Page 41 of Old Girls Behaving Badly

‘It’s a quick thing. The couple are living in rented accommodation and want to move things along fairly speedily, apparently.’

Dorothy watched Gina for a moment as she sat down beside her. She could see she was overwhelmed, a feeling all too familiar to Dorothy herself. Hadn’t she been wondering what she could do for Gina? Wasn’t the answer staring her right in the face?

‘I’d like to offer you the use of the boathouse for as long as you need it,’ Dorothy said and Gina looked at her in surprise. ‘You know the area, you grew up there, you worked around the corner in Richmond. I think it could work well and it will certainly give you a chance to think about where you’d eventually want to move to with no pressure.’

‘That’s very kind, Dorothy, but can I ask you about the advertisement for this job?’ Gina asked.

‘Of course,’ Dorothy said, surprised.

‘It’s just that it said there might be a permanent position for the right candidate.’

‘Did it, indeed,’ Dorothy said, narrowing her eyes.

‘Is that what you’re asking me?’

‘To be honest, Lavinia wrote that advert. I don’t feel I need a carer, but my family do. Perhaps this could work to both of our advantages. You could come and stay independently in the boathouse and my family will think I’ve employed a permanent companion.’

‘I don’t know what to say,’ Gina said and Dorothy noticed how vulnerable and lost she looked.

‘Say nothing for now, just have a think about it. Like I said, no pressure.’

‘Is this an offer conditional on me finding the painting?’ Gina said with a wry smile and Dorothy laughed, happy to see her more animated.

‘I’m not saying I don’t want you to continue in your mission, but no, of course the two things are not related.’

Gina nodded, but Dorothy wasn’t sure if she was convinced and that might be something to do with the fact that Dorothy wasn’t really sure if her own motivations were sound. She glanced at her watch and got up.

‘Let’s get in there,’ she said. ‘I’m keen to find out who Leonard has as his vicar.’

They entered the church through the porch and a medieval oak door. It was beautifully cool inside, which was welcome after the heat of the late-afternoon sun, but it wasn’t at all dark or sombre. There were three stained-glass windows, which cast pretty colours across the pews, but the rest were clear, allowing much more light into the interior, and the whole place was bright. They were the first to arrive and Gina took the time to pick up a leaflet and read out loud a little about the building while they wandered down to the font.

‘The church was rebuilt in the Victorian era. There wasn’t much left of the medieval structure other than the doors, the font – which is a fifteenth-century masterpiece of carving – and also there’s a memorial coffin. The floor tiles are Victorian and we’re supposed to look up at the ceiling, apparently. Its timbers are made from oak harvested from the Walstone estate. From Leonard’s land.’

‘Good afternoon, ladies,’ came a voice from behind them and both Dorothy and Gina looked down from the ceiling to see the vicar. He was casually dressed in chinos and a short-sleeved shirt, but had his white collar tucked underneath. ‘Or perhaps evening is more appropriate,’ he said, looking at his watch.

‘Hello,’ Gina said. ‘We’re a bit early, I’m afraid.’

‘No problem at all. I’m Peter, are you the mother of the bride?’

‘No.’ Gina laughed. ‘I’m Mrs Reed’s companion. Dorothy is the grandmother of the groom.’

‘Ah,’ he said stepping forward to shake Dorothy’s hand. ‘A proud day to come for you and your family. Toby and Caroline seem to be very well suited and I’m hopeful they will achieve all that they set out to, on the long path of their marriage.’

The words till death us do part flicked through Dorothy’s mind and she felt, again, her loss.

‘Do you have much to do with Leonard?’ Dorothy asked, getting straight back to the point.

Peter looked a little bemused for a moment and it was obvious he was considering his response.

‘Leonard seems very busy with all his art endeavours, and managing his estate, so I rarely see him any more to be honest.’

The word endeavours really made it sound as if Leonard was doing something very grand and important rather than indulging himself in criminal activity.

‘Not a churchgoer then,’ Dorothy pushed.

‘In my opinion, Leonard doesn’t allow himself time to reflect on the virtues of thought and prayer. I would say he has an agenda that excludes any god-like figure of any denomination.’

‘Indeed, an agenda that also excludes him from any morals,’ Dorothy said.