The Immortalisation of Edgar

Part 1

"Well, that can't be right." Cat glanced between her phone and the towering wrought iron gates in a mix of disbelief and dismay.

Pulling on the handbrake, she stabbed at the screen before holding the ringing phone to her ear.

"Hey, Cat!"

"Who did you say this job was for?"

"Why? Is everything okay?"

Cat sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm not sure yet. Can you remember the name?"

"Of course I remember. I mean. Hang on..."

Cat sank back against the headrest as she listened to her housemate, Sophie, rustling though a stack of papers in the background.

"Lady Haddersleigh."

"Lady like Lady Gaga or Lady like Downton Abbey?"

"How am I supposed to know? She sounded proper posh though—"

"Cheers, Soph." Cat cut her off with a groan.

Letting the phone fall onto her lap, Cat looked at the imposing gates before staring down at her ripped, stained overalls. Pulling down the sun visor, she squinted at her reflection. Dried clay was streaked across one cheek and her long dark brown hair had so many strands of dusty grey smeared through it, she looked like a skunk. Just great. She thought with a groan. I'd have gone home and changed first if I'd known.

"Hello?"

Cat jumped a foot out of her seat, smacking her forehead on the sun visor in the process. A red light flashed on a small metal box beside the gate. Rubbing her forehead, Cat clambered out of her car.

"Hello? Can I help you?" the voice sounded again.

"Erm, yes. I'm Cat. Here to see Lady Haddersleigh?"

"Oh, the sculptor? Caterina DaVinci, of course. Please enter."

Before Cat could respond, the gates began to creak open. She jogged back to the car and started the engine, momentarily forgetting her trepidation. Beyond the gates, a well-maintained path wound its way amongst dense trees, which arched across the road in an emerald tunnel. When the car emerged back into the spring sunshine, her jaw slackened at the sight before her. A fountain as tall as her terraced house stood, adorned by nymphs and cupids as they sprayed each other merrily with water, in front of the enormous house. No. Not house. Mansion. It was easily the grandest building she'd ever laid eyes on, with more windows than she could count and large stone lions at the bottom of steep steps leading up to ornate white doors. The doors began to open even as she stepped out of her car.

"Sorry!" she called to the man dressed in a smart dark suit, standing expectantly at the door. "Where should I park?"

"Just leave it there with your keys and it will be taken care of."

The words dripped from his lips in such a reassuring, confident tone, Cat didn't think twice. She placed the key back in the now silent ignition, closed the door and began climbing the pristine stone steps.

"Good morning, Miss." The man inclined his head as he stepped aside, gesturing for Cat to enter. "My name is Francis. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you are in need of anything while you are here."

"Nice to meet you, Francis," Cat grinned, sticking her hand in his direction.

Francis stared at her clay encrusted fingers and scribblings of ink, his eyebrows raised in barely concealed dismay, before shaking it briefly. "Please follow me."

It was like walking through a museum. Giant oil paintings of regal looking men and woman, contained in extravagant gold frames adorned every wall, alongside rich pattered wallpaper and thick lavish curtains. She tried not to think of her tiny room with its peeling paint, in the slice of house she shared with Sophie.

"Lady Haddersleigh."

Cat found herself stopped at the entrance to a room which appeared to be doused in gold: the frames of chairs, the moulding on the ceiling and the tassels on the curtains. Beside the window, perched in one of the high backed, golden chairs, sat a tiny old woman, her hands folded neatly on her lap with a delicate cup and saucer on a dark wood table beside her. Cat wondered whether she should curtsey.

"Miss DaVinci." She smiled, her wrinkles shifting to reveal pearly teeth. "I'm honoured that you have accepted my invitation to immortalise my dearest Edgar. Such an honour!"

Cat stepped into the room, words failing her. An honour?

"To think, after generations of sculptors working with the Haddersleigh family, we have enlisted the descendant of one of the greatest artists in history!"

Cat's heart sank into her shoes. In front of her, the tiny woman's eyes shone with excitement. She could lie, of course. But they'd realise eventually.

"I'm afraid there must have been some mistake," Cat mumbled.

"Speak up dear."

Cat stepped closer. "I said, I think there must have been some mistake. It's Davenshay, not DaVinci."

The smile froze on Lady Haddersleigh's face as she glanced between Cat and Francis in confusion.

"It's a common mistake," Cat offered.

Lady Haddersleigh frowned ever so slightly, before reaching for her delicate cup and saucer. Taking a sip, she eyed Cat quizzically. "But you are indeed a sculptor? Is that correct?"

"Absolutely."

"My friend, Delores, spoke very highly of you and your work."

Cat racked her brain for a moment before recalling the adorably eccentric woman she'd created a piece for a few months ago. "Oh! Mrs Morris? She's a wonderful woman."

Lady Haddersleigh smiled. "Yes. She is." She rose from her chair with more ease than Cat was expecting and motioned for her to follow. "Come with me, Caterina."

Cat followed her down a long corridor which opened out into a large, well-lit room where marble pedestals stood in between tall plants. On each pedestal perched a delicate, carved sculpture of a dog. At first, she thought it was the same dog, but upon closer inspection she realised they were all slightly different, albeit the same breed. Beneath each sculpture was a small plaque with a name and date going back hundreds of years. Cat was equally incredulous and impressed.

"I'm so happy that Edgar will join his ancestors here in this room," Lady Haddersleigh sighed beside her.

Cat smiled. Of course, Edgar was a dog. "I'd be honoured to add to this impressive family tradition."

Her response seemed to please the elderly lady and she took Cat's elbow leading her to a dark cosy room, where a small brown dog lay snoring in a plush, red velvet dog bed.

"Caterina, meet Edgar."

"A pleasure." Cat smiled at the tiny old sleeping dog. "Would you like me to get started? I need to do some sketches and take some photos, if that's okay?"

Lady Haddersleigh smiled and nodded. "Of course! Please call for Francis if you need anything."