The kiss they shared lasted for several minutes, and might have led to a lot more than kissing if another thought hadn’t struck Grace. She pulled away from him.
‘I’ve remembered something else that Hope told me.’
Griff sighed. ‘I’m beginning to think that Hope talks too much. Sorry, darling. I can see you’re not amused by that. What else did Hope tell you?’
‘It’s about that gorgeous painting Hanna did. The one of us dancing in the Great Hall on Christmas Eve at The Mistletoe Dance. The painting Hope and my family, and yours … and Hanna, gave us at our engagement party.’
‘I know the painting, Grace. It’s currently hanging in our bedroom. I’m unsure of the point you’re trying to make. Itclearly shows anyone who may look at it, how deeply in love we were with one another that night. And as Hanna painted it, I think that proves my point. Plus, anyone who knows us as well as Hanna does, knows our love has only grown deeper and stronger since then, so I’m not sure why Hope mentioning that painting is bothering you right now.’
‘It’s bothering me because Hope told me that she didn’t ask Hanna to paint it. It was already done, and sitting in Hanna’s studio in Catkin Cottage. Hope saw it when she went upstairs to use the loo that night she was drinking wine at Hanna’s. She asked Hanna about it and whether it was for sale and Hanna said it just needed a few finishing touches, or something like that. Anyway, my point is, what if the woman in the painting wasn’t me?’
Griff frowned. ‘But it is you, darling. Anyone can see that.’
‘It is me now. Yes. And obviously when we received it, it was me. But what if, the night Hope saw the painting, bearing in mind she was more than a little drunk … what if the woman in the painting then, was Hanna? Hanna dancing with you in the Great Hall on Christmas Eve. Hanna in your arms at The Mistletoe Dance. Hanna looking up into your eyes and you looking down at Hanna with all that love and desire and longing.’
‘Yes. Thank you. I get the picture. Literally.’ Now even Griff looked a little concerned. ‘You’re suggesting that Hanna painted that picture for herself, but then Hope spotted it and asked if she could give it to us as a present, so Hanna had no choice but to pretend the woman in her painting was you, and to alter it so that everyone else could see it was you?’
‘Precisely. You see! Hanna is in love with you!’
Griff shook his head. ‘I still find it hard to believe. And would Hanna really paint a life-size picture of herself dancing with me, knowing that someone else might see it? I know I’m irresistibleand all that but … Sorry. I shouldn’t joke about it. And as I’ve said, it doesn’t matter.’ He reached out for her and she took his hand in hers. He gently pulled her back into his arms. ‘I adore you, my darling. And only you. There will never be anyone else for me. Ever. Plus, I’m still not convinced about Hanna being in love with me. But there is one way to find out.’
‘How?’ Grace snuggled closer to him again and looked up into his dark eyes.
‘We could ask Hanna.’
‘Ask Hanna! Are you mad?’ Grace pushed herself away and glared at Griff in disbelief.
‘Erm. I’m mad about you,’ he quipped.
‘This is serious,’ Grace snapped.
‘No it’s not, Grace. Because I’m sure it’s not true. But why can’t we ask Hanna? It seems to me that it’s the sensible thing to do. It would clear this up in a minute.’
‘We can’t ask her because if she says it is true, we can’t ignore it. At the moment this is simply gossip. We can pretend we haven’t heard it yet. But if we ask her and she says it’s true then she’ll know that we know and we can’t pretend we don’t.’
‘I see. I think.’ He smiled lovingly. ‘Can you pretend you haven’t heard it, Grace? I can. But can you? I know you better than you might think I do and I’m fairly sure that you won’t be able to. Of course, there is another option.’
He was right, obviously. Grace wouldn’t be able to pretend for long. If at all. It would eat away at her until she blurted the question out herself and asked Hanna directly if she was in love with Griff.
‘What’s the other option?’
‘We could ask Hope to ask her.’
Grace shook her head so vigorously it almost made her dizzy and the room spun for a second or two before she spoke. ‘That’sthe same as me asking Hanna. Hanna will know that Hope will tell me. Even if Hanna swears Hope to secrecy.’
‘Hmm. Okay. Then why don’t we ask Russell to find out? Hanna knows he can be trusted with a secret. He’s home for the Summer Fayre this weekend, so he’s bound to bump into Hanna. He may be here already, because I’m sure I saw his car coming up the drive just before you said you needed to speak with me in private. They’re friends. He’s single. She’s single. He could simply ask her if there is anyone she’s interested in, romantically. He could even tell her he’s heard a rumour that she’s in love with me, and he could ask her if it’s true. If Hanna really did tell Barbra Brimble that she’s in love with me, then she’ll have no qualms in telling Russell, will she? But if she was trying to keep it a secret and blurted it out by mistake, then she’ll probably still admit that to him. He could say he knows what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you in return. What could be more natural? And if, as I believe we’ll find will be the case, this is simply silly gossip and Hanna is not in love with me, then she’ll be as horrified as you are, and she’ll immediately tell Russell it isn’t true.’
Grace couldn’t argue with that.
