do you think Owen’s doing now? Do you believe there’s a place for us up there once we die?’
Daisy’s thoughts turned immediately to Grandad. ‘My grandfather had an unwavering belief in life after death,’ she said. ‘There was absolutely no doubt in his mind at all that we come from a spiritual place and return there once our earthly journey is done. He used to say that this was the dream and Heaven was the reality. He said the ones we love and lose are always with us. I like to believe they are too.’
‘I had a religious upbringing, but it’s hard not to doubt. It’s hard to believe in something we can’t see with our eyes.’
‘Well, you can’t see radio waves, can you, yet you can hear the music they deliver.’
‘Yes, that’s true.’
‘Grandad said you only have to look at nature to know that there’s a higher power.’ Daisy dropped her gaze, aware that she might sound a little crazy. ‘He said every time you look at a sunset and feel an expansion in your chest, that’s the Divine in you recognizing the Divine in nature.’ She hoped she hadn’t gone too far.
Lady Sherwood smiled. ‘I like that,’ she said. ‘Your grandfather sounds like he was a very wise man.’
Daisy nodded, relieved. ‘He was.’
Daisy was in the studio when Taran walked in. She was taken by surprise. His face was sombre, the shadows dark beneath the eyes, his mouth set in a tight line. Quite different from the insouciant man she’d met at Christmas. She didn’t imagine he had slept much on the plane. ‘Hi,’ he said, closing the door behind him.
‘Hi,’ she said, putting down her pastels and peering round the easel. She hesitated a moment, searching for something less banal to say, but settled on the usual words because she couldn’t think of more original ones. ‘I’m so sorry about your father.’
‘Thank you,’ he replied. The aqua-green cashmere sweater he was wearing brought out the aqua-green of his eyes, or perhaps it was the contrast with the purple shadows beneath them that turned them so vivid. Whichever it was, they looked quite startling. ‘Mum says you’ve been a real support. I just wanted to thank you.’
‘I’m thankful I was here when it happened,’ she said.
He walked further into the room and put his hands in his trouser pockets. ‘They think it was a heart attack. Mum says Dad was in great shape, but he drank too much and had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He didn’t believe in changing his diet. He was a true pudding and port man. His father lived until eighty-eight. I’m sure he expected to do better than that.’
‘I know your mother hoped he would.’
‘Yes. She’ll be lost without him.’ There was a pause. He shuffled, took his hand out of his pocket and scratched his head. ‘I’d better go in. I just wanted to say thank you.’ His gaze strayed past her to the easel. ‘How’s it going, by the way? The animal portraits. Might I take a look? Mum says you’re very good. I haven’t seen the one you did of her dogs yet, but she told me it has pride of place in the hall.’
‘I’m drawing Bridget Williams’s bulldog, Baz, but I’m finding it hard to establish a connection with him. He’s rather aloof and snooty. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to win him over with treats, but he’s definitely playing hard to get.’
Taran wandered round to look. ‘Wow. You’re seriously good.’ He stared at the drawing and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘You really are. I’m impressed. It’s awesome.’
Daisy felt his mood lift at the distraction and smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘No, I mean, really good. I can’t say whether or not he looks like Baz, but he looks like a real dog, and a snooty and aloof one at that.’ He moved his head from side to side. ‘He stares out of the page, doesn’t he? You’re really talented, Daisy.’ He glanced at her and grinned. ‘Were you a good drawer at school, along with having the neatest pigtails in the class?’
She laughed. ‘I always loved art, though I’m not sure I was very good at primary school. It was something I discovered later, one summer term when I had glandular fever. I had to stay at home, so I entertained myself drawing. I’m still learning my craft.’
‘It’s not a craft. It’s a skill and you’re very gifted. If I had a dog I’d ask you to draw