by Kirsty Ferry
‘It is.’ His arm squeezed her a bit tighter.
She didn’t protest.
‘Simon says he would love to restore the painting for you.’ Cori’s voice was warm and, as always, Elodie noticed her rolling Northumbrian accent. She loved it, although she sometimes wondered how the Londoners understood Cori, but Cori never seemed to have a problem.
‘Seriously?’ Elodie was delighted. She sat down on her sofa and curled her legs underneath her. She watched the little ghost cat that scampered across her lounge every so often in pursuit of a long-dead mouse and smiled. The cocoa-coloured cat was one of Elodie’s residuals. He obviously ran that way a lot in his lifetime, and he was quite a welcome companion. Quiet and no fuss. Even less fuss than a normal cat. And she had no vet’s bills and no litter trays to clean out. Result.
She turned her attention back to the phone and cradled it more securely against her ear. ‘Did he say how long it would take? And how much it would cost?’
Cori’s voice came clucking down the receiver like a mother hen. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Elodie. We aren’t going to charge you a penny. And Simon says it will take …’ she turned away from the telephone and Elodie could hear her conversing with Simon. His rich, cultured voice echoed in the background and then there was a clatter as Cori was back. ‘… about twelve to sixteen weeks.’
‘Twelve to sixteen weeks! Bloody Hell Fire!’ How was she going to conceal the fact that the portrait was missing for that length of time?
Cori laughed. ‘You may need to ‘fess up, my love,’ she said, scarily seeming to read Elodie’s mind. ‘Oh, Kitty wants to say hello.’ There was another scuffle at her end as she apparently scooped the baby up and held her to the receiver. ‘Say hello to Aunty Elodie.’ There was a silence then a lot of coo-ing and babbling – and yes, some apparent dribbling – from the baby. Elodie tried to maintain the conversation but it was rather difficult, then Cori took pity on her and returned to the phone.
Simon’s voice came closer as he seemingly relieved Cori of the baby and faded again as he took Kitty elsewhere in that huge lounge. Elodie felt a pang of something that may have been broodiness, then dismissed the thought and moved onto other, safer subjects – such as web-design, the information Elodie had promised to find for Cori and gossip about their mutual friends.
Before she knew it, half an hour had elapsed. She came off the telephone with the golden glow that always came from talking to Cori, peppered with the niggling doubt that twelve to sixteen weeks was an awfully long time for Alex to remain unaware of the portrait’s current residence. Elodie hadn’t really considered much beyond that – how, for example, she would return the painting to the attic. She could always claim the ghost had left it at her cottage, she supposed. But she didn’t think that even Alex would be convinced that a ghost had the power of fine art restoration.
Her eyes drifted to the bundle of items on the coffee table, still wrapped up in the towel, and she suppressed a little shudder as a nagging voice in her head reminded her that that had all been in a grave. The voice of reason said it wasn’t a grave as there was no actual body in there, so there was no contamination from decomposing whatever-ness; she stood up and moved over to the objects.
Elodie unfolded the towel and mentally checked the items off. Bible: check. They had reasoned that Lucy might have put it there to speed her sister to the afterlife. Locket: check. They knew what that contained. It still occupied her thoughts more than was probably healthy, and she couldn’t resist picking it up and opening it again. And there was the key: check. What about the key? That was something they had to think about. And the duelling pistol. That was there as well, of course. Elodie refused to even touch that properly. She tweaked a piece of the towel so the pistol rolled to the side of it. And there, beneath it, was the silver coin that—
‘Hang on!’ She dropped the corner of the towel and her stomach somersaulted. The silver coin that she had last seen on the window sill in the attic. Tentatively, she picked it up and weighed it in her hands. It definitely looked and felt like the one from the attic.
‘I’m pretty sure I didn’t put that in there,’ she said to the empty cottage, ‘so I’m guessing you did.’ She listened carefully. There was a whisper in the trees outside her window, which might or might not have been a giggle, but there was nothing else.
Alex felt like he was getting absolutely nowhere with the tree surgeons he’d engaged to deal with that oak tree.
‘Can you at least give me an idea of when you’ll be able to come? Yes, I realise you need to catch up on your backlog first. Yes, I appreciate a lot of trees came down. All I’m saying is … Okay. Fine. I’ll wait to hear from you then.’
He pressed the end call button rather more than was probably necessary and cursed the fact that, in this day and age, you didn’t have the satisfaction of physically slamming a phone down on someone. How else could you let them know how displeased you were? At the minute, the bloody thing was blocking half the paths in the wood, and the younger trees it had caught on its way looked increasingly likely to come down as well. Alex wanted to open the estate properly again, and it didn’t seem like it was going to happen any time soon.
He sighed and ran his eyes down the to-do list on his desk. There was a huge circle and a question mark against the issue of the church. He was still waiting for a call back from the insurance company about it. They too had been inundated and would get back to him “as soon as possible”. He had started to feel like Hartsford Hall was way down on everybody’s priority list except his own. He raised his eyes and stared out of the big windows at the estate. This first floor room had been his father’s study, and Alex had adopted it as his office. It seemed right, somehow – but it was awfully tempting to watch the world go by at times. He’d never expected to be sitting here thinking about his home being a tourist attraction and what the general public would prefer in the way of estate walks or playgrounds.
Today, he could see the tourists passing by with their picnic bags and ice-creams and he could also see the odd one or two stopping at the roped-off entrance to the church and pointing at it.
It was rather an impressive ruin at the moment, but it deserved so much more than being allowed to fall into disrepair. Then he let his gaze wander over towards Elodie’s cottage; she was working at Delilah’s today and he missed her being around the Hall. He sighed again and looked back at the paperwork on his desk.
There was a sharp knock at the office door and he shouted, ‘Come in!’ suppressing the urge to just ignore it. He hoped it was something he could deal with quickly.
‘Lunch break!’ said a welcome voice, preceded by the most divine, mouth-watering smell. Alex jumped up and out of his seat before the owner of the words had much of a chance to step inside the office.
‘Eldorado! You come bearing gifts? Please. Tell me you do.’
‘I do. Delilah’s lentil and tomato soup and a ham roll. Or a chicken one. You can have either. The other one’s mine. Don’t look at me like that, the soup is in takeaway cups. I haven’t had to carry bowls here.’
‘How come you’ve escaped?’ He knew he was smiling. ‘I’ve missed you today. I was just thinking about you.’
‘Sure you were. And in answer to your question, I always get a lunch break. It’s mine to do with as I please. So today it pleased me to come here. I felt bad about leaving you to drink the wine on your own last night. I have an hour then I have to go back.’ She dipped her head and started unloading the food onto the filing cabinet, too late to hide the little pink blush that coloured her cheeks. That made Alex smile some more, and he cleared a space on his desk.
‘We can sit here. Unless you want to go elsewhere?’
‘I think it’s a good idea to get out of the office personally, although I’m happy to do whatever. But I mean,’ she looked at the long window that he’d just been staring out of, ‘you do have a balcony, don’t you? With a table and chairs on it. Can we go out there?’
‘We can i
ndeed.’ Alex got up and opened the doors, surprised at the warmth that flooded through the opening, mingling with the smells of the gardens and the woodland. Then he went back across to Elodie, placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, just to have an excuse to touch her, and steered her outside. ‘You sit there, I’ll bring the food. You’ve been serving people all morning.’
‘Very true. Oh, this is so nice.’ Alex followed her out, balancing the cups and sandwiches expertly, and placed them on the table. ‘I wonder why I don’t do this more often.’
‘You’re welcome to.’ He took the place opposite her. Delilah had even provided cutlery for them and it was very pleasant indeed, sitting there with lunch all cooked and Elodie’s long, tanned legs stretched out in front of her, very close to Alex’s. It didn’t take them that long to demolish the whole meal. In the end, they decided to halve the sandwiches.
‘It would be so easy to lose track of time and stay here all afternoon.’ Elodie stared at the crumbs and the cups which they had plopped one inside of the other. ‘I wouldn’t dare do this regularly. Delilah would fire me for being too lax about my timekeeping. Anyway, part of the reason I came over today was because I had to return something to you. Look.’
She delved into the pocket of her black skirt and produced a small, silver disc. ‘It’s the coin from the attic. It appeared in the cottage with the rest of Georgiana’s belongings, although I’ve no idea how. I certainly didn’t take it away with me.’ She blushed again and put the coin on the table. ‘You might know a little more than me about it, but I think it’s genuine enough.’
‘I must admit, I didn’t really look at it properly when I was up there. Let me see.’ Alex reached over and picked it up. He turned it around in his hands, the sunlight catching off it and sending little flashes of light across the wrought iron table. ‘George III and the date is about right. Yes. It does look pretty genuine.’
‘Just imagine then – if that’s the coin we think it is, Ben touched it. It was likely stolen from someone and left for Lucy to find under the guise of a magical horseshoe.’
‘Amazing.’ Alex turned the coin around again. ‘I wish these things could talk. Then maybe we would know what happened to Georgiana.’
‘These things do talk, but we can only hear them if the circumstances are right.’
‘Well it’s certainly not talking to me right now. I suppose I should be glad in some ways.’ He dropped the coin onto the table.
‘Isn’t it frustrating?’ Elodie threw her hands into the air helplessly and let them fall onto her lap. ‘Lucy found the coin by the river and Ben must have left it there for her. It’s a small part of the story but it seems like it should be so much more. Oh, well. We still have the key and the pistol. But then,’ she laughed self-consciously, ‘we still don’t have Georgiana.’
‘Not yet we don’t. I do honestly think if the time is ever right, we’ll find her.’
‘That’s a bit philosophical. Too philosophical for a lunch break. Speaking of which …’ Elodie looked at her watch. ‘It’s almost time to go.’
She stood up and Alex followed suit. He moved around to her side of the table and handed the coin back to her. As Elodie took it from him, her face started to go all fuzzy and the blackness swept in from all sides.
It was dark; a deep, velvety evening in late summer and the warmth of the day was still with them. They had managed to keep their liaison secret for nigh on seven months now, but it was becoming more difficult every day and the threat of exposure was a constant shadow hanging over them.
‘Lucy showed me this coin,’ Georgiana told him, ‘and said it was true about your horse.’ She laughed and placed it in the little purse she had dangling from her wrist. ‘I don’t know how you managed to fool her so, but I’m thankful it worked.’
‘I have to be careful who I can trust. She’s a shrewd young woman.’
‘Too shrewd. She’s camped out in the attic tonight, apparently hoping to meet you again. I discovered her in there asleep and I took the opportunity to borrow the coin.’ She shook her head. ‘When she found me there the first time and showed it to me, I thought it was very fortunate she had not encountered me moments beforehand. Still, it’s a lesson to me and I must learn to be more cautious and lock doors behind me. There are some things I’d never wish her to find.’
‘It’s always best to lock doors.’ He reached over to her and pulled her closer. ‘It doesn’t do to be disturbed. Which is why being outside, making use of this wonderful balcony, is awfully convenient.’
‘Nobody will disturb us out here. I’ve most certainly locked the door into the room. It’s rarely used, but one can never tell. It’s supposed to be Mama’s sitting room, but she prefers to hide in her bedroom instead.’
‘I’m grateful for your foresight. One cannot take too many chances.’
Something flitted past them and Georgiana ducked her head. ‘Oh, these dreadful bats! I do wish they would stop attacking me!’
‘The bats have as much right to be here as we do. Perhaps they have more right than I. I doubt they’re attacking you, though. I’ve never yet seen one do that personally and I’ve met many of them during my endeavours. They’re an interesting creature and perhaps one of the most exciting things to encounter during my work.’
‘Oh, so you hold the bats in a higher regard than you hold me?’ teased Georgiana. ‘I’m most upset.’
‘You, my love, were quite the most exciting creature I ever had the pleasure to meet. It won’t be much longer, then we can get married and I can take you away with me. I’ve almost made enough money to look after you properly. It’ll be soon – sooner if I can make it so!’
‘I’m very glad to hear that.’ Her lips found his in the moonlight. ‘I don’t know if my father will ever forgive me, but I don’t care. He still hasn’t forgiven me for the night I first met you. Jasper told him that for me to dance with you, as you’d asked, was our only option or we would have been penniless; perhaps even dead. Father, however, doesn’t think my actions were befitting a lady of virtue at all.’
‘I would like it noted that I did not steal your virtue that night. I’m severely insulted,’ he said between kisses. ‘I stole an Allemande. Like this. Remember?’ He bowed to her and took her in his arms. They began to trace the steps out on the balcony. ‘Dance with me one more time before I leave you for tonight.’
‘Is there not a better way to say farewell to you? Come, let me show you.’
And she drew closer into the circle of his arms and placed her hands either side of his face. She drew his head down to hers and he didn’t resist…
And this time, when the world shifted again, Alex was standing with Elodie on the balcony outside his office with their lips pressed close together and their arms around each other.
Chapter Fourteen
Elodie didn’t pull away. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she wasn’t too sure for a moment whether she was Elodie or Georgiana. And either Alex or Ben was an exceptionally good kisser. Which she already knew.
As her senses started to realign, she gradually opened her eyes to a bright, sunny afternoon and Alex inches away from her face.
‘Alex!’ she sort of croaked. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She let go of him and stepped away. Thank God there was a stone balustrade running along the edge of the balcony or she would have pitched right over the edge. She held tight to it, just in case.
‘I guess they must have been up here too then!’ He looked at the wall and she followed his gaze. For the first time, she noticed the decorative stepping up the side of the building. An athletic young highwayman would have no trouble clambering up there and shimmying along to the attic windows.
‘So that’s how he got into the attics,’ she whispered. ‘But because of Lucy hiding up there, Georgiana met him here instead.’
‘Look, I’m sorry too.’ Alex looked a little startled and she noticed with a pang of regret that he had stepped backwards as well. ‘I dread to think what I might do if we�
�re ever together and something more happens. I didn’t stop myself that time.’
Elodie reached over briefly and dropped the coin on the table; she didn’t want to stray too far from the balustrade. The coin certainly didn’t seem so innocuous now. However, she was pleased he had said “didn’t” rather than “couldn’t”. It was a small thing, but, like the coin, she felt it was significant. She just shrugged her shoulders, not quite sure what to say. He didn’t stop himself from kissing her. He therefore wanted to kiss her.
And that way danger lay.
‘I think it’s a good thing that it happened …’ Hell, yes, it had been a good thing! ‘… because it proves we can feel the same memories.’ She hung on tighter to the balustrade in case she flung herself at him again. ‘And you’re a very good dancer. Where did you learn that? Oxford?’
‘I’ve honestly never danced an Allemande before,’ said Alex. ‘I suspect Ben did everything.’
She nodded. ‘It’s just like a recording, isn’t it? Their thoughts, their memories. Their actions.’ She burned up from inside again, remembering his kiss and his embrace. ‘That’s what I’m telling myself anyway. I’ve had almost thirty years of seeing ghosts, and I’ve never ever felt threatened by them. Honestly, Alex.’ But she couldn’t help herself. She reached out and touched his arm. ‘You, of all people, know what I’ve experienced over the years. You’re the only one I ever talked to about it properly. It’s the past. It’s all shadows.’
‘That kiss felt very much in the present.’ His sapphire blue eyes smouldered into hers.
‘And I didn’t feel threatened.’
And she hadn’t. She’d loved it. She’d loved coming to and being wrapped in his arms and with his lips on hers. But this was Alex, part of her said. She thought she’d stopped having a crush on him years ago. She’d stopped one warm night in July, in the Hartsford stables while the moon shone into the room and her world crumbled around her in a mess of sea-green taffeta …