Hearts and Diamonds

by Justine Elyot

  She went to find a quiet room, pulling her phone from her Vuitton handbag.

  Jenna, knowing that this would be her last moment alone with Jason before the world whirled in and plucked them out of their private bubble, turned to him and put her palm to his freshly shaved cheek.

  ‘Are you OK?’ she asked softly.

  He put his own hand on top of hers. Jenna savoured the quiet togetherness, feeling her rapid heartbeat slow as they stood in silence, knowing nothing but each other.

  ‘I’m nervous,’ he admitted. ‘I’m tempted to just knock back the champagne, but if I did anything to show you up, I’d never forgive myself.’

  ‘This is your night, not mine,’ she reminded him. ‘But yes. Probably best to go easy on the booze. Just be yourself and they’ll love you. Like I do.’

  ‘Hopefully not exactly like you do,’ he said with an impish grin, taking her hand from his cheek and holding it against his crisply laundered white shirt. ‘I don’t think we want an orgy getting into the papers, do we?’

  ‘Good point.’ She tiptoed up to kiss his lips. ‘Besides, you’ve got other things to look forward to. You’ll want to keep a clear head for them.’

  She winked at him and he put a proprietorial and meaningful hand on her bottom, rubbing it through the jewelled sheath dress she wore.

  ‘Oh yes,’ he said, his voice so low it seemed to come from his highly polished shoes. ‘I won’t be forgetting that.’

  They leant into one another, and Jenna gloried in his sharply dressed freshness. He looked so incredibly glamorous that she wanted the show to be over already, so she could mess up his impeccable suit and perfect hair. The magazines were going to fall all over themselves with love for him, she knew it.

  And yet, she was ambivalent about the idea of being a Celebrity Couple. It just didn’t seem to suit what they had, and wanted to keep having.

  She tossed the thought from her mind. What would be would be. As long as they were together, it would be OK.

  Tabitha popped her head around the door.

  ‘So, then, children,’ she said brightly. ‘Are we ready? Who’s going down to the front gate to declare this unveiling of genius well and truly open?’

  ‘Why don’t all three of us go out?’ said Jenna, smiling. ‘Take care not to get trampled in the stampede, though. Have you seen how many people are out there? The police have had to cordon off the street.’

  ‘Well, if their name’s not down, they aren’t coming in,’ said Tabitha firmly. ‘It was a very good idea to hire a top security firm for the gate. Right then. Let’s do this.’

  They took a moment to let the mixture of exhilaration, fear and awe sink in, then walked together towards the front door.

  On opening, the expected battery of bright lights hit Jenna full in the face. She put her hand in Jason’s and they walked on, heads high, down the steps and along the path.

  Behind them, an enormous banner hung from the front wall, obscuring the upper windows, announcing the exhibition.

  A few louder voices called Jenna’s name over the general roar.

  ‘Look this way, Jenna.’

  ‘Give us a smile.’

  ‘JENNA!’

  She ignored them all but stood, smiling graciously, still hand in hand with Jason, while Tabitha gave the order for the gate to be opened.

  She stood, with Jason, behind the ribbon that had been strung between the posts, and gave a short prepared statement about how excited she was to be launching this new talent.

  As she moved to step aside for the cutting of the ribbon, Jason unexpectedly punched the air and shouted, ‘Bledburn forever!’, resulting in a whole lot more flashes and clicks.

  ‘Did you have to do that?’ Jenna muttered, walking back up the path in front of the first eager ticket holders.

  ‘What? Just felt like I was being cut out of my own moment there,’ he said.

  ‘Sorry. But I knew it was me they wanted out there. Next time it’ll be you.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ agreed Tabitha, hastening up the steps in search of her first glass of champagne.

  ‘I’m going to hide in the kitchen for the first half hour,’ said Jenna, ‘like we agreed. I’m not having people looking at me instead of your art.’ She tiptoed to kiss his cheek. ‘Break a leg, darling. And don’t forget your manners.’

  He winked back. ‘I won’t pinch any bums except yours, promise.’

  Jenna escaped through the solid oak door behind the great staircase. The kitchen was off-limits to guests, but it was hardly a relaxing place to be, buzzing with caterers and waiting staff who swooped around Jenna with silver trays of champagne and canapés.

  Kayley stood in the middle of the whirlwind, directing it all.

  ‘Do they need me out there?’ she said, spotting Jenna.

  ‘I don’t think so. Tabitha will come and find you if they do,’ she said, seating herself at one of the bar stools.

  Kayley glanced quickly through the open French doors. The patio was accessible to guests through a side door and already a few were coming outside to socialise – clearly here to network rather than discover a brilliant new talent, thought Jenna crossly, following her friend’s gaze.

  ‘I’m a little bit worried about her,’ said Kayley, dropping her voice.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Jason’s mum. She’s out there somewhere and I’m pretty sure she took one of the opened champagne bottles with her. By the time I cottoned on, I was too busy trying to organise the waitresses.’

  ‘Oh God,’ said Jenna. ‘Shall I try and find her?’

  ‘Oh . . . it’ll be fine,’ said Kayley. ‘I expect she’ll just fall asleep under a bush or something.’

  ‘Kayley! I don’t think Jason wants pics of his mum snoring on the ground all over Instagram tomorrow. I’m going out to look for her.’

  Jenna put aside the glass of champagne she’d been handed and headed outside. She was stopped half a dozen times and made a point of stopping and exchanging a few pleasantries with each group. But her eyes roved continually over the wilder parts of the garden, in search of a small bleach-blonde woman in a faded denim jacket, clutching a bottle.

  ‘Jenna Diamond! You dark horse!’

  A famous actress who’d made the transition from British stage to Hollywood stood in front of Jenna, arms outstretched.

  ‘Annabel! I didn’t know you were in the country, or I’d have invited you. But . . . clearly I did invite you . . .’

  ‘I’m Desmond’s plus-one. It’s a flying visit. You promised you’d keep in touch, and here I am, depending on the red tops for your news. You look wonderful, darling.’

  ‘So do you.’ She paused, feeling awkward. Obviously, everyone was dying for the gossip about her and Jason, and the split with Deano and all the drama in between. But she had no intention of discussing any of it with anyone.

  ‘So, how have you been?’ Annabel meant business.

  ‘Well, put it this way. Don’t ever take a sabbatical. They’re bloody exhausting.’

  Annabel’s laugh tinkled through the damp, thick air. The rain had stopped but there was still a looming purplish sky overhead.

  ‘I suppose you weren’t expecting an artistic genius to fall into your lap,’ she said, putting a beautifully manicured hand on Jenna’s forearm.

  ‘No, well, quite. Sorry, darling, but would you excuse me for just a moment. There’s somebody I have to find.’

  ‘Of course. Catch you later. Mwah.’

  They air kissed briefly, then Jenna hurried on, past the fairylights and bay trees in pots, towards the recently-cleared ornamental beds.

  Just a little further on stood the tree with the initials carved upon it.

  Jenna felt herself drawn there, but not because she expected to find Jason’s mother underneath it.

  She found the bark, with its clumsily scratched legend, and put out a hand to touch it. When had this been done? In those happy days when the engagement was first announced, she recollected. Harville, f
rom evidence of the diary, didn’t seem the kind of man to act the lovesick swain. Perhaps it was Frances who suggested it? It must have driven Eliza and the children wild to see it.

  The murmur of chat and the clink of glasses seemed distant, although they were no more than a hundred yards away from her. This section of the grounds was out of bounds to guests, more for their convenience than any other reason, for there was nothing of interest in this tangle of old branches and insect-laden weeds.

  A crackling close by made her jump. What was it? A fox, perhaps, or some other wild animal that had made this jungle its home?

  She peered uneasily into the dusky thicket but saw nothing.

  Anyway, Linda was clearly not here.

  Jenna turned to go, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Her scream of surprise was silenced by that same hand covering her mouth.

  ‘Hush. It’s only me.’

  The voice was one she had never expected to hear again.

  She made an angry sound against the confining palm and he raised it just a fraction.

  ‘Don’t make a fuss,’ he said. ‘There’s really no need.’

  ‘No need?’ she hissed, whirling around to face the interloper. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

  Lawrence Harville shook his immaculately-groomed head.

  ‘Why wouldn’t I come here, Jenna? It’s my home.’

  ‘It is my house and you are trespassing. I’m going to call the police.’

  ‘No you aren’t. They won’t be interested.’

  ‘You’re on remand for serious drug offences.’

  ‘No I’m not. The CPS dropped the case this morning. Lack of evidence. So you see, Jenna, you don’t get everything your own way after all. You and that alley rat you’ve shacked up with.’

  ‘How did you get in? You don’t have an invitation.’

  She looked swiftly over to the back of the house, seeing the fairylights twinkling in the distance, watching people look up at the skies as if they expected rain any moment. It did look likely.

  ‘Oh, I grew up here. I know every little crack in the fortifications, believe me. Anyway, no cause for alarm. I only came to give you the news yourself – save you hearing it from a third party. It’s only basic courtesy, don’t you agree?’

  ‘Well, I’ve heard it, so now you can get out.’ Jenna was working hard to keep her tone hard and her body language uncompromising, but the strain was starting to get to her. Any moment now, a wobble would tell Harville what she didn’t want him to know. That she was afraid.

  ‘Oh, I don’t plan to hang around,’ said Harville. ‘I’m not a fan of the arts, really, and I have celebrating to do. Perhaps your little friend Kayley would like to join us?’

  ‘I think not. And you can leave her out of it.’

  ‘Well, you know, if only she’d left me out of it, I’d be happy to return the favour. But she didn’t, did she? What is it they say? “Loose lips sink ships.” A certain ship might not be as watertight as people think.’

  ‘Oh, stop talking rubbish. Is that supposed to be some kind of threat? Just get out.’ Jenna was weary now, tired of keeping herself in check.

  Lawrence bowed his head, as if in acquiescence, but then he put his hand against the carved initials on the tree.

  ‘I heard you found our Fairy Fay,’ he said softly.

  Jenna bristled. ‘Yes. The skeleton in the cellar. I suppose you didn’t know anything about that?’

  ‘I suppose that’s none of your business,’ he said, with a maddening smile. ‘It’s a Harville matter.’

  ‘It’s a legal matter,’ said Jenna, but she felt she was on shaky ground now. She could hardly implicate Lawrence Harville in a century-old crime.

  ‘Don’t be silly. Nothing can possibly be proved this far after the event. I’m assuming it’s the bones of my ancestor’s second wife, the one who committed suicide but has no grave.’

  ‘Don’t assume too much,’ said Jenna, satisfied by the thought that she knew more about this particular Harville business than Lawrence did. ‘You might be shocked when the truth comes out.’

  Harville narrowed his eyes.

  ‘What do you mean? Are you saying you have information about the body? Or are you just bluffing? Of course you are. You’ve made your entire life and career out of making people think you know something, when you’re just a talentless chancer. You’re a vampire, Jenna. You’ve elevated yourself on the back of other people’s talent. Yet I bet you think you’ve earned all this, don’t you?’

  He waved his hand in the direction of the house, the exhibition, the well-heeled guests and beautifully dressed garden.

  ‘You think you deserve all your success and all your money and all your disgusting sordid goings-on with that rat from the estate. Well, let me tell you, you’ve earned nothing. You’re a leech.’

  ‘Get out.’ Jenna could no longer keep the tremble from her voice.

  ‘Ordering me out of my own home? My birthright? How dare you?’

  ‘I’m calling the police.’ She reached in her handbag for her phone.

  Harville knocked her arm away and grasped it so tightly that Jenna gasped.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I’m off. I’ve done what I wanted to do, and that’s deliver my little snippet of news. You won’t see me again.’ He paused. ‘At least, you won’t see me first.’

  He let go of Jenna and began to wade through the waist-high grasses and brambles.

  While she stood there, staring after him, rooted to the spot, he turned and spoke casually over his shoulder.

  ‘Oh, and tell darling Jason and dear Kayley that I can’t wait to catch up with all their news. Won’t you?’

  She said nothing, just let out an exhalation of horror and watched him forge his way out of her sight.

  For a few moments, she was as still as the tree trunk she stood beside.

  It was OK, she told herself. He just wanted to make a nuisance of himself. He wouldn’t go any further than that. She wouldn’t hesitate to call the police and have him dealt with for harassment if he showed his face here again.

  She held the cards.

  He held none.

  It was OK.

  She took a breath and began to wend her way back to the patio, clearing now as the first drops of a shower that promised to be heavy began to fall.

  She found Kayley, doing her best to clear anything that might not be waterproof from the patio area.

  Jenna helped out, scooping up some bowls of olives from the tables and following Kayley back into the kitchen.

  ‘You’ll never guess who I just bumped into,’ said Jenna as they slid shut the patio doors.

  ‘Did you find Linda? Is she ratted yet?’

  ‘What? Oh. No. I didn’t.’

  ‘So?’ Kayley turned to look at Jenna. ‘Christ, you’re white as a sheet. Who was it then? Tell me.’

  ‘Lawrence Harville.’

  Kayley gawped then sank on to a chair as if her legs had turned to rubber.

  ‘You’re joking, right?’

  ‘Wrong.’

  ‘But . . . isn’t he interfering with witnesses, or whatever they call it? Tell the cops.’

  ‘No,’ said Jenna flatly. ‘Apparently the CPS dropped the case.’

  ‘Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me!’

  ‘I wish I were. Well, he could be lying, of course. I’ll check . . .’ She looked around distractedly. Waiting staff glided in and out. ‘But I just don’t have time yet. Tomorrow. I’ll look into it tomorrow.’

  ‘But Jen . . . Where is he then? Is he here now?’

  She stood up as if she meant to run back out into the garden in pursuit of him.

  ‘No. He’s gone. He just came to . . . I don’t know. To warn me? To warn us? He mentioned you. And Jason.’

  ‘You think he wants revenge? I bet he’s going to try to get back at us. At me. I’m the one who grassed him up. Oh God.’

  She sat back down and buried her face between her knees, rocki
ng to and fro.

  ‘Kayley, calm down.’ Jenna reached down to rub her spine and shoulders. ‘It’s all right. You’ve got me on your side and he won’t dare come against me. Not with my profile. Not with my lawyers. Seriously.’

  Kayley breathed deeply then sat up, looking seriously into Jenna’s eyes.

  ‘I bloody well hope you’re right.’

  Jenna smiled sympathetically at her assistant. She had been brave to do what she had done, telling the truth about Harville, despite the risk she ran.

  When Jenna had first run into Kayley, at the youth club on the estate, she had been a cheery, skinny lass in a hoodie and threadbare trackpants. It was hard to believe this clear-skinned, shiny-haired woman in a figure-hugging purple satin sheath was the same person. While Jenna had been busy turning Jason into something presentable, it seemed Kayley had been doing the same number on herself.

  ‘You’re safe if you stick with me,’ Jenna reassured. ‘And I’m not about to cut you loose. You’ve done a brilliant job here tonight. I couldn’t have done it without you.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m not bad, am I?’ said Kayley with a watery smile.

  ‘You’re a diamond.’ Jenna lowered her voice, conscious of the busy young ears passing to and fro. ‘And I know how much it cost you to come back here. It must be a bit . . .’

  Kayley nodded, shutting her eyes.

  ‘It did bring back those times, at first,’ she admitted. ‘I didn’t like to go on about it, because I knew how lucky I was, to get this break with you after everything that went on, but . . . well . . .’

  Jenna nodded. Over the weeks, Kayley had let slip more and more about the parties she had come to at Harville’s invitation. Parties at which, it seemed, anything went. Harville had numerous tapes of Kayley, off her face, taking part in threesomes and moresomes and all sorts, which he had used to blackmail her into concealing the truth about his drug dealing activities. Jason had been the sacrificial lamb. Only at the eleventh hour had Kayley taken courage and acted selflessly and bravely, to remove Jason from the frame and put Lawrence Harville squarely in it.

  But, it seemed, her evidence would not now be enough to remove him from circulation, as they had hoped.