Chapter 24
It was the pendant that caught my eye. Katie looked beautiful in her lemon dress with ruched sleeves and sweetheart neckline. It gave her the perfect amount of cleavage for her necklace and the bird to sit comfortably.
Oddly it made me think about that ghastly stuffed bird in Leonard’s Chinese cabinet and why he might have it there, what terrible taste he had in some things. And then my brain really started whirring. That bird had made me jump and I’d shut the cabinet noting that there was no painting to be seen. I should have looked more carefully; perhaps the bird was there as a deterrent, something to stop you looking any further. My hand reached for my mother’s pendant. Wasn’t I hoping for some luck today? Was this it? Was this the thunderbolt moment I’d been waiting for?
I watched as Leonard suddenly gave Dorothy a huge smile, but couldn’t see what her response was. He really was exactly as Dorothy described him – odious. The organ music stopped, Peter began the service and then I quietly got up and slipped out of the door, holding the handle tightly until it closed silently behind me. Then I began a brisk walk back to the house via the woodland path. Even with everyone inside the church I still felt I needed to keep to the shadows. Once I was back at the house I went inside through the door from the garden. The reception was to be solely in the orangery and the guests would be leaving from the front, so there wasn’t any activity on this side of the house at all. The kitchen would be where it was all happening. All that food had to be taken up and kept warm before being served. Harry and his team had their work cut out for them.
I slipped in through the patio doors and made my way round to the main entrance hall and up the stairs to Leonard’s wing. This was becoming a habit. Then as quickly and quietly as I could, I opened his bedroom door and stepped inside.
The first thing I noted was that Leonard’s bed wasn’t made and his curtains weren’t tied back in perfect pleats as they had always been before. The second thing I noted was that the Chinese cabinet was open, the bird was lying on its side and behind it, where before there had been a lacquered back panel, it was open and a deep chamber – which would have been a perfect hiding place for a small coastal watercolour – was empty.
I sat down on the edge of his bed and let the full weight of disappointment wash over me. It was over. He’d known what we were doing. How could he not with me and Juliet tramping around his house? We’d been as subtle as Dorothy’s shoes. Leonard had moved the painting – in a hurry by the looks of it. That broad smile he’d given Dorothy in the church earlier had been smug. Now I really thought about it, it hadn’t been friendly; it had been victorious. I had honestly thought I’d been sneaky and clever, quiet and unassuming. I’d been a complete fool.
I slipped in through the door during a rousing rendition of ‘Lord of the Dance’ and managed to get back in my pew without making a fuss. The wife of the couple I was sitting next to did look questioningly at me, but I just mumbled something about needing the loo and the woman had nodded sympathetically in that united way women did – middle-aged and older women knew the score when it came to the loo.
The service was finishing and according to the order of service we were singing the final hymn. And then Peter was thanking everyone and congratulating the couple and the highly spirited ‘Toccata’ from Widor’s Organ Symphony No.5 began, signalling that it was time to leave. And I felt like crying at the sound of that music. I dabbed at the tears with a tissue before they could ruin my make-up. It wasn’t just the painting and how close I’d come to finding it, but it was Douglas. He had played this at Alice’s wedding. With permission from the organist he had taken over for the end of the service and had played us all out of the church. I took a deep breath, determined not to make a fool of myself. I tried not to blame Douglas for the disappointment I felt right now, but actually I did. I wouldn’t be here in this church trying not to cry at the music if he hadn’t left me. I’d be at home in Thame, gardening through a Saturday afternoon and then planning to cook a Saturday night curry and watching the time closely to see the numbers reach the magic six o’clock so I could open some wine. Instead I was at a stranger’s wedding after a fruitless week, not quite being a companion and not finding a bloody painting.
Outside I hung back as the photos were taken. I couldn’t face Dorothy knowing that I’d been so close to finding the watercolour. If I’d not been spooked by that bird I might have had the sense to explore the cabinet further when I’d had the chance. For years that had been my job, my career: to examine, explore and to discover. I’d failed considerably.
I watched Leonard like a hawk, but he didn’t show any sign of being bothered by me. He didn’t look like a man who had wrenched a hidden painting from his room knowing I was hunting it. In the end I went and chatted to a woman from Scotland and the woman’s brother who were friends of Lavinia and Miles. They talked about books they’d enjoyed recently and how beautiful the city of Madrid was, how generous Leonard was for letting Caroline use his home for her wedding and that they were looking forward to the party they had planned back at the hotel later. Most of what they talked about went over the top of my head as all I could really think about was getting the train back home. And really that gave me no comfort at all.
It took an hour for the photos at the church and then Caroline encouraged the photographer to move towards the orangery so that the guests could all get a drink.
Leonard’s staff were serving champagne and glasses of Buck’s Fizz from silver trays. Then canapés circulated too. Beautifully made and delicious, the miniature bites would help soak up the alcohol that was flowing fast and furious. I thought that Caroline had made the right decision to leave early while everyone would still be on a high.
I took a glass of orange juice from a passing tray just as Leonard began tapping on the side of his own. The chatter died down instantly and all eyes were on him. When I really looked at him, I noticed that he looked tired too. His face was drawn and he had dark shadows under his eyes, but he was making every effort to look upbeat. The effect was that he appeared maniacal somehow. He looked slightly deranged.
‘Thank you all again for coming and I would like to offer my hearty congratulations to the beautiful bride and her handsome husband.’
Leonard paused so everyone could shout hear, hear and then he continued.
‘An incredible amount of work has gone into today and I hope so much that you are all having a wonderful time…’ Pause for more praise directed at Leonard. ‘And now to the moment you’ve all been waiting for… I have created for you a seven-course tasting menu with the finest ingredients sourced from the best producers in the UK. This really is something to behold and I hope you enjoy.’
As the group moved towards the open doors of the orangery I walked over to where Dorothy was standing. She had hold of Sophie’s arm on one side and Juliet’s on the other. I was slacking in my role as companion now too, although no one had said anything to me.
‘Shall we get you inside so you can sit down?’ I said and Dorothy nodded gratefully.
‘Thank you, Gina. Come on, Juliet, let’s go and find your father,’ Sophie said.
‘Can I sit with Granny?’
‘We are sitting with Granny, and Gina and Granny’s friend Yvonne is going to join us with her husband, Bill.’
‘I don’t have to sit with you,’ I said. Being in the church was one thing, but a guest for the meal was something else.
‘Of course you’re going to sit with us,’ Sophie said. ‘You are very welcome.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, rather wishing I could disappear back to the house.
Juliet shoved her hands into her pockets as she walked away, and Sophie followed her, tucking the back of her daughter’s hem into her waistband. I felt for her; thirteen was a difficult age. I still remembered how I had felt then. All my thoughts seemed fixed. I was never going to wear make-up and couldn’t understand why anyone would waste their precious time applying it. I’d never get married or have children, I’d be far too busy with my donkey sanctuary for that nonsense. I’d travel the entire world, whilst also managing to look after my donkeys. I’d be a vet and a pop star and live in a cottage by the sea. But, within six months I’d totally reinvent myself. I’d be a scientist and work in a lab; I might have children, but no more than two and I’d still never get married. I’d seen first-hand what marriage could be like for some women. And so it went on. My mother had been brilliant through those times. Always encouraging me to do whatever I wanted rather than squashing my dreams as being as ridiculous as they probably were. And up until the point that she left my father and we moved back to the UK, I hadn’t fully grasped how incredibly difficult it had been for her.
I realised with a horrible sinking feeling that it wasn’t just Dorothy who was going to be disappointed, Juliet was very much invested in this too. Perhaps I could just leave Dorothy to break the news to her after I had disappeared back to Thame. I certainly wouldn’t be moving in with Dorothy now.
What would my mother have done? The thought landed in my head unexpectedly. She would have been upfront and honest about it. She was someone who faced things head-on. No matter the consequences.
I took Dorothy’s arm and we began to walk towards the door. Caroline and Toby were waiting to greet their guests and Leonard was hovering behind them like an annoying fly that needed squashing.
‘You’d think he’d cooked the whole menu himself the way he announced it. I for one will be so glad to be going home tomorrow. I can’t bear to be near that insufferable man for any longer than necessary,’ said Dorothy.
‘You and me both,’ I said.
‘Congratulations, my darling grandson and his beautiful wife!’
We’d reached the front of the queue and Dorothy was embracing Caroline and Toby. I was face to face with Leonard and I couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
‘Gina, how have you enjoyed your week here as Dorothy’s carer?’
‘Companion, and very well. You have a wonderful home with some beautiful pieces and it has been the perfect venue for this wedding. Caroline and Toby are so lucky to have had the opportunity to have their special day in this special setting.’
I ran out of platitudes then and anyway, Dorothy was giving me a look.
‘Are you quite well, Leonard?’ Dorothy asked. ‘I have to say, you look a little peaky.’
‘Quite well thank you, Dot. Very much looking forward to this meal. What do you think of a seven-course taster menu? Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it.’
‘Philip and I had a taster menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant once. It was rather lacking in substance and we stopped for chips on the way home. Shall we, Gina?’
I suppressed the giggle that was threatening to erupt out of my mouth and guided Dorothy past the incandescent Leonard.
We were the first to arrive at the table and I pulled out the chair for Dorothy. Everyone else in the room was standing behind their chairs waiting for the bride and groom to take their own seats, but judging by the queue to greet them it might be a while.
‘Just sit for a bit,’ I suggested. ‘If you want to, you can stand back up when they come in. No one’s going to mind.’
Dorothy sat down gratefully and helped herself to a glass of water from the table. It was decorated just as Caroline had described with a beautiful low-hung chandelier above us and displays of trailing pale-yellow and white flowers in the centre of the table. There were gifts of little boxed chocolates for each guest to take away, but a lack of table confetti, which pleased me. I’d often been to weddings where the table was littered and you were forever picking it from your sleeves.
I hesitated over whether to bring Dorothy up to speed with what I had found out about Leonard and Peter, and then decided that it was best not to. It really wasn’t anyone else’s business and he’d already had his privacy violated by Leonard; he certainly didn’t need me spreading nasty gossip too. I opened my mouth to let her know that Leonard had moved the painting and that it was unlikely we’d find it now, but then I closed it again. I’d leave that disappointment until after the meal. I should let her enjoy it. There was time enough to deliver that blow later.
We were joined then by the rest of our table. Yvonne sat down next to Dorothy with Bill on the other side of her. Juliet sat next to me, and Sophie and Luke sat opposite. I noticed that Sophie found Luke’s hand as he reached for the menu on the table in front of him and they shared a sweet smile. Juliet might be very much relieved and I was sure Dorothy would be too.
Then the first course arrived and someone poured me a glass of wine. I picked up the menu from the table in front of me. Amuse-Bouche and Breads it read for the first course.
‘Go easy on the bread if we’ve got seven of these to get through,’ said Dorothy.
‘What, not stopping for chips on the way home?’ I said.
‘I made that up, of course. I just wanted to wipe that smug smile from his irritating face.’
‘It worked – he looked thunderous.’
‘One must get one’s digs in whilst one can.’
In fact, it was hard not to devour the whole lot of miniature homemade breads, piquant butter and tiny cup of intense mushroom soup. So I did and then reached again for the menu to see what was next.
There was relaxed conversation around the table during the next two courses of Pea and Mint Tart followed by Hand-Dived Scallop Ceviche. I tried to include Juliet in the chatter about our week in Leonard’s manor, but she wasn’t offering much apart from pointed looks. I would have to tell her, but I wasn’t looking forward to it.
‘I’ve been invited to go away in October,’ Dorothy said.
‘Where?’ Sophie asked her.
‘My friend was supposed to be joining me for a cruise around the Med, but her hip replacement has been brought forward and she’s desperate to get it done,’ Yvonne said. ‘So I asked if Dot would like to come with me instead.’
‘And she knows I won’t go,’ Bill said.
‘Yes, you’d never get Bill on a floating hotel. You’re keen, though aren’t you, Dot?’
‘I am,’ she said. ‘Let’s get this week done and then we can talk about it properly.’
I noticed Sophie give Luke a dubious look, but then the conversation moved on to various joints being replaced. And Bill seemed like he had a lot to say on the matter. I glanced at Juliet and smiled as she gave me a look that said kill me now.
Then my phone pinged in my bag by my feet and as I bent to retrieve it and discreetly read the message on my lap I saw it was from Juliet who wanted to know what was happening and what we were going to do next. I quickly responded, saying we’d talk after. I also noticed I’d missed a message from Alice confirming our lunch next week. I didn’t respond to that.
‘Sorry,’ I said to the group. ‘My daughter messaging me. I’ll talk to her later.’
‘You have a family?’ Sophie asked me. ‘I’m sorry I’ve not asked you anything about yourself.’
‘You’ve no need to. I’m here to look after Dorothy,’ I said and we all turned to look at Dorothy who was looking a little paler than earlier. Another job I wasn’t doing particularly well. ‘I do have a daughter – Alice – and a son – Christopher, Chris. Alice has two little girls, so I’m a granny too, which is lovely.’
‘And you’re newly single, I think you mentioned on the minibus the other day?’ Sophie said, but before I had the chance to respond and say it had been Dorothy who had divulged that tit-bit of information, the staff were bustling around and clearing the plates away and I could hear someone talking behind me. I looked round to see two waiting staff standing close together and whispering. I caught only a few of the words they were exchanging, but it was enough. Harry had disappeared.