Chapter 26
Dorothy was beginning to flag now and had kicked her shoes off under the table. Gina looked wired, though and Dorothy wondered if she’d had too much to drink on top of the painkillers.
She had been mostly confident all week that Gina would find the painting and she’d been certainly hopeful, but time was almost up now and even her optimism was waning. She was also feeling a bit under the weather and could really do with resting somewhere quietly. She decided to keep her old lady card up her sleeve for a little longer.
She managed to get through the speeches – through all the words of love from Paul, the thanks and gratitude from Toby, the tales of drinking games and fun from a rather drunk Rufus and the sickening words of self-congratulations from Leonard. All she wanted to do was have a quiet time to herself, preferably horizontally.
And then Dorothy squeezed her feet back into her shoes and they walked round to the front of the house to see the bride and groom off. The car was a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and the couple looked so happy as they walked down the red carpet and under the floral arbour, pausing for more photos. It was much prettier than Lavinia had described it to her, the whole thing festooned in lemon roses and white lilies. It would certainly make for some lovely photographs for the album.
Toby had his arm around Caroline and she had her head on his shoulder. The photographer was snapping away and not for the first time Dorothy felt a stab of guilt at what she’d orchestrated. The fact that the couple had no idea what had been going on while they had been enjoying their wedding, in fact what had been going on while they had been enjoying their week, suddenly made her feel terrible. Using their wedding was never going to be her finest moment. Maybe she wouldn’t feel quite so bad if they’d been successful.
Leonard had indeed tied some silver and yellow bells to the back of the car, which was a lovely touch, and Dorothy thought that he was the oddest of men. Someone capable of causing both extreme trauma and great joy.
Caroline whooped in delight at the bells and after enveloping everyone in the warmest of embraces, including Leonard, she ordered everyone to stand in a group so she could throw her bouquet. Gina, Dorothy noticed, stood as far to one side as it was possible to be. The beautifully handcrafted bouquet flew through the air and was caught by one delighted guest who looked straight to her unsuspecting boyfriend, but he smiled gamely. Then the new couple climbed inside the Rolls and the car set off down the driveway with everyone cheering and waving behind them.
Within minutes two coaches arrived to whisk the rest of the guests away and Dorothy marvelled at the foresight of this. Without the bride and groom, their guests were suddenly a bit of a nuisance to Leonard.
Once they had all departed Leonard turned to the remaining group.
‘Well, that really was a golden wedding day. Let’s have champagne in the garden now we have the place to ourselves again,’ he said and without waiting for a response, he walked inside the house.
‘Well, I think that all went marvellously,’ Paul said and Sandra agreed. ‘Shame you had to get so drunk though, Rufus.’
Rufus shrugged. He seemed to have lost a bit of the sparkle he had during the wedding earlier. Perhaps the booze was really affecting him. It was quite hot standing out on the driveway. Dorothy was certainly feeling it now.
‘Why don’t we go and find some shade?’ Gina suggested.
‘Great idea,’ Lavinia, said looking up. ‘Although, shade may just have found us. Did you all hear that rumble of thunder earlier?’
They all looked up then to see a mass of dark clouds gathering.
‘I did say there was a storm forecast. Luckily it didn’t arrive during the wedding.’
‘Can’t believe our little boy is married,’ Miles said.
‘And to our little girl,’ said Paul, laughing. ‘Our families will be entwined from here on.’
‘Why anyone would want to be entwined with us is a mystery,’ Rufus said, grimly, and followed Leonard into the house. The group fractured then, but agreed to meet shortly in the garden for the promised champagne. Gina held Dorothy back as the others walked away.
‘Dorothy, what would be the icing on the cake for this wedding?’ she asked.
‘A swift removal of these uncomfortable shoes would be a good start and then, I suppose, a chilled glass of champagne wouldn’t be the worst thing.’
‘You look exhausted,’ Gina said to her. ‘Come on then, let’s get that sorted.’
She took Dorothy’s arm, led her inside the house and up the stairs to her bedroom.
Dorothy sat in her chair with her head back against the wall. She was worried that if she did lie down on the bed she might never get up again.
‘Are you feeling okay?’ Gina asked, but Dorothy didn’t have the energy to answer and she closed her eyes. ‘Dorothy?’ Gina tried again while laying her hand gently on the older woman’s arm.
‘I’m just tired, Gina,’ she said. ‘I think the wine I had at lunch and then the sun has got to me a bit.’
‘Are you well enough to hear some news?’ Gina asked tentatively.
Dorothy opened her eyes then, her brain firing up again at Gina’s words.
‘Yes, if it’s good news,’ she said, sitting forward.
Gina crouched down and took both of Dorothy’s hands in hers.
‘We have it; we have the painting,’ she said, the brightest of smiles on her face. ‘Harry has left, but he found it before he went. It was a parting gift.’
‘Where was it?’ Dorothy asked quietly.
‘It was just as you said it would be, hidden in plain sight in the Chinese cabinet in his bedroom. When I went looking it wasn’t there, but I could see where it would have been and thought Leonard had moved it, but it was Harry. He knew where the key was. Turns out he was pretty decent after all.’
‘Where is it now? Have you hidden it?’
‘Yes, I’ve hidden it in the church. I doubt Peter would find it, but after talking to him last night, I do believe we can trust him.’
‘So, it’s over,’ Dorothy said, tears springing into her eyes as she fully comprehended what Gina was telling her. ‘Justice for my Philip at last.’
‘It is partly over, but you need to decide what to do now. I suggest you hand it all over to Miles and let him deal with the police and Leonard. I think you’ve done your bit.’
‘I think you’ve done more than my bit actually,’ Dorothy said, catching Gina’s hands tightly in her own. ‘I will be forever grateful to you.’
It was a delighted Dorothy who accompanied Gina down into the garden. The others were a glass ahead of them and Dorothy readily accepted one from Leonard with a very large smile on her face.
‘You look invigorated, Dot, my dear,’ Leonard said, surprised at her countenance. He looked a bit uncomfortable with the change. As much as Dorothy would have loved to have told him right then, about the painting, she held back. Gina was right and she needed to hand it all over to Miles now. He would know how best to act. She decided she’d allow herself a little bit of a victory speech, though and she raised her glass.
‘I just wanted to say that it has been a wonderful day. Two young people are now married and on their way in life. I think Caroline and Toby are well suited and I wish them all the happiness.’
She took a sip of her drink and everyone followed her cue.
‘And I want to thank my companion, Gina, who has been a great comfort to me this week. I shall be forever grateful for the care and consideration that she has afforded me.’
They all quietly sipped again.
‘And to you, Leonard for opening up your house and showing us all what fabulous treasures you have collected. For finally giving me the opportunity to find one real gem among them.’
Everyone sipped again, but neither Leonard nor Dorothy did. The two of them had their eyes locked together, and Leonard actually looked like he was squirming under Dorothy’s steely gaze. And Dorothy watched as his expression changed and there was a moment of clarity. He suddenly placed his glass down on the table and turned for the house.
‘Please excuse me for a moment. I need to go and speak to Harry,’ he said, and quickly walked away.
‘I haven’t seen Harry all afternoon,’ Paul said.
‘He’s gone,’ said Juliet. ‘I saw him leaving as we walked round to the orangery. I went back to the house to charge my phone and he was sneaking out the kitchen door with a huge bag.’
‘Bit off, leaving Leonard in the lurch,’ Paul said, and Sandra gave him a long-practised withering look.
‘I really don’t know why you have such a soft spot for Leonard,’ she said. ‘He constantly takes whatever he wants and now he’s taken away our future.’
‘It was hardly ours in the first place,’ Paul said sitting down heavily in a garden chair. Picking up the bottle of champagne he sloshed some into his glass. ‘I really don’t know why you have it in for him all the time. He’s been the perfect host all this week and given our Caroline a wonderful wedding. I think you could be a little more grateful.’
‘And, like Rufus, I think you could be a little less drunk,’ Sandra hissed and then turned her back in a gesture reminiscent of Juliet.
Dorothy and Gina shared a look and then Gina moved a bit closer to her.
‘Do you think I should go and tell Peter where I’ve hidden the painting?’ Gina asked her quietly.
‘Yes, go and do that, then we have him onside when we call the police. Take Juliet with you and let her know. Battle lines are about to be drawn and I’m going to have a long-overdue conversation with my son and daughter.’