Design For Loving (3 page)

‘
For the past two years. My mother was born there and my grandmother only died six months ago, leaving me the cottage. She was a great friend of Alice Mason’s, who isn’t my real aunt, of course.’

‘
I see, and have you any other family?’

‘
Yes, my parents have retired to Dorset and my brother went with them, but I came to live with my grandmother because I wanted to be nearer to London.’

And,
at that time to get away from Peter, she added to herself bitterly.

Lyall
was asking too many questions and before she had a chance to slip in any of her own, he had skilfully brought the conversation round to Jack.

‘
So Alice Mason traced him through her husband’s solicitor?’

‘
Yes, it was really quite easy. A number of years back, Uncle George had received a letter informing him that his brother had died and that his sister-in-law and her son had gone to live up north, but he hadn’t attempted to get back in touch with them.

‘
As he got older, however, he regretted this and wanted to put matters right between them, and so, after his death, Aunt Alice decided to try to track them down. As it happened, they still used the same family solicitor in London.’

‘
I see,’ Lyall said again and ordered dessert from a hovering waiter.

K
atie tucked into the mouth-watering selection of Italian ice-cream with enjoyment. She set down her spoon.

‘
What I can’t make out is why Jack decided to leave whilst both Aunt Alice and myself were away.’

Lyall
gave her a long look. ‘Probably because he hadn’t got the guts to face up to the pair of you. He told me he had a bit of history, admitted he’d got himself into debt. Personally, I reckon his past had caught up with him and he was running scared. Actually, if I hadn’t been around that evening there might have been further problems.’

She
went cold. ‘How do you mean?’

‘
He came round to the house, said he’d left a couple of things in Alice Mason’s safe, but, of course, I didn’t fall for that one.’

‘
So what did you say?’

‘
That he’d have to wait until she returned. Of course, he didn’t like it, and, as it is, I think he made off with the silver cigarette box on the hall table.’

K
atie stared at him. ‘Aunt Alice will be so upset. She’s so fond of him. I hadn’t the heart to tell her what’s happened. You must think I’m a complete idiot, but I really believed in him. He was a talented potter and we were good as a team...Our stuff sold like hot cakes in the tea shop.’

He
laughed at the pun and she joined in, relieved that it was all over.

Shortly,
after more cups of cappuccino, they left the restaurant and he drove her home.

He
said little during the journey and she must have drifted off because she awakened as the car pulled up outside Lavender Cottage.

‘
Come on, sleepy head, I’ll see you to your front door. I’ll bring the stock round to the workshop tomorrow morning and we’ll make a start on our little enterprise.’

‘
That sounds good to me. Thanks for the meal, Lyall and for believing in us.’ Taking her keys from her, he opened the cottage door and turned on the light. ‘All part of the service.’ Catching her hand in his, he pressed it to his lips. ‘Sweet dreams, Katie, I’ll see you in the morning. We’ve an exhibition to prepare for.’

Three

K
atie went to the workshop early the next morning, having selected ideas from her book of designs. She had two main themes for her work, one based on leaves, flowers and fruit and the other abstract designs inspired by swirling lakes and patterns on wood bark.

Lyall
was already at work and obviously in a very business-like mood.

He
looked up briefly and informed her, ‘Your materials are in the back, locked in the cupboard.’ It was as if the previous evening had never happened.

They
worked in companionable silence for a while and then Shelley turned up full of enthusiasm and bright ideas and, for the first time since her return to Lyndhurst, Katie felt a spark of interest again. It had all been so difficult during the past couple of days that she hadn’t known which way to turn.

She
dreaded telling Aunt Alice of Jack’s departure and was putting off the evil moment. For now, however, she decided that to bury herself in her work would take her mind off things. Katie thought that the best option would probably be to make a number of pendants and bracelets because, although earrings and rings took less time to fashion, they were quite fiddly and wouldn’t take up much space in a display area. She would concentrate on the larger items first and then see what time was left.

After
a while she got up to check something on the computer and discovered that she had an e-mail message. It was from Jack and had obviously been there for several days. If only she’d thought to check before.

I’M SORRY KATIE.YOU MUST BELIEVE ME. I HAD NO CHOICE. I’LL CONTACTYOU AGAIN SOON, J.

Katie made a swift decision not to tell Lyall or Shelley, wrote the message in her diary and deleted the e-mail. She was a trusting girl and was convinced, deep down, that there had to be some simple explanation for the way in which Jack had behaved.

If
only he would ring and explain things then, perhaps, she could, at least, try to understand what had happened and attempt to talk things through with him.

‘
Are you OK, Katie?’ Shelley asked in concern, as she went back into the workshop.

‘
Oh, I’m just a bit tired,’ she replied, a shade too brightly. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’

She
went across to look at the designs Lyall was working on. They were certainly impressive, very colourful and professional. She could not wait to see the finished products.

K
atie forced her attention back to the task in hand, knowing that she could not afford to slack, not only because of the time factor, but also because the materials were too expensive to waste.

Eventually,
she lost herself in her work, which she loved, and had fashioned several items by the end of the morning.

She
excused herself from joining the others for lunch, making the excuse that she had a slight headache, and returned to Lavender Cottage. The post had been and she recognised Jack’s handwriting on an envelope with a frustratingly indecipherable postmark. In trepidation, she ripped it open. The message inside was brief and to the point and backed up what he had said in his e-mail.

KATIE, PLEASE DON’T THINK TOO BADLY OF ME. I’M IN TROUBLE AND NEED YOUR SUPPORT. WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD FRIENDS AND I’M SURE I CA TRUST YOU. JACK.

Katie sat staring into space. She supposed she ought to contact the police, but what good would it do at this stage? And then there was Aunt Alice to consider.

In
a way she wished Jack would make a clean break so that she could pick up the pieces and begin to get on with her life again, but he seemed intent on involving her and playing on her emotions. She could not imagine what sort of trouble he had got himself into, but it was obviously serious.

She
had been sitting there for about ten minutes when there was a tap on the door. It was Lyall looking concerned and, in spite of herself, an odd little frisson danced along her spine. She longed to confide in him, ask his advice, but something made her hold back. Instead, she asked coolly, ‘Aren’t I allowed any peace?’

Startled,
his dark eyes flashed. ‘Oh, I can see you’re in a mood. I just knocked to see how you were, but I know when I’m not welcome. I’ve brought you some lunch, but I rather wish I hadn’t bothered if that’s your attitude. Fine, I’ll leave you in peace then!’

And,
before she had a chance to say anything, he was gone. Curiosity, made her lift the tea-towel covering the tray, and she discovered one of Dylan’s chicken salads neatly arranged on a plate covered with cling film, together with a crusty roll. She felt embarrassed at her outburst after Lyall’s kindness and, surprisingly, tucked in with a healthy appetite, thoroughly enjoying the food.

After
coffee, she wandered back along the lane, feeling much better equipped to face the afternoon. But Lyall was not there, only Shelley humming away to herself in the usual chaotic muddle that she liked to work in.

She
looked up briefly. ‘Lyall had to go into Sevenoaks for some reason. He’s nice, isn’t he?’

‘
Don’t be fooled by his charm. We know very little about him.’

Shelley
shot her a surprised glanced, but wisely said nothing. For some reason Katie found herself in a steaming mood and knew that it was because Lyall had gone off on a mysterious assignation, and that she had been used to Jack keeping her informed of his movements when they were working on a project.

Team
work was important at times like this. She sighed, realising that she was being unreasonable. After all, Jack was hardly keeping her informed now, was he? So what did it matter?

She
worked hard for the next few hours and, just as she thought they had seen the last of him for the day, Lyall reappeared. He looked appraisingly at their work and said, ‘Well you two have certainly made great headway today. Now where do you suggest we keep all this?’

K
atie gaped at him. ‘Well in the safe, of course. Jack’s hardly likely to try the same trick twice. Besides, I honestly believe he’ll pay us back when he can.’ Lyall gave her a piercing look. ‘Your faith in him is touching, Katie. I would hate to disillusion you, but I think you can say goodbye to any idea you might have of recompense. I’ve yet to find a thief who repays his victims.’

‘
And you know a lot of them, do you?’ she asked pointedly.

‘
My you do have a tart tongue today!’

He
studied one of her pendants. ‘How long do you suppose it will take you to make enough for the exhibition?’

‘
We’ll need to work all the hours that God made in order to be ready, and that means we won’t be able to keep our usual outlets supplied, so we’re going to lose trade that way.’

‘
Have you thought about borrowing items back just for the exhibition?’

‘
How do you mean?’ she asked, puzzled.

‘
Surely you must have some local customers who would be more than willing to lend you the items they’ve purchased. They’d probably be tickled pink to know that their jewellery was going to be exhibited.’

‘
But just imagine the insurance complications if we did that,’ she pointed out.

He
shrugged. ‘It was just a thought. Was Jack in charge of organising the exhibition?’

‘
No, we made joint decisions on important issues. I’m still convinced there’s some perfectly rational explanation for the way he’s behaved. It’s just so out of character, isn’t it, Shelley?’

Shelley
nodded. ‘Seemed a decent enough bloke to me. Anyway, I’ve got to be off now. See you tomorrow, guys.’ For a few minutes, Lyall busied himself at the back of the workshop, but then he came and sat at the bench. ‘There are one or two things we need to sort out before too long, if we’re going to proceed with this project,’ he told her pleasantly.

K
atie set down her tools. ‘Such as?’

‘
It all seems rather casual and haphazard here at present. I had thought there would have been more of a system.’

K
atie bridled. ‘How dare you come in out of the blue and start criticising. We all got on well enough in the past. We were beginning to make a reasonable go of things.’

‘
Look, I don’t think you can object to my making one or two suggestions for improvements, seeing as I’m putting up some money. You’re hardly in any position to get uppity.’

‘
Meaning that if we don’t go along with what you suggest, you’ll withdraw your support, I suppose! Well, so far as I’m concerned you can go ahead and do just that! We’ll find some other way of keeping this show on the road!’

And,
sweeping up her belongings, she flounced out of the room, locked her jewellery in the safe and left the workshop, not even bothering to look in his direction again. If she had done, she might have seen that, far from being annoyed, he was grinning to himself.

* * *

Katie hadn’t been in long when the phone rang. She picked it up and Faye’s cheerful voice said, ‘We’re expecting you round for supper tonight, Katie.’

‘
You’ve done nothing but feed me since I’ve been back. It’s kind of you, but I was planning to have an early night.’

‘
Nonsense, you’ve got to eat! Anyway, we’ve got a proposition to put to you and we’d rather tell you in person. We’ll see you around seven-thirty then.’

Knowing
better than to argue, Katie thanked her friend and went upstairs to get ready. She showered, changed into black trousers and a red tunic and caught back her newly-washed hair with a scrunchie.

It
was only a short walk to the cafe. Faye greeted her warmly, apron tied about her ample waist. ‘Come along in. Dylan’s just sorting out some wine.’

There
were four places set and, seeing her enquiring glance, Faye said, ‘I’ve invited Lyall to join us, hope you don’t mind. Oh dear, I can see from your expression that you do. Did something happen in London that I ought to know about?’

K
atie shook her head, wishing she hadn’t accepted the invitation. It would be awkward having to make polite conversation, after their recent heated exchange. ‘Everything’s just happening too quickly. I can’t get my head round it. When I went away I left Jack in charge of the workshop and now he’s gone and Lyall’s come on the scene wanting to change everything. I don’t feel as if I’ve had a chance to get to grips with the situation. How do I know if he’s genuine?’

‘
Oh well, I’m sorry if I’ve dropped you in it. I thought you two were getting on OK. I’m being absolutely honest, though, I’ve got to admit that I’ve never really trusted Jack. He’s an amiable enough character, but rather too smooth for my liking, whereas Lyall is much more straightforward.’

K
atie stared at her friend in surprise. ‘What makes you say that? He’s an unknown quantity as far as I’m concerned. For all we know, he might have forced Jack out so that he could take his place and get his hands on our business and Aunt Alice’s family heirlooms.’

Faye
laughed. ‘Don’t be so melodramatic, Katie! You know as well as I do that Aunt Alice doesn’t have any family heirlooms, otherwise why would she resort to taking in a lodger?’

‘
She gets lonely. She told me so. Anyway, what makes you think Lyall’s any different from Jack? He’s probably got his eye to the main chance too.’

Faye
folded some table napkins. ‘Oh, it’s just an instinct. Actually, my main motive for inviting him here tonight was to see if we can find out a bit more about him. Satisfied?’

Katie,
knowing that she was giving her friend a hard time, pulled herself together. ‘Sorry, Faye, but you know the old saying, “Once bitten, twice shy.” It was such a shock finding Jack gone like that. My whole world seems to have turned topsy-turvy all over again. I mean, who is Lyall and how come he turned up so conveniently? It’s all such a puzzle.’

‘
Well, young Shelley doesn’t seem to have your doubts. She’s raving about him, thinks he’s really talented and going places.’

Before
Katie could make any comment, the doorbell rang and, a few minutes later Dylan came into the room with Lyall, who was clutching a bottle of wine. From the surprised look on his face, he hadn’t expected Katie to be there either, but his greeting was friendly enough.

As
usual, Dylan and Faye had surpassed themselves with the meal. The crown roast of lamb was succulent and the vegetables cooked to perfection.

After
some general conversation, Faye said, ‘I bet you find it strange being back in England, Lyall.’

‘
Yes, it’s taken some getting used to. My sister tells me that my little nephew keeps asking her when I’m coming back.’