‘I have been forced to accept that if I really want to spend time on the house, and my own work, I have to get Angela’s illustrations out of the way, so . . .’ She removed the paper covering from her worktable. ‘I admit that I was working all hours, but I’ve produced these.’ She stood back.

Will approached the table, looked down and gasped. ‘This is for the new book? You’ve done all these? That’s amazing.’

The table was covered with finished illustrations, every one of them delicate, intricate. They must have taken hours to complete. Looking closer, he noticed that they seemed darker, slightly more malevolent than the ones she had done for previous books. He wondered if this was intentional, because of the storyline, or whether her depression was creeping into her work. ‘They are incredible, darling. This new character is quite powerful, isn’t she?’

‘Mmm, she turned out just as I hoped. And seeing that Angela’s next book is the last, I thought I’d ramp it up a bit. Give her Magical Garden of Gort a bit of an edge.’

Well, you certainly did that, thought Will.

‘I just have the main plate to finish now, and then it’s done.’ She went to her easel and took the cover from her work in progress.

Again Will gasped. ‘What’s her name? She’s amazing!’

Kate laughed, and he heard the old Kate in it. ‘She’s called Alyena. I think Angela drew the inspiration for her from Helen of Troy. She was supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the known world.’

‘Wow. Well, she’s that, alright!’ Alyena was indeed beautiful, but he detected the slightest hint of cruelty around her lips.

Will stood back and couldn’t help taking a quick glance around, just to see where her collection of “alternative” paintings was stacked. He spotted them at the back of the room, all shrouded in dust-sheets. Now he knew where to find them when he returned to take his clandestine shots for Laura.

‘You can see why I was so tired,’ Kate was saying, ‘but all for a good reason. Two more sessions on Alyena here and I can kiss the bloody fairies goodbye for a while, and do what I want to do.’

‘And eat and sleep and build yourself up again,’ he added. ‘I think your work is breathtaking.’ He hugged her. ‘I’m so proud of you, Kate.’

Did he feel her flinch slightly, or was it his imagination? He really must not analyse her every movement or expression. He should just enjoy having the old Kate back for a while, because it wouldn’t last.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN