Page 63 of Old Girls Behaving Badly

‘I think you’ve done more than my bit actually,’ Dorothy said, catching Gina’s hands tightly in her own. ‘I will be forever grateful to you.’

It was a delighted Dorothy who accompanied Gina down into the garden. The others were a glass ahead of them and Dorothy readily accepted one from Leonard with a very large smile on her face.

‘You look invigorated, Dot, my dear,’ Leonard said, surprised at her countenance. He looked a bit uncomfortable with the change. As much as Dorothy would have loved to have told him right then, about the painting, she held back. Gina was right and she needed to hand it all over to Miles now. He would know how best to act. She decided she’d allow herself a little bit of a victory speech, though and she raised her glass.

‘I just wanted to say that it has been a wonderful day. Two young people are now married and on their way in life. I think Caroline and Toby are well suited and I wish them all the happiness.’

She took a sip of her drink and everyone followed her cue.

‘And I want to thank my companion, Gina, who has been a great comfort to me this week. I shall be forever grateful for the care and consideration that she has afforded me.’

They all quietly sipped again.

‘And to you, Leonard for opening up your house and showing us all what fabulous treasures you have collected. For finally giving me the opportunity to find one real gem among them.’

Everyone sipped again, but neither Leonard nor Dorothy did. The two of them had their eyes locked together, and Leonard actually looked like he was squirming under Dorothy’s steely gaze. And Dorothy watched as his expression changed and there was a moment of clarity. He suddenly placed his glass down on the table and turned for the house.

‘Please excuse me for a moment. I need to go and speak to Harry,’ he said, and quickly walked away.

‘I haven’t seen Harry all afternoon,’ Paul said.

‘He’s gone,’ said Juliet. ‘I saw him leaving as we walked round to the orangery. I went back to the house to charge my phone and he was sneaking out the kitchen door with a huge bag.’

‘Bit off, leaving Leonard in the lurch,’ Paul said, and Sandra gave him a long-practised withering look.

‘I really don’t know why you have such a soft spot for Leonard,’ she said. ‘He constantly takes whatever he wants and now he’s taken away our future.’

‘It was hardly ours in the first place,’ Paul said sitting down heavily in a garden chair. Picking up the bottle of champagne he sloshed some into his glass. ‘I really don’t know why you have it in for him all the time. He’s been the perfect host all this week and given our Caroline a wonderful wedding. I think you could be a little more grateful.’

‘And, like Rufus, I think you could be a little less drunk,’ Sandra hissed and then turned her back in a gesture reminiscent of Juliet.

Dorothy and Gina shared a look and then Gina moved a bit closer to her.

‘Do you think I should go and tell Peter where I’ve hidden the painting?’ Gina asked her quietly.

‘Yes, go and do that, then we have him onside when we call the police. Take Juliet with you and let her know. Battle lines are about to be drawn and I’m going to have a long-overdue conversation with my son and daughter.’

27

GINA

Juliet and I walked quickly down to the rectory while I filled her in on what had happened.

‘So, it’s all over and no one had a fight or anything good then?’

‘No one has had a fight yet, Juliet. There’s still time.’

‘What now then? Granny gets her painting back, Leonard goes to prison and everyone else lives happily ever after?’

‘I don’t know about that. I have to say, though, Harry said the thief of the painting is one of the family group. I just wanted you to prepare yourself.’

‘I bet it’s Rufus. He seems mad and sad all the time.’

‘Well, I don’t know about that, but it would be a big shame if it was him. And I don’t know what Leonard could have on him.’

‘He cheated in his uni exams or something like that – I know that.’

‘What? How do you know that?’