Chapter 19 #2
Kate hadn’t finished. ‘At the end of the day it’s really all about him playing the field while having a current target that’s top of his list to keep things interesting.
The man likes a challenge. He pretended he was confused by how much he liked me.
He was “working things through”, didn’t want to “lead me on” but I was like this drug…
we had this connection. Connection my arse. ’
Lara felt herself go rigid with shock. The familiarity of the phrases made her squirm with embarrassment. So these were just his usual lines. How could she have fallen for all of them?
Kate wasn’t finished. ‘Bloody cheek!’ she said, warming to her theme.
‘Assuming I wanted to end up with him!’ She suddenly grinned.
‘But there’s no denying he’s hot. Decided best get it out the way or we would be circling each other for months.
Life’s too short for all of that. So I went over to his office, knocked on his door, grabbed him by his tweedy jacket and old school tie and shagged him on the desk. Only way.’
Sarah sat back laughing. Lara was speechless.
There was something between a giggle and snort from behind Lara.
Kate leant across the table and patted Lara’s hand. ‘And you know what? He may call himself an Exclusive Rural Property Consultant but at the end of the day he’s just an estate agent.’
“’Hear, hear!’ cheered the ghost.
‘Did you see him again, you know, afterwards?’ Lara was intrigued.
‘No. No need. Got it out my system.’ Kate was adamant.
Lara suddenly joined in with laughter. ‘Wow, you make me feel better,’ she told Kate. ‘I’d thought everyone was talking about me and Julian,’ she confessed.
‘He’s not worth it, Lara. Kick him to the kerb and move on.’ Kate poured them both another glass of sherry and clinked her glass with hers.
‘She’s right you know,’ Sarah agreed, and Lara felt something shift in her. Maybe next time she saw Julian she would feel different, recognise him for what he was. Really be able to move on instead of slipping back into his bed.
Sarah placed another tray of tapas on their table. She took one plate of sliced avocado and salsa and put it in front of Abby. ‘For absent friends,’ she said.
Lara smiled. She thought Abby might be smiling too but it was hard to tell from a reflection.
‘Anyway,’ Sarah said to Lara, ‘back to Lady Porter. Have you been thinking about who else might have...’ she seemed reluctant to say the word.
‘Murdered Lady P?’ interposed the helpful Kate.
Abby clapped.
Lara took a deep breath and took them through their thinking so far.
She included the visit to Jason’s shop, but implied she had spotted the Meissen china while arranging the flowers in the back, and then vaguely referred to Jason hanging around Gillmore House.
She talked about the vicar’s expectation of a legacy for the church and what she knew of the will, but didn’t mention Joe.
(She made this all sound like hearsay.) Then she discussed in general terms what she knew of Lady Porter’s relationship with her son and daughter-in-law and how they appeared to be short of money.
Without including the other things she had found out with Abby it did not seem to her that it amounted to much.
However, Sarah and Kate seemed to think there was food for thought and they discussed it while finishing off the last of the tapas.
Kate then recalled Lady Porter mentioning some paintings or it might have been ornaments she thought had gone missing, and they added this into the mix.
When they pressed her for more, Kate admitted she wasn’t concentrating on her words at the time as she had reached a tricky bit in the colouring of Lady Porter’s hair.
Lara asked, ‘Did Lady Porter ever mention her will when you were with her?’
Kate shook her head. ‘It’s not the sort of thing you chat about when you’re having your hair done.’
Sarah didn’t say anything.
‘You know something, don’t you?’ Lara said intuitively.
Abby nodded approvingly and wondered if Lara was developing a knack for things too. It did happen.
‘It’s just a bit awkward,’ Sarah responded.
‘Out with it!’ Kate demanded without hesitation.
Lara realised this must be what Mrs M had been referring to when she said Sarah could tell her something.
Sarah sighed. ‘I suppose it doesn’t matter now. It’s just it was a phone conversation I overheard when I was dropping in an order to Lady Porter. I did tell Mrs M a bit about it, but I wasn’t sure about repeating it again.’
‘I suggest we do not tell Sarah about stealing into Richard Porter’s office and rifling through his drawers then,’ was Abby’s observation from the empty table.
‘I don’t know who Lady Porter was speaking to, it was Richard or possibly Penny I think.
She was not happy. She said she’d had enough of them and they’d tricked her into signing…
something…’ Sarah looked up. ‘I’m not sure what…
but Lady Porter said she could do something about that and would.
’ Sarah shrugged her incomprehension. ‘It didn’t really make much sense, I did wonder if it was a new will. Anyway, I told Mrs M.’
‘Oh, I believe that makes perfect sense,’ Abby commented. Lara thought it did too. It would certainly explain the power of attorney. She had never really believed Lady Porter would have voluntarily signed that.
Sarah added, ‘It was only afterwards I remembered she had said something really strange before she hung up. She said: “You can’t stop me taking care of my real family” – well, it was something like that,’ Sarah recalled.
‘Mother Mary and Joseph and all the sweet little fishes,’ Kate said comprehensively.
‘All that, and some,’ Lara agreed.
The four women sat in silence for some moments.
‘What did Mrs M say when you told her?’ Kate eventually asked.
‘She said that she wouldn’t put anything past “Master Richard”, but she didn’t know what we could do about it. As to the “real” family she just thought I must have misheard as she was adamant that there had been no scandal associated with her Ladyship, Richard was her only child,’ Sarah replied.
‘But would she have known?’ Kate mused.
The women relapsed into silence until Sarah rose from the table.
‘Look, we need to think more about this, but I’ve got to get back to Rory.
’ She glanced at the oversized railway clock that hung on the wall behind the till, adding by way of explanation to Lara, ‘Rory’s my son, he’s six.
I’m no longer with his dad, but Mum’s great about helping.
She’s looking after him at the moment, but she’s got work tomorrow.
’ Lara and Kate rose with her and helped her tidy up.
‘I have an idea though,’ Sarah said, as she led them to the door.
‘I’m doing an event at the theatre on Saturday night to mark its centenary.
They won some lottery funding to celebrate, I think the building is some sort of architectural heritage site.
Anyway, I’m doing the catering. It’s drinks and canapés in the Dress Circle Bar and then there are little vignettes each representing a different decade, taking place around the theatre.
Well, most of the people we’ve been talking about are going.
I’ve seen the guest list. Why don’t you both come and waitress for me.
It’s a great chance to mingle, and who knows what we could overhear.
You know what it’s like, once you’re dressed in black with a white apron on, you’re invisible. ’
Kate and Lara looked at each other with, ‘I will if you will,’ expressions.
‘And of course I would pay you,’ Sarah confirmed.
‘Then you can definitely count me in,’ Kate said.
‘What a marvellous suggestion. I shall dress accordingly,’ Abby proclaimed.