Page 15 of All We Want for Christmas
‘Yes, because I’ve lain awake worrying about asking you to repair it. I half-wished I hadn’t, but I’m glad I did because, deep down, I’ve always known it was a lost cause. You’rea conservator, not a restorer, and this isn’tThe Repair Shop. No matter how much I want the chalice to go back to how it was, I know that the chip is now part of its history. Restoring it would be an act of vandalism, for which I would be responsible.’
Belle sighed. ‘This must be so difficult for you, but you are 100 per cent right. Of course, I could repair the glass. There are some near-magical materials these days and perhaps no one would notice, even on a pretty close inspection. Even so, I could never make my repair invisible.’
‘And nor should you. I’m so sorry I hauled you over here for nothing and sorry I put you in this position.’
Belle patted her arm. ‘It’s fine. It really is. I’ll admit I had all kinds of misgivings about the idea, but I needed to see the job first and I was sure you’d agree with me. Now I’ve had my hands on the object, I am 100 per cent certain that I shouldn’t do anything to it.’ Belle peered at the chalice again and frowned, as if she was willing the object to magically restore itself, just as Lara had many times.
‘It’s unique, isn’t it?’ Lara said mournfully. ‘And so beautiful.’
‘It’s certainly both of those things …’ Belle returned her attention to Lara. ‘So, if we agree to leave it as is, what will you do?’
‘I’ll break the news to Henry and Fiona … eventually. When the right moment comes. Maybe after Christmas …’ The thought of keeping the secret all that time made her feel slightly nauseous.
‘Will they need the chalice in the meantime?’ Belle asked.
‘Unlikely. It does sometimes go on display when the castle runs a particular exhibition. We don’t show it all the time because it’s so important, and so that we can make a splash when itisout. Over the past few days, we have been showing it off to some guests who’d paid extra for a private Christmas tour of the castle’s treasures. It’s now been put away until February half term, when we hold our History of Ravendale week.’ Which, ironically, Lara thought, was one of her own ideas.
Belle gave her an encouraging smile. ‘I know this is easy for me to say, but they seem like reasonable people. I’m sure they’ll be understanding. And then I’ll be more than happy to do any conservation work required if that’s the way they decide to go.’
‘Thanks, and thanks for coming, even though you must have thought it was a terrible idea. It was brave of you to tell me the truth.’
‘I’ve always told you the truth. Remember when I told you to dump that physicist at uni, even though you were mad on him?’
‘Yes, I remember. You saved me there. Turned out he was sleeping with another History student and the Egyptology lecturer.’
‘Then you know I’ll always look out for you.’
Thinking about how simple and carefree those uni days had been, Lara locked the safe and shivered. The treasury was cool at the best of times but it felt icy cold today. She ought to get Flynn to check the temperature control system.
Feeling the chill, she turned to Belle. ‘You don’t believe that there’s anything at all in the old chalice curse?’
‘I thought it was meant to be a blessing, not a curse,’ Belle said, then rolled her eyes. ‘Do you even have to ask me? Look, you’ve had a stressful time, it’s three degrees outside and this place, genuinely, is freezing. In fact, why don’t we get out of here?’
‘Great idea. And why don’t I buy you lunch?’
Belle’s eyes lit up. ‘I never say no to lunch in a castle.’
By the time Belle left, the sun had already begun its descent to the horizon. The castle was situated only three miles inland from the western coast of Cumbria and the sun, dipping low over the sea, had painted the fells in fiery hues. There was snow forecast for the higher tops overnight, and Lara knew it would look magical.
The beauty of the sunset reminded her why she’d wanted the job so much in the first place, and made her all the more determined to keep it.
Darkness was falling by the time she arrived at the maintenance office a few minutes early. Two of the apprentices were inside having a coffee break, but they said they didn’t know where Flynn was. Lara checked her phone and hoped he’d turn up soon.
Outside, the contractors were still busy ‘snagging’ and making sure that everything would run like clockwork from the very first visitor to the last. Their vans occupied a large portion of the maintenance compound. Cables snaked to and from humming generators screened off from the public areas.
Although Lara had seen digital mock-ups of the trail at presentations, this was the first time she would be able to experience the complete trail in its full illuminated glory, even if it was far from ready for the public.
It seemed like an age since she’d first started working with the illumination contractors, Wizard, which had been almost as soon as she’d joined Ravendale. In January, they’d met to discuss the initial concept, which would showcase key moments in the castle’s history with light and sound installations around the grounds.
She was determined that Ravendale’s lights would inspire awe and delight. Ticket sales were healthy, thanks to ongoing advertising since late summer, but the Spectacular had been a substantial investment and needed to become an annual fixture.
The two apprentices left and Lara was checking her phone again when Flynn bounded into the office.
‘Hi there. Sorry I’m late, I was held up on a call with the Wizard creative director.’
Lara’s antennae twitched. ‘And is everything OK?’
‘Just going through final snagging.’ Having seen her anxious expression, he smiled. ‘We’re almost there. Everything will be fine on the night, I promise. AreyouOK?’
