stubble against her chin and his lips were surprisingly soft as he brushed them against her cheek.

“I’ll say goodbye now,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “God speed on your journey, Ellen. You’ll go far.” Then he stepped away, and they walked in silence back to the party.

More tomorrow.

On Renfrew Street was previously a serial in The People’s Friend. For more great fiction, get The People’s Friend every week, £1.30 from newsagents and supermarkets.

Artwork: Dave Young