Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ileaned back on my artist’s stool to examine my progress.
I was relishing the prospect of a quieter day today.
The cottages were all occupied and everything was in full swing, so I decided to make use of some cherished free time.
My portrait of the Scarlet Highwayman was – finally – developing well.
I swished my Kolinsky sable brush around in the jar of water beside me.
As I got to work with a daub of the palest cream paint, I stippled further details on the embroidery of his shirt.
The shape of his jaw and chin was slowly getting to a point where I was satisfied or at least would be.
The trill of my mobile phone made me turn down the volume of my digital radio. Katie’s face appeared on my screen.
‘I’m stressed!’ she burst out.
‘Why? What’s up?’
‘I’ve been sitting here, trying to compose a new teapot which would be suitable for loose-leaf tea.’
‘Okay…’
‘I think I’m going to go down the earthenware route as its high iron content tends to make the pot hold its heat for a lot longer.’
‘Right. So why so stressed, K?’
‘I need to make sure when making the infuser that it fits well into the teapot’s gallery and that the gallery on the infuser is deep enough for the teapot lid.’
‘Katie?’
‘Yes?’
‘I’ve got no bloody idea what you’re on about.’
There was a pause. ‘I can see why. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m on about.’
‘Do you want to forget about infusers for a minute and interrogate me about Mason, instead?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘I thought you’d be on before now, asking me about him. You’re slipping.’
‘No, I’m not. This was a one-off and won’t happen again. So come on, then. Cheer up my Sunday evening by telling me what happened at your sexy picnic today?’
My mind reeled back to Mason and how he’d been playful one minute and frosty the next over the Scarlet Highwayman. I swirled my brush back in the water and then told Katie what had happened. She let out a bark of laughter when I’d finished.
‘Can’t you see what’s up with him?’
‘What do you mean?’
Katie’s voice was laced with frustration. ‘Oh, come on, Popps. It’s obvious. Mason’s jealous.’
‘Jealous of what?’
‘Not of what. Whom.’
I sighed and rubbed one paint-crusted hand down my faded jeans. ‘Do I get the star prize if I can guess what on earth you’re talking about?’
Katie’s irritation was evident. ‘Oh, for pity’s sake! I mean he’s jealous of the Scarlet Highwayman. Or should I say, how you feel about him.’
My eyes sprang back to my portrait. ‘Are you kidding me? The Scarlet Highwayman’s been dead for a couple of hundred years.’
‘I know that, but it hasn’t stopped you crushing on him, has it?’
My cheeks flamed. ‘Don’t be daft.’
‘Oh, yes?’ questioned Katie. ‘May I ask what painting you’re working on right now?’
I opened my mouth and then clamped it shut. Did she have a hidden camera in here somewhere?
‘I thought as much,’ travelled her triumphant voice.
‘I just wanted to get on with it,’ I explained with a guilty edge. ‘I was working flat out the other evening completing a Port Starr funfair chalk drawing to exhibit in one of the cottages to replace the one that’s already been sold, and I needed a distraction.’
‘Right.’
I cradled my feet on the crossbar of my stool. ‘I don’t need all this,’ I concluded with irritation.
‘All what?’
‘Complicated men.’
I toyed with the wooden handle of my paintbrush. ‘One minute we’re kissing, and the next he’s acting as though nothing happened.’
‘Whoa!’ Katie squealed. ‘Back up there. When did that happen?’
I waggled my toes. ‘A couple of days ago.’
She was incredulous. ‘And you didn’t think to tell me? I’m supposed to be your best friend – and your sister-in-law.’
Before she could protest again, I got in first. ‘It all happened so fast, I think I was still struggling to get my head around it.’
Katie’s voice sounded dreamy. ‘I bet it would have been incredible. His type always is.’
‘What type?’
‘You know,’ she prompted, ‘a bit arrogant and intelligent. When he gets going, I bet he just erupts … like a volcano…’
‘Well, volcano or not, he won’t be erupting anywhere near me,’ I answered a little too fiercely.
‘He can’t help it if he’s deep.’
‘There’s deep and then there’s an endless pit,’ I grumbled. ‘The most sensible thing for me to do is to keep things professional, especially after what happened with Nick.’
‘Ugh!’ groaned Katie in my ear. ‘What fun is there in being sensible?’
‘So, did you make much progress with your portrait last night?’ asked Katie as I entered the office the next morning.
‘I did. I felt like I was able to concentrate on that and nothing else.’
Katie’s brows rose. ‘And the nothing else being…?’
I focused on placing the two new sketches I’d done in our front office window. One showed a misty scene of the harbour with the boats drifting like idle ghosts on the water. The other piece depicted two elderly ladies shielding themselves from a spring shower underneath a lime-green umbrella.
I smoothed some of the purple satin cloth we used to place our pieces on.
Katie pattered over the wooden floor and studied our combined art. ‘It’s great we’re securing sales of our artworks now. Putting bits and pieces on show in the cottages has worked wonders. The tourists can’t get enough of anything connected to the castle.’
‘Good morning.’
My head snapped around to see Alex Lapley oozing through the door.
Katie stiffened. ‘Can I help you?’
He squinted through his pale-blue eyes and cast them around. ‘Art isn’t really my thing.’
‘I would never have guessed,’ she hissed under her breath.
I forced a smile. ‘What can we help you with?’
It was at that point that an intrigued couple wandered in, backpacks slung over their shoulders. As they perused our noticeboard, Katie wished them good morning – and aimed hot glares at Alex Lapley at the same time.
Alex reminded me of a wiry pipe cleaner, with nylon blond hair and stiff shoulders.
He planted his legs more firmly upon the floor.
Why was he always wearing a suit? Had he never heard of the casual look?
His persistent choice of expensive tailoring added to my belief that he was every bit as starched and unapproachable as his shirts.
‘Business seems brisk,’ he remarked, trailing a finger over one of my pictures.
I flinched. ‘We’re doing well, considering we’ve only been operating again for a few weeks.’ I eyed him. ‘So,’ I repeated with as much patience as I could muster, ‘what can I do for you?’
A sly smile seeped across his sharp features. ‘Nothing, I’m sorry to say.’
Katie stepped up beside me. ‘Why have you come in here, then?’
Alex pushed his hands into the pockets of his suit trousers. ‘I’m afraid I’ve got some rather unpleasant news.’
The backpack couple continued to hover by the window, doing their best to appear spellbound by Katie’s cereal bowls, rather than the potential drama unfolding before them.
I tried to disguise my apprehension. ‘About what?’
Alex’s effort to appear contrite weren’t fooling anyone. ‘This business actually belongs to me.’
‘What?’ I barked with laughter. ‘What are you talking about? Of course it doesn’t.’ I shook my head in bewilderment. ‘Don’t be so bloody stupid. Get away with you.’
His jaw clenched. ‘I’m not ten anymore, Poppy.’
‘Well, stop acting as if you are.’ I gathered up my resilience. ‘I remember you back then, Alex, all knobbly knees and attitude. You haven’t changed for the better.’
Alex glowered from under his pale lashes. ‘Much as I’m enjoying this trip down memory lane, please be quiet.’
I glowered at him and Katie snorted beside me.
Alex chose to examine the underside of one of Katie’s cereal bowls. His mouth twisted into open disdain as he clattered it back down in the display. ‘I should clarify that it’s the land this business is built on that still belongs to me and my family.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ I snorted. ‘It’s White Willow Cottages and it belongs to the Summers.’
‘No, I can assure you it doesn’t.’ Alex shrugged. ‘The name of this place is inconsequential. Your father failed to sign one part of the agreement and that means that your business belongs to us.’
He delved inside his jacket and handed over a cream-coloured envelope. My mouth dried up as I took it. I tried to look unfazed.
‘Don’t take my word for it,’ Alex said silkily. ‘It’s from our family solicitors.’
Katie peered over my shoulder, and we read the formal-looking correspondence in silence.
He made no effort to conceal his delight.
The blood in my veins iced over. There must be some mistake. ‘Do you practise being an utter bastard or does it just come naturally?’ I gave my arm a nervous rub. ‘If you think…’
‘I’m not thinking anything. I know.’
My eyes swivelled from the letter to his superior expression and back again. ‘I don’t understand any of this.’
Alex slid the letter back into his jacket pocket and gave it a comforting pat.
I tried to conceal my fear and frustration. ‘I’d like a copy of that letter.’
‘You don’t need a copy,’ he snapped. ‘You’ve just read it.’ His mouth slid into a triumphant smile that made my stomach clench. ‘I’m sure it must have all come as a bit of a shock. I’ll give you a chance to digest everything and then we can discuss how we go forward.’
‘Go forward?’ I repeated, my heart thudding in my ears. ‘What are you talking about?’
Alex spun on his heel and marched towards the office door.
Then he glanced back at the two of us. He spoke to Katie and me as though we were errant toddlers.
‘Your father bought this business from my family, but it transpires we still own the land. Neither my family nor I are interested in cheap holiday homes.’ His cold eyes carried a glint of defiance.
‘The cottages are in a good location, but none of us intends to run around after demanding tourists.’ He let his words hang in the air for a few seconds.
‘I would imagine we’ll want those shacks to be demolished. ’