The Girl on the Cliff (48 page)

‘Do you think he still does?’

‘Well, I’d say from the amount he called our house when she ran away from New York, that he did, yes. As for now …’ Kathleen sighed, ‘who knows? ’Tis a pity Grania refused to talk to him at the time about whatever it was that had happened. Many’s the thing that can be sorted over a brew and a good chat.’

‘But Grania’s very proud, isn’t she?’

‘She is that, pet. Now, let’s be getting a move on.’ Kathleen shivered as the wind grew stronger. ‘’Tis not a night to be outside.’

Hans called Grania a few days later to check in and find out how the renovation work was progressing at Dunworley House.

‘I also wondered whether you would be able to meet me in London next week. There is an art dealer friend of mine who has a gallery on Cork Street. I have told him about you and the new work you are doing and he is eager to meet you. Besides,’ added Hans, ‘it might do you good to have a few days away. At the same time, I can show you the property in London that is part of Aurora’s trust from her mother.’

‘That’s kind of you, Hans, but –’

‘But what, Grania? You are not going to tell me you cannot fit it into your busy schedule, are you?’

‘Are you bullying me, Hans?’ Grania allowed herself a wry smile.

‘Perhaps a little. But, as any good solicitor should, I am simply following the instructions in my client’s will. I shall book you a flight to London for next Wednesday, along with a hotel, and email you the details.’

‘If you say so, Hans,’ Grania sighed, surrendering.

‘I do. Goodbye, Grania, I will be in touch.’

A few days later, Grania went on to the house computer to retrieve her emails and the details of the flight to London that Hans had booked for her.

Aurora came up behind her and put her arms around Grania’s shoulders.

‘Where are you going, Grania?’

‘To London, to see Hans.’

‘That’ll be nice for you, it’s about time you had a break.’ Aurora was studying the computer screen as Grania typed in the number of her passport to check in on-line.

‘Can I do it for you?’

‘Do you know how?’

‘Of course I do. I used to help Daddy all the time.’

Grania moved from the seat and let her sit down. Aurora giggled at the photo in Grania’s passport as she typed in the details proficiently. ‘You look so funny!’

‘Excuse me,’ Grania smiled, ‘I don’t think yours is much better.’

‘Do you have my passport?’

‘Yes, it’s here in the file, with mine.’

‘There, it’s finished. Shall I press “print”?’ asked Aurora.

‘Yes, please.’ Grania replaced her passport in the wallet along with Aurora’s and stowed it back in the desk. ‘Time for bed, young lady.’

Reluctantly, Aurora climbed the stairs, brushed her teeth and got into bed. ‘I didn’t mean it about your passport photo,’ Aurora said. ‘I think you’re very beautiful, Mummy.’

‘Thank you, sweetheart. I think you’re beautiful too.’

‘But I’m worried if you don’t have a boyfriend soon, you might get too old and men won’t like you any more. Ouch!’ Aurora giggled as Grania tickled her.

‘Charmed, I’m sure. The problem is, Aurora, that there’s nobody I want.’

‘What about Matt? The man you told me about who lives in America? You loved him, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, I did.’

‘I think you still love him.’

‘Maybe I do,’ sighed Grania. ‘But it’s no good crying over spilt milk, is it?’ She kissed Aurora. ‘Night night, darling, sweet dreams.’

‘Night night, Mummy.’

On Wednesday morning, Grania drove herself to Cork airport and flew to London. Hans met her at Arrivals and they took a taxi to Claridge’s.

‘My goodness me,’ exclaimed Grania as she walked into the beautiful suite Hans had booked for her, ‘this must have cost a fortune! You’re spoiling me.’

‘You deserved a treat, and besides, you are a rich woman with a very wealthy daughter, whose joint estate earns me my fees. Now, I will leave you to do whatever women must before dinner, and see you downstairs in the bar at eight o’clock. Robert, the gallery owner, is joining us at a quarter past.’

Grania luxuriated in the bath, wrapped herself in the soft towelling robe and had a glass of complimentary champagne in the beautifully appointed sitting room. And decided, despite her antipathy to overt luxury, that this was all rather pleasant. Putting on the short, black cocktail
dress she’d found in a boutique in Cork city last week – what she’d brought with her from New York had not included anything smart – she added some mascara and a smudge of lipstick. Then she picked up the sculpture of Aurora she’d brought with her to show the gallery owner, and went downstairs to join Hans in the bar.

The evening passed pleasantly. Robert Sampson, the gallery owner, was good company and excited about Grania’s work. She’d also brought photographs of the rest of the series of sculptures she’d recently completed.

‘I think, Grania,’ Robert said over coffee and Armagnac, ‘that if you could complete another six sculptures in the next few months, we’d have enough for an exhibition. You’re unknown at present in London, and I’d like to give you a big initial push. We’d send out invitations to the great, good and rich collectors I deal with on my database, and launch you as the Next Big Thing. What is exciting is that you’ve found your
métier
. The fluidity shown in your sculpture is exquisite. And rare,’ he added.

‘You really think my work warrants that?’ Grania was flattered by his enthusiasm.

‘Yes, I do. Obviously, I’d like to take a trip over to Cork and see the series for myself, but based on what I’ve seen so far, I’d be very happy to take you on.’

‘And it probably helps that Grania is young and relatively photogenic too.’ Hans winked at Grania.

‘Of course,’ agreed Robert, ‘as long as you’re not averse to doing some publicity.’

‘If it helps, of course not,’ agreed Grania.

‘Excellent.’ Robert rose and kissed Grania on both cheeks. ‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Grania. Have a
think over what I’ve said and, if you’re interested, email me and I’ll fly to Cork so we can discuss things further.’

‘Thank you, Robert.’

When Robert had left, Hans said, ‘So, a successful evening?’

‘Yes, thank you for introducing me to him,’ said Grania, wondering why she wasn’t feeling quite as thrilled as she should. Robert Sampson was a serious mover and shaker in the art world. Gaining his approval for her new work was an enormous compliment.

Hans noticed immediately. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘No, I … well, I suppose that, mentally, I hadn’t quite closed the door on New York and my career there.’

‘Well,’ Hans patted her hand as they headed for the lift, ‘perhaps it is time to move on.’

‘Yes.’

‘Now, tomorrow, I suggest a little light shopping for you in the morning. Bond Street, which is awash with boutiques, is a stone’s throw away. Then we can meet for lunch, over which I need to run through some boring paperwork with you. And tomorrow afternoon I will take you to see Aurora’s London house. Goodnight, Grania.’ Hans kissed her affectionately on the cheek.

‘Goodnight, Hans, and thank you again.’

Grania was mindlessly looking through the racks of exquisite clothes in Chanel the following morning, pondering the fact that anything she wished to buy could be hers, when her cell phone rang.

‘Hello, Mam,’ she said distractedly, ‘everything all right?’

‘No, Grania, it isn’t.’

Grania could hear the panic in her mother’s voice. ‘What’s happened?’

‘It’s Aurora. She’s disappeared again.’

‘Oh no, Mam!’ Grania’s heart sank. She checked her watch. It was half past eleven. ‘How long has she been gone?’

‘We’re not sure. You know she said she was staying over at Emily’s house last night?’

‘Of course I do! I dropped her off yesterday morning at school with her overnight bag, remember?’

‘Well now, she wasn’t staying over. The school rang me about twenty minutes ago to ask if she was ill, as she hadn’t arrived this morning. I called Emily’s mammy straight away, and she said there’d been no plan for Aurora to sleep at theirs last night.’

‘Oh God, Mam! So when was the last time anyone saw her?’

‘Emily said Aurora left the school yesterday at home time, saying she was walking back up to the farm by herself, because you were in London.’

‘And no one’s seen her since?’

‘No. She’s been missing all night. Oh, Grania,’ there was a catch in Kathleen’s voice, ‘where is she after going this time?’

‘Listen, Mam,’ Grania left Chanel and began walking swiftly along the street, ‘I can’t hear for the traffic. I’m going back to the hotel and I’ll call you in ten minutes when I’ve had a think. It’s me that’s at fault; I shouldn’t have left her. Look what happened last time. I’ll speak to you in a bit.’

Two hours later, Grania was pacing around her suite,
Hans trying and failing to keep her calm. John, Shane and Kathleen had scoured the surrounding areas and all the places Grania had suggested Aurora might be, but had come up with a blank.

‘Dad’s calling the guards,’ Grania said, her heart beating like an unsteady tom-tom. ‘Oh God, Hans, why has she gone? I thought she was so happy at the farm with Mam and Dad. I shouldn’t have left her … I shouldn’t have left her …’

Grania collapsed on to the sofa and Hans put his arms around her. ‘Please, my dear, you must not blame yourself.’

‘I do, because I’ve obviously underestimated the effect Alexander dying has had on Aurora.’

‘Well, I for one do not understand it,’ sighed Hans. ‘She seemed so settled.’

‘The problem is, Hans, that Aurora is very difficult to read. She’s so self-contained, seems so grown up in many ways … but maybe a lot of her pain has been hidden. What if … what if she thought I’d left her, and she took it in her head to join her parents? I said I’d never leave her, Hans, I promised her … I …’ Grania cried on to his shoulder.

‘Grania, please, you must try and keep calm. I have never seen a less suicidal child than Aurora. Besides, she was the one who encouraged you to come to London, was she not?’ added Hans.

‘Yes,’ agreed Grania, blowing her nose, ‘she did.’

‘And I have a strong feeling that this is nothing to do with Aurora’s unstable state of mind,’ he added.

‘Well, if it’s not that, what could have happened to her?’
Grania put a hand suddenly to her mouth. ‘Oh my God, Hans! What if she’s been kidnapped?’

‘I am afraid to say that the thought has crossed my mind. As you know, Aurora is an exceptionally wealthy young lady. If there has been no sign of her in the next hour, I will speak to my contact at Interpol and have them investigate, just in case.’

‘And I think I should be getting myself on the flight back home immediately.’

‘Of course.’

‘If anything has happened to that child, Hans,’ Grania wrung her hands, ‘I will never be able to forgive myself.’ Her cell phone rang and she answered it immediately. ‘Any news, Mam?’

‘Yes. Thank the heavens! Aurora’s safe.’

‘Oh, Mam, thank God … thank God! Where was she found?’

‘Ah, well now, that’s the interesting part. She’s in New York.’

‘New York?! But how … why … 
where
?’

‘She’s with Matt.’

It took a few seconds for her mother’s words to sink in. ‘She’s with
Matt
?
My
Matt?’ Grania repeated.

‘Yes, Grania, your Matt. He rang here about ten minutes ago. He said he’d had a call from the airline to ask him why he wasn’t at the airport to collect a child by the name of Aurora Devonshire, as arranged.’

‘
What?
’ Grania exclaimed. ‘How on earth did she – ?’

‘Grania, don’t be asking me any more questions. I don’t know the answers. Matt’s calling me back in a bit, but I wanted to tell you immediately that Aurora was safe.
Whatever the child has taken into her head to do, we’ll find out in good time.’

‘Yes, Mam, you’re right.’ Grania let out a long sigh of relief and confusion. ‘At least she’s safe.’

Matt had indeed had a call from Aer Lingus at ten o’clock that morning. He’d listened to the representative asking him why he hadn’t been at JFK as arranged, to meet a girl called Aurora Devonshire, travelling as an unaccompanied child from Dublin, Ireland.

At first, Matt had been at a loss, wondering if someone was playing a practical joke on him. The airline seemed to have his name, his telephone number and address, but who the child was, he had no idea. As he refuted any knowledge of the arrangement, he could hear the representative becoming nervous.

‘Are you saying you don’t know this child, sir?’ she’d asked.

‘I …’ Matt knew the name rang a bell but he could not put it in context.

‘Excuse me, sir.’ He’d heard a muffled voice at the other end of the line, before the representative came back and said, ‘Miss Devonshire says that a Miss Grania Ryan made all the arrangements with you.’

‘Did she?’ Matt was flummoxed.

‘That’s what the little girl says, sir. If you are unable to collect Miss Devonshire, then we have a problem.’

‘No … it’s OK. I’ll be down in forty.’

As Matt made the journey to the airport, he still had no conception of what the hell was going on. However, the
name ‘Grania’ was at least familiar, so Matt had to presume there was a connection, however vague. And at the very least he needed to investigate it.

Arriving at JFK, Matt duly went to the appointed meeting place, where he found a small, beautiful child with flame-red ringlets, eating a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. She was flanked by an airline representative and an airport security guard.

‘Hi, I’m Matt Connelly,’ he announced uncertainly.

The little girl immediately put down her tub of ice cream and threw herself into his arms. ‘Uncle Matt! How could you have forgotten I was coming? Grania promised me you’d be here. Really,’ she turned to the airline representative and the security guard and sighed, ‘Uncle Matt is so absent-minded. He’s a professor of psychology, you know.’

The guard and the representative smiled indulgently, won over by the child’s charm. She turned back to him, and he saw the glint of warning in her eyes. ‘Can we go home now to your loft, Uncle Matt? I can’t wait to see Grania’s sculptures. But,’ Aurora yawned, ‘I’m very tired.’