Page 63 of Tears of Gold

Laura has obviously been warned I’m going to be difficult because she is already armed with a packed Filofax which she flips open to a specific page. “Tonight, you have a meal on behalf of the Fairclough Art Foundation. Did you know about that?”

“Nope, my invite must have got lost.”

“And tomorrow…”

I hold my hand up. “Laura, I appreciate you coming, and I know this isn’t your fault, but I am not running to the same schedule as the Faircloughs.”

“What schedule are you running to?”

“Uh.” Well that’s an awkward as fuck question. “I don’t know, one that doesn’t involve the Faircloughs or their stupid games.”

Her eyes narrow into a frown. “Well I don’t know anything about any games. I’m just paid on a monthly basis by the Fairclough family. So, the way I see it you are the first beneficiary of the Fairclough Foundation. You are about to launch into a career as a TV presenter while also still producing saleable items for various galleries who are all after your work. I think you have your work cut out just being you.”

She’s got a fair point.

“What galleries?” I ask.

“Here, I have a list. I took the liberty of calling a few and putting feelers out.”

“But I think I’m exclusive with Whitlocks.” I cast a glance over the list; the very best London town has to offer.

“Well that might have been the case, but the Bowsley Heart is now in situ at the Tate Modern, so that renders any previous exclusivity defunct.”

She’s pretty forthright. And kind of scary. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have her on my side.

“Well I don’t have anything else to sell at the moment anyway.”

“All the more reason to have your schedule managed by someone else, so you have time to do the things you are good at.”

“And this isn’t a way for the Faircloughs to get me under their control?” I watch her carefully, looking for any tells she has an ulterior motive.

“Not with me.” She seems up front and there is something about her that I like. She’s got Abi’s no shit edge to her and I could do with a bit of that.

“Well, you’d better come in. I was having tea with Miss Beesley, the housekeeper.”

She follows me over the tiles. “That’s nice, but shouldn’t you be on your way to class?”

“Yes.” I pull a childish face. “How do you know?”

She tuts under her breath, “It didn’t take much to discover your timetable.”

I find that very interesting, considering I hardly know it myself.

“I have a PA.” I grumble down the phone. Eli is tapping away in the background, but his fingers must stop moving.

“A PA? Why?”

“I believe it was a stress test provided by your grandmother, but actually I quite like the girl and she is far more organised than me, so I’m letting her stay.”

He sighs. “I’m sorry, Faith.”

“Nah, don’t sweat it. I need to pick my fights and this one could actually work out in my favour. I mean I’ve never been in control of my own schedule, I just lurch from one thing to another, so maybe having someone around to tell me where I am supposed to be will help.” I hesitate and then that stupid big smile creeps across my face. “Especially with the baby.” I lower my voice.

“Yes, the baby,” he whispers back, and I know he is smiling too. I can damn well hear it.

“Tonight, I have a Fairclough Foundation dinner with I don’t know who.”

“I know, it popped up in my calendar.”