Page 57 of The Christmas Retreat
‘There, just an inch or so off and it’s straight across now,’ she said, brushing bits off my shoulders. When I thanked her shesaid it was nothing; she did it all the time for Nerys, who hated going to the hairdresser.
Then she gave me her wassail cake recipe on the strict understanding I would never share it, and I promised to write down my Christmas cake one and give it to her later that day.
*
When I got to my room I found a small trestle table had already been set up at right angles to the desk. And sitting on it, in a tiny, white porcelain jar, was a sprig of mistletoe …
Was there any significance in that, I wondered, or was it just a friendly gesture? I hoped the latter, for although I was glad we were on a friendly footing, I wasn’t about to make a fool of myself over Rhys Tarn ever again.
After my experiences with Will, I’m certain nature meant me to be a single woman … with cats.
*
I was lost in the world of Wisteria Cottage until jerked back by the distant banging of the lunch gong.
I met Toby on the stairs and he said he’d been so immersed in his work, he’d no idea where the time had gone.
‘Me, too, although my project is more of a nostalgia trip,’ I said, noting that Tudor had already added sprigs of mistletoe to the decorations and a large bunch now swung from a hook in the ceiling just inside the front door.
As we reached the hall, Verity appeared from the long passage that led to the studio and said brightly, ‘Have you two been getting better acquainted?’
‘No, we’ve been working and just met on the stairs,’ I said. ‘Isn’t work what we’re all here for?’
‘Oh, yes, but it’s so easy to get distracted, isn’t it, especially at this time of year, with so much going on?’ Then she added, as we headed for the refectory, ‘I’ve put the final touches to my flower painting, so now I need a fresh subject. Cats are so popular – perhaps I could persuade Pompey to pose for me, although he only seems to come into the studio when Nerys is there.’
‘I don’t think he’s the sort of cat who’ll take artistic direction,’ I said, amused. ‘But perhaps Nerys could get him in a pose you like long enough for you to take some pictures?’
‘It’s an idea, but I need to get some foliage or flowers for the background,’ she agreed.
‘Perhaps you should go and check out this garden centre at the Castle that Nerys mentioned?’ Toby suggested.
‘I think I might have to,’ Verity said. Then, as we went into the refectory, she called out, ‘Hi, everyone! Have you all had a good morning’s work?’
Kate, predictably, was already eating and the twins were helping themselves to hot soup from the buffet.
Kate looked up. ‘Yes. I’m now into an expanded outline for my new idea. But we seem to be a depleted party: there are only six places laid for lunch.’
She sounded disgruntled. Perhaps she was hoping to corner Rhys again.
‘Well, Evie, Nerys and Cariad said at breakfast they would be out, and we know Timon usually lunches at the pottery,’ I said.
I’d no idea where Rhys was – perhaps working on? But this was his home, after all, so he could go and fix himself a sandwich any time he wanted.
Opal and Pearl looked rather pale and pinched, which was probably caused by their having been out scouting for good film locations this morning in the freezing cold.
We were all very quiet over lunch, presumably lost in our own creative inner processes, but if Toby had hoped to escape back to his book after lunch, he was thwarted by Opal commandeering his services to go out with the Terrible Two and take some preliminary pictures of them posing. Or Terrible One, perhaps, for Pearl, looking better for hot coffee and soup, protested that she was sure Toby had his own work to do, and anyway, she was still half frozen from the morning.
But Opal said briskly that it would only be for about an hour before the light began to go, and surely he could spare that?
Poor old Toby gave in and they went out together, soon followed by Kate, who was carrying a roll and cheese in a napkin in case, I suppose, her muse got hungry before teatime.
Verity was still nibbling a small bread roll as I poured myself a second cup of coffee.
‘I’m walking into St Melangell shortly to do a bit of shopping,’ I said. ‘I think I need the exercise anyway.’
‘Oh, are you meeting Rhys there, perhaps?’ she said.
‘No, why should I be?’ I replied, surprised. ‘I’ve no idea what he’s doing today, other than taking the mumming costumes back to the vicarage at some point. He’s probably going to work till then.’
