‘Oh, they’re all very well; just the same as when you left them.’
As she sat down again he looked about the room and said, ‘You know, I can’t get over what you’ve done to this place.’ Then getting up and strolling to the mantelpiece he asked, ‘Where did you pick this up?’ He was looking at the carving and she rose and came to his side and she, too, looked at it before she said, ‘I didn’t pick it up anywhere. Mr…Vincent O’Connor gave it to me.’ She kept her eyes on the group as he turned his face towards her and asked, ‘Why did he do that?’
‘Oh, I don’t know; just to set the mantelpiece off, I think.’
‘Did he buy it for you?’
‘No, no.’ She turned and was now looking at him. ‘He carved it. He’s got a workshop full of these things. That’s his job.’
‘No kidding!’ He picked up the carving and, after turning it about one way and another, he said, ‘I don’t know much about the ins and outs of this kind of stuff but I should say it’s a fine piece of work. He’s caught the whole feeling of the thing.’
She stared at him; unlike herself he hadn’t been shocked by the elemental starkness of the group.
She asked softly, ‘Have you ever seen a lamb born?’
He glanced at her. ‘No, not until now. You know—’ he was drawing his finger over the back of the straining sheep—‘I bet you this would cost something if you went to buy it. It’s a beautiful piece of work. The fellow’s clever.’
‘Yes, I think he is.’
‘You would never guess it to look at him, although I got the impression that he ran the place down there, and not his father.’
‘I think you’re right there too’—she nodded—‘I think he makes the decisions.’
He put the carving back on the mantelpiece, saying, ‘I’ve got an idea that work and the old boy don’t agree.’
‘I’ve had something of the same idea myself.’ They smiled at each other; and presently he asked, ‘What about sleeping here, how do you find it?’
‘Wonderful,’ she said. ‘Not a sound.’
‘You weren’t afraid to be on your own?’
‘Not after the first night; and on that night the O’Connors brought the dog up with his box and left him outside.’
‘That was thoughtful of them.’
‘Yes; they’re all very thoughtful.’
‘I think you should give a special vote of thanks to Aunt Millie and Uncle Harry for finding this place for you, and the O’Connors.’
‘Yes, I must. And I’ll remember to do just that when they come out on Sunday.’
He got up abruptly, then went to the window and looked out into the deepening twilight, and without turning he asked, ‘Will they be bringing Ada with them?’
‘I shouldn’t think so. Why?’
‘Oh, nothing. Only you know I can’t stand her…I think I’ll go down and show myself to the O’Connors.’ He glanced back over his shoulder.
‘Yes, I would do that; they’d like to see you, I’m sure.’
‘You coming?’
‘Not tonight. I’d better stay put in case your father comes.’
The blank look took over from the smile on his face and without further comment he turned from her and left the house.
Constance arrived at the flat the following morning about eleven o’clock and found Jim just finishing his breakfast. He greeted her quite affably and, asking her if she would like a cup of coffee, then enquired where Peter was. ‘Oh, he’s gone to buy some books,’ she said, then paused before asking, ‘Did anything happen here yesterday?’
‘Happen?’ He screwed up his face at her. ‘What do you mean, happen?’
‘Well, did you have a row or anything?’
‘Me have a row with him? No; why should I? I saw him for only a short time. He came in early, had something to eat, talked a little about his trip, after’—he stressed the word—‘some persuasion, as always. Then he went to bed. I didn’t see him at all after that. Why do you ask?’
‘Oh, nothing.’
‘Don’t be stupid; it can’t be nothing, woman, there’s a reason why you asked. Has he said we had a row?’
‘No; he said you didn’t.’
‘Well, then, that endorses what I’ve just said, so why should you think we had?’
‘He…he seemed upset about something, that’s all.’
‘For God’s sake stop babying him…Upset!’ He shrugged his shoulders, then said, ‘Oh, by the way, Millie phoned this morning; she wanted to know if you were likely to be in town. I told her I didn’t know your movements, or words to that effect.’ He bowed his head gravely towards her, then added, ‘But I told her that if you did come in I’d tell you and perhaps you’d go round.’
‘Yes, all right. Have you seen anything of them lately?’
‘Not since the night we were at their place.’
‘They’re coming out on Sunday. Will you be there?’
‘I don’t see why not. Why miss a happy family party?’
She gave him no answer to this but asked, ‘How’s the work going?’
‘Pretty well.’
She allowed another pause before she said, ‘I’ve come in to look round for a flat, or a bungalow.’
He stared at her blankly. ‘I’ll never forgive you, Connie, if you sell this over my head.’ His voice was quiet.
She rose to her feet and turned her back towards him, saying in a hopeless tone, ‘How many times do I have to tell you before you believe me that the money is running out and fast. You’ve got to come to terms with it; it has to go.’
‘You can cut down. Look, do away with Mrs Thorpe; I can do what cleaning there is to be done. You know I can look after myself. That’s one thing you must give me credit for; if I’ve got to I can. You must admit, I’m having plenty of practice lately…Look, Connie’—his voice took on a pleading tone—‘I’ll sell the car.’
She turned and stared at him, and with pity in her gaze now. She wished, oh, she wished she could do what he asked, if only to keep the peace, but she knew it wasn’t possible. In two or three years’ time, if he added nothing to the exchequer, they would really be in trouble. ‘It’s no good,’ she said flatly. ‘It’s the overall cost, and I’ve told you I must build up the capital.’
‘But I’m in again.’ He spread his hands wide. ‘Another year and I’ll have money coming in. I can get the three hundred advance tomorrow if I ask for it.’
‘Three hundred advance, and a year before the book comes out. We’re living at the rate of three thousand a year…!’
As she turned from him his bark almost brought her from the ground. ‘Blast you and your money!’ The words seemed to bounce off the back of her head, and when she reached her room his voice was still coming at her. She stood, her eyes flicking nervously from one object to another. The whole block would hear him; the Thompsons below would be able to pick up every word.
Her hands clasped tightly together, she found herself longing to be back…up there. Life was different up there. In that house she could cope; here, with his voice still upbraiding her, she felt she would go to pieces at any moment and scream.
A few minutes later she was driving along the main road towards Millie’s.
When Millie opened the door to her she stared at her blankly, then said, ‘Why lass, you look as white as a sheet,’ but allowed Constance to pass before asking, ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Oh, the usual, Millie, money. He must think the bank manufactures it for us alone.’
In the living room Millie said, ‘Sit down; I’ll make a drink. I…I didn’t expect you so soon after Jim told me you weren’t at home.’ She went into the scullery and Constance called to her softly, ‘Is there anything wrong, Millie?’ But it was some seconds before Millie answered.
‘Yes, Connie,’ she said. ‘Yes, indeed, there is something wrong.’
‘She’s pregnant then?’
‘Aye, she is.’
‘You’re sure?’
�
��Yes. And that’s not all. There was hell to pay here last night. And it went on until the early hours.’
‘You mean with Harry…he knows?’
‘Yes. And he’ll never be the same again. But she didn’t say who it was until…until this morning, just afore he left for school.’
‘Is…is it anybody you know…local?’
As Millie stared at Constance there was no movement in her, neither in her hands, nor in her head, and her stillness brought a wave of sickness into Constance’s body; it was so strong that she almost retched with it, and she heard a faint voice whimpering inside her, saying, No, no! Not that. Oh my God! Not that. She could see Ada throwing herself onto Jim’s knee the last time they were in this room.
Both their faces were the colour of lint now. Then Millie whispered, ‘I’m afraid, Connie; I’m afraid he’ll want to kill him.’
The whimpering voice inside Constance said, Oh God, how I wish he would. Then Millie’s next words brought her to the edge of the chair, her mouth agape, her face strained with astonishment at what she was hearing. ‘That night you were here, Harry went into the bedroom. You remember? When she was playing her records. And he found them on the bed together. He told me after…I’m sorry lass, I’m sorry. I’d rather it not be him for the world…I don’t blame him, I don’t, believe me.’
‘You mean…you mean Peter?’ Constance’s voice was actually on the edge of a scream. ‘Peter and Ada! No! No! Millie, no! Never.’
She was experiencing feelings of relief and shock at the same time. But she could tackle the shock. Peter couldn’t stand Ada. She stood up, crying at Millie, ‘I won’t believe it, Millie! Not for one moment. Do you hear me? It was never Peter.’
‘I think it was, Connie.’ Millie’s voice was quiet. ‘I’m sorry, lass, but I think it was. You see, Ada has always been sweet on him. He doesn’t know that, but she has, and…and up to lately he’s never given her any encouragement. But you never know with youngsters. I told you, Harry said he found them on the bed together, and they hadn’t been in the room a few minutes.’
‘I won’t believe it. Do you hear me, Millie? I won’t believe it. I’ll see Peter now…now! I’ll bring him round…’
Her hands shaking, Millie straightened her apron and said, ‘I think it would be wiser to keep him at home, Connie, until Harry turns up, as he will after school. He’d have been round at dinner time only he’s on dinner duty. And another thing; I told him I didn’t think Peter was back from his holiday yet. But he was going round anyway.’
As Constance walked stiffly towards the door, she said, ‘Did she actually say it was him?’
‘Yes, Connie. I’m sorry. Oh, I’m heart sorry, lass. I would rather she had named anybody in the world but Peter. He’s such a good lad. I don’t blame him, I don’t; I know what she is: she would take a clothes prop down if it had trousers on. She’s me own, and I say it, but she’s no good. You can’t get him to see it though. He’s besotted with her: she can twist him round her finger like she can almost any man. As you know, Connie, I’ve had this since she was thirteen and I’ve never known a day’s peace, and I’ve had to put a face on things because of him. He’s always laid so much stock on her; if there had been another one it might have been different. But you know all this. You know all this.’
‘I still don’t believe it, Millie.’ Constance’s voice was quiet now, but there was less conviction in it, for she was remembering Peter’s manner when he arrived at Shekinah yesterday and which had made her think he’d had a row with Jim. And she was also remembering the night of his birthday, when she found him with the nude pictures on his bed.
At the door she said from between tight lips, ‘Do you think Harry’ll come straight round from school?’
‘Yes; yes, I do, Connie.’
‘Then will you come round to the flat with him, Millie, for I…I might have to say things that he won’t believe unless you are there to confirm them.’
Again they were staring hard at each other, and after a moment Millie said sadly, ‘I understand; and I don’t blame you.’
‘What! What did you say?’ Peter was yelling as he pushed his hands through his thick hair. ‘You must be joking!’
‘Peter, I’m…I’m not joking and…and you know I’m not. You were upset yesterday. I knew there was something…‘
‘Now look here!’ It was he who was screaming now. ‘That had nothing to do with it, nothing whatever. Good God! Talk about circumstantial evidence. I could tell you what was wrong with me yesterday, but…but I won’t. I won’t!’
‘Tell me.’
‘No. Anyway, that’s beside the point. You mean to stand there and say openly that you believe that I…with her! Ada! I wouldn’t touch her with a boat hook! You know I can’t stand her. You know I can’t…’
‘Listen. Listen, Peter.’
He had backed from her and she held out her hand to him and implored, ‘Listen to me, please.’
‘I won’t! I won’t! You believe it! You really believe it!’
‘I don’t, Peter. But…but you’ve got to explain about the night in the bedroom.’
‘The night in where?’
‘When you went along to her room to hear the records and your Uncle Harry went in and…’
‘Oh, Mam! You mean to say…you mean to say that he’s accusing me because of that?’
‘Not…not that alone. Ada says—’
‘Ada’s a liar!’ He was screaming again. ‘That night in the room she pulled my tie off and threw herself on me and whirled me round and we fell on the bed. That was it; that was all. We hadn’t been in the room five minutes, so how could—?’
‘He’s going on the theory that if you were…carrying on…’ She shook her head and screwed up her face against his expression. ‘I’m only repeating what your Aunt Millie thinks. She says that if…if you were carrying on like that then…well, there must have been other occasions—’
‘They’re liars. I’ve not been alone with her for almost a year, and she was so forward then I swore it would never happen again. And…and that night…well you know yourself I was pushed into going along to her room…Look’—he stretched his neck out of his collar—‘I’m going along there this minute and I’ll throttle the truth out of her.’
‘It’s no use; you won’t find her there. Your Aunt Millie and Uncle Harry will be here any minute now. I’ve…I’ve been waiting for you to come in all afternoon to…to prepare you. Where’ve you been?’
He looked at her grimly for a moment. ‘I told you last night. I…I had to see a fellow.’
Then, as now, she didn’t believe him.
He stood leaning over the back of the couch as if he were easing a pain in his stomach, and from that position he asked, ‘Does he know about this?’
‘No.’
At this moment the key turned in the front door and the sound brought Peter’s body stiffly upwards, and, going round the couch and sitting down, still with his back to her, he said, ‘Go and tell him.’
When she didn’t move he turned his bleached face to her and he repeated in a harsh whisper, ‘Go on. Go on. Tell him.’
She went into the hall and there saw Jim taking off his coat. She waited for him to hang it in the wardrobe, before she said, ‘May…may I have a word with you in the study?’
He turned towards her, his face no longer filled with anger as she had last seen it. ‘What is it? What’s the matter?’
She walked from him and up the four steps into his room, and he followed, and when he had closed the door he said again, ‘What is it?’ And Constance, hardly able to control her voice, told him.
At one period in the telling she saw a flicker of amusement cross his countenance, but in the main he took the matter seriously. ‘She’s an artful little bitch, that,’ he said. ‘And a tart, if ever I saw one.’
Her answer to this could have been, You should know, but then it really wouldn’t have been applicable, for her husband didn’t go in for tarts. She had oft
en wished he had; it would have simplified matters. He said to her now, ‘Has he denied it?’
‘Absolutely. And I believe him.’
‘Oh, you would. That’s understandable.’ Then softening a little, he added, ‘But in this particular case I am inclined to agree with you. He wouldn’t have the guts to go for her, not Ada. She could, though, have seduced him. She can rape you with her eyes, that one.’
Bitch; tart; seduced; rape; the words were all distasteful to her. She hated the people and the things they represented, and he seemed to sense this and said, ‘Well, this should bring you down to earth, if anything could. These things happen.’
‘I…I don’t need anything like this to bring me down to earth, as you put it. And forget about me for the moment and think of what you’re going to say to Harry.’
‘What I’m going to say to Harry!’ His voice rose. ‘I’ve got nothing to say to Harry. If I know Harry it’ll be he who’ll do the saying. What I might say to him, though, is, he’s asked for everything his daughter’s got, because he’s made a fool of her since she was born.’
‘That won’t help now.’
‘Where is he…Peter?’
‘In the lounge. He’s…he’s terribly angry.’
‘Well, that’s no proof of his innocence.’ As he opened the door he paused and asked, ‘What do you think she’s after, money? Because she’s a mercenary little bitch.’
‘I think it’s him she wants. Millie…Millie says she’s always had her eye on him.’
‘You don’t say! Well’—his mouth fell open—‘well, I’ll be damned. And this is one way of getting him. It’s been done before, this trick, you know; it’s as old as the hills. But if he’s been with her he hasn’t a leg to stand on.’
‘He hasn’t!’ She snapped the retort and he said, ‘All right. All right. Have it your way. You know. Oh, you know.’
Before they reached the foot of the study staircase the bell rang and they looked at each other. Then Jim, squaring his shoulders and buttoning up his jacket, marched to the door, and once again he opened it to his brother and sister-in-law…and Ada.
The Solace of Sin Page 11
