‘I don’t know if you are a collector of art, Richard, but David Lancing is a world-wide renowned artist. His style is hyper-realism and I can guarantee you that every single one of his paintings is a conversation piece. Now, the only potential problem is the timescale. I can call in favours and have the chandeliers here in time for the photo shoot. One of David’s paintings might be harder to acquire, but I’m not ruling it out as an option for you to consider.’
As I flick through the photos, which are screen shots from David’s website, Richard’s face kicks into life.
‘I like it. In fact, I like both options. Order the lights and let’s go big. If we can’t get a painting in time, then we have a fallback. As for the paintings, find out what is available and I’ll make a decision. As an investment, price is not really a problem. Hyper-realism, you say. I want big, bold and talking-point. I wonder if he has anything food-related? It’s rather clever, perfectly executed but almost too perfect. Genius.’
Livvie looks relieved. ‘So that’s settled, then? You’re happy?’
Richard gives me a wink. ‘What can I say, other than I’m excited. The next few weeks are going to blow all thoughts of divorce out of my head.’
I ignore the comment and jump in to fill the awkward silence.
‘I’ll get straight onto it today. You might like to keep these to look through. But I’ll talk to the artist and let you know how I get on.’ I hand Richard a folder with about a dozen A4 screenshots of David’s paintings.
‘You must come to my house-warming party, ladies. I’ll send you both invites. If you absolutely have to bring menfolk with you, then the offer extends to partners. There will, however, be quite a few eligible bachelors here.’
I look at Livvie, ‘I’m taken, but Livvie is free.’ She shoots me a black look, turning to face Richard with an awkward smile.
‘That’s very kind of you, Richard,’ she mutters as he escorts us back through to the front door.
Once we are safely in the car Livvie turns to face me.
‘That was inspired. I mean, I hate the paintings. Dreadful. But it’s just what Richard is looking for; do you know the artist personally?’
My stomach flutters.
‘No, but I’ll be talking to him very shortly.’
Chapter 34
‘Mum, can I go to the cinema with Alex?’
I haven’t even had time to take off my coat before Hettie looms up in front of me wearing her serious face.
‘Thank you, Dawn. Much appreciated.’
‘But can I, Mum?’
I give Dawn a hug and we exchange glances.
‘I’ll leave you to it. I popped the casserole in the oven; give it another ten minutes and you can dish up. See you tomorrow afternoon.’ Dawn flashes me a sympathetic look and heads for the door as quickly as she can.
‘Mum, I have to design a maze and then make a model of one. I need your help.’ Rosie sidles up next to Hettie. Both are looking at me, expectantly.
I slip off my shoes and coat, and they follow me like sheep into the kitchen.
‘Welcome home, Mum. How was your day?’ I mutter to myself, but there is no reaction from the girls, only hopeful looks.
‘We could go into town by bus on Saturday, have a pizza and watch the afternoon viewing.’ Hettie is trying to play down her excitement.
‘Bus, pizza, film and then home? Saturday?’ I pretend to give it some serious consideration. ‘Okay, but I want you to phone me after the film and either Dad, or I, will come and pick you both up.’
I don’t want to spoil her fun, or her first real date, but I also want her to know that there are rules.
‘But, Muuuum. What will Alex think? It will spoil everything.’ She looks at me with doleful eyes.
‘Alex will think that you have parents who care about you, but trust you enough to allow you out on a date. Take it or leave it, but those are the terms.’
I turn to Rosie.
‘We’ll jump on the internet after dinner and look at some examples, Rosie. You can draw up a plan and then we’ll look at what materials we can find, ready for you to build it. What’s the deadline?’
‘Next Monday.’
‘Good. Maybe we can get Dad’s ideas, as well, and you can work on it over the weekend.’
‘Ah, thanks, Mum.’
Hettie adds a semi-grateful ‘thanks’ of her own, but it’s an afterthought.
‘And I had a very busy, but productive day, thank you, girls. Now if one of you can lay the table I’ll sort the iPad, as it’s about time for Dad to FaceTime.’
~
Once Hettie accepts my decision she brightens up and I don’t mention it to Josh. Our little girl is turning into a young woman and this is only the start of her testing the water and extending her freedom. We both knew it was coming, but it still feels much too soon. Is any parent ever really ready to begin letting go?
After saying goodnight to Josh, we spend an hour around the table playing board games before the girls go up to their bedrooms. As I go in to kiss Rosie, she jumps straight into bed. Hettie is sitting up in bed and has a school book in front of her, but I can see her phone peeking out from beneath it. I give her a peck on the cheek and a quick hug.
‘I know you think we shouldn’t worry, but we do. That’s what being a parent is all about. Alex will understand. He’s a nice young man and his parents will be saying much the same things to him.’
I pull away and she looks up at me. ‘You can trust me, I am sensible.’
I smile, ‘I was fifteen once and I thought I knew everything. We don’t want to stop you having fun, Hettie, but this is a journey you need to take one step a time.’
I think we both know what I’m talking about. We’ve had the talk and they do sex education at school. I simply want her to take her time and not try to rush the process.
Making my way into the study, I reflect upon how lucky Josh and I are to have the girls. Children add pressure, dominate your lives and cost you a fortune, but life without them wouldn’t be nearly as exciting or wonderful. Every day my girls remind me about what is important. As adults we attached significance to things that really don’t matter. As long as we have a roof over our heads, food on the table and everyone is well, then no obstacle is insurmountable.
My heart tells me that Max would love to have a child and that makes his situation even worse. What I can’t understand is why Aletta had to run away, rather than admit to having an affair? It’s not a crime to fall out of love with someone and then fall into love with another man. She wasn’t married to Max, although I can understand it would have been hard to face both him and her family, to break the news. It wasn’t the easiest situation, given that Max is now a key figure in the Ormanni family’s future.
I pull out the iPad and see that I have a missed call from Bella. I immediately call her back and almost instantly she pops up onto my screen.
She’s bursting with excitement. ‘We did it. Well, Michelle did it. We don’t need to wait until they return to the UK. If we ask Michelle to get copies of the marriage certificate, we can simply hand it over to the police. They’ll have to investigate it and then close the case.’
I’m not so sure. ‘Slow down. I know it’s good news. But I’m worried that it will be too much for Max, at the moment. Think about it. Someone will have to warn him, before the police are brought into this, so that it doesn’t come as a total shock to him. Nothing is certain until Aletta has been identified, what if it turns out not to be her? If our suspicions, and Michelle’s research, is correct, he’s lost Aletta for good and he may even wonder if he’s the baby’s father. It’s a dilemma that could break his heart. I can’t see Aletta, or her husband, accepting any form of contact from him. Everything was done in a very underhand, although I suspect quite legal, way and clearly Aletta wanted to sever all connections with her past life.
‘Then there’s Trista’s part in all of this. She knew about the baby too and yet she chose not to tell either Max,
or the police, about it. So it could be said that Aletta had already come forward, she just chose not to contact Max directly. What was Trista’s motivation, though? In the will you said Max inherited everything?’ I ask.
‘Yes. And if he’s survived by children, the estate goes to them. Oh, wow. Trista definitely knew what she was doing. She obviously thought Max was the father of Aletta’s baby. I wonder if Aletta actually told her that?’ Bella wonders.
I close my eyes and a sense of foreboding washes over me.
‘She was punishing Aletta, while ensuring the business was in safe hands. Even if Max marries and has other children, Aletta’s daughter would have a legitimate claim to the estate. Trista was simply cutting Aletta out of the will, not her entire blood line.’
Bella takes a sharp intake of breath.
‘That’s monstrous. Putting inheritance to one side, she has a granddaughter and why wouldn’t she want to establish a relationship with her own flesh and blood? Family means everything and yet she can turn her back on her daughter and granddaughter as if she feels nothing. It looks as if Trista is simply trying to avoid another scandal rearing its head and further tarnishing the family’s reputation. Or maybe this is all about money and the damage it could do in the future to the business? She really is the ice queen.’
The horror of the situation is overwhelming. What harm could we do by digging this up? Wouldn’t time alone be a healer? Or is that wishful thinking, because it’s an easy way out? If there are still those who believe Max had a hand in Aletta’s disappearance then time won’t help take that away. I have no choice but to voice another fear that has been going around and around in my head.
‘What if Trista wasn’t given a choice?’
Bella’s face looks back at me, wearing a blank expression.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Aletta breaks the news to Trista that she’s having a baby and she’s in love with someone else. Trista knows that this would create yet another scandal, showing her daughter up in a very bad light. David Lancing has the money and the contacts to handle the disappearance. He’s been divorced for a long time and Aletta is a beautiful younger woman. He does what he has to do to ensure their future happiness as a family. They give Trista an ultimatum. Cut all ties, or Aletta goes back with the baby and everyone is made aware of the truth in a very public way. Each of them has created a little chain of lies that implicates them in the wider scandal. It isn’t until you stand back that you get a glimpse of the bigger picture and the damage they have done. Perhaps Trista couldn’t face yet another trauma in her life and she, too, felt trapped by the lies she’d told.’
‘Have they done anything illegal?’ Bella is in shock and I feel exactly the same way. Our attempt at clearing Max’s name has uncovered a monster that could potentially hurt everyone.
‘I don’t know, Bella. It’s not fraud, nothing was stolen and it’s not a crime to change your name by deed poll. In this case, it was essential if the plan was going to work. The only crime is the injustice to Max, as he’s the only person in this sorry affair, who has been given no consideration whatsoever. He’s also the only person who hasn’t lied about anything.’
‘Ellie, this is one big mess. I don’t know what to say. I started all of this and now I know I can’t handle it. What should we do?’
I don’t mention anything about the contact I’m going to make with David’s agent. The plan that has been formulating in my head isn’t one in which Bella should be involved.
‘If you step away now, then your name won’t be linked to it in any way when the news gets out. You know I have Max’s best interests at heart. I’ll figure out the right way to handle this, I promise, so that our part doesn’t become common knowledge. In the meantime keep this to yourself and, if you hear anything, I want you to respond in the same way as the people around you. Tell Piero you drew a blank. I know it’s a lie, but it’s the only way to protect you all. Focus on your future.’
I pause and then add, ‘Eve will contact you tomorrow to commission two new pieces. I need Piero to drop everything and do this for me as a favour as quickly as possible. Cost is not a problem for the client who wants them, so I don’t want him to think about giving us any sort of discount. This is going to give you both a nice little sum towards the wedding.’
Bella eyes well up.
‘Ellie, I don’t know what to say, other than thank you. Piero is working so hard, but he’ll be thrilled to do this for you, and us. As for Max, I really do want it to be over before the strain gets too much for him. Will you tell him yourself?’
‘There is one more thing I need to do first, but try to disconnect from this now. I won’t let you know when the time is right for me to tell him. It’s better that you have no knowledge whatsoever and continue as normal. Just handle whatever happens when that time comes. I’d love to hear all about the wedding plans, though, and I’m always here if you want to talk.’
She swipes her sleeve across her eyes.
‘This was never going to end well, Bella, and I know that’s not our fault. But Max’s name deserves to be cleared so that he is free. Nothing at all may change about him working for the estate still, but that will be a decision for Max alone to make.’
Chapter 35
I slip into bed, feeling exhausted and anxious. I know what I have to do, but the next few days are going to be agonising.
Staring up at the ceiling I take long, slow breaths to calm my rapid heartbeat. The darkness clears a little and I’m there again, on the terrace with Max.
‘You have to be strong, Max. What is coming will tear you apart and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that. My heart bleeds for your pain and I wish I could take it away, but I can’t.’
Sitting opposite me, I see that the table top is bare, with only the flickering candle between us. He places both hands on the table and reaches out to me. As my eyes fill with tears I reach out to him and our fingertips touch. There is a warmth that seems to grow from that small contact, although the rest of my body feels cold.
He doesn’t appear to have heard my words.
‘I know you can’t be mine, Ellie. I know you have a family and you love your husband. You can never be mine.’
Max isn’t listening to me at all and in his head he’s somewhere else. I’m frightened and the fear grows as the seconds pass. Something is wrong, very wrong. I’m not even sure it’s about Aletta.
‘It will be over soon, I promise,’ I whisper into the stillness of the night.
I pull back and the next thing I hear is the alarm going off. I feel so tired, as if I haven’t slept at all, and I know this can’t go on for much longer. Even in my deepest sleep I can’t seem to let go of my anxiety. I drew the line, but I’m going to have to step back over it for one last time. The thought sends goose bumps up my arms and I shiver.
As soon as I’ve dropped the girls off at school I head back home and ring Livvie.
‘It would be easier to work from home today, is that OK with you? I have to track down this artist and that might take a while. I’ll send the order details for the chandeliers across to Eve and I’ve already called in the favour with the craftsman.’
‘You obviously didn’t sleep well again, then. No problem at all. If you need me to do anything then give me a call.’
There’s nothing I need from anyone now, as the last bit has to be down to me.
I’m staring at David Lancing’s website and click on the contact page. There’s an email address and a telephone number. I have no idea if it goes through to a gallery or his manager/agent, but I dial the number before I can change my mind.
‘Good morning, this is Tom Preston, how can I help?’
‘Hello. My name is Ellie Maddison and I’m one of the buyers for Bradley’s Design Creative. I have a client who is very interested in buying one of Mr Lancing’s paintings. The problem we have is one of timescale, as we are preparing for a magazine shoot in a few weeks’ time. We feel that a David Lancing ori
ginal is just the statement piece we are looking for and Richard Dale is a huge fan.’
Before I can go any further, I’m interrupted.
‘Richard Dale, the TV chef?’
Yes. I have his attention.
‘I’ve shown Richard the website and he’s very excited. But there isn’t anything on there that is big enough for the space we are hoping to fill. I wondered if David is displaying anywhere at the moment, or whether you have anything available immediately that isn’t on the website?’
‘I’m sure we can find something for you to look at. What sort of budget did you have in mind? Size is very relative to price.’
I don’t give him a direct answer, to keep his interest piqued. ‘Obviously Richard realises this is going to be an investment purchase. But it has to be the right piece.’
‘Of course. We have something that hasn’t been put on the website yet and there are several pieces that David has in his studio at home. For an artist, everything is for sale at the right price.’
This guy is a good salesman and it’s as I suspected.
‘Is there any way I could talk to David himself? I think it would help steer us in the right direction if I describe the setting and the sort of impact Richard is hoping to achieve. I’m sure if we can come to an agreement, then David will be given a mention in the Celebrity Style magazine feature.’
I can imagine Tom Preston doing a fist pump in the air.
‘I’m sure David would be delighted to talk to you. Give me an hour. David is on his way back from his holiday retreat and is due to land in the next hour. I’m sure, for something as special as this, there are a number of pieces he would be prepared to show you. I’ll ring you in a little while. Thank you for your call, Ellie.’
‘That would be amazing, thank you, Tom.’
That was unexpected; I thought Bella said they were due back at the end of August and not the beginning. What if I end up face to face with them? That wasn’t my plan, which was to get David’s number, ring to chat about the paintings and then find an excuse to ring again. If Aletta answers, I’m pretty sure I’d know who I was speaking to. Reeling, I put the phone down as my mobile begins to skitter across the desk top.
The Secrets of Villa Rosso Page 21
