Читать книгу The Darkest Hour - Barbara Erskine - Страница 26

As they stood up to leave the pub Mike paused thoughtfully. ‘You know, there is one way I can help you sort out the research. Why don’t I ask Dolly to go through the stuff that’s in the studio and weed out all the shoes and hats and handbags and things? I’ll tell her she can keep what she wants and pack up the rest to go to the charity shop. Some of that stuff probably counts as vintage. They would make some money out of it.’

Lucy froze. ‘I suppose that would be all right.’ She swung round to face him. ‘The only thing is, there may be letters and papers in the bags. People often leave that sort of thing – I know my own grandmother did. Dolly might not recognise what is important.’

‘We can tell her not to touch anything that looks like a letter. I’ll make sure she understands that. I’ll ask her to put anything she spots which might be significant into a box file or something and keep it safe until you have had a chance to look at it.’ He led the way across the terrace and back into the bar, heading through it towards the front door. It was dark in there after the sunlight and Lucy found herself squinting to see where she was going, threading her way between tables as she hurried after him. When they were once more outside and heading back down the lane she caught up with him.

‘You know, I think I would rather she didn’t poke around in the studio, Mike.’ She gave an awkward smile as he glanced at her. ‘I think Dolly has a bit of her own agenda as far as Evie is concerned. She is very protective, that’s obvious. If she were to find something important, she might feel that it would be better if she quietly put it somewhere out of my reach.’

He stopped. ‘What makes you think that?’

She sighed. ‘Instinct?’

‘Has she said anything?’

Lucy shook her head. ‘It’s more the way she looks at me; the constant checking up to see what I’m up to.’

He laughed. ‘I’m afraid that is inevitable. Look, supposing I say you can come any day you like, even when she’s not here? I’d rather you avoided the weekends, that’s when Charlotte and I like to get a bit of time on our own, but any other day. I’ll give you a key to the studio. How would that do?’

She felt the relief sweep over her. ‘That would be a great help. Thank you.’

They reached the gate of the cottage and climbed the steps. ‘So, are you going to do some more sorting this afternoon?’ he asked as he opened the front door.

‘I’ll stay for a few hours if that is all right. Then I must get back.’ She glanced up at the sky. ‘It feels as though there is going to be a storm.’ Black clouds were beginning to appear in the west.

‘Well, lock up and keep the key when you go. I have a spare. And feel free to come whenever you like. I have to go out this afternoon, so I’ll leave you to it.’ He gave her a warm smile. ‘Keep me in touch with anything interesting you find, and let me know how you are getting on.’ He paused. ‘Hang on; I’d better give you a key to the cottage as well, in case you need the loo or anything. Then you can make yourself tea if you need to. Just help yourself. I’m sure I don’t need to ask you to make sure you lock everything up carefully after you.’ He went into the hall and opening a drawer in the small oak side table at the foot of the stairs took out a spare set of keys.

She looked up as she took the keys. ‘You are very trusting, Mike. Thank you. I won’t let you down.’

‘I’m sure you won’t.’ He grinned. ‘I pride myself on being a good judge of character.’

‘Unlike Dolly.’

‘Oh, Dolly is shrewd enough in her way.’ He held her gaze for a moment as though reassuring himself about what he had just said, then he turned to the front door. ‘I’ll see you soon, OK?’

For a moment she stood still in the silence of the hall, listening to his footsteps as he ran down towards the gate. Only when she heard it clang shut behind him did she head towards the studio.

The clouds had turned to brazen overcast and it was already beginning to rain when she started to pack up for the afternoon. She tidied the table, picked up her laptop and her notebook – a real paper one which would, she hoped, reassure Dolly – and went over to turn off the lights. It was at the very last minute that she paused and looked back. Had they left it that Dolly would come in to take stuff away which she thought would not be needed? She wasn’t quite sure now. She studied the cardboard box near the table thoughtfully. In the top sat the attaché case with the letter drafts. Surely it was legitimate to take them and scan them into the computer at home. Then she could return them. Mike hadn’t actually told her not to remove anything. He trusted her to make her own judgements.

It took only a couple of minutes to open the case, remove the contents and then put it back, tucked into the bottom of the box.