A Trick of the Light

by Ali Carter

  He’d drawn a tuft of hair just off centre. Phew. He’d understood.

  ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘exactly. Then, look really hard and see what and where things intercept it. You have to focus as much on the space around the cow as you do on the cow itself. Does that make sense?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Felicity who was clearly enjoying the process, ‘but do I have to put the fence in?’

  ‘No, you’re the artist so put in and take out what you want.’

  ‘Can you check I’m on the right track?’ asked Jane.

  Her drawing was so faint it was hard to make out but I could tell she had the right idea. ‘Put your lines in with greater definition, it will enable you to see the whole picture more clearly.’

  There wasn’t nearly long enough for a proper break today so I went to get Mhàiri’s basket from the bus and handed out a cup of coffee to those who wanted one.

  ‘Isn’t there a nibble?’ said Jane.

  ‘Yes, here – who wants an oatmeal biscuit?’

  ‘These are getting better every day,’ said Lianne. ‘I normally ain’t like ones without chocolate on them but I’m getting a taste for plain things up here.’

  ‘Do you like my horns, Miss?’

  ‘They’re magnificent.’

  Shane had drawn a huge close-up of a Highland cow’s head.

  ‘I’m going to have a go at drawing the tongue.’

  ‘Good luck.’

  ‘I’m finding the clouds terribly difficult,’ said Felicity.

  ‘I like the way you’ve drawn them, they’re good. Don’t do any more to them.’

  ‘What next?’

  ‘Focus on the foreground, it’ll give your picture perspective.’

  ‘Thanks, Susie.’

  I really didn’t want this morning to descend into endless questions so I asked if anyone would mind if I went for a short walk.

  ‘You must,’ said Rupert. ‘You deserve a bit of time off.’

  I headed in the direction Zoe had specifically told me not to. Back towards Stuart’s house. But I’m not squeamish about a hanging carcass, so I’m pretty sure it’ll be all right.

  Up here, all around, stretch those barren landscapes Landseer must have loved when he came many, many years ago. I’ve really got to find some way of having another proper look at his paintings in the locked wing. The art valuer Oliver left so many more questions than answers. I’m no trained expert in the technicality of forgery, but I do know about paint, and I have a beady eye – maybe I can work out for myself if they are copies or not. Should I ask Fergus if I can take another peek? But then again, if he’s already had a call from the art dealer, which I suspect he has, he’ll probably jump to the conclusion that I know more than I’ve let on. I certainly don’t want to land Oliver in it.

  A dense wood encompassed Stuart’s house. I was in it, off the track, wandering free amongst the trees.

  ‘Whit the ’ell do yous think yer doing,’ came a booming voice.

  Stuart was stomping towards me, shotgun under one arm.

  ‘I’m sorry, it’s only me, Susie, the tutor.’

  ‘Whit? Youse are drawing the cows so why the ’ell are yous ’ere?’ He was so cross he could hardly get his words out.

  ‘I’m going for a walk,’ I said, trying to smile.

  ‘Aye, aye, I bet someyun set yous up to this.’

  ‘Honestly they didn’t.’

  A loud squawk came from above and a pair of ravens swooped right down to us and back up into the sky.

  ‘Raven, eh,’ I said, trying to find common ground.

  ‘Yous have something to do wee this?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Yous ken Alec Ronaldsay?’

  ‘The ornithologist. The Tower of London aviary. Of course I do.’ Thanks to Dad.

  ‘Personally?’

  ‘No, no. Although I’d like to meet him. Does he live near here?’

  Stuart put a hand to his forehead. ‘You dinne hay a clue, do yous?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I should probably get back to my class.’

  ‘All this started when youse arrived. Do yous swear me you dinne hay a clue?’

  ‘I don’t know anything at all, I swear.’

  ‘Best get yourself out of here then.’ Stuart pointed me back where I’d come.

  ‘Of course, I’m sorry.’

  I rushed through the trees, dizzied by our conversation and terribly confused about what was going on, but just as I was trying to get it straight in my head, stepping out of the trees back onto the track, I bumped into Louis who gave me an awful fright.

  ‘Susie? What’s wrong?’

  ‘You surprised me.’

  ‘I know, I’m sorry, but you look very worried.’

  ‘An odd thing just happened. Stuart the keeper was here a moment ago. I think he thought I had something to do with the ravens.’

  Louis started to laugh.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘He thinks you released some, does he?’

  ‘Maybe that is what he meant? There are an awful lot around, but it’s nothing to do with me.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have thought it was,’ Louis sniggered.

  ‘Very odd. Anyway, why are you here?’

  ‘I came to find you.’ He smiled and tried to hold my hand but I wouldn’t let him.

  ‘We’d better head back.’

  ‘Gone off me, have you?’

  I elbowed him in the side. ‘I’m not going to hold your hand.’

  ‘No, I didn’t think you were,’ he said with a wink.

  ‘So, how many times have you been here before?’

  ‘Twice.’

  ‘Long ago?’

  ‘Over the last two years.’

  ‘So, Zoe and Fergus were living here the second time you came?’

  ‘Oh well, it must have been twice in one year then. The Dowager Countess was still in residence.’

  ‘Did you stay with her?’

  ‘No, Ewen’s had his cottage for years.’

  ‘Did you meet his mother?’

  ‘So many questions. What is it you want to know?’

  ‘I’m still trying to work out what’s in the locked wing and I thought if you’ve been here before…’

  He finished my sentence. ‘I’d know what’s in there.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  I was testing Louis. Seeing if he’d tell me the truth.

  ‘Treasure,’ he said.

  ‘No, come on, seriously.’

  ‘A ballroom,’ he smiled.

  ‘So we’ll see it tonight?’

  ‘I doubt it.’ Louis looked cross but I think he was possibly just confused.

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘Nothing I know of.’ He gave my upper arm a gentle rub. ‘Honestly.’

  I believed him and he seemed trustworthy so I confided in him that I’d seen Zoe coming out the locked wing the other night.

  ‘On Monday?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That makes sense. Ewen and I were drinking late into the night. Zoe came downstairs in a dressing gown asking us if we’d been creeping around the house. She’d heard a noise apparently. I guess she was having a good look around.’

  ‘Pretty brave of her to do it alone.’

  ‘I think she thought Ewen and I were up to no good.’ He gave a sheepish grin.

  ‘Were you?’

  ‘No. Only drinking. But I bet you Zoe didn’t wake Fergus on purpose. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but she manages the sensitivities between Ewen and Fergus very well.’ Louis nudged my shoulder, we were almost back with the cows. ‘I think you’d better attend to your class.’

  I picked up my pace and went to see what everyone had done.

  ‘I’m so pleased you’re back,’ said Minty. ‘I was beginning to get cold.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Lianne who had packed up already.

  I looked at my watch. ‘Okay, let’s stop.’

  ‘Giles,’ said Jane, ‘would you mind helping me take my things
to the bus, I don’t want to do any more.’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Felicity,’ said Rupert, ‘I’ll help you.’

  ‘How kind you are.’

  ‘When we get back, I’d like you to line up your pictures in the music room.’

  ‘Oh Miss, not again.’

  ‘We must,’ said Rupert with a toot of the horn.

  ‘I find your crits a frightfully useful exercise,’ said Jane.

  I was rather surprised.

  ‘Me too,’ said Minty. ‘But that’s because I’m used to it from school.’

  ‘And you’re the best,’ said Lianne.

  And, I said to myself, it helps to have expensive equipment.

  We were seated round the dining room table with bowls of hot barley soup and buttered baps. Rupert had made a great effort to bagsy a spot beside me – ‘I haven’t sat next to you yet’ – and Zoe was on my other side.

  ‘I’m so pleased your friend’s coming tonight,’ she said. ‘I was worried about numbers being even.’

  ‘Ewen could have always come.’ I wanted to know where he’d gone. I really wish they’d asked him first.

  ‘He’s away.’

  ‘Oh. Where’s he gone?’

  ‘We never ask.’

  I didn’t believe her, but she obviously didn’t want to say. I would have liked to say goodbye; I liked Ewen but on the flip side I was still feeling smug he’d taken off.

  ‘What did you and Rupert make of Ewen’s house then?’

  Thinking she meant the state of it rather than any comparison to hers, I joked, ‘Pretty tidy.’

  Zoe didn’t laugh.

  ‘Lovely building,’ said Rupert, ‘but it can’t be easy having your brother-in-law living on your doorstep?’

  ‘It’s okay. Fergus finds it difficult, though I reassure him Ewen won’t be here forever.’

  Before any more was said, Zoe sent another question down the table. ‘Louis,’ she was saying, ‘have you taken any photographs yet?’

  ‘I’m going to this afternoon,’ he called back. ‘It’s a good excuse to stop painting.’

  ‘Stop painting?’ I interrupted them.

  ‘Yeah, I’m much better at taking pictures,’ he smiled.

  ‘One less member of the class,’ said Zoe and I wondered if she was doubting my ability to teach. Not that I’m worried about that; I’m confident there will be plenty of work to show her at the end of the week.

  Zoe got up to clear the table. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said as I stacked Rupert’s bowl on mine, ‘I’m just going to take what I can to the kitchen and get the flapjacks.’

  ‘Flapjacks,’ said Shane, overhearing. ‘I could do with a pocket full of them.’

  ‘We’re going to put on weight here,’ said Rupert. ‘You’re feeding us so well.’

  ‘I shall have to detox when I get home,’ said Felicity.

  ‘What are we doing this afternoon, Susie?’ asked Lianne and the table fell silent for an answer.

  ‘First,’ said Fergus, ‘I’m going to take you on a tour of the front of the house and then I think the plan is to paint out there.’

  ‘Yes,’ I nodded.

  Zoe returned and Felicity, refusing a flapjack, said, ‘I must go and put on an extra layer.’

  ‘I reckon it will be cold…’ I began.

  ‘For a change,’ interrupted Giles.

  ‘…so layer up, put on your outdoor kit and we’ll carry our painting things round to the front of the house before the tour.’

  ‘Better get going then,’ said Rupert, leading the charge.

  ‘Ten minutes and I’ll be with you,’ called out Fergus.

  I went upstairs and, taking the long route round the landing, crashed into Felicity as she was leaving her room.

  ‘Sorry,’ I said as she giggled with fright.

  ‘That’s okay.’

  The portrait behind her caught my eye and I asked if she’d mind me having another look.

  ‘No, not at all, come in.’ She turned to Jane who was sitting on one of two beds, slipping fur wrist warmers over her hands. ‘Susie wants to have another peek at our Countess.’

  ‘Fine.’

  Felicity stood right next to me as I looked up at the picture.

  ‘That’s funny,’ I said, ‘I hadn’t realised till now that the diamonds round her neck are yellow. They’re so full of light, it’s not easy to tell from far away.’

  ‘So they are, oval too. Jane,’ said Felicity, ‘had you noticed this before?’

  ‘Possibly.’ Jane didn’t even bother to look up.

  ‘Aren’t we lucky to be sleeping in here, Susie.’

  ‘Yes, you are.’

  We turned to Jane, who got up and, without a word, left the room.

  ‘I’m not sure what’s wrong with her,’ said Felicity. ‘She’s been preoccupied and a little agitated.’

  ‘Creativity can bring that out in people.’

  ‘But her pictures are far better than mine. I get the feeling she’s missing her personal space.’

  ‘Are you okay?’ I was now concerned Felicity wasn’t enjoying herself.

  ‘Yes, yes, I’m having a splendid time.’

  ‘Oh great. Thanks for letting me have another peek in here. I’m just going to grab a jumper, and I’ll see you downstairs.’

  I rushed to my room with a wild thought: could that pale-yellow bead I’d found under the floorboard be in fact a diamond? Maybe even from that necklace. Perhaps Zoe really had found some treasure in my room.

  I held it up to the light. It sparkled with the richness and fire you just don’t see in costume jewellery and it was oval, an unusual shape for any ordinary bead. I know, I thought, I’ll do a bog-standard test, see if it scratches the window glass. I had it firm between my thumb and forefinger and slid my hand across a small lower portion of the pane. Crumbs…the jewel made a mark, almost too small to see but as I ran my fingers over it I could definitely trace an indent. This is a diamond…It can’t be…It must be…I’d like it to be…If it is…was that necklace under my floorboard? I’ll keep hold of it until I know the truth.

  I put the diamond safely back in my jewellery case, grabbed a jumper and went down to the drying room. No one else’s kit was in here so I hurriedly got dressed and rushed outside.

  ‘Susie,’ said Fergus coming down the front steps, Haggis hot on his heel and full of beans, ‘do you want me to carry anything from the bus?’

  ‘No, this is the last easel, they must have taken everything else round to the front of the house.’

  ‘Can you manage it?’

  ‘Yes thanks.’

  ‘Come then, this way. I was thinking,’ he said as we walked, ‘maybe you could nip away this afternoon and get a new tyre fitted.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘If everyone else is, then yes. I very much doubt it will take long.’

  ‘Okay, great.’

  My keys, wallet and mobile were already in my pocket. I had been hoping to find the time today.

  The others were lolling around on the terrace next to a pile of kit.

  ‘Aren’t we lucky with this lovely dry day,’ said Fergus. ‘Leave your things here and come stand back a bit and face the house. Line up, let me in the middle, I’m going to tell you a bit about the house and garden.’

  Louis put his arm round my shoulder. ‘Warm enough?’ he said, squeezing me then letting go.

  ‘Just,’ I smiled as butterflies turned in my tummy.

  ‘Right,’ Fergus began, ‘on this façade, you’ll notice there’s only one straight stone staircase leading into the garden, not two curved stone staircases as there are on the other side leading into the yard.’

  ‘I never realised,’ said Shane.

  Lianne kicked his ankle.

  ‘Stick with me,’ said Fergus. ‘There’s a logic I like to follow.’ He took in a pre-emptive breath. ‘The similarities between the two sides of the house are their colonnaded porticos over the raised basement.’

/>   ‘So, the ground floor’s the basement?’ said Shane.

  ‘I suppose you could call it either but we’ve always referred to it as the basement.’ Fergus continued, ‘A portico is this large central section you see here at the front of the house.’

  ‘So the other side’s the back?’ said Lianne.

  Jane huffed. ‘Are we ever going to get through this afternoon?’

  ‘We will,’ said Fergus calmly. ‘It won’t take long.’

  ‘It ain’t make sense to me why you’d arrive at the back of the house.’

  ‘It’s a posh house, that’s why,’ said Shane.

  ‘As a matter of fact,’ corrected Fergus, ‘it’s a feature of the architectural style. Auchen Laggan Tosh was built by the 1st Earl of Muchton in 1761 to the designs of Robert Adam, a highly regarded architect then and now. This, a classical mansion of three storeys over a raised basement, is an excellent example of his style.’

  ‘How fascinating,’ said Felicity.

  ‘Isn’t it,’ said Fergus excited by her compliment. ‘Similar to the paintings in the house, influenced by the Grand Tour, Adam’s architecture reflects elements from ancient Greece and Rome.’

  ‘The harmonious proportions,’ said Minty.

  ‘Yes, as well as the detailing of the cornice and Corinthian capitals.’

  ‘I’ve noticed lots of classical architectural details inside too,’ said Rupert as if the rest of us might not have.

  ‘Adam was adamant the elegant proportions of the exterior should be complemented with interior splendour.’

  Louis whispered in my ear, ‘Dilapidated interior matches dilapidated exterior.’

  ‘Shabby chic,’ I whispered back.

  ‘Here,’ said Fergus, ‘we’re looking at the uniformed windows of the first floor: dining room, music room and drawing room; and the top floors: best bedrooms and dressing rooms.’

  ‘So we are,’ smiled Minty. ‘Home has a similar layout.’

  ‘You live in a massive pile too?’ said Shane.

  ‘We live in a beautiful house,’ said Minty, holding her own.

  Fergus, with a spring in his step, set off towards a four-tiered fountain in the centre of a large sweep of mossy lawn and as he waited for us to catch up he ran his hand round the rim of the acanthus urn.

  ‘This is B listed,’ he said. ‘The water drops down the tiers through the lions’ mouths but I’m afraid we can’t have it on in winter.’