‘Remind me again how you managed to con me into this.’ Kester grumbles, yanking the wires to his earphones and unplugging from the player as the compact disc ends its final track.

Harriet snorts a teasing chuckle. ‘I think it had more to do with what you hoped you might see once you got inside this studio than anything I might have said.’

‘Will you be much longer?’

‘Avoiding the subject, Kester, darling?’ she says archly.

‘No, I am not’ he mutters in return. ‘Ms Marchant is scary enough with clothes on let alone….‘ He rotates his neck to ease the cramp at the top of his shoulders. ‘Can I move now?’

‘Ohh! I rather like the way that worked the back. Do it again slowly and I’ll tell you where to stop.’

‘I’ll tell you where it’s stopping and that’s here and right now. I’ve got things to do.’ Kester rolls over and sits up, skilfully pulling the sheet with him and wrapping it around his waist. ‘And that pout has no effect on me at all. I’ve been here hours and then you’ve got me doing my taxi duty later. I’d like to fit in some of my life today too. This is the first weekend I’ve had completely to myself in ages….well, it was.’ He scowls. ’Half of it’s gone already.’

‘Don’t exaggerate, dear. You’ve been here..’ Harriet looks at her watch and taps it with her pencil. ‘One hour and thirty seven minutes exactly. If you had got up a little earlier, there would have been more time to enjoy what the day had to offer.’ She slots the pencil in the groove below her easel and reaches behind it to flip the pages of the sketchpad closed.

‘Yes…well…’ Kester slides from the raised dais and stands up, clutching at the sheet and concentrating hard on pushing his feet into plaited leather beach sandals as a blush floods his face and upper body.

‘Ah!’ A tinkle of laughter echoes around the room. ‘Buy one get one free today was it?’

‘I’ve never had to buy anything in my life’ he mutters, throwing the trailing end of the sheet over his shoulder.

‘You should have said something’ Harriet says seriously in a quiet apologetic voice. ‘Really you should. This is not so important it could not have been left a few more days. Why didn’t you tell me that you had company?’

‘It’s okay’ Kester shrugs. ‘No one special. Which is just as well’ he grumbles ‘You do realise how young you sound on an answer phone? ‘Darling, it’s Harriet, I thought you’d be here by now. I’m waiting for you.’ It was like a bucket of cold water as far as she was concerned.’

‘You didn’t explain?’ She steps from behind the easel and starts arranging the sheet over his shoulder into neat folds, leaning back to study the effect.

‘I didn’t get the chance. She was up and out of there before I put the thing down.’ He twists his head, watching as her fingers make a small adjustment and sighs audibly. ‘No, I am not being Caesar Augustus, Nero, Pontius Pilate or anybody else you’ve got in mind.’

‘Spoilsport!’ She arranges his arms and studies the effect again before looking up. ‘If you hadn’t answered, I would simply have presumed you had gone out and would come as soon as you got back’ she says with a small shrug, then smiles. ‘You were a silly boy.’

Kester grins sheepishly. ‘If I’m honest, I was glad you rang. Beer goggles.’

‘Beer goggles?’ Harriet’s brow furrows.

‘Never mind. The four eighteen train was it?’ He turns to pick up the CD player and the selection of discs he brought with him.

‘Yes, darling.’

‘I’ll be there.’

‘Will you be joining us later?’

‘No, not tonight, other plans, I’ll see the old farts tomorrow.’

‘Kester!’ Harriet admonishes with a laugh. ‘Have some respect.’

‘Respect they can have but that doesn’t mean to say I have to like them.’ He minces a few steps. ‘’Mwah! Mwah! Kester, my daaarling boy, how luv-elly to see you’ Shaking the image out of his head, he walks back to her. ‘Not for me, I’m afraid. I can cope with all the so called jokes about my plumbing but air kissing….from the blokes? Urrgghh!’

‘They are not all like that and the ladies do appreciate having you around. I should think there will be some very long faces tonight.’

‘Every grandmother’s darling, my role in life.’ Kester sighs. ’I’ll try and pop in but it will be late.’

‘And as long as you haven’t found yourself more company, I suppose.’

‘If my luck holds.’ He winks ‘See you later when I deliver the victims…I mean your guests.’ He bends to kiss her on the cheek. ‘Mmm, whatever it is you’re wearing is nice.’

‘Thank you, darling. I think you’ll find it’s the linseed oil on my smock.’

Tawny House, Manor Road.

Chapter One