Sara Foster - Beneath the Shadows

Ben went to the front door and a moment later Bess bounded inside and began sniffing at everything in sight. To Grace’s surprise, Millie struggled to be free, and once on the ground the little girl gawped at the dog in amazement, and even chuckled briefly when Bess licked her face. Grace knelt down and patted Bess, feeling herself warming to the dog. She couldn’t be too nervous of an animal that could make her daughter giggle like that.

When Annabel and James arrived home they found Bess curled up in front of the fireplace, looking on as Grace and Ben put the final touches to the Christmas tree. Millie sat beside them, playing with an assortment of baubles that she had commandeered.

‘What are you doing here, Ben?’ Annabel asked as she began pulling off her gloves.

‘You told me you didn’t have a Christmas tree,’ he said. ‘So I brought you one.’

Grace felt her face fall as she saw Annabel’s light up. She’d thought the tree was for Millie’s benefit. Why did she care? she asked herself, as she began to help them with the bags.

‘I think we’ve got enough food to feed the whole village,’ Annabel announced as she went across to give Bess a stroke. ‘You should have seen the town, Grace, it was like one of those olde-worlde postcards – the market was on a cobbled street, everyone was wearing Christmas hats, and all the shops were decorated with multicoloured twinkling lights and streams of tinsel.’

As she listened, Grace noticed that the two men were eyeing each other, waiting for introductions. ‘James, this is Ben.’

They shook hands. ‘Been hearing a lot about you,’ James said.

‘Oh?’ Ben looked wary.

James smiled. ‘All good, don’t worry. Annabel’s been telling me about your daytrips. Local, are you?’

‘Used to be.’ Ben went across to get his coat. ‘Not lived here for a long time now, but I know some of the old stories.’

‘Are you coming to the ball tonight?’

‘No.’ Ben shook his head. ‘Not my thing. Come on, Bess.’

The dog sprang to her feet.

‘I’ll see you all tomorrow then?’ Ben looked around the room at them before he turned to leave.

Grace went to see him out. She wished he were coming to the ball. She enjoyed his unobtrusive company, and wanted to get to know him better.

‘Thanks again for the tree,’ she called after him belatedly as he neared the gate, with Bess trotting behind him.

He didn’t turn, just waved a hand in reply.

Freeborough Hall loomed sturdy and imposing at the end of a long circular driveway, lights blazing from the downstairs rooms. Grace grasped the skirt of her long black satin dress so that it wouldn’t trail along the wet ground, and headed towards the ornate doorway with the others.

Annabel had borrowed a sparkly silver number that Grace hadn’t worn in years, while James had managed to hire a tuxedo in town. He fiddled with his cufflinks as they made their way up the steps. At the top they were greeted by two elderly women, in similar royal blue knee-length dresses that looked more appropriate for church than for a ball.

After parting with their tickets and entering the raffle, they headed along a wide corridor in the direction of voices and music.

‘Look at these,’ James said, as he glanced up at the large disembodied head of a stag, its beady eyes glaring malevolently down at them – one of a number of animal trophies that were mounted between various works of art.

‘I’d rather not, thanks,’ Annabel replied.

They entered the large function room to see the party in full swing. Multicoloured balloons were bunched at regular intervals around the wall, streamers trailing from them. The stage and the bar area were well lit, but the rest of the light came from small lamps on each table. People milled around, or sat in groups holding animated conversation, while a few had already taken to the floor, dancing to a swing band. Grace glanced at the double bass player, his eyes closed as he plucked fiercely at strings, and wondered what it would be like to be that absorbed in something. When was the last time she had lost herself like that? She couldn’t remember.

‘Where the hell did all these people come from?’ James murmured.

They bought drinks and found an empty table, but it didn’t take long before Annabel began cajoling them all to dance.

‘All right then,’ James muttered crossly as Annabel pulled him from his seat. ‘Come on, Grace, you too.’

But Grace shook her head as they got up and moved to the dance floor, and after a few attempts at waving her over to join them, James gave up. Annabel began sashaying around with her arms in the air, while James did his best impression of a swing king, bending double and clicking his fingers to each side of his knees, nodding his head enthusiastically. Grace was laughing at them when she heard someone saying her name, and felt a hand on her shoulder. She swung around to see Claire.

‘Hi Grace.’ Claire was smiling. ‘My family are over there – come and say hello.’

Grace got up and followed Claire across the room to a large round table. ‘Everyone,’ Claire announced, ‘this is Grace.’

Conversation drifted away as all eyes fell on her. On the far side, a burly, shaven-headed man had his hand placed proprietorially on the thigh of the woman next to him. The woman was observing the dance floor, and Grace saw that she had a pretty elfin face and dark hair piled high on top of her head. Nearest to Grace, a woman with long auburn hair had turned to stare, her face sombre. Last of all, Grace spotted Meredith in a dim corner close to the wall, one elbow on the table, the heel of her palm elegantly propping up her chin as she coolly regarded the dance floor.

‘These are my younger sisters, Liza and Jenny,’ Claire said, gesturing to the women as she spoke. ‘And over there is Liza’s husband Dan. Everyone, this is Grace.’

‘Hello Grace,’ Meredith said from her shadowy corner, her mouth barely moving. ‘Claire, can I talk to you for a moment?’

Claire moved across to her mother, leaving Grace on her own. As she looked around, her gaze fell on Jenny, whose long red hair was familiar. Then she realised: this was the person she had seen leaving Ben’s house when she’d been out walking. Perhaps Ben was the ‘someone’ Claire had referred to when she’d said Jenny was in a new relationship. She realised too late that she was staring, and Jenny was regarding her with a frown. Grace averted her eyes.

Dan got up and held out a hand. ‘Nice to meet you,’ he said without smiling as they shook. ‘So you’re living in Roseby? Claire said you’re from London – the change of scene must have taken a bit of getting used to?’

‘Yes, it has.’ She shook his hand, expecting more conversation, but he sat down and began rolling a cigarette. Grace remembered Emma telling her about him, and tried to picture him as a policeman. His manner was both abrupt and slightly menacing, and she was grateful that it was Niall and not this man who’d been sent to help her on the night Adam disappeared.

‘How are you getting on at the cottage?’ Liza asked. ‘Mum says you’re busy sorting through everything?’

Grace wondered if they knew about Meredith’s interest in the place. ‘Yes, but I’m enjoying the break for Christmas.’

Before Liza could say any more, Jenny leaned across the table and said something to Dan. He looked down at the tablecloth and let out a short bark of laughter, and Grace saw Jenny’s eyes flicker to her, then away. Grace began to feel uneasy, but was saved as the music stopped and it was announced that the raffle was about to be drawn.