‘Don’t say anything, just paint,’ she says, leaning in conspiratorially.

It’s the first time I’ve felt a connection with her, as if she has been trying to suss me out and now she’s come to a conclusion.

‘With regard to Nico, you help convince him to come to Spain this summer? He needs the exposure and he has been away too long. Things run well here and it’s possible?’

I look across at Nico and Pierce, oblivious to the fact that we’re watching them. Isabel has no idea what Nico has been hiding from her. At least he is finally free of the worry, but is he ready to go back to a place where the memories will seem even more real?

‘Now Pierce is here, I’d say it’s possible. But whether Nico wants to go, I’m not so sure, Isabel. Just recently he’s been dwelling on his childhood, things I think that he’d rather forget. Going back might unsettle him further.’

She’s watching me, watching him.

‘You seem to understand him. I do not push for no reason, Fern. I came here solely for this purpose but will not admit that to him. I have a lot of wealthy clients. The sort of people who, when they buy an artist’s work, it sends a little ripple through the market. The right message. Nico has been so cautious in the past, but now it is holding him back. We have history together and I have invested time in him out of our friendship. But this is business and I need him to step up.’

I can see her point. She’s concerned that he’s only content to bury his head in the work but isn’t interested in the equally important task of establishing himself as a name people can recognise. If she knew about his father’s deception, maybe we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. I have no idea how strong their friendship is but, even so, there’s nothing more I can tell her – this is between the two of them.

‘It probably won’t make a difference whatever I say, but I will tell him that I think it’s a good idea. Because it is, for several different reasons. Not least because a change of scenery would be good for him. It’s time he received the recognition he deserves in person, from people he respects. He should step away and let his team prove that they can take care of things here.’

‘Good. We are like-minded. I want only what is best for him. I suspect you do, too.’

I try not to react to the loaded look that Isabel flashes at me and return it with a polite nod of my head.

29

A Sense of Relief