Chapter Ten
In a rush of agreement, the girls leapt up and headed to the coffee maker that had been brought into the dining room for today’s meeting.
Nick placed a coffee cup in front of Ari, then moved to her seat and sat down, placing her cup to her right. Clem was sitting opposite and visibly flinched.
‘No coffee in my workspace.’
Nick raised her eyebrow and sipped her coffee in silence. Then, placing it back on the table, she shrugged her shoulders.
‘This isn’t your workspace. Shall we carry on?’
Ari sighed and pulled a notepad towards her, but Clem was on a roll.
‘I have sketches and fabrics here. If your coffee spills, it will damage them.’
‘So move them.’
There was a stillness in the air, only broken by Ari sighing loudly.
‘I don’t think-’
‘It’s okay, Ari, we know what Nick thinks of my work.’
‘Do we? Do we really?’ snapped Nick. ‘Paddy, what do I think of Clem’s work?’
‘You think she’s a genius. And you are, Clem, everyone knows how talented-’
‘Aster, what do I think of Clem’s work?’
Aster stared at her and then pointedly picked up her phone and started to scroll.
‘I’m not getting involved in this.’
‘Taking the coward’s way out?’ sneered Clem.
‘No, you blistering bag of cow dung. I’m just not listening to you go on again about what a tortured artist you are. Your collection is no doubt a triumph again, but in the meantime, you are making everyone else’s life hell. No wonder Rory left.’
Paddy had been furiously doodling on the second side of paper and Nick slammed her hands on the table, but at Aster’s words the room splintered into violent silence.
Clem stared silently at Aster, her eyes sparking in fury. Without missing a beat, she snatched at her portfolio. Ripping it open, she flung the collection of loose leaf drawing across the table at Aster.
‘Maybe I am cow dung, because what I’ve designed is a pile of shit.’
She shouted at Aster as she jumped to her feet. Nick leapt backwards, grabbing at her coffee cup, and watched in horror as some of it splashed on Clem’s precious designs.
‘Jesus, Clem,’ roared Ari. ‘What did you do that for?’
‘Because it’s shit. The whole collection. Nick should pour the rest of her coffee over it.’ She screamed once and then collapsed back into her chair, sobbing loudly.
Paddy ran around to the table and hugged her whilst Ari nipped out to get some tissues and a bottle of wine. Aster looked across at Nick and rolled her eyes. She pulled one of the images towards her. It was a sketch of a long gown with frills or ruffles to the side. It looked fine to Aster.
Ari came back into the room with some glasses of wine. Dickie followed with a platter of quiches and salads and left quickly. Aster didn’t blame her and wondered if she needed a hand in the kitchen. Instead, she sliced the quiche whilst Nick filled the glasses and Ari handed a still sobbing Clem a tissue.
‘These look wonderful. Really, you are so talented.’
‘I agree,’ said Nick quickly. ‘Here, have a glass to celebrate. These are incredible.’
Clem rubbed her face and taking the glass placed it on the table.
‘I’m sorry I overreacted.’ She looked at her sisters as the silence stretched out. ‘This is when you all rush to tell me I wasn’t overreacting.’ As they continued to look at her, she chuckled weakly. ‘Fair enough. But honestly, this collection is dreadful. Paddy, what do you think?’
Clem’s voice was almost neutral as she pulled some of the sketches towards her and Paddy stood up and started flicking through them. Bundling them all up, Paddy returned to her chair and studied every single sketch. Clem watched in silence and Aster tucked into her quiche. Nick and Ari had also returned to their seats and were watching Paddy. She was the only one who really understood the industry and properly appreciated Clem’s talents. Eventually, she put the last sheet down and looked at Clem.
‘They’re not shit.’
‘See?’ said Ari in relief.
‘But they’re not your best work, either.’
Aster closed her eyes and swallowed quickly. Nick knocked back her glass of wine. And Ari stared at Paddy in horror.
‘Paddy, I think-’
‘No, Ari. Let Paddy speak,’ said Clem quietly.
‘I think these designs are good enough for a ready-to-wear line. Hell, they’re even suitable for a runway collection. But not by you, Clem.’
Clem smiled at her sister and raised her glass. ‘Thank you, I thought I was going insane. Everyone has been telling me this collection was excellent, but it’s not. It’s missing something.’
‘It’s missing you, Clem,’ said Paddy softly. ‘You’ve had two jaw-dropping collections back-to-back, I think you’ve choked and got in your own way.’
‘What if I’ve simply run out of ideas?’ she said in a small voice. ‘What if all I’ve done was all I had?’
Paddy snorted. ‘Like Ari will stop suddenly being able to organise everything, Nick will somehow fail to spot trends in the market, Aster will stop dispensing justice. And I’ll stop being drop-dead gorgeous?’
Clem laughed and Paddy ploughed on as the other girls watched.
‘You haven’t lost anything, but your creative well is exhausted. You need a break from doing anything work wise.’
‘And who will make the money if I fail?’
‘We all will,’ said Nick softly. ‘Let me send you some figures about what all the different arms of our business are doing. You are no longer the principal earner. You don’t need to create for money anymore. Do what Paddy says, take a break.’
Clem blinked back the tears gathering on her lower lashes. ‘But I want to pull my weight. The castle is such a bloody money drain, but I don’t want you to sell it. I love it there.’
Ari cleared her throat.
‘No one is selling the castle. We’re doing fine for money, Clem. If you need to stop working for a whole year, then knock yourself out. Go travelling. Find inspiration. Relax. Put this collection to bed.’
Clem looked hopeful. ‘But then I’ve let you down.’
‘Continue to oversee the fabrics franchise if you want.’
As Clem shuddered, Ari hurried on. Clem had always been averse to what she called the tea towels line, as stocked in only the finest establishments. ‘Well, if not that, play with the American guests, give them the full Highland experience.’ Clem shuddered again. ‘Spend some time in the V&A archives. Or go white water rafting in Borneo. Whatever. But be happy, Clem. We really do have enough money that none of us should be burnt out.’
‘And I’ll sort out this muslin issue,’ said Aster quickly. ‘This was your brainchild, I’ll fix it for you.’
Clem sagged in relief.
‘Would you? I wanted to make my new collection in it, but what’s the point if every Tom, Dick or Harry has it?’
As the tension left the room Ari sipped from her glass and then put it down.
‘I think that’s enough for today. We’ll take up some of these things tomorrow. Clem, whatever you decide to do, we’ll support you, okay?’
As the other girls agreed, Aster narrowed her eyes and thought about how she would get to the bottom of the muslin issue. Now she had two challenges. The old master and the muslin. She had resolved the spiking issue, she just wished her sisters would let it go. She smiled briefly as she considered her fresh challenges and helped herself to another slice of quiche. The painting was a good deed for the nuns, but the muslin was serious. Someone was threatening her family and that was not going to work out well for them.