Chapter Thirty-Four
The day passed in a flurry of activity - overseeing the security setup, reassuring villagers, and making preparations for the future. As evening approached, Aster found herself exhausted, looking forward to a quiet night to process the events of the past few days.
She had received a text from Nick saying that she was sending her an outfit for the gala in case she herself couldn’t make it in time. Nick had been very clear that Aster had to attend the High Commissioner’s gala, despite everything that had happened. The Hiverton Estate needed as much goodwill as it could muster.
Aster glared at the screen. Unlike last night, she could not slink off.
The sound of an approaching vehicle drew her attention. Curious, she stepped outside just as a dusty Land Rover pulled up. Aster's eyes widened in surprise as a familiar figure emerged.
Despite her petite stature, Clementine Byrne commanded attention the moment she stepped out of the vehicle. Her wild mane of fiery red curls caught the last rays of the setting sun, creating a halo effect around her heart-shaped face. Clem's curvy figure was accentuated by a flowing bohemian dress, and her presence seemed to electrify the very air around her.
‘Clem?’ Aster gasped, shock and delight warring in her voice.
Clem's face split into a radiant smile as she spotted her sister. In an instant, she had crossed the distance between them, enveloping Aster in a fierce hug that belied her small size.
‘You impossible, reckless, brilliant idiot,’ Clem muttered into Aster's hair, her voice thick with emotion. ‘Don't ever do that again.’
Aster laughed, the tension of the past few days melting away in her sister's embrace. ‘I can't believe you're here,’ she said, pulling back to look at Clem. ‘How did you manage this?’
Clem's green eyes sparkled with mischief. ‘You think you're the only one who can pull off a surprise?’ She glanced around, taking in the village in the fading light. ‘This place is incredible,’ she breathed. ‘I can already feel the inspiration.’
‘I thought you might,’ Aster grinned, still marvelling at her sister's unexpected presence. ‘Planning to stay a while?’
Clem nodded, her wild curls bouncing with the movement. ‘I'm going to spend the week here with Nick. Total immersion in the textile industry and design. These people, their craft… it's extraordinary.’
As they stood there, Aster noticed how the villagers passing by couldn't help but stare at Clem. Her sister always had that effect on people - her vibrant presence drawing all eyes, her energy infectious. It was a stark contrast to Aster's own tendency to fade into the background, and for a moment, she felt a familiar surge of pleasure that she was so unremarkable. It would kill her to have people always mark her passing. She wondered how Clem tolerated it, but then she remembered that Clem didn’t give a fig what anyone thought of her.
Their reunion was interrupted by the sound of whistling. Edward rounded the corner, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.
Before Aster could speak, Clem's eyes narrowed. ‘You!’ she snapped, jabbing a finger at Edward's chest. ‘How dare you speak to Ari that way? Who do you think you are?’
Edward's eyebrows shot up, clearly taken aback by this sudden assault. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Don't play innocent,’ Clem seethed. ‘Ari told me what you said. She was in tears, thinking she'd put Aster in danger. As if Ari would ever do anything to harm any of us!’
Aster winced, recognising the blind spot in Clem's otherwise sharp perception. In Clem's eyes, Ari could do no wrong, her love for their eldest sister bordering on reverence.
Edward opened his mouth to retort, but Aster stepped in, placing a calming hand on Clem's arm. ‘Clem, it's okay. It's been dealt with.’
‘By you?! That just means you’ve found some clever way to see both sides. Don’t tell me you approve of him shouting at Ari?’
‘Jesus, Clem, you’ve been here five seconds, stop bloody shouting. We all screwed up. Me, Ari and Nick. Okay? We screwed up.’
‘And now you’re handling it.’
‘We are.’
‘So we don’t need James Bond here to sort things out.’
Edward snorted at the nickname.
‘Look, Miss Byrne.’
‘Lady Clementine.’
Aster groaned, Clem only fell back on her title when she was squaring up for a fight. It was time to head her off.
‘Enough. We were in the wrong. Edward did us a favour. He shouldn’t have shouted at Ari or Nick. Happy? Now don’t spoil our reunion. I take it your arrival has something to do with my new outfit?’
If there was one thing that was going to stop Clem in her tracks when she was building up a full head of steam, it was taking about clothing.
‘I left it in Mumbai. I’ve checked the three of us into a suite. Nick arrives tomorrow.’
‘So, I don’t have to attend the gala,’ said Aster hopefully.
‘Not a hope. Nick wants a shock and awe campaign.’
‘Not sure I supply either of those.’
Clem laughed. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll provide enough for both of us.’ She looked at Edward. ‘Are you still here?’
‘I'm heading back to Kolkata with the team now,’ he said, his voice clipped. ‘The security firm is in place. They'll keep things under control here. I just came to say goodbye.’
Aster nodded, a mix of relief and something else - regret, perhaps? - washing over her. ‘Thank you, Edward. For everything.’
He held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary, then turned and walked away.
‘I don’t trust him,’ said Clem. ‘That’s twice now he’s been nearby when you’ve been – well – you know.’
‘I know.’
She thought about it. The first time had been a coincidence, but had the second time?
Within the hour, Edward and the mercenaries had departed for Kolkata, leaving the village in a strange calm.
The sisters spent their final evening in the village, Clem absorbing every detail with an artist's eye whilst Aster made last-minute arrangements with Amit and the new security team. As night fell, they sat on the roof of Amit's house, looking out over the quiet village, each lost in their own thoughts about the events that had transpired and what was yet to come.
‘Oh, I meant to say, have you been following the news?’
Clem turned and looked at her sister expectantly.
‘I have been otherwise occupied.’
‘Fair enough.’ Clem pulled her phone out and waved it around. ‘No bloody signal out here, anyway.’
She took a glug from her bottle and waved it at Aster.
‘Marcus Barrie has been arrested.’
‘What?’
‘It’s all over the papers. Innocent until proven guilty and all that rubbish. But lots of women have come forward. He’s facing multiple charges. You did it!’
Clem leant over and chinked her bottle against Aster’s as Aster smiled out into the night sky.
The following morning brought a flurry of activity as Aster and Clem prepared to depart. They bade farewell to the villagers, Amit's eyes shining with unshed tears as he thanked them once again for all they had done. Then they were off, the dusty roads of the village giving way to the chaos of Kolkata's streets and a four-hour flight back to Mumbai. Overnight, Aster had been composing messages to all the women that she had spoken to prior to her campaign and as they approached Kolkata her phone sprang into life and sent out those texts and e-mails. As soon as she had a signal, she started scouring social media and chat boards and was satisfied that he would not escape justice.
Clem smiled over at her. She put her phone away as they walked into the airport.
‘You did a really good thing, you know.’
Aster shrugged.
‘I was the right person in the right place. That’s all.’
‘Pah!’
Linking arms with her little sister, the two girls strode into the airport and headed towards Mumbai.