Chapter 17
Dorothy and Gina made their way to the church, which was just to the right of the house and sitting on the edge of Leonard’s estate. Through the gate and up the path they found themselves in the cemetery, which was in a state of semi-neglect, but that only seemed to make the place appear very peaceful. The ancient stones had begun to lean over the years and protruded from tall grasses and wildflowers, which were sheltered by huge oaks, sycamores and yews.
Dorothy watched as Gina ran her hand over the mapped flint that made up the walls within the stone-carved structure and then the ringing sound of a phone cut into the silence. Dorothy knew it wasn’t hers, because she’d left it in her room.
‘Douglas, again,’ Gina said.
‘Take your phone call,’ Dorothy said. ‘We are a bit early and it does seem as if your husband needs to speak to you.’
Gina hesitated for a moment and then put her phone to her ear as she walked a few steps away.
‘Douglas, yes, hello.’
Dorothy tried to listen, but Gina was a little too far away. Instead she went and sat down on the wooden bench under the trees and closed her eyes. She felt incredibly tired all of a sudden and brushed a tear away from the corner of her eye. It was the churchyard. It made her think about Philip. Well, it made her think about his not being here any more and that thought overwhelmed her. He’d been such a vibrant man, full of life, keen to experience all that was on offer to him. It made her so sad and also so angry that his life had been taken away in the way that it had. Yes, they were old, but her Philip had so much more to do, to give. Dorothy didn’t think she’d ever despised anyone in her whole life, but now, this seething hatred of Leonard was taking her over and it had to end. She felt more than ever how imperative it was to find the painting.
Gina had finished her call and made her way towards Dorothy.
‘We’ve had an offer on the house,’ Gina said, looking a bit bewildered.
‘Is that a good thing?’ Dorothy asked.
‘It’s a quick thing. The couple are living in rented accommodation and want to move things along fairly speedily, apparently.’
Dorothy watched Gina for a moment as she sat down beside her. She could see she was overwhelmed, a feeling all too familiar to Dorothy herself. Hadn’t she been wondering what she could do for Gina? Wasn’t the answer staring her right in the face?
‘I’d like to offer you the use of the boathouse for as long as you need it,’ Dorothy said and Gina looked at her in surprise. ‘You know the area, you grew up there, you worked around the corner in Richmond. I think it could work well and it will certainly give you a chance to think about where you’d eventually want to move to with no pressure.’
‘That’s very kind, Dorothy, but can I ask you about the advertisement for this job?’ Gina asked.
‘Of course,’ Dorothy said, surprised.
‘It’s just that it said there might be a permanent position for the right candidate.’
‘Did it, indeed,’ Dorothy said, narrowing her eyes.
‘Is that what you’re asking me?’
‘To be honest, Lavinia wrote that advert. I don’t feel I need a carer, but my family do. Perhaps this could work to both of our advantages. You could come and stay independently in the boathouse and my family will think I’ve employed a permanent companion.’
‘I don’t know what to say,’ Gina said and Dorothy noticed how vulnerable and lost she looked.
‘Say nothing for now, just have a think about it. Like I said, no pressure.’
‘Is this an offer conditional on me finding the painting?’ Gina said with a wry smile and Dorothy laughed, happy to see her more animated.
‘I’m not saying I don’t want you to continue in your mission, but no, of course the two things are not related.’
Gina nodded, but Dorothy wasn’t sure if she was convinced and that might be something to do with the fact that Dorothy wasn’t really sure if her own motivations were sound. She glanced at her watch and got up.
‘Let’s get in there,’ she said. ‘I’m keen to find out who Leonard has as his vicar.’
They entered the church through the porch and a medieval oak door. It was beautifully cool inside, which was welcome after the heat of the late-afternoon sun, but it wasn’t at all dark or sombre. There were three stained-glass windows, which cast pretty colours across the pews, but the rest were clear, allowing much more light into the interior, and the whole place was bright. They were the first to arrive and Gina took the time to pick up a leaflet and read out loud a little about the building while they wandered down to the font.
‘The church was rebuilt in the Victorian era. There wasn’t much left of the medieval structure other than the doors, the font – which is a fifteenth-century masterpiece of carving – and also there’s a memorial coffin. The floor tiles are Victorian and we’re supposed to look up at the ceiling, apparently. Its timbers are made from oak harvested from the Walstone estate. From Leonard’s land.’
‘Good afternoon, ladies,’ came a voice from behind them and both Dorothy and Gina looked down from the ceiling to see the vicar. He was casually dressed in chinos and a short-sleeved shirt, but had his white collar tucked underneath. ‘Or perhaps evening is more appropriate,’ he said, looking at his watch.
‘Hello,’ Gina said. ‘We’re a bit early, I’m afraid.’
‘No problem at all. I’m Peter, are you the mother of the bride?’
‘No.’ Gina laughed. ‘I’m Mrs Reed’s companion. Dorothy is the grandmother of the groom.’
‘Ah,’ he said stepping forward to shake Dorothy’s hand. ‘A proud day to come for you and your family. Toby and Caroline seem to be very well suited and I’m hopeful they will achieve all that they set out to, on the long path of their marriage.’
The words till death us do part flicked through Dorothy’s mind and she felt, again, her loss.
‘Do you have much to do with Leonard?’ Dorothy asked, getting straight back to the point.
Peter looked a little bemused for a moment and it was obvious he was considering his response.
‘Leonard seems very busy with all his art endeavours, and managing his estate, so I rarely see him any more to be honest.’
The word endeavours really made it sound as if Leonard was doing something very grand and important rather than indulging himself in criminal activity.
‘Not a churchgoer then,’ Dorothy pushed.
‘In my opinion, Leonard doesn’t allow himself time to reflect on the virtues of thought and prayer. I would say he has an agenda that excludes any god-like figure of any denomination.’
‘Indeed, an agenda that also excludes him from any morals,’ Dorothy said.
Before the vicar could respond the door opened and noise filled the quiet space with the arrival of the others, but Peter’s words left Dorothy with something to think about. If she could get Gina to find the time to have a private word with him, they might learn more.
Caroline’s friend, Katie, and her husband, Dan, had arrived, so the bride now had her chief bridesmaid and there was much laughter and conversation. They did quieten down when they saw the vicar, though. Leonard was sporting a crutch and had an unpleasant expression on his face, but he hobbled down the aisle, pausing to nod a brief hello to Peter, before seating himself in the first position in the pew on the left, usually reserved for the mother and father of the bride. Paul and Sandra exchanged a glance before moving in the same direction.
There was then ten minutes of chatter about positions and who should walk and stand where, before everyone slipped into their roles and the bride and her father, along with the bridesmaid, disappeared back outside, making it clear they were ready to start.
Dorothy chose a pew a little away from the front, keen not to get involved in the social order of the seating and Gina sat down next to her.
‘I didn’t say thank you before,’ she whispered. ‘About your offer, I mean. I will think about it, and thank you.’
Dorothy stretched her hand across and patted Gina’s knee. Now the seed had been sown in her own mind, she was quite keen to have this woman come and stay with her.
Caroline walked in through the door, then, her arm threaded with Paul’s. There wasn’t any music and, of course no one was dressed-up, but Dorothy could hear Gina sniff beside her. She understood – it was the setting and with Gina’s marriage seemingly at an end, it was unsurprising she’d feel tearful. She could hear her taking long breaths and she pulled a tissue out of her handbag and handed it to her.
Juliet took her position next to her parents and pretended to look bored, but it was an act that didn’t come up to much scrutiny. Ever since she had revealed her recording of their conversation, Juliet had looked wired. Dorothy looked at Sophie rigid in her seat, her husband a little too far away, and she worried that theirs was another marriage that had run its course.
Caroline and Toby genuinely looked giddy with happiness as they took their places at the front to go through their vows and then Dorothy lost herself in the rehearsal service, hopeful that this young couple would be as lucky and as happy as she and Philip had once been.
‘It feels like we really are married now,’ Caroline was saying as they made their way back towards the house. ‘I’m not nearly as nervous now we’ve had the practice.’
‘You did so well, and it looked like you were really enjoying yourself. I’m so excited for you, Caro. Although, you do know that you have to sign the register for it to be official. The church is the fun bit, but not legal,’ Katie said.
‘So happy to hear the words fun and church used in the same sentence,’ Peter called from where he was walking with Lavinia and Miles.
Caroline and Katie laughed at his words. ‘Church gets a bad rep,’ Katie said, ‘but I always think that if you’re not interested in the sermon, then look around you, because you definitely have the most beautiful buildings.’
‘We do indeed,’ he said, laughing too.
Katie seemed like a nice young woman. Already married to Dan, she was officially the chief bridesmaid, but as there were no others, she was the only bridesmaid. Juliet had been asked, but had refused to be dressed up like a muppet, in her words. Dorothy felt the girl might regret her decision when the ceremony was in full swing, but it would be too late by then.
Toby had hold of Caroline’s hand, but her other arm was linked through Leonard’s. Whether for his physical support or his perpetual need to be the centre of attention, it was hard to tell, but Dorothy watched the face of Paul behind his brother. He looked a little like a schoolchild not picked for the team. All this time she had thought that Paul should be commended for his stoic attitude towards his brother, but what if it was all an act? For a moment, she wondered if it really was Paul who had sabotaged the saddle and the bike. If Leonard died, Paul would be in for a great improvement in his situation. She rather wondered at his methods, though. They were rudimentary, almost immature in their execution. Even if he was successful, he’d never get away with it.
Dorothy pulled Gina’s arm back and they slowed the pace until they were a little away from the others. She could just hear Leonard telling them all, that this time on Saturday they would be walking around to the orangery, but the rest of what he was saying was lost on the breeze that had picked up as they walked the length of the gravel driveway.
‘Do you really think Paul could be trying to kill Leonard?’ Dorothy asked quietly.
‘I did say I was joking earlier. I don’t really think someone is trying to kill him. I mean, think about it, Dorothy. How likely is that?’ Gina whispered.
‘As likely as someone breaking into my home, I would say,’ she said wryly. ‘If someone is trying to bump him off, I just want whoever it is to stop. I need Leonard alive for now, to face justice. There will be no relief for me if the painting is found and I don’t get to look him in the eye as he’s dragged away kicking and screaming by the law.’
‘Dorothy, I think it would be in your interest to lower your expectations somewhat. I don’t think there will be any kicking or screaming, whatever is found.’
‘We’ll see, we’ll see.’
The dining room was a picture when they arrived a few minutes later. The curtains were pulled right back, allowing the room a lot of light that it hadn’t had the last time they’d dined in there. Even though the decor was obviously unchanged, without that gloomy feel the whole place seemed more enchanting somehow. A clever use of lighting to create a completely different mood. Of course there was the addition of a lot of food. The table was heaving under the weight of what looked like a medieval banquet. Pies and platters of meat, cakes, bowls laden with fruit, puddings and jellies. It was impressive and it was also obscene. This food could feed so many more people than the present number of guests. It made Dorothy feel a bit angry, but she bit her tongue and smiled along with everyone else.
Leonard had disappeared off to get changed, he’d said, and Dorothy wondered what ridiculous outfit he’d be wearing tonight. She imagined him in a full Henry VIII costume complete with fake belly, but when he did arrive a few moments later, she was surprised to see he had taken on more the look of a court jester. Dorothy realised how much less intimidating he looked when dressed up and smiled a broad smile just for herself.
He encouraged them all to dig into the feast and no one needed telling twice as the group descended onto the table to fill their plates.
Harry had outdone himself again and despite Dorothy’s feelings about the amount of food that he’d produced, she couldn’t help but admire his skill. Leonard wasn’t eating, though; he had his phone to his ear and had slipped out of the room.
She wandered around the table to sit next to Juliet who had her phone out again too.
‘I hope you’re not recording,’ she said sternly to her granddaughter, who quickly switched it off. ‘It has to stop.’
‘Mind if I join you?’ Gina asked them.
‘Of course not,’ Dorothy said. ‘I was just telling Juliet that recording people’s conversations had to stop. She’s still doing it, you know.’
‘For your Instagram channel?’ Gina asked her.
Dorothy glanced over her shoulder to see where Sophie and Luke were. They were actually tucking into some wine with Caroline and Toby, Katie and Dan and Peter too. Their raucous laughter drowned out everyone else’s chatter.
‘I just made that up. I don’t even have Instagram.’
‘I guessed. I was joking,’ Gina said. ‘Why are you still recording?’
‘Because I think there’s more going on than Leonard and the painting. Here, listen to this,’ Juliet said, tapping on her phone.
‘Maybe not here or now,’ Gina said. ‘If you have something you really want us to hear, then later might be better.’
Juliet grudgingly put her phone away.
‘Gina, if you get the chance, could you talk to Peter? I have this odd feeling that he perhaps knows something,’ Dorothy whispered, and Gina nodded in agreement.
There was the sudden sound of a glass being struck and they all looked up to see that Leonard was back in the room and was standing at the end of the table about to make another of his announcements.
‘A little word from me if you could all indulge me for a moment.’
‘Me, me, me,’ Dorothy said, under her breath, and Gina laid her hand on her arm. Dorothy hoped it was more a reminder than a warning.
‘I have finally had word from the group who I hired the quad bikes from,’ he continued. ‘They got the bike back to base and had a good look at the problem. They pride themselves on their impeccable safety record and have never had an incident like this in all the years they’ve been in business.’
‘Get on with it, man,’ Dorothy breathed again and Gina took the reminder up a level by gently squeezing.
‘In short, they found a hole in the brake pipe,’ Leonard said.
There was a loaded pause as Leonard’s stare bored into Rufus.
Paul filled the silence. ‘Well, that’s on them then, isn’t it? Not having their machines in order – you could sue them.’
‘Paul, you don’t understand. They weren’t negligent; it was sabotage.’
‘Oh, not that again, what on earth makes you think that? Far more likely a faulty pipe than someone’s malicious intent. They probably hadn’t serviced it properly,’ Paul said, getting aggravated with his brother.
‘The brakes were fine on our way to the pub. I was using them as we came down the track into the village for God’s sake. Sorry, Vicar.’
Dorothy noticed that Peter was staring at Leonard and his look was hard and cool. Was there something there – more than offence taken of casual blasphemy? she wondered.
‘I came to a stop in the back of the car park, using the brakes,’ Leonard continued. ‘Then, when we left, the first time I needed to use them was at the top of the hill and they failed because, while I was inside the pub having my lunch, someone cut a hole in the pipe.’