Selena’s brow creased; she nibbled her lower lip as she concentrated on the canvas. Brush in hand, she stood in the warm, sweet-scented garden, her easel in front of her, painting the old stone well and the fields rising beyond the garden wall. The weather was warm for the first week in May, bees buzzing in the long grasses, and the skin on her bare arms and legs glowed as she loaded her brush and brought colour to the canvas. She was unsure about the composition of her picture; the well was almost central, the fields behind were golden, bathed in bright summer sunlight. But it was somehow incomplete: she could not put her finger on the elusive detail that would make the scene jump into life. Selena concentrated instead on her brushstrokes, adding a creamy grey light to one side of a cloud.
She pursed her lips, thinking about Claire, who had left four days ago on Monday morning, saying how much she’d enjoyed herself and that she’d be down at the end of June for a second visit. In fact, as a result of her stay at Chitterwell, Claire was determined to employ someone to help in the gallery so that she could paint more pictures herself and visit again soon. The only downside was, Claire had said with a grin, that the second bedroom gave her bad dreams, and Selena understood. The room held an unnatural chill.
Selena had received a text from Laura too, an effusive invite to meet again for drinks at The Royal Oak soon, and to come to dinner at the weekend. Selena had accepted straight away; she was enjoying the perfect life, the solitude of painting for most of her time, but the reassuring promise of a social life. The chance to interact with others was something she wouldn’t do often enough left to her own devices.
She returned to her painting. The pretty pastoral scene was in harmony with her emotions; she felt positive, uplifted, buoyed by the sunshine around her and on the canvas, but the overall picture lacked something. She glanced again at the little stone well, positioned to the right of centre; perhaps it wasn’t enough of a focal point; perhaps it had become lost in the expanse of green fields and azure skies.
Selena was tugged from her thoughts by the sound of a chugging engine as a Land Rover rumbled through the gates. She recognised the driver; she remembered his smile, his cheery wave: it was Matty, the man who had given her a lift back from The Royal Oak. There was a young woman next to him, wearing colourful clothes, her hair was swept back in a ponytail.
They clambered from the Land Rover and rushed across, Matty calling, ‘Hi.’
‘Hello.’ Selena put her brush down.
Matty glanced at the painting. ‘Oh, that’s very idyllic, very calming.’
Selena realised immediately what had been bothering her about the picture; as Matty had said, it was too peaceful, and now she thought it needed some turbulence, a brooding atmosphere.
She turned to the woman, who was standing next to Matty, a brown leather bag crossed over her body; she was wearing a long flowery dress and ankle boots. Selena stuck out a welcoming hand. ‘Hello.’
‘Hi,’ the woman said. ‘I hope you don’t mind me coming over here with Matty…’
‘I brought you some logs,’ Matty pointed towards the vehicle with his thumb.
‘… Only I wanted to meet you and say hello, and I believe there are a lot of interesting herbs in the garden and I’m so keen to take a look.’
‘This is Joely Doran, my partner,’ Matty added by way of introduction.
‘Of course – pleased to meet you.’ Selena watched Joely gaze round the garden, towards the herb patch. ‘I don’t know much about herbs – but please, help yourself.’
‘Oh, Joely will tell you all about them – she’s a bit of an expert,’ Matty grinned. ‘Meanwhile, shall I put your logs in the shed around the side of the cottage?’
‘Yes, please do.’ Selena turned to Joely. ‘So, tell me about the herbs…’
Joely led the way towards the patch of land beyond the well, a raised bed and a further small garden where a variety of plants grew. She pointed a long finger wrapped in silver rings. ‘Well, you have all the good culinary ones here, growing really well.’
‘I recognise thyme and mint, sage, some parsley.’
‘And lovely varieties – that looks like pineapple sage, lemon thyme, and you have some chocolate mint. You’re really well stocked.’ Joely smiled. ‘This is tidier than my garden – mine is wilder, and I have lots of really useful medicinal herbs on our patch of land.’ She pointed beyond the raised bed. ‘But you have some great healing herbs here too – look, chamomile, feverfew – oh, you have valerian and a huge crop of comfrey. What a great garden.’
Matty was lifting a sack of logs on his back, hauling them around the side of the property.
Selena smiled at Joely. ‘Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?’
‘I’d love to.’ Joely called out to Matty, ‘We’re going indoors for a cuppa.’ They walked through the hall and Joely asked, ‘Do you make tea from your own herbs?’
‘No…’
‘I expect you’re so busy painting, but I can bring you some nettle tea if you like – I’ve just dried some leaves at home.’
‘Thank you.’ Selena replied. ‘What is nettle good for?’
‘It’s a diuretic, so it helps flush away toxins. Also, it is full of polyphenols, which can help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.’
‘Oh,’ Selena said with a smile. ‘I’d better have some then.’
‘Plus, it’s really refreshing.’ Joely was standing next to Selena in the living room. Warmth came from the wood burner, but it was much cooler indoors.
Selena saw her shiver, so she asked. ‘Shall we go into the kitchen?’
‘This is a strange room, isn’t it?’ Joely shook her head, her ponytail swishing across her shoulder. ‘Can’t you feel it?’
‘The cold?’ Selena frowned.
‘The cold, yes, but something else – there’s definitely a… presence.’
‘Oh?’ Selena felt her body tense and wished Joely would follow her into the kitchen, but she was staring blankly towards the fire, then out of the window, beyond the blackthorn tree. The white blossom had faded now, leaving a greyish forlorn flower.
‘Yes, there’s definitely a sort of sadness,’ Joely said, then she noticed Selena’s troubled expression, so she smiled cheerfully, ‘but I’m sure you’ll bring so much happiness to the house. Shall we have that cup of tea?’
Selena was on her way to the kitchen as Matty joined them, closing the front door behind him with a dull clunk. She smiled at them both. ‘I can only offer you tea or instant coffee. The coffee machine blew up at the weekend. Lesley says she’ll replace it but I told her not to rush as I don’t drink coffee much.’
‘Any fruit tea for me, and Matty will have the same. Honey in it would be nice if you have some.’ Joely gazed around the kitchen. ‘Oh, this is a lovely welcoming room, and the new conservatory is so nice.’
‘We live in a caravan,’ Matty explained. ‘Joely’s not used to all this space.’
Joely met his eyes, her own dancing with happiness. ‘Our space is outside, Matty. We have the field to grow and cook and do whatever we want.’ She took the mug Selena offered her. ‘We have our own plot of land halfway along Wychanger Lane, just outside Ashcombe. It’s really beautiful up there, we have huge views across the Blackdowns. You must come over.’
‘I’d love to.’ Selena handed Matty a fruit tea. They sat at the table quietly together and Selena realised how much she was enjoying the chance to invite people into her home and make new friends. She cupped a mug in her hands thoughtfully, watching Joely’s calm expression, Matty’s easy smile. She envied the way they both seemed so comfortable in their surroundings; it was as if they belonged to the countryside and it belonged to them. A question formed in her mouth. ‘I’d be really interested to know more about herbs. I only cook with the basic ones, but you can use them for all sorts of different reasons, can’t you?’
Joely was delighted. ‘Oh yes – I make face masks from aloe vera and basil, ginger, turmeric… I can give you an aloe vera plant or two. And I make a tisane from feverfew for headaches…’
Matty laughed. ‘She also makes great bread and stew and delicious cakes, so you’ll have to visit for lunch sometimes.’
‘That would be lovely.’ Selena considered how much she’d enjoy a visit to their caravan, the wide outdoor space, the wonderful views. She imagined herself painting a landscape of muted green and earthy red, creating a patchwork panorama. Then she noticed that her visitors had finished their tea, and she dragged herself from her thoughts. ‘By the way, there’s a bread oven here. Apparently, it’s not used now.’
‘Oh, can I see it?’ Joely said. ‘This is such an interesting house. It must be great to be living here – Matty says you’re renting it for several months while you paint. That’s wonderful.’
‘This way.’ Selena pushed her cup away and leaped up, leading them both into the living room, pointing to the side of the hearth. ‘The old bread oven is on the right, just set back.’
Joely squeezed past the sofa, her long dress catching against a cushion, and peered into the bread oven behind the chimney breast. ‘Oh, this is incredible,’ she purred. ‘Look, Matty – the bread oven’s still so warm because the log burner is on – it would be great to prove bread in here.’ She turned to Selena. ‘Imagine, hundreds of years ago, women had nothing to cook on but the open fire and the bread oven. This house is so fascinating. Do you know much about the place, Selena?’
‘Not really.’ Selena shook her head. ‘I know this part of the house was built in the seventeenth century – Lesley said there used to be a staircase where that alcove is and it led to the second bedroom, which was divided into two rooms then.’
‘It’s so interesting.’ Joely’s eyes were wide with excitement. ‘And the cottage has such an atmosphere.’
‘You’re welcome to visit whenever you want.’
‘Oh, I will, thanks, Selena – and I’d love to take a cutting of the pineapple sage next time, if that’s all right.’
‘We should be going,’ Matty said. ‘I have logs to deliver up to Hilltop. But we’ll pop round soon, if that’s all right.’
‘And I’ll see you in the pub, perhaps?’ Selena accompanied them to the door. ‘I ought to get back to my painting…’
They strolled into the garden.
As Joely hugged Selena goodbye, Matty yelled, ‘Oh, no. Your painting…’ He rushed over to Selena’s easel, which had toppled over on the ground. ‘The painted side is face down.’ He lifted the canvas; Joely and Selena were setting the easel upright, collecting brushes. ‘It must have blown over in a gust of wind.’
Selena shook her head. The air was completely calm, still as held breath. She replaced the painting and gazed at it, disappointment in her eyes. A lot of the wet paint had been smudged, the green of the hills had run into the azure sky, rendering it a messy dark grey.
Joely was anxious. ‘It’s not ruined, is it?’
Selena pushed a hand through her hair, thinking, then she said. ‘Oh, it’ll be fine – I can paint over the top. Yes – don’t worry.’ She offered them her brightest smile. ‘Thanks for the logs, Matty – and lovely to meet you, Joely. I hope we can catch up soon.’
‘I’d like that.’ Joely hugged her again briefly. ‘And thanks for the tea.’
‘See you, Selena,’ Matty called, but her thoughts were on the painting and she hardly heard him. She was aware of Matty’s Land Rover starting up, the engine rattling; it chugged away and then the garden was silent apart from busy insects. Selena stared at the painting, her thoughts coming one after the other: she understood exactly how to put it right. She mixed some colours: midnight blue, silver, smoky white, inky black. Then she stared at the smeared canvas and started to paint thick layers of dusky colour at the top, over the blue, where the azure sky had been. The hills now became an ominous dark green, the sky crepuscular, then darker still. Selena added a moon, lurking shadows beyond the well.
Time passed, but she didn’t notice the air grow cool as the sun sank behind Hilltop farm. Her arms and legs were no longer warm and sun-kissed; she painted on until the sky became grey and the light had completely faded.
Then she stood back and gazed at her picture with a smile. The well was almost central in the picture, the looming fields darker behind. There was a hooked moon, its light glinting onto grey clouds in the sky. An owl was overhead, in mid-flight, its wings wide. And in the middle of the picture was a slender figure in a long dress, a translucent grey shadow, her arms raised.