In the end, they made it to Bev and Alan’s for afternoon tea, although they were tired and dusty and more than a little on the late side. They had found a local taxi cab and asked him to drop them off at the farmhouse door rather than return to the McCaig house and tidy up.
“No, no! Come in as you are! it’s just a bit of tea and scones and some cake, of course. Alina is here already. Come and wash up first. I’ll brew another pot for you.”
Anna emerged from the bathroom first and met the interested gazes of Bev and Alina. Bev immediately whispered in a conspiratorial voice, “So that’s him! Alina has told me the story. You’re a dark horse, Anna Mason. Not a word from you about him. What’s going on? You look very comfortable together.”
“Oh, hush up, Bev! There’s nothing going on and don’t embarrass him, please. He’s not used to being inspected by a bunch of women.”
Bev and Alina exchanged glances at this impassioned plea and decided to be on their best behavior while watching and listening to everything that transpired.
Lawren surprised Anna by taking over the conversation and waxing lyrical about their outing to Iona while scoffing several homemade scones with farmhouse butter and blackberry jam. He apologized for spreading crumbs on the chequered tablecloth and for emptying the tea pot, by stating that he was famished after a day in the open with Anna and really needed that pick-me-up.
Anna had never seen Lawren as a social animal and was just as astonished as Alina at this transformation. She wondered if he knew he was being inspected and had decided to be proactive.
Before Bev could ask him any questions, however, Eric arrived with his step-dad and announced they had decided on a name for Eric’s border collie, one of Prince’s puppies.
“Well, tell us Eric!” insisted his mother. “We’ve been waiting weeks for this and the poor animal thinks he is called Pup by now.”
“I wanted just the right name and Dad wouldn’t let me have King in case Prince was jealous.”
Everyone smiled at this but refrained from comments.
“It was between Mungo and Duncan. One was a saint and the other King of Scotland long ago. Dad said Mungo wouldn’t work as a name because ‘go’ is one of his sheep herding commands and that could be confusing for the dogs, so it’s Duncan, and since he was a king I got my own way in the end.”
Eric picked up the black and white puppy that was the image of Prince sitting patiently outside the glassed kitchen door. Eric repeated the name Duncan over and over while ruffling up the pup’s fur and giving him hugs. In a moment, he was out the door again with both dogs in hot pursuit.
“Would you like to see a training session?” Alan asked Lawren. “It’s early days yet but Prince is the one who will teach his pup how to behave.”
Once more Anna wondered if there was another conspiracy between Eric and Alan to save the stranger from too much female observation, but she was glad to see him exit the kitchen after the kind invitation.
“My goodness, Bev, you were right about Eric! He’s almost as tall as Alan and will be taller than James in the end, I think.”
“You are probably correct about that, Anna. He is doing very well here. It’s a healthy life for a boy and gets him away from that computer.”
Bev began to collect dishes from the table but she was not about to let Anna off the hook so easily. “Now, what about the portrait; has he started, or have you been too busy showing off the splendours of Bonnie Scotland?”
“Lawren only arrived a day or so ago, as I’m sure Alina has told you. He means to start soon. He’s very talented and just wanted to get a sense of the place as it’s his first visit.”
“Well, I have to say he’s not what I expected. Alina made out he’s a young guy and that’s not what I see at all. There are lines on that brow and although he is slender of build he’s wiry rather than thin. I see as much grey as fair hair on his head and he has the air of an experienced man, certainly not that of a boy.
But, Anna! Those eyes are amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that colour of gold before.”
“Oh, stop, Bev!” Anna was doubled over laughing at this detailed analysis after only a few moments in Lawren’s company. “You two are impossible! Stop trying to match make. I do like him but that’s all there is.”
Alina and Bev did not agree, but they knew better than to contradict Anna when it came to personal matters. Bev decided there would be phone calls or emailss to Canada later, to consult with Susan and Maria about this promising situation.
The next morning, Anna found it difficult to drag herself out of bed. Every muscle in her back and legs protested as soon as she emerged from the covers. She decided to soak in a hot bath, hoping that would relieve the worst of the damage she had inflicted on herself while rushing here and there and cycling miles over rough land.
As she luxuriated in the deep tub, her mind wandered over the events of the previous day. She had to admit she had seen a different Lawren Drake during the hours they had spent together. He was not so intimidating when separated from his easel. She thought about the way he had spoken of his former love. The words he used were brief and almost emotionless but Anna knew it took years to be able to express these feelings without being overwhelmed by the memories.
I wonder how old he is? Do I dare ask, or is that way too personal? Should I try to get a glimpse of his passport?
An urgent knock at the bathroom door shattered her quiet musings and she almost jumped up to grab her dressing gown. “What is it? The bathroom’s occupied!”
“It’s only me! I’m leaving for the train in a few minutes. I’ll call you later when I get to the hotel.
Don’t do anything foolish while I’m away! Bye.”
Alina goes to Manchester today to visit Philip. She had forgotten in the busy time since Lawren had arrived. This thought reminded her that she should be looking after her guest. She pulled the bath plug and dressed quickly in a toweling robe while the warm steam lingered in the bathroom. Her hair was wet only around the margins so she toweled it dry and scrubbed at her face, thinking it would benefit from some moisturizing cream and a little make-up. She threw open the bathroom door and found Lawren standing there.
“Sorry, Anna! I didn’t mean to startle you. When you are ready I would like to see the room where the portrait will hang. I want to get a start made today and I need to see the light.’
“Oh, of course! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to neglect you. Have you had breakfast? Has Alina gone already?” She realized her nervous chatter was an attempt to cover her embarrassment over her appearance but it was too late to do anything about it now.
“Alina fed me an hour ago. Please don’t rush. I have all day.” With this he turned and fled back down the stairs leaving Anna in a turmoil. Why do I have to act like a school kid when he’s around? What’s the matter with me? Is it just the proximity of a male in the house? I really need to get a grip.
She took time to make herself presentable, mostly to restore her confidence, then sailed downstairs in her best impersonation of a person in control of her feelings.
Lawren was in the kitchen with his sketch pad, talking to Morag while he drew the scene from the large windows.
“She’s quite taken to me, I think. She creeps into bed with me at night.”
“Oh, I’m sorry! She shouldn’t be bothering you. Just close the door.”
“No, I wasn’t complaining. I like her company.” He paused. “Did I disturb you a while ago? I didn’t mean to. I thought you were up already. I am awake so early and I presume everyone else should be.”
“I think we should both stop apologizing and get to the business in hand. It’s what you came here for after all.”
Anna could have kicked herself at the abrupt sound of these words. There I go again, jumping from one extreme to the other. What must he think of me? I will keep out of his way today and try to get my head together before I do or say something I will regret.
“I’ll show you upstairs and you can set up your easel any time. I won’t bother you while you are working but I’ll be around if you need anything.”
Opening the door to the double bedroom she slept in, was another of those slightly awkward moments.
Anna reminded herself that she had been in Lawren’s premises in London and he didn’t have any such scruples about his sleeping arrangements. She watched as he walked the length of the room looking at the views on both sides of the house, assessing the direction of the sun at different times of the day. He favoured the south light from the front dormer window but returned to the larger rear window in the end.
“I take it the finished portrait will hang over the fireplace here?”
Anna nodded.
“Then, it’s best if I set up near the window. If you can provide some sort of drop cloth to protect the floor, it would be helpful. I will remove my work each evening so you can have your room back. I’ll probably continue well into the night, as is my usual practice, but that part can be done downstairs.
I plan to work consistently for the next week unless something unforeseen happens. I hope that is satisfactory.”
“Certainly! I’ll get a cloth for the floor while you set up.” She marched down the stairs, silently cursing her stupidity. Gone were the friendly feelings of the day before and now it was all about business between them and it was her fault entirely.
She could not wait to get out of the house before she encountered Lawren again. She left the cloth on the stairs and fled for Helen’s Hill where she could think about what had happened to her peace of mind since she first met this unusual man who both repelled and attracted her.
Lawren saw Anna practically running through the rear garden when he was in the larder fetching his easel and painting equipment.
“God! I have chased her out of her own house. What was I thinking? This is becoming very awkward. I have never worked in a client’s home before and I don’t think I would agree to it ever again. Yesterday was so pleasant and now that’s all gone. I really hoped we had made a true connection.
The best I can do now is get this portrait done as fast as possible and get out of her hair. I am obviously imposing on her kindness and generosity and I hate that.”
Having lectured Morag, the only creature in the vicinity, he dragged his materials up to Anna’s spacious bedroom and proceeded to pin up his canvas and assemble his previous sketches.
In moments, all his attention was focused on the work at hand, and yet, he could hardly forget about Anna as her face was the first thing he saw as he examined all the drawings he had done of her.
He narrowed his eyes and looked with his inner vision. She was quite lovely, especially when she did not know he was watching her. There were classical lines there; strong features, a noble brow and that glorious coppery hair. She was a woman who had found herself in this very place and she deserved a true representation of her spirit.
He reminded himself that there was no earthly reason why she would consider him anything more than an employee. He was hopeless with women like Anna Mason. Men were much easier to work with. She was far above him in material wealth and station in life. If a workman was all that he could ever be to her, then he determined to be the best workman she had ever employed.
Flexing his fingers, he proceeded to plot out the placement of the figures on his canvas with total concentration.