Once they were all seated, Ruth brought out trays of vegetables, roast and mashed potatoes, and a plate each with a hunk of steak and kidney pie on, and a vegetable pie for Lark. It looked and smelt good, and Amelia couldn’t wait to tuck in.
Once they had eaten, and Ruth had served drinks, she and Finn disappeared into the main house.
Amelia looked around the table. Her mum and Jackson were chatting with Rosamund and Neil, and a separate conversation was taking place between Robert, Thomas and Maddie. Lark looked pale and tired as she fiddled with her phone. It was as though she didn’t belong – an outcast, an outcast who chose to be that way.
Truth was, Amelia had no enthusiasm or inclination to infiltrate either conversation, and was just about to announce she was leaving when there was a tap on her shoulder.
‘Are you married?’ It was Elise, her tone serious. Amelia turned to see the girl’s bright blue eyes fixed on her. She had an angelic face; her cheeks pinker that evening, her lips curved upwards, even when she wasn’t smiling.
‘No, but I have a partner. We live in London.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘William.’
‘Do you love him?’ Her eyes narrowed.
‘Yes, I think so.’ Amelia checked herself. ‘Yes, I do.’
‘But he’s not here with you?’ She tilted her head on one side, trapping Amelia with her stare – a stare that made her feel uncomfortable. It was as though she could see right into her head.
‘He had to work.’ The words caught in her throat as she spoke. William should be supporting me. My mum’s dying. He should be here.
Elise moved in closer. ‘Do you have children?’
‘No. But I would like a baby one day.’
‘Rosamund wants a baby,’ she whispered, from behind her hand. ‘I hope she can’t have one. I don’t like babies much – especially hers.’
Amelia felt her eyes widen, unsure what to say. ‘I have a cat.’ It came out squeaky. ‘Do you like cats?’
She shook her head, no. ‘I like dogs more.’ She moved in even closer, so their heads touched. ‘I want one. But Rosamund is allergic, so I don’t think we’ll get one anytime soon. She’s ruined everything.’
Amelia glanced at Rosamund, who seemed oblivious to their conversation, then back to Elise who slumped back in her chair.
‘I looked up Drummondale House on the Internet before we came,’ she said. ‘A young boy died here a hundred years ago.’
‘Yes, I heard,’ Amelia said, recalling the ghost walk from the night before.
‘It’s a pretty depressing place isn’t it?’ Elise screwed up her nose, and looked about her. ‘The atmosphere is heavy. Like it’s cursed or something.’
‘Elise.’ It was Neil, who was sitting the other side of Amelia, and leaning forward staring at his daughter. ‘Enough!’
‘Flip sake, Dad,’ she said, shrinking further down in her seat. ‘I’m only talking.’
‘I’m sorry about that, Amelia,’ he said. He had a kindly face, his full cheeks reddened by the warmth of the room, and possibly the two glasses of red he’d drunk. ‘Take no notice of her. It’s an amazing place. We’re glad to be here sharing this special time with your mum.’
Elise’s face morphed from sweet to sulky as he turned back to his conversation.
‘One day you’ll be sorry,’ she muttered under her breath, giving Rosamund a sideways look.
A few moments later Elise had pulled herself back up in her seat, and was tapping on Maddie’s arm. ‘Are you American?’
Maddie turned from Thomas and Dad. ‘Yes, I grew up in Portland, Oregon.’
‘I want to go to America one day. Daddy and I were planning to go, just the two of us, before Rosamund came along.’ She looped her hair behind her ears.
‘Well, it’s a great place if you get to go. You’ll absolutely love it.’
‘Do you like playing games?’
Maddie nodded, and smiled. ‘I do, yes.’
‘What’s your favourite game?’
‘My, I don’t know. Maybe Clue, which is fun. How about you?’
‘I like Monopoly. I like it when I get all the hotels and money, and everyone else goes bankrupt.’ She paused before adding, ‘Is there an American version?’
‘Aha, yes, there’s even a New York edition, with Tiffany’s and Trump Towers for sale.’
‘Really? That’s so cool. Do they have a dog token?’
‘Sorry?’
‘On the US boards, do they have a silver dog counter?’
‘Ah, I see. Yes, sometimes. It depends which version. There are so many these days. I saw a Pokémon version once.’
Elise leaned to one side, and looked past Maddie at Finn, who had just returned to the conservatory, and was standing silently at the counter.
‘I’m guessing you like dogs, then,’ Maddie went on, seeming to enjoy their conversation. She took a gulp of her wine. ‘I like Golden Labradors – what about you?’
‘I want a rescue dog. One that’s grateful I saved it and never lets me down.’ She moved her eyes back to Maddie. ‘So shall we play Monopoly?’
‘It’s a bit late,’ Maddie said, looking at her watch. ‘Maybe another time.’ She glanced at Thomas, who grinned.
‘When we do, I want to be the dog.’
‘And I’ll be the top hat,’ she said. ‘It’s a deal.’
‘Hey,’ Elise said her eyes bright, as she glanced round the table. ‘Let’s play Truth or Lie.’
‘OK. But only if it’s a quick game,’ Maddie said. ‘You’ll have to explain the rules.’
‘It’s easy. We all take it in turns to say something about ourselves, or something that happened to us, and everyone else has to guess if it’s true or a lie.’ She clapped her hands, and everyone stopped talking and looked her way. ‘We’re going to play Truth or Lie,’ she said.
‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea,’
