That evening, Ariel was jittery. Had been since coming back from their cottage after readying one of the bedroom walls for plastering. Over a fragrant Moroccan salad of roasted red peppers, lemons and butter beans Gilly prepared while humming, Ariel toyed with her food while listening to her talk about the day’s events and outline an idea for a whole-school initiative.
Pulling a face at a piece of leafy parsley, she pushed it aside. ‘You sound really fulfilled.’
Gilly leaned forward across the kitchen island, where they were sitting on high stools. ‘I am. It was great teaching again.Makes me wonder if I can rearrange my diary to cover a class a day. Not sure the Governors would approve but I think it would make the role more satisfying and balance some of the other duties.’
Shrugging, Ariel said, ‘Well, you know the thought of a career spent every day with the same people in a regimented environment with oodles of bureaucracy and bean-counting makes me want to scream. I couldn’t do corporate.’
‘Well, everyone’s different.’ Gilly stiffened. ‘I know you found some jobs too stifling and weren’t good at answering to a boss, so I suppose it’s lucky my bean-counting job supports us financially so you can paint full-time.’
Ariel touched her arm. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m grateful for the security you give us, given my income is so fluid. I just don’t understand how you can be happy working so hard, and then come home to me and an empty flat.’ Getting up, she took her plate over to the food bin and scraped in the leftovers, tension palpable in her shoulders.
Knowing Ariel was referring to babies but not wanting an argument to ruin a positive day, Gilly chose optimism. ‘I’m happy coming home to you and this beautiful flat, filled with such warmth and light.’
Above her head, the lightbulb in the gold fitting cranked up the wattage by several degrees, and Gilly cast a look at it. Must be a coincidence. This place had its quirks, as Albie often said.
Ariel turned around with a forced smile. ‘Sorry. Didn’t mean to be insensitive, I’ve just had a busy day painting and think I’m overtired.’
Gilly hopped off her stool. ‘Oh, what piece are you working on? That watercolour of the river at the bottom of the hill? I love the way you’ve layered over the whites and blues for the flowing water, you can almost hear it burbling past.’
Ariel flushed. ‘Thanks, but less glamorous. I was glossing doorframes.’
‘Ah, I see.’ She flickered her gaze over the tips of Ariel’s purple painted toenails up to the rounded curves outlined in the orange dress she’d changed into after showering, finally landing on her face. ‘Have you changed your skincare routine? Your complexion looks amazing. Your hair is so shiny too.’
Ariel stilled. ‘Why all the compliments?’
‘It’s today’s rule. Didn’t you see it in the entrance hall earlier?Give someone a compliment. I did it all day, and you should’veseenthe looks on some people’s faces. It’s like they barely recognised me, being nice.’
Wiping down the counter with a damp cloth, Ariel scrubbed at a stubborn spot of vinaigrette that’d congealed as they ate. ‘I went straight down to the cottages this morning so didn’t see it. Also, it just goes to show they don’t know you, if they think you’re not nice.’
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence.’ Gilly plucked her half-full wine glass from the island. ‘Although, how well can you truly know anyone?’ Without waiting for a reply, because she knew something was off, but wasn’t sure what or how to deal with it, she said cheerfully, ‘I’m going to take a bath. Why don’t you watch some of that art programme you like?’
‘Yeah, I might do that.’ Ariel smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
‘Oh,’ Gilly asked as an afterthought, ‘any luck getting one of the flooring guys up here to look at the gouges for us? I’d really like them repaired.’
‘Nope, I ran out of time today. I’ll try again tomorrow.’
‘Okay.’ Weird, given Ariel should have lots of opportunity to get the floor checked out. ‘I still don’t understand how the damage happened, I didn’t even slam the door the second time the picture fell.’ Chewing the inside of her cheek, she mused, ‘Iguess some things will remain a mystery. Though I absolutely hate secrets.’
Colour climbed up Ariel’s neck into her cheeks. ‘I know. Enjoy your bath.’
CHAPTER 25
Albie
Create Beautiful Places and Spaces
‘After you,’ Albie swung open his cottage’s fire-engine red door, motioning Clover to precede him.
‘What a gent, thanks,’ she replied, stepping over the threshold with a whisper of blue silk. ‘Also, have you noticed the roses out front, and your door paint match my favourite lipstick?’
Albie coloured, blustering, ‘What a coincidence.’
‘If that’s how you want to play it,’ she teased, walking along the narrow hallway. Pointing to the antique sideboard where a lamp stood, the leaves around the bulb and coloured glass tiles giving it the appearance of a flower. ‘That’s beautiful. Tiffany?’
‘Yes. That was Rose’s. It’s got sentimental value, but there isn’t a spot for it up at the manor. I thought it would look good here.’
‘Yes. Belongings are funny things, aren’t they?’ she mused, stroking her fingers over the white, blue and pink glass petals. ‘They can remind us of good times, but also hold us back.’
