‘Certainly not! That sounds creepy and sinister. I wanted to get you away from everyone else.’ He stopped. ‘Sorry, that still sounds creepy and sinister.’
‘I don’t want to talk, if that’s what you had in mind.’
‘I know you don’t,’ he said quickly. ‘But we will have to. We can’t just pretend our night in London didn’t happen. I know—’
Before he could say more, Sylvie came and joinedthem. ‘What an amazing spot! What a good idea to come here, Ranulph. And Cass! That is a wonderful drawing. It should definitely go in the book. The cover, maybe.’
‘I’ve never done anything on this scale before,’ said Cass. ‘I’m not sure I can.’
‘You can,’ said Ranulph and Sylvie, almost together.
‘Here, Michael,’ Sylvie called as her husband and Bastian appeared from between the trees. ‘Come and see what Cass has done!’ She walked to join them and Ranulph put a hand on Cass’s arm.
‘How long are you staying?’ he asked urgently.
‘I don’t know.’ This was true but it sounded pathetic.
‘I’ll give you a day to get accustomed to me being here,’ said Ranulph. ‘But then we need to have a proper conversation.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
All through that afternoon, Cass made herself run through in her head what Ranulph was likely to say to her. He would tell her he was in a relationship; that he and Becca were together. He might even tell her they were getting married. Cass had deliberately not looked at Facebook again because she didn’t want any of this confirmed. Ranulph would be very kind about it, but he would explain that what happened in London was a one-off, never-to-be-repeated occurrence. He would say that he would have explained all this at the time if she hadn’t run off. She was bound to cry, just through tension, and she would look like more of an idiot than she did already. But there was no way round it. She did have to talk to Ranulph, however agonising it would be.
Both her sketchbooks were full by the time they got back, tired and in Cass’s case slightly nauseous from being swung around in the back of Bastian’s pick-up. She allowed Bastian to steady her as she climbed out.
‘Long day,’ he said as they walked together into the house.
‘Yes. But I got a lot done.’
‘You’re really talented, Cass,’ said Bastian. ‘I’m so glad you sent me that birthday card or I would never have known how gifted you are. I would have just thought of you as someone who could handle a pick-up over damaged roads, or who could sew up a leg if necessary.’
Cass laughed. ‘Thank you. Those first two skills are for occasional use only! Let’s hope the drawing is for ever.’ She paused. ‘But now I’m going to grab a shower before the others get back.’
She heard the car arrive and listened to Sylvie and Ranulph getting out, greeting the others on the veranda, the clink of glasses as the inevitable punch was served. She put on a dress, a bit of jewellery and some mascara before joining them.
‘Hey, beautiful girl!’ said Sylvie, who was lying flat out on a reclining chair, a misted glass in her hand. ‘I am exhausted! But you look fresh as a daisy, damn you. Come and have a drink. Tell me what you and my husband got up to with Bastian.’
Cass perched on the wide arm of Sylvie’s chair and chatted about the day, and when Ranulph put a glass in her hand she thanked him but didn’t look at him.
Eventually Sylvie got up. ‘I’d better sluice myself down before dinner,’ she said.
‘Actually, Sylvie,’ said Cass, following her, ‘can I have a word in private? I should have asked before really, but I just wondered when we’re booked to go home?’
‘Home?’ said Sylvie. ‘Who wants to go there? But you’re not booked, love. I thought you could decidefor yourself how long you stayed. It’s an open ticket. I’ll get it for you.’
‘You are so kind, bringing me here,’ Cass said as Sylvie handed her an envelope.
‘Not as kind as all that,’ said Sylvie. ‘It’s cattle class, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh, that doesn’t matter! Really! A free trip out here – that’s beyond generous.’
‘You are the chosen illustrator for the new guidebook,’ said Sylvie, brushing off Cass’s gratitude. ‘And you’re working hard. But it’s a wonderful island and I can see why you and Ranulph are so fond of it.’
The next day Cass borrowed a much larger sketchbook from Bastian as well as taking her own. She wanted to do another large drawing – let herself go, as she had before. She’d discovered this new talent for large sweeping scenes and she wanted to make the most of it while she had such wonderful scenery in front of her.
Bastian took her and Michael to a verdant valley where there was another stunning view for her to draw.
Somehow, although in theory she was depicting flowers and trees, rocks and waterfalls, she realised she was painting from the heart, as if she had nothing to lose, and the effect was amazing.
