by Ali Carter
‘I quite understand.’
‘Thanks, Susie, I knew you would. He’s coming to dinner tonight,’ Zoe looked happy at the thought, ‘and if he mentions it, would you be kind and back me up and say there’s no more room?’
‘Yes, sure.’
‘Ow, ow, ow,’ she yelped. ‘Good god, you little bugger.’ There was a large black bird at Zoe’s feet and as she kicked and shook her hands, a slinky gold bracelet slipped off her wrist. Before either of us could do anything the sly bird had snatched it in its beak. I instantly tried to grab it back but the scavenger flew, up, up and away. ‘Oh no, it’s taken your bracelet.’
‘Thank heavens it isn’t real gold.’ She turned her ankle towards me. The bird had drawn blood.
‘How absolutely awful.’
‘Ravens are evil,’ she huffed as if resigned to such things happening in the countryside. ‘I’d shoot the damn thing myself if it wasn’t illegal.’
Then, just as I was trying to think of something to say, a glazier’s van arrived in the yard and diverted her attention. It was Smash Bang Wallop to repair the kitchen window.
I felt a little spooked by such an extraordinary event but as I grabbed my quilt from the car, I reminded myself: now I live in the country – if you can call overpopulated Sussex that – I must pull myself together and get rid of these soft city roots.
‘Isn’t that gorjous,’ said Cailey as I re-entered the music room. ‘Real jazzy arrow deesin and wacky colours.’
‘It’s fun isn’t it, and comfy.’
‘What colour do yous call that?’ She was pointing at a particular shade.
‘Amethyst.’
Cailey could not get her tongue round the consonants and pulled all sorts of faces as she continued to try.
Louis reeled off a few more of the shades, ‘Turquoise, citrine, jade, topaz.’
‘Very fancy,’ said Lianne. ‘You a gem expert, are you?’
‘Gemmologist,’ said Jane.
‘A photographer actually.’
‘Then what you doing drawing for?’ Lianne was quick to pick him up.
‘Doesn’t mean I can’t draw.’ Louis sounded hurt.
‘Suppose not but a photography course would make more sense.’
Rupert volunteered an answer. ‘He’s a friend of Ewen’s.’
‘Who’s Ewen when he’s at home?’ said Giles.
‘Fergus’s younger brother.’
‘Fergus’s twin,’ said Jane, and as no one had actually mentioned he was a twin yet, I thought, like me, she must have done some research before she arrived. A bit of Googling perhaps or, if she owns a copy, a quick dip into Who’s Who. Right now was not the moment to go over it again. ‘Come on,’ I said. ‘Break’s up. Time to start.’
‘Marvellous,’ exclaimed Rupert, and Louis flashed me a strangely affectionate smile.
I laid the quilt on the chaise longue and asked Cailey to lie down. ‘Pop one arm behind your head, please. Yes. Look. That works well.’
‘I’ll dangle a wee leg on the floor too, don’t yous think, open the pose up a tad?’
‘Great, yes. This session will last until lunch, so just take breaks and have a move around whenever you need to.’
‘Will do.’
I stepped outside the circle. ‘Time to begin. This exercise is about looking at form in space and relating it to the surrounding drapery. If you get stuck, call me over. I’ll be keeping out of the way on the sofa over there.’
I learnt as an undergraduate that the best tutors were the ones who kept themselves to themselves. They would set up the class with care for lighting, postures and framework and then encourage us to carry out our own interpretation of the subject. Sometimes one cried out to be shown how to do it but they knew best: teaching by example simply doesn’t work, it stunts a student’s chance to shine and turns them into a copycat.
Jane and Felicity were gossiping again. I went between them, ‘Shh, shh. Please save chatting for the break, it’s unfair on the rest of the class.’
Jane gave Felicity a that’s-us-told look. It was tiresome but I ignored it. I suspect these two have come here for a bit of a jolly and I don’t want to spoil their fun. They are after all paying for the privilege.
Retreating to the sofa I suddenly thought now would be a good time to go and have a better look at that portrait in the dining room. The one with the head at a funny angle. It wouldn’t take long.
‘I’ll be back in a sec,’ I said and left the room. For all they knew I could be visiting the loo.
No one is in here. The table’s laid, the water jugs are full. Mhàiri’s job’s done. I’m all alone. I crept towards the picture of Fergus’s grandfather. It was hanging at one end of the room and the canvas caught the light in an unusual fashion. One side was bright, the other dull. My eyes traced the man’s profile, lingering on his dignified hooter. The painter’s palette was subdued and the beige background made it difficult to define the skin tones. So, I stood in front of the nearest window hoping to block out some light. My shadow cast across the canvas and an eye – an extra eye! – stared out from beneath the paint. It was right next to the man’s profile, faded but unmistakable, I could see half a face next to his. I stepped to the side, it disappeared, I stepped back again, it reappeared. Disappeared, reappeared. This man’s head must have been painted on top of a face-on portrait.
Ruff, ruff. Haggis’s bark sent me rushing back into the music room. I don’t want to be caught neglecting my tutoring duties.
I’d just got back when there was a knock, knock at the door and Fergus’s head popped round it. In he marched, sidled up to Jane and whispered something in her ear.
‘Bedford?’ she said, with a frown. ‘Does this mean there’s no electrician coming this week?’
‘I’m afraid not,’ said Fergus. ‘There’s only one place in the UK where they make the particular part. There’s no way we’ll have it delivered in time. I do hope you and Felicity won’t mind sharing?’
Felicity assured Fergus this would be okay. She then put her hand on her friend’s arm and a sweet smile swept across her face.
‘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 could do,’ said Jane, ‘for my book-buddie.’
Felicity and Jane are new friends, having met at a local book club in Gloucestershire, and both admitted (with an honest giggle) they don’t have any friends in common. No surprise. Jane’s haughty manner and disregard for personal appearance was a far cry from Felicity’s mellifluous tone and pastel colours. Maybe that’s why they’ve decided to trek all the way to Scotland for a painting week, as surely Gloucestershire has a few on offer?
The shrill of the front doorbell stopped my rumination. Zoe dashed out the room and soon returned, telling her ‘angel’ he was wanted too. Rupert and I got up to do the clearing and found Mhàiri in the kitchen looking a lot calmer than last night.
‘They fixed the window quick,’ I said.
‘Aye, they did that.’ Mhàiri pushed Rupert away from the sink. ‘Don’t yous be getting yer hands dirty. There’ll be nothing for me to do.’ He chuckled and left the room.
‘Zoe telt me aboot yous flat tyre, Susie. That drive I bet it’s what did it.’
‘Yes, I think you’re right,’ I smiled. Mhàiri and I were going to be friends.
‘Well, hen, if yous have a spare tyre in the boot?’
‘Yes.’
‘Leave yous keys on the hall table this afternoon and I’ll telt me husband to get it seen to.’
‘Thank you very much.’
‘Ne bother. I’ll watch yer back if yous watch mine?’
She really was asking the question.
‘Yes,’ I replied, assuming it must be a friendly turn of phrase.
‘Here yous go.’ Mhàiri handed me a tray of coffee and flapjacks. ‘Be a hen and take it through.’
‘Sure.’ I stuck my foot out and pushed open the swing door. Fergus was explaining he’d be taking us to the fishing hut this afternoon. ‘I thought it’d be a lovely place to paint.’
Minty excused herself, and once Lianne and Shane had taken two flapjacks each, they also left the room.
‘We’ll meet in the hall at two-thirty,’ I called out. ‘Fully dressed in outdoor kit.’
‘Right ya, Miss,’ came hurtling back. I smiled; Shane’s bumptiousness appealed to my humour.
‘Surprisingly well behaved that Peckham pair,’ said Jane as I bit my born-and-bred Kennington tongue, swallowing the words, ‘Manners do stretch south of the river, you know.’
‘I completely agree,’ nodded Rupert, ‘and on that note, I’m going to boot-up for the landscape painting. Golly gosh, I’m looking forward to it.’
‘I bought fingerless gloves for the occasion,’ Felicity literally bounced up out of her chair.
‘Susie,’ said Fergus, ‘come with me and we’ll work out how I’m going to get you all to the river.’
‘You must take Haggis,’ said Zoe, ‘he so loves a trip to the fishing hut.’
We all piled into the minibus, with Fergus behind the wheel, and halfway down the front drive he put his foot on the brake. Rupert then willingly opened a gate, Fergus pushed the gearstick into four-wheel-drive and we bumped on down a track towards the river. Most of the snow in the fields has melted with only a few humps remaining in the hollows. The trees have shaken it from their branches and the ground is soggy with excess water. Not that this is a problem, we all have our boots on. Minty’s are by far the smartest. ‘Dubarry’s,’ she told Lianne who looked upon them with envy – her hardware store alternatives are going to be cold.
The river Trickle is handsome and strong and as Fergus drove alongside it the water ran black, tumbling over and gushing round great big boulders of rock – I could see scum forming on the nearby grass. Fergus warned of a very dangerous undercurrent and when the wooden fishing hut came into sight, I thought thank goodness it’s set back fro
m the steep riverbank. The bus drew up behind it and together with easels and bags of equipment we all piled out. Giles, with a nudge from Rupert, began to pull his weight, helping Felicity and Jane tread carefully across a particularly damp patch. Fergus turned over a stone and picked up a key.
‘Here,’ he said as he threw it to Shane, ‘unlock the door will you. There’s a table inside you can put your things on.’
Then, calling Haggis to heel, he told me, ‘I’m just going to take this little chap on a potter.’
‘Okay,’ I smiled, ‘see you later.’
‘Have a look in here,’ called Felicity. Her head was poking out of the hut’s double door. ‘It’s terribly sweet and there’s a mini woodburner we can light if it gets cold.’
Inside the place smelt of fresh pine, and Felicity was right: the curtains, made from Muchton tweed, a brown and green herringbone weave, gave the interior enormous charm.
‘We must get going,’ I encouraged; I didn’t want people to start sitting down. ‘Pick a view close by so you can hear me, and put up your easels.’
Shane wasn’t happy. ‘Miss,’ he said. ‘This is going to be impossible. I ain’t ever painted countryside before.’
‘I agree,’ said Jane. ‘How do you expect us to work out here?’
‘Can’t we go for a walk instead?’ said Minty, most likely longing to burn off lunch.
‘I think you should give it a go. Just a small picture. I’ve got primed paper if anyone would like some?’
‘Yes please’, ‘Yes please’, ‘Yes please’, everyone replied.
Giles and Minty seemed confident they knew what they were doing, Rupert hadn’t ever painted before, Jane came with pastels for her and Felicity, Shane told me video art’s his medium, Louis was a photographer, as we know, and Lianne didn’t care for painting – ‘Performance art is more my kinda thing.’
‘Well, today we’ll all try oils and see how we get on. I have plenty of paint so hold out your palettes and I’ll give you a splodge.’
‘Are you sure?’ said Rupert. ‘I bought my own.’
‘I’m sure. It’s quicker this way. We’ve got to work fast, it’s too cold to waste any time.’