Page 23 of Trust in Truth
“I couldn’t help overhear that Anna would be with her father this morning. I thought I’d just pop round and give you your present, make sure you weren’t lonely.”
Katherine’s stomach lurched. “Present? I didn’t realise we were doing presents. I haven’t got you anything”
“I don’t give to receive, Katherine.” Margaret beamed at her.
Katherine held the door open, she felt she had no choice but to invite her in. She took Margaret’s long black coat and gestured for her to go through to the kitchen.
“What a beautiful house you have. And so exquisitely decorated.”
As they entered the kitchen, she realised the bottle of champagne was on the island next to her full glass; she’d have to offer Margaret a glass. A check of her watch told her that Anna was likely to be back soon. If she found Margaret there, all hell would break loose. The only solution was to get rid of her as soon as possible.
“Champagne?”
Margaret’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, please.”
Katherine poured half a glass and passed it to her, hoping she would drink it quickly and leave. They clinked glasses, toasting to Christmas. Katherine took a couple of large gulps in the hope it would make Margaret do the same. It didn’t; she took a small sip and placed the glass back down on the worktop. Katherine made a mental note to wash the glass before Anna saw it, then realised how ridiculous her thoughts were. She was a woman entertaining a friend in her own home; she had nothing to hide.
Margaret extracted a gift from her bag and passed it to Katherine. “It’s just a little something.”
Katherine removed a large red ribbon and unwrapped the shiny gold paper. Her cheeks blushed with embarrassment that she had nothing to give in return. She groaned internally when she realised it was a long jewellery box. Things were about to get more awkward. Opening it revealed a necklace, as she had suspected — a rather beautiful necklace at that. A gold chain with a pearl pendant lay on the silk insert.
“Margaret, I can’t possibly accept this. It’s too much.”
“Of course you can.” Margaret insisted, lightly tapping Katherine’s hand. “It’s just a little token of my appreciation for all your hard work since joining us at the abbey. You’ve lightened my load and made each day a little brighter.”
“That’s very kind of you, Margaret, but I think it’s too much.”
“Nonsense. Here, let me help you with it.”
Before she could argue, Margaret had taken the necklace out of the box and placed it around Katherine’s neck. She locked the clasp in place and then returned to face Katherine.
“There, stunning,” Margaret said, lining up the pearl with Katherine’s cleavage and patting at it.
Katherine felt uncomfortable at Margaret’s proximity and took a step backwards. “I must just check lunch.”
“Of course.”
Katherine placed the necklace box on the work surface and attended to the turkey. It was almost ready to come out.
Margaret wandered over to the sliding doors with her champagne glass. “I hadn’t quite appreciated the view you have of the abbey.”
“It’s even better from upstairs.”
“Oh, really?” Margaret turned and walked back to Katherine.
Katherine instantly regretted the way she’d phrased her sentence.
As Margaret drained her champagne glass, Katherine saw an opportunity to get her out. “I’d offer you another, but I expect you won’t want one as you’re driving, and to be honest, Margaret, I’ve rather a lot to do getting lunch ready. No doubt you have places to be so don’t let me hold you up.”
Katherine placed a hand behind Margaret and gestured to the door.
Margaret’s face was awash with disappointment. “Yes, of course.”
“Thank you so much for the necklace. It really wasn’t necessary,” Katherine added as she ushered her across the hallway.
As she closed the front door, Katherine realised she had closed it on the only person who had made the effort to see her on Christmas Day. Then, wracked with guilt over her thought, she poured herself another glass of champagne. Harry and Rebecca couldn’t help being unwell, and Anna would be back soon. Wouldn’t she?
As she washed up the champagne glass, she realised how much Margaret’s visit had unnerved her. What did she expect her to do with the necklace? Surely she realised Anna would ask where it had come from. Was that her intention in giving it to her? She could pretend it was an old one; Anna didn’t exactly have a photographic memory of her entire jewellery collection. Yet she didn’t trust Margaret not to drop her in it by asking why she didn’t wear it, or, if she did wear it, making everyone aware that she had bought it.
