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Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The House of Whispers
  3. Title Page
  4. Note to Readers
  5. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  19. Twelve
  20. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  21. Thirteen
  22. Fourteen
  23. Fifteen
  24. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  25. Sixteen
  26. Seventeen
  27. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Twenty
  31. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  32. Twenty-One
  33. Twenty-Two
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  37. Twenty-Five
  38. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  39. Twenty-Six
  40. Twenty-Seven
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Thirty-Two
  46. Thirty-Three
  47. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Thirty-Six
  51. Thirty-Seven
  52. Thirty-Eight
  53. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  54. Thirty-Nine
  55. Forty
  56. Forty-One
  57. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  66. Forty-Eight
  67. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  68. Forty-Nine
  69. Fifty
  70. Fifty-One
  71. Fifty-Two
  72. Fifty-Three
  73. Fifty-Four
  74. Fifty-Five
  75. Fifty-Six
  76. Fifty-Seven
  77. Fifty-Eight
  78. Fifty-Nine
  79. Sixty
  80. Priory Hospital North London: 20 December 2019
  81. Acknowledgements
  82. About the Publisher

‘We’re not talking about you,’ I said. ‘You asked about Grace, so I’m telling you how it is with her.’ I pushed a piece of ravioli back and forth in the sauce. ‘It’s as if she makes me look inside myself. That’s where I go when I’m painting. And she’s done it for me since we were at university. I think one of the reasons I couldn’t paint anything the past few years was because she was away.’

‘So it’s down to Grace that you’ve managed to paint these portraits, is that what you’re saying?’ Rohan asked.

‘Yes. I think so. And I think they’re all right. They’re dark, though, a bit grim.’

‘I can’t wait to see them. And meet Grace. In fact, can you give me her number? Just in case I can’t ever get hold of you. It really worries me when you go AWOL.’

My insides froze, but how could I explain?

‘Sure,’ I said, and I carried on eating, but Rohan got out his phone right there and then. ‘WhatsApp it to me,’ he said, so I sent him the number and watched as he saved it.

‘Well, despite everything, if she’s inspiring your painting, I suppose we’d better toast her,’ he said and raised his glass to clink against mine. ‘To Grace.’

‘To Grace,’ I echoed flatly, and the waiter came to clear the plates.

Forty-Seven

By the time we’d eaten, Rohan and I were back on familiar territory, the strains of the last two days lost in the warm buzz of a few drinks. Back home, Rohan let us into the house, then he slid his arms around me.

‘How about a kiss?’ he said, and so we did, tentatively at first, then in a way that made me think we’d soon be moving to the bedroom. But Rohan pulled away.

‘You know what I want, don’t you?’ Before I had a chance to reply, he carried on. ‘I want to see your paintings. Now. You did promise.’

‘Oh.’ Thrown, I smoothed down my top that had become rumpled in our embrace. ‘Yes. I guess.’

I led the way up the stairs, suddenly nervous. I felt as if I were laying myself bare in front of Rohan in a way that was far more intimate than simply stripping off my clothes. I paused on the threshold of the attic before unlocking the door and pushing it open.