‘Cailey,’ Fergus called out with glee in his eyes, ‘I’ll take you home whenever you’re ready.’
‘Are yous sure?’
‘Yes, no problem at all.’
‘Lunchtime,’ I said and mayhem broke out, pencils went flying as easels were dismantled and people scrabbled around the floor trying to roll up their drawings.
Zoe popped her head round the door. ‘I came to say I’ll give the model a lift.’
‘Don’t worry, darling,’ said Fergus, ‘I’ve got it sorted.’ He wasn’t going to chuck away the chance of playing taxi driver again.
Cailey bounced across the room. ‘Hiya, Zoe.’
‘Hello.’ She looked Cailey up and down with an air of contempt. Zoe was jealous of this girl’s youth, it seemed, but weren’t we all.
Fergus pecked his wife on the cheek. ‘Start lunch without me, I won’t be long.’
There had been a rush for lunch and I was last through the door after Zoe.
‘Is your ankle okay?’ I said to her under my breath.
‘Absolutely.’ She turned and gave me a firm smile. ‘No need to mention it again.’ Then with a far jollier expression she said, ‘I do hope that went well. Come sit next to me. Tell me, was the model any good?’
‘Yes, yes. Well done you for finding her. I think she must be a professional dancer.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, she could hold a pose for an unusually long time, so I reckon she’s been trained to keep still.’
‘Rather a lot of make-up I thought,’ said Jane, joining the conversation.
‘You could polish the floor with her she was wearing so much,’ Shane snickered.
‘It’s actually a good thing,’ I said. ‘Just you wait till we get the watercolours out tomorrow. Colourful eye shadow and lipstick makes it great fun.’
A disagreeable sound came out of Jane’s nose.
‘Hard to understand her with that accent,’ said Lianne. ‘But I liked her all right.’
‘Me too,’ said Giles, inappropriately.
Lunch was what Zoe referred to as ‘baps’. Floury white rolls, pre-buttered but unfilled. Covering the table were help-yourself-plates of breaded ham, sliced tomatoes, withered lettuce and half-eaten jars of chutney. Louis was cutting slices of cheddar and Rupert was passing everyone’s napkins round.
I thought about mentioning the portrait. I really wanted to know the story behind it. But Fergus’s reaction last night, when he told us it was ‘My grandfather’, and I’d seen the colour drain from his cheeks, stopped me. I must be sensitive at times like this.
Fergus walked into the room with a huge grin on his face. He went straight to his wife for a little tête-à-tête, and as I was sitting next to her, I heard their discussion word for word.
‘You mean to say there’s a show near here?’ Zoe was saying.
‘Yes, tomorrow night at eight. Cailey the model’s taking part.’
‘But angel, what about dinner?’
Fergus turned to me. ‘Susie,’ he said, thinking on his feet. ‘Could we add in an evening drawing session at a local burlesque show?’
Louis was on my other side, all ready to throw in an answer. ‘I’d be up for it.’
‘But Fergus,’ insisted Zoe, ‘the menus have all been pre-arranged.’
‘We can have high tea, darling. Don’t worry about that. Susie, are you on for it?’
‘Yes,’ I mumbled. ‘As long as it isn’t going to cause a problem?’ I did actually think it was a great idea.
‘No problem,’ said Fergus, smiling at his wife. Then tapping a knife against her glass, he announced, ‘Everyone, listen please. The model, Cailey, is part of a burlesque show reasonably near here tomorrow night, and if you all agree, we thought Susie could lead a drawing class there?’
‘How marvellous,’ said Jane. ‘The costumes will be a hoot.’
‘That’d be brilliant,’ said Lianne. ‘I’m in for sure.’
Minty, Shane and Giles were on board, Felicity said it’d be good for her to get out and Rupert guffawed.
Fergus leant over Zoe and picked up a bap. ‘It’ll be fun, darling – and good for us to do something local.’
‘Yes, you’re right,’ she sighed.
I don’t think Zoe wants to go.
‘My brother,’ said Fergus making his way down to the other end of the table, ‘is joining us for dinner.’
‘Excellent,’ said Louis. ‘I’d love to see him.’
‘I thought you had already?’ Zoe was confused. ‘I saw you heading down the back drive this morning.’
‘I didn’t make it as far as his cottage.’ Louis winked and Zoe fluttered her eyes in a way that made me think she’s probably known all along Ewen’s friend Louis was coming this week. It’s just too much of a coincidence to believe Louis randomly got one of eight places.
I could ask Louis, but I kind of want him to pay me some attention before I go boosting his ego, letting on I’ve been trying to work him out. I’ve always found Frenchmen attractive and learnt the hard way you have to play it firm not to get taken advantage of. So, if Louis and I are going to be friends, he’ll have to come my way first.
I took a big bite of my bun, and Rupert, halfway down the other side of the table, did a napkin wiping motion as if I might not know there was flour round my mouth. The table was buzzing with chitter chatter and I thought, how nice it is the Muchtons join in at meal times. It suggests they don’t have anything else to do but it also adds a much-needed homely atmosphere and this all-inclusive routine brings us all closer together. So, when Felicity explained why she’d gone to bed before dinner last night, saying, ‘My husband died six months ago – from lymphoma – it was all very quick – I still feel completely drained from time to time but an early night here and there sorts me out’, it wasn’t entirely surprising. And whether intentional or unintentional, Fergus and Zoe deserve a pat on the back. They’ve given a place to someone in need and formed a trusting bond between us all.
‘Kind Jane,’ Felicity turned to her friend, ‘twisted my arm to come here this week. I’m so pleased she did.’
‘It’s the least I
