Restless Nights

Her eyebrows rose. ‘Why on earth should you?’

‘Because you’re alone out there at night, with a fair amount of valuables in the cellar. Would you let me help out with that?’

‘How?’ she said blankly.

‘Dysart’s have a safety depository in Pennington. I could transfer your stuff there every night, if you like. I can guarantee security.’

‘That’s very kind of you, but I’m not worried about the pictures.’ It was the creaks and groans, like the soundtrack of a horror film, that kept her awake, not responsibility for the artwork.

‘Couldn’t Wayne or Eddie sleep in the house while Harry’s away?’

‘I don’t need them,’ said Gabriel firmly. ‘It’s very good of you to be so concerned, but I’m fine. Truly.’

‘If you say so. But you’ve got my phone number. Ring me if you need me. Any time—day or night.’

‘That’s very kind of you,’ she said, taken off guard. ‘Thank you.’

‘No thanks necessary. I meant what I said. Goodnight, Gabriel. Sleep well.’

Whether it was Adam’s phone call, or the simple fact that she’d slept badly ever since her father had been rushed into hospital, Gabriel enjoyed a good night’s sleep for once, and woke only when her alarm went off, instead of hours beforehand. Consequently she felt rested and full of enthusiasm for the task in hand, and by the time Wayne and Eddie arrived she was already at work, making tests in different small areas at the edges of the painting to determine which type of solvent to use to tackle the overpaint. Eventually she opted for her favourite acetone diluted with white spirit, with a stopping pad of spirit-soaked cotton wool to halt the solvent if it acted too quickly.

She set to work in earnest, but, as usual, her progress was painfully slow. After several hours only a small area of canvas had been cleared, but this was enough to cause great excitement in Gabriel’s acolytes when they came to look on during their coffee break.

‘There’s someone under there, all right,’ said Eddie in triumph. ‘That pink bit—is it skin?’

Gabriel shook her head, accepting her coffee gratefully. ‘Part of a dress—satin, by the look of it.’ She sighed. ‘I just wish Dad was here. He’d love this.’

‘Wouldn’t he just?’ said Wayne with sympathy. ‘Is Adam coming round today?’

‘Not until tomorrow. By which time we may have another face to show him.’

Now that she was actually removing the dark, brownish overpaint Gabriel became so absorbed she had to be reminded to eat something at lunchtime. She took grudging time off for a sandwich, then got straight back to work, only breaking off from time to time for the various drinks that one or other of her assistants brought her. And it was they, at five-thirty, who reminded her that if she was going to the hospital that night it was time to knock off.

Later in the hospital, much reassured by her father’s look of wellbeing, Gabriel described her day’s work with such enthusiasm he smiled at her slyly.

‘No more objections because you’re working for Adam, then!’

Gabriel raised a limpid blue gaze to his. ‘I’m doing it for you, Dad, not for Adam Dysart.’

‘Not to mention the kick it’s giving you to reveal the secrets hiding under the overpaint.’ He patted her hand. ‘What solvents are you using?’

They were immediately plunged into a technical discussion, with Harry giving his daughter very valuable advice on how to proceed once the subject was fully revealed and she was down to the actual varnish. It was only when other visitors were beginning to leave the ward that Gabriel remembered she had a proposition to make on her mother’s behalf.

‘Dad,’ she began, ‘have you given any thought about what happens when they discharge you?’

He looked surprised. ‘I come home, of course.’

‘Sister says you must have complete rest,’ Gabriel warned.

‘I’ll be as good as gold,’ he promised, then gave her a worried frown. ‘Or am I asking too much of you? You’ve done enough already, taking over the business, and holding things together for me. I can’t expect you to stay away from your job much longer.’

‘That’s no problem at all. In fact, Dad, I’ve been meaning to tell you this before. I’ve resigned.’

He looked startled. ‘Is this because of me?’

‘No. I’ve been planning a move for some time. So I’m yours for as long as you need me.’ Gabriel hesitated. ‘But the thing is, Dad, you need to convalesce before coming back to Haywards. A nice little break with sea air and plenty of peace and quiet.’

‘Why do I have the feeling you’ve got this all arranged?’ he said, wagging a finger at her. ‘Go on. Get it off your chest. Exactly what plan have you hatched up for me?’

‘It’s not me. It’s Mother. She—she suggests you spend a couple of weeks with her at Julia’s cottage on the Gower,’ said Gabriel in a rush.

Harry Brett’s sleepy blue eyes narrowed in disbelief. ‘Laura said that? Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’ Gabriel smiled coaxingly. ‘Why not?’

‘It’s a long time since your mother and I spent even one night under the same roof,’ he said dryly. ‘And yet she’s casually suggesting we spend a fortnight together?’

Gabriel looked up to see a nurse stationed in the doorway, obviously about to suggest she leave. She stood up. ‘Mother rings up every night to see how you are. So what shall I say to her tonight? Yes, or no?’

Harry gazed up at his daughter in appeal. ‘What do you think I should do?’

‘Whatever you want to do,’ said Gabriel promptly. ‘Think it over—ponder a bit. Tell me what you decide when I come tomorrow.’

Laura Brett was rather amused to hear about her ex-husband’s astonishment. ‘I’ll ring him myself in the morning, and assure him that my offer was made with the best of intentions. And if it’s the prospect of my company that’s bothering him he can take someone else down to the cottage, free of charge, if he prefers. Is there someone else?’ she added.

‘No, Mother. At least, not as far as I know. Ask him yourself when you ring.’

By late the following afternoon, after working area by small area with agonising slowness, Gabriel had removed enough overpaint to reveal most of a second face. Like the first it was obscured by cracked, discoloured varnish, but the features were visible enough to show that the likeness between the two beauties was unmistakable.

‘Sisters?’ said Wayne in excitement.

‘Must be,’ said Gabriel, rotating her head on her neck in weariness. ‘We’ll see more tomorrow after I get the rest of this brown stuff off, maybe even find a signature.’ She glanced at her watch, hoping Adam would come soon, because she’d had enough for one day. While Wayne and Eddie went off with the drawings they were working on Gabriel took the headband off and looked down at the picture on the stand. Already there was a luminous quality to the faces, even through age-darkened varnish. This was very definitely no jobbing painter’s work. Which pointed to a wealthy background for the girls in the portrait. Who are you? she asked them silently, then started violently at the touch of a hand on her shoulder.

‘Sorry to startle you,’ said Adam Dysart.

Gabriel turned quickly. ‘I was miles away.’

‘We were right,’ he breathed, gazing down at the painting as though he’d found the Holy Grail. ‘There was someone hiding under there.’

‘You were right,’ corrected Gabriel. ‘A brace of sisters, do you think?’

‘Definitely. And I’m pretty certain who they are.’ He turned to look at her, his eyes bright with triumph. ‘Fancy a trip into Herefordshire on Sunday for some research?’

Gabriel thought about it, surprised by how much she fancied the idea. ‘You mean you don’t expect me to work over the weekend?’ she said in mock amazement.

‘Certainly not,’ he said virtuously. ‘I’m no slave-driver.’

Gabriel laughed, then waved at Wayne and Eddie hovering in the doorway. ‘Thanks, you two. You can call it a day. I’ll lock up.’