A Trick of the Light by Ali Carter (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

I would have liked to say goodbye; I liked Ewen but on the flip side I was still feeling smug he’d taken off.

‘What did you and Rupert make of Ewen’s house then?’

Thinking she meant the state of it rather than any comparison to hers, I joked, ‘Pretty tidy.’

Zoe didn’t laugh.

‘Lovely building,’ said Rupert, ‘but it can’t be easy having your brother-in-law living on your doorstep?’

‘It’s okay. Fergus finds it difficult, though I reassure him Ewen won’t be here forever.’

Before any more was said, Zoe sent another question down the table. ‘Louis,’ she was saying, ‘have you taken any photographs yet?’

‘I’m going to this afternoon,’ he called back. ‘It’s a good excuse to stop painting.’

‘Stop painting?’ I interrupted them.

‘Yeah, I’m much better at taking pictures,’ he smiled.

‘One less member of the class,’ said Zoe and I wondered if she was doubting my ability to teach. Not that I’m worried about that; I’m confident there will be plenty of work to show her at the end of the week.

Zoe got up to clear the table. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said as I stacked Rupert’s bowl on mine, ‘I’m just going to take what I can to the kitchen and get the flapjacks.’

‘Flapjacks,’ said Shane, overhearing. ‘I could do with a pocket full of them.’

‘We’re going to put on weight here,’ said Rupert. ‘You’re feeding us so well.’

‘I shall have to detox when I get home,’ said Felicity.

‘What are we doing this afternoon, Susie?’ asked Lianne and the table fell silent for an answer.

‘First,’ said Fergus, ‘I’m going to take you on a tour of the front of the house and then I think the plan is to paint out there.’

‘Yes,’ I nodded.

Zoe returned and Felicity, refusing a flapjack, said, ‘I must go and put on an extra layer.’

‘I reckon it will be cold…’ I began.

‘For a change,’ interrupted Giles.

‘…so layer up, put on your outdoor kit and we’ll carry our painting things round to the front of the house before the tour.’

‘Better get going then,’ said Rupert, leading the charge.

‘Ten minutes and I’ll be with you,’ called out Fergus.

I went upstairs and, taking the long route round the landing, crashed into Felicity as she was leaving her room.

‘Sorry,’ I said as she giggled with fright.

‘That’s okay.’

The portrait behind her caught my eye and I asked if she’d mind me having another look.

‘No, not at all, come in.’ She turned to Jane who was sitting on one of two beds, slipping fur wrist warmers over her hands. ‘Susie wants to have another peek at our Countess.’

‘Fine.’

Felicity stood right next to me as I looked up at the picture.

‘That’s funny,’ I said, ‘I hadn’t realised till now that the diamonds round her neck are yellow. They’re so full of light, it’s not easy to tell from far away.’

‘So they are, oval too. Jane,’ said Felicity, ‘had you noticed this before?’

‘Possibly.’ Jane didn’t even bother to look up.

‘Aren’t we lucky to be sleeping in here, Susie.’

‘Yes, you are.’

We turned to Jane, who got up and, without a word, left the room.

‘I’m not sure what’s wrong with her,’ said Felicity. ‘She’s been preoccupied and a little agitated.’

‘Creativity can bring that out in people.’

‘But her pictures are far better than mine. I get the feeling she’s missing her personal space.’

‘Are you okay?’ I was now concerned Felicity wasn’t enjoying herself.

‘Yes, yes, I’m having a splendid time.’

‘Oh great. Thanks for letting me have another peek in here. I’m just going to grab a jumper, and I’ll see you downstairs.’

I rushed to my room with a wild thought: could that pale-yellow bead I’d found under the floorboard be in fact a diamond? Maybe even from that necklace. Perhaps Zoe really had found some treasure in my room.

I held it up to the light. It sparkled with the richness and fire you just don’t see in costume jewellery and it was oval, an unusual shape for any ordinary bead. I know, I thought, I’ll do a bog-standard test, see if it scratches the window glass. I had it firm between my thumb and forefinger and slid my hand across a small lower portion of the pane. Crumbs…the jewel made a mark, almost too small to see but as I ran my fingers over it I could definitely trace an indent. This is a diamond…It can’t be…It must be…I’d like it to be…If it is…was that necklace under my floorboard? I’ll keep hold of it until I know the truth.

I put the diamond safely back in my jewellery case, grabbed a jumper and went down to the drying room. No one else’s kit was in here so I hurriedly got dressed and rushed outside.

‘Susie,’ said Fergus coming down the front steps, Haggis hot on his heel and full of beans, ‘do you want me to carry anything from the bus?’

‘No, this is the last easel, they must have taken everything else round to the front of the house.’

‘Can you manage it?’

‘Yes thanks.’

‘Come then, this way. I was thinking,’ he said as we walked, ‘maybe you could nip away this afternoon and get a new tyre fitted.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘If everyone else is, then yes. I very much doubt it will take long.’

‘Okay, great.’

My keys, wallet and mobile were already in my pocket. I had been hoping to find the time today.

The others were lolling around on the terrace next to a pile of kit.

‘Aren’t we lucky with this lovely dry day,’ said Fergus. ‘Leave your things here and come stand back a bit and face the house. Line up, let me in the middle, I’m going to tell you a bit about the house and garden.’

Louis put his arm round my shoulder. ‘Warm enough?’ he said, squeezing me then letting go.

‘Just,’ I smiled as butterflies turned in my tummy.

‘Right,’ Fergus began, ‘on this façade, you’ll notice there’s only one straight stone staircase leading into the garden, not two curved stone staircases as there are on the other side leading into the yard.’

‘I never realised,’ said Shane.

Lianne kicked his ankle.

‘Stick with me,’ said Fergus.