Page 62 of Old Girls Behaving Badly

Within minutes two coaches arrived to whisk the rest of the guests away and Dorothy marvelled at the foresight of this. Without the bride and groom, their guests were suddenly a bit of a nuisance to Leonard.

Once they had all departed Leonard turned to the remaining group.

‘Well, that really was a golden wedding day. Let’s have champagne in the garden now we have the place to ourselves again,’ he said and without waiting for a response, he walked inside the house.

‘Well, I think that all went marvellously,’ Paul said and Sandra agreed. ‘Shame you had to get so drunk though, Rufus.’

Rufus shrugged. He seemed to have lost a bit of the sparkle he had during the wedding earlier. Perhaps the booze was really affecting him. It was quite hot standing out on the driveway. Dorothy was certainly feeling it now.

‘Why don’t we go and find some shade?’ Gina suggested.

‘Great idea,’ Lavinia, said looking up. ‘Although, shade may just have found us. Did you all hear that rumble of thunder earlier?’

They all looked up then to see a mass of dark clouds gathering.

‘I did say there was a storm forecast. Luckily it didn’t arrive during the wedding.’

‘Can’t believe our little boy is married,’ Miles said.

‘And to our little girl,’ said Paul, laughing. ‘Our families will be entwined from here on.’

‘Why anyone would want to be entwined with us is a mystery,’ Rufus said, grimly, and followed Leonard into the house. The group fractured then, but agreed to meet shortly in the garden for the promised champagne. Gina held Dorothy back as the others walked away.

‘Dorothy, what would be the icing on the cake for this wedding?’ she asked.

‘A swift removal of these uncomfortable shoes would be a good start and then, I suppose, a chilled glass of champagne wouldn’t be the worst thing.’

‘You look exhausted,’ Gina said to her. ‘Come on then, let’s get that sorted.’

She took Dorothy’s arm, led her inside the house and up the stairs to her bedroom.

Dorothy sat in her chair with her head back against the wall. She was worried that if she did lie down on the bed she might never get up again.

‘Are you feeling okay?’ Gina asked, but Dorothy didn’t have the energy to answer and she closed her eyes. ‘Dorothy?’ Gina tried again while laying her hand gently on the older woman’s arm.

‘I’m just tired, Gina,’ she said. ‘I think the wine I had at lunch and then the sun has got to me a bit.’

‘Are you well enough to hear some news?’ Gina asked tentatively.

Dorothy opened her eyes then, her brain firing up again at Gina’s words.

‘Yes, if it’s good news,’ she said, sitting forward.

Gina crouched down and took both of Dorothy’s hands in hers.

‘We have it; we have the painting,’ she said, the brightest of smiles on her face. ‘Harry has left, but he found it before he went. It was a parting gift.’

‘Where was it?’ Dorothy asked quietly.

‘It was just as you said it would be, hidden in plain sight in the Chinese cabinet in his bedroom. When I went looking it wasn’t there, but I could see where it would have been and thought Leonard had moved it, but it was Harry. He knew where the key was. Turns out he was pretty decent after all.’

‘Where is it now? Have you hidden it?’

‘Yes, I’ve hidden it in the church. I doubt Peter would find it, but after talking to him last night, I do believe we can trust him.’

‘So, it’s over,’ Dorothy said, tears springing into her eyes as she fully comprehended what Gina was telling her. ‘Justice for my Philip at last.’

‘It is partly over, but you need to decide what to do now. I suggest you hand it all over to Miles and let him deal with the police and Leonard. I think you’ve done your bit.’