‘Oh. Well, I didn’t know that. I thought I was being helpful when I posted them to him. They were of his pictures, after all.’

‘They were my slides! Thank God I can get copies. But anyway, why didn’t you tell me you’d sent them?’

‘I forgot.’ Petal’s mouth began to quiver. ‘I didn’t know I’d done wrong. I’d thought I’d done you a favour. He said you’d promised.’

Thea dimly remembered some conversation wherein she’d said she’d send slides when they were back from the printers, but she’d never meant to do it. Apart from Lara, whom she didn’t think he cared about, they were her only bargaining chip. Now she’d lost it. ‘It’s all right, Petal, it’s not your fault. I should have told you I didn’t want Rory to have the slides.’

‘But why didn’t you?’ asked Dave.

‘Because I want to show his work here first. If no one in London knows how great he is or, at least, only have his word for it, I’ve got a better chance of keeping him.’

‘So, is the show off, then?’ asked Petal. ‘Aren’t you going to have a gallery now?’

Thea took a breath so she wouldn’t take a swing at Petal. ‘Yes, I am going to have a gallery now. I have not gone through all this time and effort, and at Molly’s expense, setting it up, not to have one now. And what is more, Rory’s work is going to be on show on the appointed night.’

‘But if he wants to show in London –’ said Dave.

‘What he wants isn’t relevant.’

‘But how will you stop him?’

‘I’ve got his paintings. If he wants them, he’s got to come and get them!’

‘But he’s sent you the money to send them. You can’t just keep it!’

‘Yes I can.’ She glanced down at the cheque. ‘He owes me far more than this.’

‘So, what are you going to do?’ Petal’s expression became a little pained.

‘I’m going to go to London and sort that Rory out!’

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Petal told Molly about Thea’s decision to go to London with a sort of shocked awe. Molly looked at Thea for confirmation of this mental aberration. ‘You’re what?’

‘Going to London to find Rory. I can’t just sit here without at least trying to get him to change his mind.’

‘Sitting? Here? Precious little of that! You still haven’t decided what to do about the basement floor and if you only use upstairs there won’t be nearly enough room. We’re tight for space as it is.’