Chapter 23
Dorothy was standing in front of the full-length mirror to check her appearance when Gina knocked at the door. She hoped the word mutton wasn’t going to be forefront on everyone’s lips when they saw her impractical slingbacks with killer points at the toe. The look was toned down with a silk floral dress that had cream and lilac peonies splashed across the fabric.
‘You look fantastic,’ Gina said. ‘Those shoes! Some might kill for them.’
‘These are shoes to kill with,’ Dorothy said, brandishing one of the points. ‘Might come in handy later. Although, maybe they’re too much. I might end up killing myself trying to walk up to the church.’
‘You look the perfect picture of grandmother to the groom. How are you feeling?’
‘A little better, thank you. You look wonderful. You should wear dresses more often. Who knew you had such a trim waist. Although, with the cut of that dress I feel eyes will be centred a little higher.’
‘Oh God, is it too much? I can change.’
‘Goodness, no! You are perfect as you are, although, aren’t you too hot with those long sleeves? Don’t you have anything strappy?’
‘I don’t really do strappy to be honest.’
‘Lots of women are worried unnecessarily about their arms as they get older, but I say be comfortable and sod what others think.’
Dorothy watched as Gina hesitated and then slowly pulled up the sleeve covering her right arm to reveal terrible scarring across her skin. It looked as if she’d been burned and badly. It took every bit of her strength not to gasp.
‘Goodness, Gina, I don’t know what to say.’
‘I was burned in a house fire,’ she said, simply. ‘It was started deliberately. I was there with my mother, but only I made it out alive. I don’t like the staring that comes with a scar like this. I find it’s easier to just keep it covered up.’
‘An arson attack! That’s terrible and your poor mother too. How horrible for you. I’m so sorry you had to go through that and of course I understand why you cover it, but maybe among friends or family you don’t feel that way?’
‘I feel that way all the time with anybody I’m with to be honest. But I’ve been feeling like I need to reinvent myself recently. Not sure how to go about doing that.’
‘How about learning to love the person you already are,’ Dorothy said with a sympathetic smile.
‘You’re probably right – it’s too late to try and be someone else now anyway.’
‘Firstly, I say it’s never too late to try something new, but in this instance I would ask you, what do you think is wrong with you, and who else do you propose to be?’
‘Excellent questions for another time, perhaps,’ Gina said walking over to the window while pulling her sleeve firmly back down. ‘I’m afraid Juliet and I were not fruitful in our search this morning and we are seriously running out of easy places to look.’
‘Where is Juliet now?’ Dorothy asked.
‘Gone to have an argument with her mother about what she can wear to the wedding.’
‘Ah, perhaps it’s for the best that she didn’t get talked into that bridesmaid dress. I still have faith, you know.’
‘In the bridesmaid dress?’
‘In the painting.’
‘The coaches are here,’ Gina said, looking down onto the driveway. ‘Lots more colourful dresses, but with hats this time. I feel sorry for men at weddings; they do get the short straw. Tight collars, long-sleeved shirts and jackets, strangulating ties. Women get to wear floaty silk, and hats to keep the sun from their faces.’
‘There is a caveat to that,’ Dorothy said. ‘Shapewear underwear. There is nothing more sweat-inducing than that. Floaty on the outside maybe, trussed up underneath.’
She took a good look at the back of Gina as she watched the goings-on below. Her shoulders were a little hunched over all the time. She was always trying to make herself less somehow. And now, of course, Dorothy understood why that was. It made her feel even worse than she already did about what she’d asked Gina to do. Hadn’t she wondered how biddable Gina was when she first met her? This woman needed love and care, not to be manipulated. But it was too late to change things now. Dorothy swallowed hard and considered that Gina might get as much of a boost from finding the painting as Dorothy would herself. And then she wondered if, as time was running out, she was still setting herself up for a huge disappointment.
‘I’m sorry we weren’t successful this morning. We searched the temple, the greenhouses and even some sheds,’ Gina said as if she could see into Dorothy’s mind and read her thoughts.
‘I admire your resolve and I’m very grateful to you, Gina, but I have to refer back to my original point about it hanging in plain sight. He won’t have it tucked away like a dusty nothing he pinched. He was incredibly competitive with Philip. I remain convinced that he will have it somewhere where he can see it as a daily reminder that he won. I’m honestly surprised it’s not hanging over his bed.’
‘I understand what you mean and now I’ve spent a few days with the man I can completely see that he would do that, but I have honestly looked and looked and can’t think where else would be in plain sight. Harry is his right-hand man and has access to most of Leonard’s personal spaces, but even he hasn’t seen it. I’m at a loss. But we do have evidence of considerable theft and we can go to the police with that. I know it won’t give you quite the comfort you’re seeking, but maybe it might have to be enough.’
‘We still have today and maybe even tomorrow morning before we all have to leave. Let’s not lose all hope quite yet.’
‘Shall we go then? I expect everyone is waiting in the entrance hall. I wonder what get-up Leonard will be sporting today?’
‘I dread to think.’
Gina handed Dorothy her handbag from the bed and then took her arm.
‘Let’s leave that here,’ Dorothy said, handing the bag back. ‘I might very well need you to fetch that for me later.’
Peter had reserved the first two pews for the immediate family and Gina showed Dorothy to the front next to Miles and Lavinia, and Sophie and Luke. Juliet sat sullenly on the end wearing some lovely caramel-coloured trousers and a pretty blue silk top. She had pulled the side of her hair up into a silver clip. Dorothy smiled at her and she offered up a resigned shrug in response.
‘I’ll be more comfortable sitting at the back,’ Gina said as Dorothy tried to get her to sit with them.
Dorothy didn’t push it and hoped that Gina intended to slip out while the service was going on. She pulled Gina closer for a moment and made sure that her son and daughter-in-law were in conversation with Sophie.
‘I forgot to ask you about Peter,’ she whispered. ‘Did you glean any information from him?’
Dorothy noted that Gina hesitated for just long enough for her to think that she had found out something, but she obviously decided to keep it to herself.
‘No, just chit-chat,’ Gina said, but Dorothy didn’t believe her.
Peter was hovering with a Bible in his hands, walking back and forth, smiling at the guests, but when his eyes found Gina the smile faded and Dorothy saw him give her a brief nod. What that was supposed to signify, she wasn’t sure, but he certainly looked a bit twitchy.
Gina left her then and found her way to the back of the church. Dorothy sat down next to Juliet and patted her knee.
‘Am I allowed to say you look lovely?’ she said, and Juliet gave her a half-smile.
‘How about you just think it, Granny, and I won’t talk about your shoes.’
‘No Leonard yet,’ Dorothy said to Sophie.
‘I expect he’s planning an entrance to upstage the bride,’ Sophie replied.
‘Oh, I see I’m not alone in my thoughts about that man then.’
‘You may have been at the beginning of the week, but I’ve nearly had enough of him now,’ said Sophie and Luke sniggered beside her.
Dorothy turned in her pew and her eyes travelled over the sea of hats and perfectly coiffured hair back to Gina, who seemed quite content sitting with a couple Dorothy had been introduced to at the garden party yesterday, but she couldn’t remember their names.
The church looked lovely with the addition of the floral arrangements near the altar. The florist had done an amazing job in lemon-coloured roses and white lilies and even the ends of the pews had pretty little displays, the scent of them filling the cool air. The organist was playing Bach’s ‘Wachet Auf’ and there was a quiet, but excited chatter among the guests.
The door opened then and Leonard finally walked in. All heads turned to watch him walk down the aisle as if he were the blushing bride. Dorothy was disappointed to see that he was dressed in traditional tails with his black hair slicked back and flicking up on his collar. He had a lemon rose in his buttonhole and Dorothy’s honest and unwanted thought was that he looked quite handsome. She turned her attention to Peter and he was staring straight at Leonard with an expression that seemed to be a little savage. She wondered what his problem was, but then didn’t everyone eventually have a problem with Leonard? Once Leonard reached the front he turned to survey the room and his eyes alighted on Dorothy. He smiled broadly at her, almost smugly, and she returned it with one of her own. Please let today be the day, she thought. We surely must find it today.
The strains of Pachelbel’s ‘Cannon in D’ began and the door swung open to reveal Caroline having her veil rearranged by Katie. Her dress was as beautiful as Dorothy knew it would be. Traditional but not frothy, strapless but not sleazy, detailed but not fussy. She was a vision in ivory silk. Katie’s dress was a simple design of the same material, but in lemon, and it suited her perfectly.
They began their walk down the aisle with all eyes on them apart from Toby, who Dorothy noticed was steadfastly looking forward as Caroline had apparently told him to do. Paul looked every bit the proud father with Caroline on his arm. Dorothy felt quite choked and reached for her handbag for a tissue, but of course she didn’t have it. Sophie held one out for her and as she took it, she was aware that Juliet had a hand to her own face and was pretending to scratch at her cheek while secretly wiping a tear away.
Dorothy noticed as Katie walked past her that she was wearing a silver chain around her neck with a bird pendant in pale yellow enamel and it was a perfect match for her dress. She was sad that Juliet hadn’t wanted to join them, but she could understand that for some, being on show was not a happy place to be.
They took their positions, Peter began to speak and the next time Dorothy looked behind her, Gina was gone.