‘It’s still classed as assault. You could call the police.’
‘And waste their time? I don’t think so. But do me a favour, Charlotte, and remind me to stick to subjects, in future, which have nothing to do with this city.’
‘Oh, Anna.’ Charlotte sighed. ‘Don’t let them win. They’re not worth it.’
‘No they’re not.’ But Anna felt drained. There was no fight left in her. And why should she have to fight for her relationship anyway? Why was Daniel letting Lucinda get away with this?
When she stepped back out into the gallery, there were only a few stragglers left, and thankfully Lucinda wasn’t among them.
‘Why don’t you get off home and I’ll finish things up here?’ Charlotte said.
Anna laughed but without any mirth in her voice. ‘Ever had the feeling of déjà vu?’
Charlotte smiled back. ‘Yes, this is becoming a bit of a habit. I wonder what the next exhibition has in store for us?’
Anna couldn’t think that far ahead. All she knew was that it wouldn’t be here.
‘But, despite that little hiccup,’ Charlotte continued, ‘tonight was a success. Most of your pictures have already been sold. Just remember that and don’t dwell on the rest.’
Daniel came towards them. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine, just a little sticky. Nothing that a shower won’t fix.’
‘I can’t believe she did that,’ he said.
Anna nodded. ‘It surprised me too. But I’m having to learn to put nothing past these women.’
‘What I don’t understand is why Verity did it.’ Daniel frowned.
‘I think that’s easy enough to work out. Someone put her up to it.’
‘What? You mean Lucinda?’
‘Of course I mean Lucinda.’
‘But she was with me.’
‘Of course she was. Playing little Miss Innocent, while commandeering your attention as usual.’
‘No, I really don’t think—’
‘No, Daniel, you don’t. That’s the problem.’ She paused. ‘Look, it’s been a long night and I’m tired. Can we just get a taxi home?’
‘Yes, of course.’
They sat in the taxi in an uncomfortable silence. She was furious that Daniel couldn’t see the game Lucinda was playing, but she was tired of it going round in her head.
‘I’m sorry tonight ended this way,’ Daniel said eventually. ‘The exhibition was a success, though. Everyone was blown away by the photos.’
‘Not everyone.’ Anna remembered Verity’s words.
‘Everyone who counts,’ he said.
‘They’re just photographs of a much-photographed city, that’s all,’ she said, quoting Verity. What good was taking them even doing? She’d wanted this kind of success all her life but, now she had it, it felt hollow. Perhaps it was the effect of the explosion, perhaps it was Eva, but she suddenly realised she wanted her photographs to do more, to make a change in some way, to make people see things differently. What use were pictures of buildings to the world?
‘I think you’re doing yourself down,’ Daniel said.
Anna sighed. She was too tired to make any sense of it tonight.
