‘Hard to forget.’
‘Right. And she even wore a pink, furry hat made from the same material.’
‘And you told her she looked like a dick.’
‘I think my exact phrase was “an enormous penis”.’ Lysander grinned. ‘I was thirteen, what did she expect?’
‘It was a particularly awful outfit, but you were a particularly awful son back then.’
‘And an awful brother, too?’
Tania shrugged. ‘It wasn’t great.’
‘For what it’s worth, I told the old man he should get one of your paintings for in here. Not that thing.’ He waved a hand at the wall holding the picture window, and the new canvas. ‘But apparently Mother had already chosen the artist she wanted to support.’
‘Yeah. Why doesn’t that surprise me?’ Tania said. ‘Brigitte’s never been my biggest fan.’
‘Do you know whatyourmother used to call me?’ From the stairs, Rose saw Tania shake her head. Lysander continued, ‘When nobody was around, she used to tell me I was nothing more than the product of a split condom. That I shouldn’t even exist, and my father only pretended to love me because he was so far under the witch’s control.’
‘I didn’t know that.’
‘No. Well. If you ever wonder where you get your cold streak from …’
Tania sighed. ‘So, what are you going to do?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You need to get some help.’
‘You think?’ Lysander’s sarcasm was clear, even in his hushed tones. ‘That’s easier said than done, too.’
‘Why? You find a rehab unit and book yourself in.’
‘Yeah, and then I’ll lose my contract. You know the company’s attitude. It’s one thing to use in private, nobody gives a shit about that, but it’s quite another to sully the brand in the public arena. And I’m not as young as I used to be, plenty of younger models snapping at my heels. Plenty of people to replace me.’ He took a step closer to Tania, pointing to the corner of an eye. ‘I mean, just look at these lines.’
‘Oh dear God, Donkey. There’s nothing there.’
‘You wouldn’t understand. You can let yourself go as much as you like, your paintbrushes don’t care.’
‘Wow. Thanks.’ The acid was back in Tania’s voice. ‘You could always go into acting.’
Rose felt her shoulders jack. Tania certainly knew which buttons to push to get a rise from her brother. Acting would be a natural progression for Lysander, especially with his family connections– except for one slight problem. He’d tested a few times for various roles and had never secured anything, had told her in an unguarded moment– when he was as high as a kite– that he was chronically under-gifted in the acting department. He’d laughed, told her how ironic he thought that was. But he wasn’t laughing now.
‘You always were a bitch. I don’t know why I thought coming here was a good idea.’ Lysander headed for the stairs, and Rose scuttled down the few steps she’d climbed and shot into her bedroom before he caught sight of her.
Madeleine was curled up under the thick duvet, a paperback in one hand, which she flapped down at Rose’s abrupt arrival.
‘You OK? You’ve been ages.’
‘I’m fine. Sorry I’ve been so long.’
‘Everything all right?’
‘Everything’s fine.’ Rose wondered if her words sounded more convincing to Madeleine than they did to herself. ‘How’s the book?’
‘Great plot, and the lead character has just worked out that her sister’s husband’s friend was in the right place at the right time to have been able to murder the vicar. So that’s another suspect to add to the list.’ She grinned as Rose raised her eyebrows. ‘Yes, I know. It’s ridiculously brilliant.’
Rose felt herself begin to relax, as she changed and slid under the covers. Everything was so straightforward when she was alone with Madeleine.
