The Girl in the Picture. Kerry Barrett

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      I owe one big thank you to my lovely friend Becky Knowles. One day, as we strolled round an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, she wondered aloud what it would have been like to have been a female artist at the time, and inadvertently gave birth to Violet Hargreaves.

       I’d also like to thank my editor Victoria Oundjian for her help and support, and wish her lots of luck in her new role. And, as always, thanks to the team at HQ Digital, my family, friends and all my readers.

Chapter 1

      Present day

      Ella

      ‘It’s perfect,’ Ben said. ‘It’s the perfect house for us.’

      I smiled at the excitement in his voice.

      ‘What’s it like?’ I asked. I was in bed because I was getting over a sickness bug but suddenly I felt much better. I sat up against the headboard and looked out of the window into the grey London street. It was threatening to rain and the sky was dark even though it was still the afternoon.

      ‘I’ll send you some pictures,’ Ben said. ‘You’ll love it. Sea view, of course, quiet but not isolated …’ He paused. ‘And …’ He made an odd noise that I thought was supposed to be a trumpet fanfare.

      ‘What?’ I said, giggling. ‘What else does it have?’

      Ben was triumphant. ‘Only a room in the attic.’

      ‘No,’ I said in delight. ‘No way. So it could be a study?’

      ‘Yes way,’ said Ben. ‘See? It’s made for us.’

      I glanced over at my laptop, balanced on the edge of my dressing table that doubled as a desk, which in turn was squeezed into the corner of our bedroom. We’d been happy here in this poky terraced house. Our boys had been born here. СКАЧАТЬ