Design For Loving (7 page)

‘
I suppose we must have eaten them.’

Shelley
giggled. ‘No, Lyall and Olive Oyle.’

K
atie indicated the room that housed the kiln and Shelley shrugged and set the coffee on the table. A few minutes later they reappeared, Olivia laughing at some remark he had made. She chose to ignore the others and, taking her coffee, went to sit by Lyall.

‘
So, when are we going to see that new play in London? Oh, don’t say you’ve forgotten
—
Lyall, you are the limit! You promised to take me.’

‘
And so I shall but, at present, I’m just a tad busy. Now, are you staying for lunch? If so, you can nip down to the baker’s and get us all some sandwiches.’

Olivia
wrinkled her pert little nose delicately. ‘Oh, I think if you’re this busy I’d better leave you to it. There are a few things I need in Canterbury so I’ll go over there this afternoon.’

He
followed her out into the courtyard and was gone a while.

Shelley
raised her eyebrows and looked pointedly in the direction of the door. ‘What is she like? Spoilt little rich girl! Obviously, our company isn’t good enough for Miss High and Mighty.’

K
atie shared the same opinion and wondered whatever Lyall saw in the girl. Her one consolation was that he hadn’t given in and taken her out to lunch.

At
that point, Lyall returned, settled himself at the bench and remarked, ‘Poor Olivia, she’s at a bit of a loose end since returning from her trip Down Under.’

‘
I thought she had a job up in town,’ Katie commented.

‘
So she has, but it’s only part-time. Anyway, she’s cheered up now I’ve arranged to take her out to dinner this evening.’

‘
Lucky Olivia,’ Shelley said, echoing Katie’s thoughts. ‘I’ll get some sarnies, shall I, for those of us that are still slumming it in here? Cheese and pickle do you?’

K
atie hid a smile and didn’t dare meet Shelley’s eyes.

Lyall
produced another batch of necklaces in record time and then glazed the cufflinks that had been locked out of harm’s way in the kiln room. He was a distinct asset, working more swiftly than Jack and producing work of a more impressive standard, in Katie’s opinion.

Jack
’s pottery had been undeniably good, but he had always approached his work in a rather laid back fashion and was exceptionally untidy, frequently leaving both Shelley and herself to clear up after him on many occasions. Lyall was quite the reverse
—
meticulous and often lending them a hand when he had finished tidying up his own area of the workshop.

He
had transformed the kiln room, which had formerly been mainly Jack’s domain and usually in an indescribable mess. If only things weren’t so complicated, Katie felt she could have relaxed and enjoyed Lyall’s company. Not that he was the slightest bit interested in her, particularly now that Olivia Finch had appeared on the scene.

Shelley
had beavered away at her enamelling and Katie went across to admire the end results from a previous day’s work. She had chosen bright cobalt blues, turquoises, reds and golds. The patterns were beautifully and intricately executed and extremely eye catching.

‘
You’ve made such a marvellous contribution, Shelley. I don’t know what we’d do without you, really I don’t!’

Shelley
beamed. ‘D’you really think so? It’s all I ever wanted to do, be creative.’

It
was all she had wanted to do, too, Katie reflected as she made her way back to the cottage. She had thought she had it made when she moved back to Dorset after university. For a couple of years she had been blissfully happy, working and going out with Peter, but then he’d met Chloe and then, suddenly, it had all been over.

Now,
just when she was getting her life back on track, Lyall had appeared on the scene and stirred up emotions she had convinced herself no longer existed.

* * *

It was Aunt Alice’s birthday that Saturday. She was going to visit friends on Sunday for lunch, but hadn’t planned to do anything on the actual day itself. On Friday, Lyall asked if Katie would like to join them on an outing the next day.

‘
Nothing too taxing, a nice country drive, stopping off for lunch somewhere. Any suggestions?’

‘
How about Rochester, if it isn’t too far? Aunt Alice loves looking at antique shops and then there’s the cathedral.’

Saturday
was a bright sunny day full of promise. Katie dressed with more care than usual in a new pink silk dress which she had purchased in a rash moment. She brushed her hair until it shone, catching it back in a scarf.

They
arrived in Rochester in time for coffee. Katie never failed to be enchanted by the small city which held so much attraction. After coffee and teacakes, in a restaurant opposite the cathedral, they had a leisurely tour of the cathedral itself.

‘
We’ll save the castle for another day, Lyall,’ Aunt Alice informed him, ‘but I wouldn’t mind taking a look at some of those antique shops.’

Lyall
winked at Katie and she grinned, glad that they had chosen to come here. They mingled with the tourists examining the stained glass windows and the memorial plaque to Charles Dickens.

Aunt
Alice seemed tireless, taking them on a tour of the shops and feeding them with little anecdotes remembered from her childhood. Lyall suggested lunch and, as they enjoyed a traditional roast dinner in one of the many charming restaurants in the high street, Alice Mason wiped her chin on her napkin and said, ‘I’ve had a lovely day and it’s such a relief to know that Jack is all right.’

They
stared at her and, after a pause, Lyall said carefully, ‘Have you seen him recently, Mrs Mason?’

She
shook her head. ‘No, dear, but he gave me such a lovely card and a pot of marguerites for my birthday. He left them on the step. Strange that no-one noticed him.’

Lyall
’s face was expressionless.

‘
When exactly was this?’

‘
Why, it must have been early this morning because it was there when I opened the door to get the milk. It must have been Jack because most people would have come to the front, but I do wish he’d called in person. I’m not cross with him, not any more. Just concerned for his welfare.’

After
lunch, they left Aunt Alice having a rest on a bench in the castle grounds and went for a short stroll. It was bracing by the river. Lyall took her arm and it felt comforting and secure.

‘
What do you make of what Mrs Mason has just told us about Jack?’

She
shook her head. ‘Either he’s feeling too ashamed to face Aunt Alice or else he’s in deep trouble and can’t risk being seen.’

‘
Actually, I think we ought to warn her not to say anything. I feel he could be putting her at risk,’ Lyall said.

K
atie felt alarmed. ‘How do you mean?’

‘
Well, we haven’t any real idea of what Jack might have got himself into, have we?’

She
shook her head. The day, which had started so well, had suddenly taken a downward spiral. She shivered and he turned to her, concern in his hazel eyes.

‘
It’ll be all right, Katie, you’ll see!’

And
he dropped a light kiss on her surprised mouth, leaving her emotions in turmoil.

Seven

‘
I’m enjoying working with Lyall,’ Shelley said, as she knotted leather thonging through her pendants. ‘The thing is, what d’you reckon will happen when we’ve finished the exhibition? Will Lyall want to stay or is he just helping us out for a few weeks?’

K
atie shrugged. She’d been wondering about this herself and, not for the first time was overcome with feelings of anxiety about the future. ‘Look, let’s just take one day at a time for now, shall we? I’m grateful to Lyall for helping us get our act together, but all good things come to an end, don’t they?’

Shelley
nodded and, at that moment, Lyall returned with their lunch.

‘
Why the long faces?’ he demanded. ‘Come on girls, tell me what’s bugging you!’

They
went out into the little courtyard area at the back of the workshop, which with its colourful pots of petunias and nicotiana was an absolute picture. Katie said, ‘We were just discussing what would happen after the exhibition, Lyall.’

He
grinned at them. ‘Is that all? From the expressions on your faces, I thought perhaps Faye and Dylan had given us notice to quit or something! Why don’t we just concentrate on getting the exhibition out of the way first?’

They
nodded in agreement and he poured some wine.

‘
So that’s okay then, but if you think I’m going to leave the pair of you in the lurch then you can’t have formed a very high opinion of me, and surely business relationships have to be based on trust!’

Shelley
put down her sandwich.

‘
Look what happened when we trusted Jack,’ she pointed out.

Lyall
nodded. ‘I realise you’ve had raw deal, but you’ll just have to believe me when I tell you I’ve no intention of following in his footsteps and leaving you high and dry.’

And
they just had to be content with that. For a few minutes, they ate in companionable silence and then Lyall leant back in his chair.

‘
I was speaking to my friends, Sylvia and Freddy Finch who live near Sevenoaks, yesterday. They’re holding a garden party the Saturday after our exhibition, in aid of a children’s charity and wanted to know if we would have a stall.’

Katie
glared at him, immediately thinking of Olivia. ‘Lyall, you know full well we’re working flat out to get enough stuff together for the exhibition. How could you even contemplate such an idea?’

He
took a sip of wine. ‘I’d say we’d have enough exhibits by the end of this week, which would give us a week spare to get some stuff together, but, of course, if you’re not interested...’

‘
I’m going away that weekend,’ Shelley announced. ‘But, you’re welcome to take my surplus stuff if you like.’

‘
It’s for charity, Katie,’ he reminded her softly and she coloured, annoyed that he was making her feel guilty.

‘
And I’d be the first to support such an enterprise as a rule, but what exactly is there of mine left?’

‘
Then just come to help. I’ll have a couple of dozen pendants, some earrings, cufflinks etc. and if Shelley can muster up the same. We can always bring photographs of your jewellery. Advertise the workshop with some fliers. It’ll be good publicity, you’ll see.’

‘
Wouldn’t Olivia want to help?’ Shelley asked mischievously.

Lyall
collected up the empty plates and glasses. ‘Oh, Olivia can’t make it. She’s meeting up with some university friends that day. Anyway, I really don’t think it’s her scene. So, you see, Katie, if you don’t come with me, I shall be on my own.’

Katie
was tempted to tell him that he’d just have to get on with it, but suddenly realised how selfish she was being. In the past, she would have been only too happy to have helped out at a fundraising event. For some reason, Olivia Finch seemed to bring out the very worst in her

‘
Oh, all right, and I suppose I might manage a few additional items by then.’ She got to her feet. ‘Well, we’d better not waste any more time if we’ve only got a week to get this show on the road.’

His
eyes danced with amusement and she had a strong feeling that he was fully aware of the reason for her initial reluctance to participate.

When
he had gone into the workshop, Katie turned to Shelley. ‘So where are you off to that weekend then?’

Shelley
blushed. ‘I haven’t had the chance to tell you, Katie, but I’ve met this absolutely gorgeous guy, a mate of my sister’s boyfriend. Anyway, we’re all going on the Norfolk Broads for the weekend.’

‘
Good for you. It’s about time you had some fun.’

As
Katie entered the workshop, she collided with Lyall coming out of the store room. He caught her arm, steadying her and she was acutely conscious of the closeness of his muscular body and the fresh tangy cologne he used. Her heartbeat quickened and muttering something about coffee, she freed herself and fled into the tiny kitchenette, wondering if he were aware of the magnetism too.

She
told herself severely that she would need to take herself in hand. She was convinced that so far as Lyall was concerned, the kiss in Rochester had merely been a token of friendship, but, for her, it had meant so much more.

She
told herself that she had to face facts. Lyall had stepped in to help them over a difficult patch, but despite his reassurances, he’d probably be off when the mood took him, so it was no good harbouring any romantic notions about him. In the meantime, however, they still needed to think long term if the business was going to survive.

Returning
with the coffees, she startled her companions by saying, ‘You know, I think as soon as we can, we should think about opening the workshop again to the public, at least for one afternoon a week.’

Shelley
and Lyall stared at her. ‘So what’s suddenly brought this on?’ Lyall asked her, at length.

‘
I was just thinking perhaps it’s time to advertise this place a bit more and it’s always a good idea to let the public see us actually at work.’

‘
Hmm, so what exactly had you got in mind?’ Shelley asked.

‘
Well, for a start there are a few village functions lined up and we usually open up on those occasions anyway, but I was thinking of something on a more regular basis so that people begin to know where to find us.’

He
laughed. ‘You are a lady of contradictions, Katie. First you tell me you don’t have time to concentrate on anything other than the exhibition and then, a short while later, here you are full of enthusiasm about opening up to the public.’

K
atie helped herself to a ginger cookie. ‘Well, we have to have a long-term plan. After all, if we’re going to survive then we need to project ourselves!’

Having
made her point, she settled at the bench and concentrated on polishing one or two of her more expensive pieces of jewellery by hand. Mostly she used a polishing motor with buffing mops, but for special items like these bracelets, embossed with complicated decorations, she preferred this method.

For
a time there was silence, as they each worked on their own individual designs. Lyall was decorating a ceramic necklace with an intricate pattern, whilst Shelley was adding to her range of Limoges enamelling, the delicate colours blending into each other attractively.

* * *

The next morning, an anxious-looking Aunt Alice arrived on Katie’s doorstep, almost as soon as the milkman.

‘
Whatever’s the matter, Aunt Alice?’

‘
Have you got Sheba with you, by any chance?’

K
atie shook her head. ‘Fraid not.’

‘
She didn’t come when I called last night and she’s not been in for her breakfast this morning. Wherever can she have got to?’

‘
I’m sure she’ll turn up before long, don’t you worry.’

But
the little cat still hadn’t returned by lunchtime and it was looking increasingly likely that she’d either wandered off and got shut in somewhere, or was hurt. Lyall had made a few enquiries, but he’d had to go off for an appointment and so, by mid-afternoon, Katie decided to pack away for the day and go in search of the cat herself.

She
’d had an idea. On several occasions, she’d seen her go into the woods, in fact the animal had often accompanied Jack and herself for part of the way when they had taken a walk there. As she entered the woods now she began to call, hoping that Sheba might respond, but there was no sign of her.

After
a while, Katie had exhausted all the usual paths and was not too keen to explore much further. She was just thinking about turning back when she recognised a narrow track which she dimly remembered led to a derelict cottage.

She
made her way along it and, soon scrambled through a gap in the fence, scratching herself on some brambles in the process. A shudder ran down her spine as she surveyed the tumbledown place and she realised it had been a stupid idea to come here.

She
was just about to retrace her steps when a sudden movement at a window attracted her attention. She whistled and, a moment or two later the door was cautiously opened and Jack stood there
—
Sheba in his arms. Katie was shocked at his appearance. He looked thinner and was unkempt.

‘
I might have known you’d suss me out sooner or later!’

‘
I was looking for Sheba. Aunt Alice is going spare. What on earth are you doing here, Jack? You’ve worried us all so much. Can I come in?’

‘
You won’t like it. It’s not exactly the Ritz.’ He stood aside and Sheba jumped down, purring loudly.

Katie
looked in disgust at the dirty room with its piles of rubbish. ‘However have you managed? This is no better than a pig sty. Come on, Jack, this is ridiculous! Come back home with me now. We can sort out whatever it is that’s causing you so much grief.’

‘
Has Lyall Travis gone away?’ Jack demanded.

She
shook her head. ‘Whatever is it with the pair of you?’

‘
It’s better you don’t know. Anyway, that’s the least of my worries just now. I suppose you haven’t got any food on you?’

‘
Just some nibbles
—
a chocolate bar and an apple.’

He
stuffed some chocolate into his mouth ravenously.

‘
How on earth could Lyall let you stay in such appalling conditions?’

Jack
was busy brewing tea, boiling up some water on a small spirit stove. ‘He doesn’t know where I’m staying. He was good to me in the past, Katie, and I know I’ve disappointed him. He trusted me and I’ve let him down big time. Everything happened at once. I couldn’t cope with it.’

‘
Don’t you think it’s about time you came clean about you and Lyall?’ She waited with bated breath, bracing herself for the truth, however unpleasant it might be.

He
handed her a mug of tea. ‘Believe me you wouldn’t want to know about my past, Katie. There’s a lot of history, things I’m not proud of. Lyall took me in when I was destitute and I’ve abused that trust. When he turned up in Lyndhurst, I didn’t know what to do at first. He tried to persuade me to stay and I said I’d have to think about it.’

She
looked at him in bewilderment.

‘
But I don’t understand. Why would you have to leave just because Lyall had turned up?’

For
a while he sat cupping his hands round the mug staring into space and then, at length, he said, ‘It’s complicated because it involves someone else besides Lyall. Please just bear with me for a bit longer, Katie. I’m plucking up the courage to try to put it right.’

She
tried another tack. ‘But you didn’t go away immediately, did you?’

‘
No. That weekend I went up to London and looked up some mates of mine. We had a wild time, partie
d
—
spent a lot of money. They planned to break into an off licence
—
more for a dare than anything else and asked me to keep a look-out, but I chickened out and came back here.’

If
it hadn’t been so serious the pun would have been funny. ‘Go on,’ she urged
.

‘
Round about that time I got some news I’d been waiting for
—
about some friends of mine I’d lost touch with. They’re living in Ireland. I decided to go and see them and make a fresh start. I went to Lyall, asked him to lend me some money, said I’d make myself scarce, but he refused and said I should wait until after the exhibition. Gave me a lecture about loyalty.’