Chapter Eight
The sun was shining and the countryside was basking in it.
Ariana Hiverton, Countess of Hiverton, sank into a feather-filled sofa and raised a glass of champagne to her sisters.
‘Happy Easter!’
Her sisters, all similarly leaning back on armchairs and sofas, raised their glasses in return.
‘I’m never going to move again,’ exclaimed Nick, who was already regretting her second helping of lamb.‘Paddy, that trifle was the last straw.’
Paddy languidly threw a cushion at her but it failed to make it even halfway across the room.
Seb, Hal and Gabe were entertaining the children out on the lawn. Otto and Louis had gone for a nap and Mary was out in the garden watching the children play.
‘Granny’s pretty wonderful, isn’t she?’ said Nick fondly, causing Clemmie to raise an eye.
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Because she’s giving us this time together.’
‘I think she just enjoys watching her great grandchildren,’ said Clem, shrugging.
‘No,’ said Aster. ‘She’s giving this to us.’
‘Well, I’m grateful that she is,’ said Ari. ‘I don’t get enough time with just you four.’
Paddy raised her glass in a lazy salute. For so long, it had been the five of them against the world and now they had husbands, partners, and children and even a grandmother. And as for Otto, as far as the girls were concerned, they had reframed her into the role of eccentric aunt.
Ari drew a breath and then let it out again.
‘So, Aster. How are you doing?’
Clem had been about to take a sip of champagne but the glass paused mid-air. Nick put her magazine down and Paddy held her breath. No one looked at Aster, who was busy glaring at her eldest sister.
‘I’m fine.’
‘You can ditch that tone, I’m concerned.’
Aster stood up. ‘I told you I’m fine. Shall I call the children in?’
Eager to break the tension, Paddy pulled on Aster’s sleeve and tugged her to sit back down. ‘So, what’s everyone getting Granny for her birthday?’
As the other sisters pounced on the change of conversation, Aster gave a sigh of relief. She loved her sister’s concern, but she still wasn’t ready to talk about it. The vulnerability left her too raw. If she could talk to her rescuer, she felt certain it would help her. If only so that she could retrace her steps, even if she might never remember them. She knew memories could be re-written. If she walked that route enough times, she may be able to kid herself that, for that part at least, she wasn’t out of control. She shuddered and then looked around the room quickly. Ari, Clem and Paddy were locked in a debate about a photo album or a holiday but Nick was watching her. For a second, she just stared at Aster then nodded and smiled and joined in the conversation suggesting that they all go outside to get some group photos. They could then get them added to an album or turned into a large canvas.
As the girls headed out of the patio doors, Nick linked her arm through Aster’s.
‘Did you find the identity of the other man? The one that helped. I have a few contacts with access to facial recognition databases.’
Aster shook her head. ‘So do I. But I don’t want strangers involved.’
‘Plus you don’t want anyone else to know about him until you do?’
Aster sighed in relief. People waffled on about safe spaces, but it wasn’t down to spaces. It was down to people and her four sisters were hers.
‘Exactly.’
‘Okay. If you ever get a name and want any help, let me know. In the meantime, let’s go get pretty for the camera. Remember not to stand anywhere near Paddy!’
The two sisters walked out into the sunlight. Aster was still laughing at Nick’s comment. Paddy might be the model in the family, but her twin sister wasn’t exactly a walrus herself. Aster grabbed Leo and Will, deciding that the days were running out when she would be taller than them and needed photographic evidence. However, she hadn’t been five minutes in the garden when Ari came over and shooed the boys away.
‘Aster, we need to talk. Paddy told me the police aren’t pursuing the case.’
‘That’s right.’
‘And you’re okay with that?’
Aster glared at Ari. ‘Of course I’m not okay with that. Why the hell would I be?’
‘So what are you going to do?’
‘Do? Nothing. I’m going to do nothing. Like I told Paddy, I sent him an e-mail warning him off. I’ve been checking Whistles’ security cameras and he hasn’t been back. So that will have to do.’
Ari looked at her little sister, her brow furrowed and Aster felt her stomach clutch. That she should be a figure of sympathy weakened her and weakened the family. Aster was the problem solver, not the one that others worried about.
‘But that doesn’t sound like you.’
‘Oh for Christ’s sake, Ari. Let it go. I’m fine. The situation is fine. Everything is just fucking fine, okay!’
Ari’s jaw dropped in astonishment as Aster stormed back into the house.
As the sisters played with the children, their husbands and partner looked on.
‘How did we get so lucky?’ said Seb, smiling at the group. Hal shook his head.
‘Rory didn’t,’ said Hal.
Seb shrugged his shoulders, ‘Clem’s a fool.’
‘Planning on telling her that?’ asked Hal with a raised eyebrow.
Seb choked on his beer and shook his head, laughing.
‘Thought not,’ continued Hal, grinning. ‘Mind you, I wouldn’t either. I like Rory, he was perfect for her, but it turns out he has a stubborn streak a mile long.’
‘Can you blame him? He’s probably had enough.’
‘I know Clem can be a nightmare, but she’s a total marshmallow underneath the prickles,’ said Seb, quick to defend his difficult sister-in-law. ‘I wouldn’t rule Rory out of the picture just yet. Clem refuses to have him mentioned in her presence.’
‘Sounds to me like a done deal,’ muttered Gabe.
‘I’m with Seb,’ said Hal, ‘that sort of refusal suggests strong emotions are still at play.’
‘I don’t see it.’
‘That’s because you married an angel. How she puts up with you, I have no idea.’
‘Shall I tell your wife that you are calling another woman an angel?’
‘Letta? She’d be the first to agree with me. In fact, woe betide anyone that casts shade on her twin.’
‘They all protect each other, don’t they?’
‘In their own way.’
The men fell silent as they contemplated the most protective sister of all, who was currently engaged in an intense conversation with Ari.
‘Oh dear,’ said Seb, ‘that doesn’t look good.’
The men watched as the two sisters had a brief exchange of words and then Aster appeared to lose her temper and turned back towards the house, leaving a dumbfounded Ari staring after her.
‘Oh, hell.’
‘Problem?’ said Gabe. ‘The girls bicker all the time. You should hear Letta and Clem on the phone sometimes.’
‘Not the same at all,’ said Hal, and Seb shook his head in agreement.
‘I’ve known this lot the longest and whilst I wouldn’t claim to understand Aster, I can promise that hell would freeze over before she lost her temper with Ari. She almost views her as a saint. In Aster’s eyes, she can do no wrong.’
‘Well from what I just saw, Satan must be shivering right now.’
‘Agreed,’ said Hal. ‘Do you think this is to do with the spiking incident? Paddy told me that she thought it was resolved.’
Seb watched Ari and Paddy deep in conversation and shook his head. ‘I think that’s what they all hoped, but from Aster’s behaviour just now, I think it’s a long way from resolved.’
‘Do you think there’s anything we can do to help her?’ asked Hal quietly.
‘Ari told me not to interfere.’
‘Letta said the same.’
‘As did Paddy, but I ignored her.’
The other two men turned to look at him.
‘And?’
‘Well, Aster can’t track down the man that took her home, and that’s been bugging her.’
‘Understandable. I’ve never seen a more self-controlled girl and you’ve all met Letta.’
‘What have you found?’ said Seb.
‘Not much if I’m honest but I went to uni with the owner of the nightclub. We haven’t stayed in touch much, he’s based in the Peak District, but I’ve dropped him a line to see if I can get a private viewing of the security footage.’
‘I looked into the owner,’ said Gabe thoughtfully. ‘It’s part of a chain. And the owners are a brewery? Does your friend own the brewery?’
Hal shook his head. ‘He owns the property. Not the nightclub.’
‘Oh, right. Well, do you think a landlord could get eyes on those security tapes?’
‘Worth a try.’
Seb nodded. ‘Still. I’d tread carefully. So far no one knows Aster’s involvement in this whole ordeal. If you reveal that, all hell will break out and I doubt Paddy will be able to protect you.’
‘I suspect she’d be the first to slaughter me. Don’t worry. I’ll tread carefully. He hasn’t even replied yet. It may come to nothing. But dammit, I really like Aster. It slays me that this happened to her.’
‘We all feel the same,’ said Gabe. ‘It was her intervention that saved Letta from prison.’
‘Do you think she’ll ever forgive you?’ laughed Hal. ‘Fancy being sent to spy on Nick and then getting the wrong person.’
‘I thank my lucky stars daily. I just want to repay the debt and help Aster.’ The three men watched as she re-emerged and began playing with her nephews as if nothing had happened. ‘I mean, look at her, she’s tiny.’
‘You’re mistaking that for weakness,’ said Seb. ‘And where Aster is concerned, that is a major mistake.’
‘So are you just doing nothing?’
‘I dropped her a line.’
‘What? Condolences?’ asked Hal, aghast.
‘Of course not. I told her when she needed help, I would do anything she needed.’
‘We all will, but Aster tends to skate close to the legal edge.’
Hal snorted.
‘I suspect she skates right over the edge. Letta says she is a walking liability.’
‘Boys!’ Mary’s voice shouted across the lawn. ‘Come and get your photos taken.’
‘Time to oblige,’ laughed Seb.
As they walked across the lawn, Aster got to her feet, brushed her legs down and stepped to the side of the group and away from the husbands. She remained smiling, but now she had reverted to her normal watchfulness. Seb caught her eyes and smiled. She smiled back warmly. He knew she trusted him and it always made him proud that he had impressed the youngest of the Hiverton sisters.
After the photos were taken, Otto and Louis appeared as if by a prearranged signal. Otto never appeared in any of the family photos. This was widely agreed to be a good idea. The statute of limitations had probably passed on all her previous activities, but it was wisest not to draw undue attention. When she had unwittingly appeared in a magazine feature on Clem, it had nearly been the undoing of the Hivertons’ reputation.
Aster made her way across to where they were sitting and kissed both of them on the cheeks. She knew she had stepped over the line with Ari and was trying to put the incident out of her mind. At least Otto wouldn’t waste time asking how she was. She had a better relationship with Otto than Mary. They had more in common and Aster still struggled to reconcile the fact that Mary had failed to track down her son, Aster’s father. She fully understood the explanation and she didn’t doubt Mary’s sincerity. It was just that she failed. And Aster’s Da had grown up unloved. Aster found that very hard to forgive.
Now she sat down and Louis rose to his feet.
‘Let me get you a drink whilst the pair of you scheme. The less I know the better.’
‘Silly man,’ scoffed Otto. ‘We don’t scheme.’
‘That’s right,’ said Aster, her youthful face mirroring Otto’s lined expression. ‘We plan.’
Louis rolled his eyes as the two women smiled at each other and he made his way over to chat to Hal. Aster watched him leave, then turned to Otto.
‘Well?’
Otto shrugged. ‘Well nothing. The photo you sent wasn’t much to go on, was it?’
‘I enhanced it.’
‘All the better to see the dirt with. That picture was in a dreadful condition.’
Aster drummed her fingers on the wrought-iron table.
‘It’s not like you to fail.’
‘Indeed.’
They fell into silence as Louis returned with a glass and stared at the two women.
‘Have you told her what you have uncovered?’
Aster looked up at him. ‘She has not. She said she failed.’
‘I did not.’
Aster reviewed the conversation and inclined her head in a small nod of acknowledgement.
‘Indeed.’
Louis handed Aster her glass and then quickly departed.
‘I’m sorry. I’ve been out of sorts. What have you found?’
Otto leant over and patted her hand briefly and then sat back in her chair.
‘No need to apologise. I was trying to be dramatic.’
‘You have discovered the artist?’
Otto shook her head quickly as the birds sang in the warmth of the afternoon sun. On the other side of the lawn, the children were playing British Bulldog with their parents.
‘I haven’t, but from the photo I would agree with your assessment that it was possibly painted by a master. But the dirt is so intense, it could also be someone working in the style of one of the masters.’
Aster frowned and tipped her head back, looking up at the sky.
‘I was afraid of that. Looks like the nuns have been hoodwinked.’ She looked across at Otto, who was sipping her wine. ‘Louis said you had uncovered something?’
‘Yes. It’s going to auction in a few weeks.’
‘What!’
Aster pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped in the website as Otto gave her the details.
‘Got it.’ Aster looked at the small screen, but it was clearly the same painting. ‘Sold without provenance or attribution. Guide price, fifty thousand pounds.’ Aster whistled. ‘That’s one hell of a guide price for something with no track record. What gives?’
‘It suggests the auction house likes the painting and is hoping to draw attention to the fact that it might be a sleeper.’
‘At that price!’
‘If it is an old master, fifty grand is a steal.’ Otto looked at Aster and raised an eyebrow. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m going to get that painting back to the nuns.’
‘But they sold it willingly. You won’t get far with a stolen goods defence.’
‘I don’t intend to. Will you still be in England when the auction is on?’
Otto grinned. ‘We had been planning on a few days in New York, but I think I can persuade Louis to postpone. What do you have in mind?’
‘Nothing yet. But I will do. Let’s talk.’