anticipated her arrival this time, the door remained closed as she approached it. She banged the iron knocker against the wood. There was a shout from inside, two words which she could not make out. The door opened and Louisa, red-faced, appeared. ‘Mrs Trevelyan, my sincere apologies, we tried to reach you at home before you left but we were obviously too late. I expect you carry a mobile phone but we didn’t have the number.
‘Look, this is highly embarrassing, but we’ve changed our minds about the portrait. It’s no reflection upon you, I promise, and, naturally, we’ll settle the whole bill as soon as you send it. I can’t say how sorry we are for wasting your time. Something entirely unexpected has cropped up. I really can’t explain, but that’s the way things must be.’
Rose knew she must look an idiot. She was standing totally still, her hand clutching the strap of her canvas bag, her mouth open. She was unable to find a single thing to say. They know, was all she could think, they know I’m in touch with their brother and his family There is definitely something going on here they don’t want me to find out.
‘Mrs Trevelyan?’
‘Sorry. I’m surprised, that’s all. Everything seemed to be going so well. However, it has to be your decision. I’ll send you a bill, but I can’t possibly charge you the full amount.’
‘I insist. We have put you to so much inconvenience and you might have missed other commissions. I’m sorry we can’t even invite you in for coffee. We’re in a bit of a fix at the moment.’
‘I understand.’ I understand nothing, she thought. Not yet, but I will. ‘It’s all right. I’ll, um, well, I’ll make my way back then.’
‘I can’t thank you enough for the way in which you have taken this. Maybe some other time.’ She paused. ‘Anyway, please invoice us immediately.’
Rose nodded and turned away. Whatever had cropped up must have been very recent for them not to have left a message on the answering-machine last night. And it has to be to do with the daughter or the husband, she realised as she began the drive home. I’ll ring Roger and let him know. He might have heard something himself by now.
At home she got the canvas out of her satchel and stared at it. It really belonged to Louisa and Wendy, they would be paying for it. Later she would decide what to do about it.
At six she dialled the Penhaligons’ number. Roger was at home.
‘This looks more peculiar by the minute. I spoke to the police again this morning, but I don’t think they took me very seriously Damn nuisance. Still, I’m relying on you to dig around a bit. Good job you didn’t leave that canvas there this morning, you’ve got an excuse for one more visit. I hope it’s too big to put in the post.’
‘Yes, it is.’ Rose was thinking, chewing the end of her hair as she did so. It was a childhood habit which had never left her. I’ll do it, she decided. I’ll go back there again. And then another thought struck her. ‘Look, I know an inspector in the D & C Police. Perhaps if I have a word with him?’ She left the question hanging, hoping that he would say it wasn’t worth it. Roger had told her he’d spoken to a constable.
‘Would you? We’d be so grateful. You seem to have done a lot for us already Rose. Joel’s a different boy lately.’
‘I’m glad. I’ll be in touch.’ She rang Jack immediately knowing that if she hesitated she would change her mind.
‘I was beginning to think you’d emigrated,’ he said, trying to make light of her neglect of his calls.
‘Sorry I’ve been a bit busy. Jack, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Are you free some time this week?’ Once, she would not have needed to ask, he’d have volunteered to come immediately and therefore his answer surprised her.
‘How about in fifteen minutes? If you’re not busy that is.’ How cagey they were being.
Now that the arrangement was made Rose felt nervous. Have I
‘Look, this is highly embarrassing, but we’ve changed our minds about the portrait. It’s no reflection upon you, I promise, and, naturally, we’ll settle the whole bill as soon as you send it. I can’t say how sorry we are for wasting your time. Something entirely unexpected has cropped up. I really can’t explain, but that’s the way things must be.’
Rose knew she must look an idiot. She was standing totally still, her hand clutching the strap of her canvas bag, her mouth open. She was unable to find a single thing to say. They know, was all she could think, they know I’m in touch with their brother and his family There is definitely something going on here they don’t want me to find out.
‘Mrs Trevelyan?’
‘Sorry. I’m surprised, that’s all. Everything seemed to be going so well. However, it has to be your decision. I’ll send you a bill, but I can’t possibly charge you the full amount.’
‘I insist. We have put you to so much inconvenience and you might have missed other commissions. I’m sorry we can’t even invite you in for coffee. We’re in a bit of a fix at the moment.’
‘I understand.’ I understand nothing, she thought. Not yet, but I will. ‘It’s all right. I’ll, um, well, I’ll make my way back then.’
‘I can’t thank you enough for the way in which you have taken this. Maybe some other time.’ She paused. ‘Anyway, please invoice us immediately.’
Rose nodded and turned away. Whatever had cropped up must have been very recent for them not to have left a message on the answering-machine last night. And it has to be to do with the daughter or the husband, she realised as she began the drive home. I’ll ring Roger and let him know. He might have heard something himself by now.
At home she got the canvas out of her satchel and stared at it. It really belonged to Louisa and Wendy, they would be paying for it. Later she would decide what to do about it.
At six she dialled the Penhaligons’ number. Roger was at home.
‘This looks more peculiar by the minute. I spoke to the police again this morning, but I don’t think they took me very seriously Damn nuisance. Still, I’m relying on you to dig around a bit. Good job you didn’t leave that canvas there this morning, you’ve got an excuse for one more visit. I hope it’s too big to put in the post.’
‘Yes, it is.’ Rose was thinking, chewing the end of her hair as she did so. It was a childhood habit which had never left her. I’ll do it, she decided. I’ll go back there again. And then another thought struck her. ‘Look, I know an inspector in the D & C Police. Perhaps if I have a word with him?’ She left the question hanging, hoping that he would say it wasn’t worth it. Roger had told her he’d spoken to a constable.
‘Would you? We’d be so grateful. You seem to have done a lot for us already Rose. Joel’s a different boy lately.’
‘I’m glad. I’ll be in touch.’ She rang Jack immediately knowing that if she hesitated she would change her mind.
‘I was beginning to think you’d emigrated,’ he said, trying to make light of her neglect of his calls.
‘Sorry I’ve been a bit busy. Jack, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Are you free some time this week?’ Once, she would not have needed to ask, he’d have volunteered to come immediately and therefore his answer surprised her.
‘How about in fifteen minutes? If you’re not busy that is.’ How cagey they were being.
Now that the arrangement was made Rose felt nervous. Have I
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