Shaman of Stonewylde (37 page)

‘How do you know about this?’ asked Fennel sceptically.

‘Because I’m studying medicine and yew is one of the best known poisons.
Taxus baccata
– some say it’s linked to the word “toxic”,’ Leveret replied. ‘If your professional models were to be taken ill . . .’

‘Alright, alright!’ muttered Fennel, dropping the branch and turning from the tree. ‘We’ll do the shots outside the Jack in the Green instead. I’ll just have to find somewhere else to shoot a non-seasonal exterior that looks natural. Where’s Rufus, by the way? Don’t tell me he’s disappeared!’

‘He’s round the back of the Barn,’ said Benjy. ‘That big horse is tied up there and Rufus went to see it. I’ll go get him now.’

As the crowd moved off towards the pub, Yul and Sylvie gazed at each other again and he felt a surge of love. She did still love him, that was for sure. He’d been wrong to think she’d left him for good; it was obvious her feelings still ran deep. Maybe, just maybe – if he could put the terrible guilt to one side and Rainbow kept her mouth shut – there was hope for them yet. He smiled at her and she smiled back. Setting Bluebell onto her feet, he held out a hand to her.

‘Sylvie . . .’

She took it and he felt her longing.

‘Mummy, did Auntie Leveret just save the day?’ asked Celandine, tugging at her other hand. She’d learnt the new expression at Nursery and was anxious to try it out. Dragging her gaze from Yul’s, Sylvie smiled down at her daughter.

‘She most certainly did! Thank you so much, Leveret.’

Leveret had been hanging back, not wanting to intrude nor
wishing
to join the photographic group. She came forward and smiled, her green eyes glowing.

‘A pleasure! The yew is sacred – we don’t want that bunch of idiots messing up the magic, do we?’

Marigold stood in the cavernous kitchens at the Hall, hands on ample hips, facing Martin.

‘Our Magpie is
not
going down to that cottage nor ever will!’

‘ ’Tis only right, woman! He’s a grandson too, just the same as Jay and Swift, and he should be helping out as well. It’s only fair that—’

‘Only
fair
?’ Marigold’s voice was almost a screech. ‘From what I heard, our poor boy spent most o’ his young life working like a slave for them three women. And—’

‘And so he should, just like any other young Stonewylde Villager. ’Tis part of our way o’ living, that the young should help the old.’

‘Aye, but not to be beaten and starved as he were. I can tell you now, Martin – Magpie will never set foot in that filthy hovel again. By all means send your boy and Jay in, but leave our Magpie out of it!’

‘Finn and I are staying down in the Village for a while,’ said Holly to Chelsi. ‘There’s an old chum of mine who’s still here and we’re popping in to visit her.’

‘Okay, Aitch,’ said Chelsi brightly, supervising the loading of the clothes racks back into the transit van. ‘We’ll see you at tea-time.’

‘We’ve had tea already,’ said Holly. ‘But we’ll be back for dinner. God I hope they’ve sorted out something edible for me. That lunch was disgusting.’

‘Don’t you start,’ said Fennel. ‘The girls have done nothing but moan about the food, which is ridiculous considering they only ever eat a forkful of anything anyway.’

‘Do you want me to send the minibus down for you later?’
asked
Chelsi, watching the models, stylists and assistants climbing aboard.

‘No, we’ll walk. In the absence of a gym, I need some form of exercise,’ said Holly, drawing on her cigarette.

‘Speak for yourself!’ said Fennel. ‘I don’t want to walk all the way back to the Hall. We had to do that far too often as youngsters.’

‘It’ll do you good, you flabby old thing!’ said Holly with a sharp jab at his stomach. ‘Just keep an eye on all the girls, won’t you, Chelsi? We don’t want anyone wandering off and getting lost in the Hall – it’s so vast.’

She tossed her cigarette to the cobbles and ground it out, then, with a quick look around, kicked the butt out of sight.

The minibus and transit van drove slowly out of the Village, avoiding a line of ducks waddling across the track and an old man who glared fiercely and took his time moving out of the way. Holly and Fennel headed for the Village School; Swift had told them that Dawn would be found either there or in the cottage next door.

From the school windows she’d watched the crowd on the Village Green and had been fascinated to see Fennel and Holly in action. She’d kept well out of sight though, and her heart sank when she heard a loud voice calling through the open school door.

‘Coo-eee! Are you here, Dawn?’

She put aside the lessons she was preparing for the next day with a sigh, and quickly smoothed down her hair and dress. Like Sylvie, she felt very frumpy next to the immaculate Holly, especially after a long day teaching in the heat. She’d hoped to finish her lesson prep quickly and get back into the cottage to start supper before David came home from the Hall School.

‘Holly, Fennel! What a surprise!’

The pair of them looked completely out of place in the Village School, even though they’d both once been pupils here. They looked around in wonder, and at Dawn with incredulity.

‘Goodness, Dawn – you’ve changed! Whatever’s happened to you?’ exclaimed Holly thoughtlessly.

Dawn swallowed her retort and reminded herself that civility was the better way. Holly closed in on her and tiptoed to air-kiss both cheeks, as did Fennel.

‘I’m the head-teacher here now,’ Dawn replied with a smile. ‘And I’ve recently been handfasted too. So my life is quite hectic.’

‘Indeed,’ said Holly, gazing around but not even noticing the bright paintings and pictures that covered every wall. ‘God, this takes me back. I remember sitting on that very same bench there, flicking beetles at Yul one autumn when there was a plague of the things.’

‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’ asked Dawn. ‘Presumably you’re on your way back to the Hall?’

She led them both into her cottage and they sat in the tiny parlour where Rainbow had also sat only a matter of weeks before. Sipping his tea, Fennel closed his eyes wearily.

‘What a day!’ he said. ‘It’s not been the best of shoots so far.’

‘So, tell me everything,’ said Dawn with polite enthusiasm. ‘I can’t believe you’re in the fashion industry and so successful. It’s all so glamorous! And you’re a photographer, Fennel! Well done both of you. Are you two married?’

They both shouted with laughter at the notion.

‘I’m divorced,’ said Holly. ‘It only lasted eighteen months, the bastard. But he was worth a fortune, so I got to keep Aitch as my settlement and we’re doing very well. I studied fashion design of course, and I’ve worked for all sorts of fashion houses. But nothing beats having your own label.’

‘What about you, Fennel?’

‘It’s Finn now,’ he said. ‘I went to art school but I realised that wasn’t what I wanted, and photography was. I freelance of course, but I’m also Aitch’s house photographer and artistic director for the shows.’

‘That does all sound impressive! And what news of Buzz? Rainbow didn’t mention any of you when I asked her. She
implied
she wasn’t really in touch with any of the old crowd, other than you of course, Fenn – Finn. How’s Buzz?’

Holly and Fennel exchanged a look and Holly laughed.

‘Oh, you know old Buzz – always a bit of a lad, wasn’t he? He’s married, with two young kids. Wife’s a wimp, but Buzz can be a naughty boy of course. Doing well in business last I heard.’

‘So he—’

‘Do tell us about your husband!’

But when Dawn started to tell them about David it was obvious they weren’t interested. Instead they started to ply her with questions about Stonewylde, the Council of Elders, Sylvie and Yul, Clip and his plans. They seemed to know quite a lot already, but Dawn couldn’t be sure exactly how far their knowledge went, as they were very guarded. She began by answering fairly openly, but after a while their relentless interrogation irritated her.

‘Look,’ she said abruptly after a particularly personal question about Yul and Sylvie’s marriage, ‘I can see this isn’t a social call at all. You’ve just come to find out as much as you can and you’re trading on the fact that I used to be Hallfolk with you in the old days.’

‘Oh Dawn!’ said Holly, ‘of course it’s a social call! Nobody else at Stonewylde will speak to us – you’re the only friendly face here.’

‘We’re just interested in what’s happened to the old place over the years,’ said Fennel. ‘You’re lucky – you weren’t kicked out like we were.’

‘Actually I was,’ said Dawn. ‘And it took me a long time and a lot of effort to be allowed back in. I’m not going to jeopardise that by appearing to be your mole. It was bad enough that Rainbow used me as a way to get back into Stonewylde.’

‘What’s poor Rainbow done wrong?’ asked Holly sharply. ‘No need to be hard on her. All she wanted was a sabbatical.’

‘Maybe,’ said Dawn, ‘but seeing her again made me realise that I just don’t share her – or your – values. I’m sorry if this appears rude, but I think you’d better leave now, before people
start
thinking I’ve been fraternising with the old Hallfolk and that my loyalties lie with you.’

‘My God, she’s gone native!’ said Holly rudely, standing up. ‘Well, good luck to you, Dawn, if it’s what makes you happy.’

‘It does,’ said Dawn quietly. ‘It makes me very happy.’

Holly’s scathing gaze swept the small, simple parlour and then brushed over Dawn’s untidy hair, and creased skirt and blouse. Her lip curled and she tugged at Fennel to get him up out of the chair.

‘Come on, Finn. Let’s leave Dawn to her idyllic lifestyle. Hubby’ll be home soon, and there’s tea to cook and housework to be done.’

Dawn watched their retreating backs, noticing how Swift appeared from nowhere to escort them. She felt upset at their nastiness but overriding that was a profound sense of relief that she was not, and never would be, one of them.

‘Well this has made my day!’ beamed Maizie at the sight of Sylvie and the girls returning to the cottage with not only Leveret, but also Yul in tow. ‘What a turn up! Lucky there’s a big beef pie in the oven for supper. I can do some extra potatoes, and—’

‘I hope it’s alright, Mother Maizie, but I’ve invited Rufus too,’ said Sylvie. ‘Yul’s tethered Skydancer down by the orchards where there’s still some grass, and Rufus is getting him some water. He’ll be along soon – is that okay?’

‘Course ’tis!’ laughed Maizie, bustling back into the kitchen. ‘More folks, more jokes, I always say. Do you all want tea, or a drop o’ cider to celebrate this lovely family get-together? I got a nice little barrel in the pantry. Leveret, can you sort that out for me, my love?’

The little cottage was full and Maizie was in her element. Rufus returned shyly from the orchard, where he’d given Skydancer a bucket of water and made sure the stallion was comfortable. He was so honoured that Yul had entrusted him with this chore. When he’d seen his older brother approaching earlier, he’d been terrified of Yul’s wrath at finding him round the back of the
Barn
with Skydancer. He’d abandoned the stupid photoshoot as soon as he’d realised that Yul’s beautiful horse had been left unattended.

But Yul had smiled at him – it seemed to Rufus this was the first time ever – and thanked him for keeping Skydancer happy. Then Sylvie and the girls had appeared and she’d suggested Rufus join them for supper, and Yul had actually smiled again and said it was a good idea. Rufus was almost beside himself with joy, but felt awkward walking in as, technically, he wasn’t one of the family by blood or marriage. Although Yul was his half-brother and Sylvie his half-sister, and the girls his half-nieces, he wasn’t related to Maizie at all, and it was her cottage and her family reunion.

But as soon as he arrived, the little girls were all over him as usual. Maizie told him to wash his hands as he smelt of Yul’s horse, and Yul grinned in a conspiratorial way. Leveret gave him a really big smile too, and when he sat next to her, as there was nowhere else to sit, she whispered how glad she was that he was there as this was her first time home since February, and she was feeling very awkward. Yul poured him a small tankard of cider and said that Rufus was so tall now it was hard to imagine him still a child, and Maizie asked if he’d be kind enough to chop a few more logs for the range during the week. Rufus sat there, his ears burning red and his auburn hair falling into his eyes, and thought this was the very best moment of his whole life, to be part of such a family gathering.

‘I need neutral external backdrops,’ Fennel said as he, Holly and Swift trudged up the track to the Hall. Despite his offer, Holly had refused to let Swift phone up from the Barn to request a vehicle to fetch them.

‘So the shots against the Great Barn . . .’ said Swift, flicking his silvery blond hair aside.

‘Yes, they’re okay, but most of the stuff on the Village Green will be no good,’ said Fennel. ‘It shows the trees in full leaf – I know the horse chestnuts are going brown already, but it’s pretty
obvious
we’re in the midst of a very hot summer, and autumn and winter clothes just seem incongruous.’

‘There must be somewhere more neutral,’ said Holly. ‘Chelsi and Benjy should’ve sorted this out for us but they haven’t. Come on, Swift – you’re about as bright as they get in this place. Think of something!’

‘There’s the maze,’ suggested Swift, very flattered at Holly’s compliment, particularly as she’d only said earlier that he looked exactly like the Hallfolk of old. Walking with them now, both of them with blond hair, Swift felt he really was one of them. ‘That’s clipped yew, so it’s evergreen and it wouldn’t necessarily look like summer.’

‘Mmn – possibly,’ said Fennel.

‘There’s the beach?’ said Swift. ‘No trees there.’

‘No – beach equals summer in most people’s minds, unless it’s grey and windswept.’

‘Mooncliffe? That’s pretty desolate in terms of trees, although there’s the sea again in the background . . .’

And then it hit him and he yelled out loud, grabbing Fennel’s arm.

‘I know, I know!’ he cried. ‘I’ve thought of the perfect place! There are no trees, so no giveaways about the season. It’s very desolate and atmospheric, and it would show off the collection beautifully!’