Page 19

‘I reckon so.’

The creases on Flora’s forehead deepened. ‘And you’re well?’

‘More or less, my love. We’ve had good weather so the arthritis isn’t playin’ up like it can do.’

‘The All’s Well?’ she asked, holding her breath.

‘That Rose is doin’ all right. I’m not happy with how she behaved with Hector and never will be – she hurt my Sally badly – but she’s managin’ the shop well enough, I must say.’

‘And the cottage?’

‘I passed by t’other day and your house looks fine.’

Jack had been listening in and out of the corner of her eye she saw him gesticulating, mouthing an irritated ‘What!’ It seemed extraordinary to Flora, too, that Alice was paying for an expensive call to tell her precisely nothing.

‘I went by Overlay House, too,’ her old friend offered. ‘And I’ve met the new chap, as it happens, the new man who’s renting. Met him at the baker’s – the day after you left, it was – and I arsked how he was gettin’ on at the house. He pulled a bit of a face and said OK, he supposed, but it needed a fair bit of refurbishment. I bet it does, I thought! He seemed nice enough but it’s a funny business. I dunno if I’d trust him far. He’s moved here from Lewes, did you know? – says he wanted somewhere quieter. I wouldn’t have thought Lewes was exactly noisy, so it’s a bit strange. He doesn’t appear to work, either. Mebbe he’s got money. He was talkin’ about doin’ stuff for one of the bonfire societies, but that’s not a job. They’re all volunteers, the ones who make the costumes and the floats.’

At this point, she was forced to pause for breath and Jack took the opportunity to grab the phone from Flora’s hand. ‘Alice, what’s happened?’ he said quietly but firmly. ‘Why are you really ringing?’

There was silence, the only sound faint echoes on the line. ‘It’s Sally,’ she said at last, naming her niece and the owner of the Priory.

‘Sally’s unwell?’ Flora said into the mouthpiece.

‘Not ezactly. But she’s been that worn down. I told her to go to Norfolk – there’s one or two Jenners still in the county and I could get in touch. Some lovely beaches there, sand and all, but then that girl phoned and Sally decided she’d go to see her.’

‘What girl and where?’

‘The one Dominic Lister hired. That Italian lass.’

‘Bianca Benetti?’

‘Probably. Sounds like the name. She’s been phoning Sally this last week. Real upset. Something about her dad and her boyfriend. She said she really wanted to see Sally, talk to her, face to face. Said she’d always been a good friend and, when Sal said thatshe’dbeen feelin’ a bit off colour, the girl told her take the train to Venice and she’d find her a room.’

‘Are you saying Sally is in Venice?’ Flora was struggling to understand.

‘She’s on her way. I just told you.’ Alice was sounding agitated, but added quickly, ‘She won’t bother you, honestly. She definitely won’t come lookin’ for you.’

‘And that’s the reason you’ve phoned?’

‘Yes,’ Alice mumbled. ‘I’m sorry, my love. You and Jack deserve a good holiday together and Sally could have gone anywhere for hers, but there…I didn’t like to tell you. I thought if you phoned, I could just kind of drop it in, but you didn’t phone so I got a bit desperate. I thought you needed to know, just in case when she gets there you might meet her by accident.’

‘Just in case,’ Jack remarked drily, as they said goodbye to a clearly relieved Alice, unburdened now by the momentous news. ‘I’d say it was a certainty.’

‘It might not happen.’ Flora tried to conjure a smile from him.

‘She’s staying with the Benetti girl, Flora, and you’re intent on pursuing this Massi business. It has to be a certainty.’

Walking back to the pool, she put her arm around him and hugged him close. ‘If we do meet Sally, what does it matter – really?’

‘I suppose I’d hoped that for a few days we could leave Abbeymead behind, that I could spend them alone with you. Just you and me together. Was that too much to hope?’

Flora had no answer. It seemed it was.

8

‘If Sally is staying with Bianca while she’s in Venice, it could prove useful.’ Flora was trying for optimism, but her words produced only a groan.

‘That’s exactly what I mean.’ Jack paused on the stairs on their way back to the room, a challenge in his eyes. ‘If it isn’t Abbeymead taking our time, it’s some mad investigation you’re desperate to pursue.’