Free Picture Perfect by Lilac Lacey

a rectangle, slightly darker than its surroundings.
    ‘That seems most unlikely,’ Justine said with a giggle, ‘the painting must simply be being cleaned. The theft on Monday is causing you to imagine the worst.’ She turned to Annabel. ‘Did you know about it? It has been thoroughly reported in the Gazette.’
    ‘I was there, at the Dulwich Gallery that evening, at the viewing.’ Annabel shot Mr Denham a puzzled look. He seemed extremely concerned by the loss of Lord Lockton’s painting.
    ‘It’s not being cleaned,’ Mr Denham said grimly. ‘It was here earlier this evening. Not even the most devoted of servants take down a painting to be cleaned in the middle of a ball. It has been stolen.’
    ‘How shocking,’ Justine said. She did not look at all shocked, Annabel thought, but rather appeared to be trying to humour Mr Denham. ‘Shall we find Lord Lockton and tell him of his misfortune?’
    ‘No,’ Mr Denham caught at Justine’s arm as if he thought she were about to fly off immediately. ‘Neither of you are to say anything. The thief may still be on the premises. You can see the painting is rather large, it would not be easy to get it out of the house quickly.’
    Justine frowned. ‘You’re taking this all far too seriously, Jack,’ she said and Annabel felt her heart clench on hearing her intimate use of Mr Denham’s Christian name. Perhaps they were old friends who had known each other since childhood and considered each other as brother and sister, she told herself in an attempt to put things into perspective, but somehow it seemed unlikely, Justine had sounded far too possessive.
    Mr Denham ignored her advice. ‘Go back to your families now,’ he said. ‘They will be growing anxious about you. And remember; don’t say anything about the painting. I’m going to see what I can find out.’
    Annabel had a sudden vision of her mother, worried about her and trying to hide it by making sensible suggestions which she couldn’t imagine either of the Beresfords listening to and suddenly she was more than ready to return. ‘Please come with me,’ she said to Justine who looked as if she were about to protest at Mr Denham’s pre-emptory orders.
    ‘Allow me to escort you,’ said Mr Denham in a tone that brooked no argument, and once again Annabel was only too glad to let him take charge.
     
    ‘ Darling!’ hearing the relief in Mrs Black’s voice, Annabel was glad she had decided to return when she did. ‘You father has ordered the carriage, it should be here shortly. Come with me to collect your pelisse. We shall wait in the vestibule.’
    ‘But what about the Beresfords?’ Annabel asked, gesturing at them.
    ‘It has all been arranged, my dear,’ Lady Beresford said rather firmly, as if she were trying to convince herself that all was for the best. ‘The three of you will call upon us tomorrow afternoon.’
    ‘We’ll soon have this nonsense sorted out,’ Lord Beresford began, but his wife shot him a reproving look and he subsided.
    ‘We shall bid you good night, then,’ Mrs Black said politely.
    ‘Good night,’ Lady Beresford said, her eyes on Annabel. ‘Take care, little Hannah.’ Annabel suddenly found herself in an embrace of silk and scent and then just as quickly Lady Beresford let her go and hurried off as if she couldn’t bear to see her walk away.
     
    Jack watched the two graceful silhouettes as Annabel and Justine were momentarily framed in the entranceway to the corridor. They were exactly the same height and both looked radiantly beautiful in their long, trained evening dresses. Everything seemed far more complicated than it had only that morning. Then the two girls passed out of sight and he returned to Lord Lockton’s gallery examine the area where the missing picture had hung.
    As he had thought, it told him little, the painting had been carefully removed and there were no clues. He cast around. The thieves could not have spirited the picture away through the