JILL LANCHBERY
A Bucket of Ashes
Extract from Chapter 1: Joanna
'I understand that you lived in Nigeria at one time? Would you consider going there with me for a short visit, a week, maybe two at the most?'
She heard her own intake of breath and obviously conveyed her shock to Felix who paused before continuing.'I've long had an interest in West African national dress. I want to go into the towns and villages and really see for myself. I want someone who has some understanding of the people. Most of all I need a really good illustrator, someone who is able to capture the essence in a limited period.' He turned and looked at her.'I know of no one who is better qualified to do that job.'
'Nigeria?' The single word, almost whispered, sent a dozen confused messages to her brain. Dry-mouthed, Joanna fought for composure. Her first reaction was to reject his offer and she groped for the words to tell him politely that she could not go.
Until three weeks ago Sally had tolerated it. It was the price she paid, willingly, for loving Isaac; when she had thought that she and their daughters were his whole life. But now she knew that they weren't, the price of her sacrifice - their sacrifice because she was painfully aware of just how much the girls missed out on compared with their English cousins - seemed intolerably high.
'Tell me about Sally and her husband. Isaac, isn't it? How did you get to know them?' She knew that Tom's questions were born of nothing more than friendly interest but she did not want to discuss Nigeria with him. Joanna could not bring herself to mix her present life, which included Tom, with Ishola, which did not. For the time being at least she needed to separate what she saw as the two parts of her adult life.
'Oh, it's a long story. I'll tell you sometime. When I get back. Promise!'