As she led Grace inside, two small boys ran past, the first one trailing a balloon while the smaller one tried gleefully to catch it.
‘Careful!’ Veronica said, appearing in a doorway and glaring at her children. ‘Sorry, guys, they’ve had too much lemonade today. We’re in for a heap of trouble tonight, I think.’
‘Millie’s asleep,’ Grace said, indicating the pushchair, its hood down.
‘Pop her in here then.’ Veronica opened the door to the lounge. ‘The heating’s on, so it’s nice and warm, and I’ve set the monitor up for you.’
Grace peeped inside. The room was softly lit by a small lamp next to the sofa, and she remembered Annabel sitting there, trying to interview Meredith. She looked at the tall witching post next to the fireplace and thought sadly of her sister – how she wished Annabel were here tonight, cracking jokes and being sarcastic.
Grace wheeled Millie’s pushchair over to one corner, checked her daughter was still asleep, then came out and gently closed the door. The dining room door was ajar, light blazing through the gap, and she followed Claire to join the party.
It was the first time she had seen all of Meredith’s daughters together. Veronica was next to Liza on one of the sofas, talking animatedly while pressing her hand against Liza’s protruding belly. Jenny sat opposite, her eyes on her sisters. The husbands were standing by the picture window, its curtains drawn. Dan wore a thick leather jacket, in contrast to Steve’s polo shirt and smart trousers. They looked unlikely friends, and as Grace watched, Dan said something with a chuckle that made Steve look uneasy. In the corner, three young boys were attempting to play Twister. Last of all, Grace spotted Feathery Jack, seated at the table on his own with a sherry glass in his hand.
Claire had gone to find her mother, and Grace looked around wondering who she should talk to. She was already beginning to regret coming, feeling like the spectre in the room that nobody had noticed.
‘Grace?’
She turned to see Meredith, her face stiff with that familiar veneer of politeness.
‘Hello Meredith, thank you for inviting me.’ She handed over a bottle of wine.
‘You’re welcome.’ Meredith took the gift and forced her smile a little wider. ‘There’s food on the side table, please, help yourself.’
Grace went obediently across to the buffet. As she picked up a plate, she surreptitiously looked back to see Meredith surveying the room. Slowly, her children stopped talking.
‘Well, come and eat,’ Meredith said to them, and they began to get up.
‘Ah’ll turn sixty-nine this year,’ a voice piped up behind Grace. She turned to find Feathery Jack hunched in a chair. His eyes were wide, as though he couldn’t quite believe his own words.
Grace wasn’t sure what she should say in reply. He looked far older. Her parents were already in their sixties, but retirement was rejuvenating them – they could easily be mistaken for Jack’s children.
‘Next year, Jack, you’ll be sixty-nine next year. The New Year hasn’t come yet,’ Claire added as she reappeared next to Grace. She didn’t get a response, nor did she seem to expect one.
‘Ah’s last of the old school,’ Jack added gruffly. ‘Rest gone to meet their maker.’
Grace didn’t know what to say to that. Instead, she began to gather food on her plate, then sat down at the large dining table. The others slowly joined her, and Steve took a seat opposite. ‘So, how are you finding living on the moors, Grace?’
‘I like it,’ Grace replied. ‘But I’ve got a lot to do. I wish I had more time to explore the area.’
Dan cut in. ‘No word from that husband of yours, then?’
All other conversation stopped.
‘Dan, leave her be …’ Claire sounded irritated.
‘I was only asking …’
‘Dan was in the police force for a while,’ Liza explained. ‘He had friends working on the investigation …’
Grace could feel her face burning with embarrassment as she met Liza’s eyes. The entreaty in them was clear, and Grace remembered her words as they had talked by the lake. I’m begging you not to get me involved.
Dan glared at his wife. ‘That’s right, Liza. And it’s the strangest case of a missing person that I’ve ever heard of …’
‘That’s as maybe, but I’m sure Grace doesn’t want to talk to us about it,’ Meredith said stonily.
Dan scowled and put his head down.
It seemed Meredith was able to silence her son-in-law easily, even though he was ready to pick a fight with his wife. Grace glanced gratefully at Meredith, but she was concentrating on her meal.
As Grace picked up her knife and fork again, she hoped the conversation was over, but the next voice was female, and obviously directed at her.
‘Don’t you feel scared, living out here alone with your baby? It’s pretty isolated. You must be lonely?’
Grace looked up to see Jenny observing her curiously.