Prologue

Dear Nell

How lovely it will be to see you again after all these years! I always feel that I know you because of Kate; she always keeps me up to date with all of the news, good and bad! I’m sorry about all the dreadful things that have happened to you over recent months. I hope that you don’t feel too bad about being exiled to good old NZ. It’s not such a bad place, really! Those of us who choose to remain despite the call to move across the ‘ditch’ (to Oz) quite like it here, although I have to say I find Auckland quite different from Wellington but at least Auckland holds none of those horrible memories for me that Wellington does, except I do rather stupidly seem to have brought some with me! At least you will be able to escape your’s entirely by coming down here.

Anyway, I am writing to you for a reason. I want to ask how you how you feel about meeting me in Sydney. Kate tells me you’ve booked a stopover there for a few days. I will be there at the same time. I’ve got to take over some of my friend Eliza’s paintings for a show and it might be nice to spend some time checking out the nightlife! Actually, I do have an ulterior motive in asking this. There are some things I need to talk over with you before you get to Auckland - and you don’t know how relieved I am that you are coming Nell! There are some odd things going on here - maybe dangerous(?) things -no! on second thoughts, I’m probably just exaggerating, dramatising, which is odd when I’ve always seen myself as a calm, pragmatic (boring!) person.

I’m not sure but I think I’m being pursued by someone! I’d rather not be, of course, at least not by this particular person. Too much history there and that can be dangerous. You think you know someone until you meet the dark side!! Then there has been this crazy mix up with money. But you don’t want to know that! Sorry I am just rambling. It is late and I’m tired. Anyway, it would be nice to meet up with you in Sydney - we get to know each other again.

Please don’t mention to Kate that I’ve got any worries because she has her own way of coping and it’s not the same as mine. In fact, better not mention that we’ve been in touch at all except for the communication we’ve been having via her! Once a big sister, always a big sister! But I’m tired of having my life controlled for me! I’m a grown-up now! Anyway, it’s not that I don’t want Kate to know anything, it’s just that I’d rather she weren’t involved because she seems to think that only she can sort out my life for me! Fight my battles for me! Except this time, I think this is a battle that only I can fight. This sounds bad but it’s not - at least I don’t think so anyway. Send me your email address and I’ll send you a message when I get to Sydney (or if I get to Sydney since it’s not definite yet) and let you know where I’ll be staying.

Fran Ashton’s last communication to her. There was no follow-up. She never got in touch after that.

I could have just missed her in Sydney, thought Nell Pargeter, or perhaps she sent an email to the wrong address; perhaps she forgot; perhaps she didn’t have time; perhaps something else came up; perhaps...perhaps...