A Village Deception (Turnham Malpas 15)

by Shaw, Rebecca

  ‘Where is she now?’

  ‘Same address, I understand.’

  ‘You should write. I would if she was mine.’

  ‘Not after the life I led as a child, you wouldn’t.’

  ‘Yes, I would. Nothing that you can do in this world will ever make her not your mother. And you will always be her son, whatever—’

  The door burst open and the crowd from the church hall poured in, all demanding to be served at the same time, so worked up were they about what had been said.

  ‘Paddy? Let’s finish our drinks and we’ll go to my place. OK?’

  ‘That’s fine by me. Are you sure?’

  ‘I wouldn’t ask you if I wasn’t.’

  ‘No, of course not.’

  ‘I’ll go first and then you come. I’ll leave the door ajar, then you won’t have to knock.’

  Paddy nodded. As he watched her leave, he did think that maybe tonight was the night to admit to the world they were as people say, ‘an item’. Why not? They were and, the more they saw of each other, the more convinced he became. But then the frightening thought that really they were not suited entered his head. Her with her education and her musical background and the people she knew and the marvellously wonderful things she did to earn her living bore no relationship to his past life, nor his present. He was trying to bring them together through music but, in his darker moments he knew he was merely on the foothills while she had already reached the pinnacle. He knew he would never catch up with her musically.

  Had he but known it, while he was saying goodnight to Dicky and Georgie, Tamsin was at home thinking similar thoughts. It was no good them thinking no one knew they were seeing each other. She’d noticed the elbow nudge Marie gave Zack as she said goodnight to them as she left the pub. But what would Paddy think about it? Maybe he preferred the secrecy because he’d no intention of it being anything other than a casual friendship. But she’d found that that wasn’t what she wanted at all.

  She heard the soft click of the door as Paddy came in. She decided to go for it.

  Paddy, as he clicked the door shut, thought: Tonight’s the night to come clean about how he felt. He could hear her in the kitchen filling the kettle, and he went straight in there. One look was all it took and they were in each other’s arms, kissing and hugging as though this would be their very last chance ever.

  Five minutes it took before they broke apart and began to laugh with a surging, overwhelming happiness, the like of which neither of them had experienced before.

  Breathless, Paddy said, ‘It’s no good, we’ll have to admit it.’

  ‘We can’t pussyfoot about any longer, can we?’

  ‘Absolutely not. I love you.’

  ‘And I, Tamsin Verity Goodenough, love you. Very, very much indeed. There. I’ve never said that before, but I can’t help myself. I’m not supposed to love anybody, but I do love you.’

  ‘Not supposed to?’ Paddy thought she meant he wasn’t right for her, that he didn’t match up to her aspirations for a lover.

  ‘I mean, I have always said I would never marry … Sorry, we haven’t said we want to marry, have we? I do apologise.’

  ‘But that’s what I want. Don’t you? Do you?’ Paddy trembled at the thought of his temerity to say such a thing to such a wonderful woman. How dare he? She’d probably turn him out.

  Tamsin placed her hand in his and held it tight. ‘Is that a proposal?’

  Paddy had to admit she was right about that. ‘Well, yes it is. Yes, it is.’

  ‘Better say it right then. I, Patrick Callum Cleary, bachelor of this parish, request that you …’

  He had to laugh. Life was going to be such fun! So he said his line and she, Tamsin Verity Goodenough, said hers, and they kissed solemnly to seal their agreement.

  ‘I’ve got champagne in the fridge.’

  ‘You planned this?’

  Tamsin nodded.

  Paddy laughed. ‘But I want it understood, for my part, that I don’t want any shenanigans beforehand. You understand me? I want our first night together to be the very first. The very best, ever. A new, fresh start. A new beginning, like it should be. I feel very strongly about that.’

  Tamsin was surprised by this outburst of Paddy’s, to the point of amazement. This wasn’t something she’d expected, nor had she wanted it this way, but if he wanted it then so be it.

  Somehow this decision of his made their future plans very much more special than she had expected.

  ‘Except I won’t want us to wait for months to get married, like some people do. You know, getting married August of next year, or something.’

  ‘No, neither would I. Open the champagne, Paddy.’ Tamsin got out the two glasses from her kitchen cupboard that came the nearest to champagne flutes, and placed them on her best tray. The cork flew out, hit the ceiling, and left a dent in it.

  ‘I shall never get rid of that dent! It will always remind us of tonight.’

  ‘To the two of us!’ Paddy raised his glass, then tapped his gently against hers. They each took a sip and laughed.

  ‘To the two of us! Oh, Paddy! I’m so thrilled! I’m so glad that we’ve decided.’

  ‘So am I! When shall it be?’

  ‘Let’s make it a month from today. We’ve got banns and things to do, so it can’t be any earlier than that. Here in the church? Oh! No, perhaps you’ll want it in a Catholic church? I don’t mind if you do.’

  ‘No, here is where I’d like it best. Where we both belong.’

  ‘Greta and Vince will be glad. Shall we go down there right now and take the rest of the champagne with us?’

  Paddy nodded. It was so wonderful how she knew what would make him, and the people he cared about, happy.

  The front door of Greta and Vince’s house was open to allow some fresh air in so they knocked and shouted at the same time, to find them in the kitchen sitting by the back door to catch the best of the through draught.

  ‘Hello! What’s this?’ Greta stood up, a broad grin beginning to spread across her face. ‘Something special? It is. You’ve got champagne!’

  Paddy put the champagne down on the table so his hands were free and, taking hold of Tamsin’s hand, he announced in grave tones but with delight written all over his face, ‘I am a very lucky man. Tamsin has agreed to marry me.’

  Vince was deeply affected by the news, having grown to think of Paddy as his son. Greta had tears brimming in her eyes. ‘Oh! That’s the most wonderful news! When did you decide this?’

  ‘Just now, after the meeting. So we’ve come down here to share it with you. Champagne to celebrate?’ Tamsin held up the bottle, her face a picture of love and delighted surprise.

  ‘Vince! Come on! Get some glasses out.’

  After the first flush of excitement it dawned on Greta what this would mean. She hated the idea of losing him. ‘I expect you’ll be going to live with Tamsin in her house right now then, Paddy?’

  ‘I most certainly will not. We haven’t decided on anything at all, but we have decided we’re doing it right. I shall stay here, if that’s all right with you, until the wedding day and when we come back from our honeymoon,’ he glanced at Tamsin for approval and she nodded, ‘I shall move to Tamsin’s.’

  Greta flung her arms round Paddy and hugged him close, whispering in his ear that she was delighted for him. ‘It’s the best thing that could have happened to you. We’ve been waiting and watching, hoping for the best.’

  ‘You knew?’

  Vince, slightly heady with the champagne, declared, ‘Honestly, Paddy. How could you imagine no one knew? You must still be wet behind the ears.’

  Tamsin asked, ‘Are you pleased, Greta? Because I am.’

  ‘I’ll give you a hug too! He couldn’t have found a lovelier person in all the world, he couldn’t. We’re delighted, Vince and me. Here, let me give you a kiss.’

  So Greta hugged Tamsin and looked from one to the other with such delight that it almost brought tears to Tamsin’s eyes.
‘I’m so pleased you’re so pleased at our news.’

  ‘We definitely are. He’s been playing that flute morning, noon and night, he’s been that determined to please you. What with you and your musical unstruments and Paddy with his, there’ll be no time for conversation in your house. It’ll be a white wedding then?’ Greta looked hopefully between the two of them.

  ‘Of course. But simple, not all lace, frothy net and sparkles. Something kind of dignified.’

  ‘That would be lovely. You know, when our Barry married Pat, her being a widow, they didn’t have a white wedding and they had just the one bridesmaid, that being Michelle of course. It’ll be lovely all done proper. I like a fresh flower head-dress, do you, Tamsin? They looks so … Well, I don’t know what exactly, but lovely anyway.’

  ‘We haven’t got as far as that yet, Greta, but you will come, won’t you? You must sit on the top table because both my parents died a long time ago and Paddy …’

  Greta promptly stepped in with a remark she thought important to make. ‘You’ll be asking your mother, won’t you, Paddy?’

  ‘Well …’

  ‘You must. Write to her and warn her. She’ll want to come, I’m sure of that. If one of my other boys was getting married, I’d want to be there. Wouldn’t we, Vince?’

  Vince nodded, but not very convincingly. ‘We’ll see. Except we don’t know where they are, either of ’em.’

  Greta snapped, with bitterness in her voice, ‘Don’t bring that up right now, if you don’t mind. Does Peter know yet?’

  ‘No, we only decided tonight!’

  Paddy walked Tamsin home and they stood on her doorstep to say goodnight.

  ‘Paddy! I want you to know that I shall do my very best to be the best wife in all the world.’

  ‘And it’s the same for me.’ Paddy turned to leave, decided he needed another kiss, and turned back for one more. Just as he was leaving for the second time, Tamsin said, ‘I shall want children, you know. Shall you?’

  ‘Children? Children? I hadn’t thought of that. My God! I hadn’t.’ Paddy smote his forehead with the flat of his hand. ‘I don’t know if I’m clever enough to be a father.’

  ‘I don’t know if I’m clever enough to be a mother, but we could try together, couldn’t we? We’re not complete idiots.’

  ‘But what about your music?’

  Tamsin’s lovely green eyes sparkled with laughter. ‘I shall have to let it play second fiddle for a few years.’

  They both burst out laughing. Then Paddy sobered up and said hesitantly, ‘I’m not sure about what Greta said.’

  ‘About your mother? I should love her to come, for your sake, but it’s up to you. Only you can decide.’

  ‘Would you really like her to come?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then I’ll think about it. Goodnight, and thank you for making me the happiest man alive tonight. I never thought you felt the same.’ Paddy kissed his index finger and placed it on her lips as a goodnight salute, then he went off home doing the Sailor’s Hornpipe with his heart full of joy.

  While Paddy was dancing down Shepherd’s Hill, Greta was saying. ‘Isn’t it lovely? Paddy and Tamsin, I’m so pleased.’ She dashed a tear away from her eye, ‘It’s lovely. We’ll have to give them a right royal send-off. And I’m proud of them for not living together, it shows how much they care about each other. I know everyone does it nowadays, but somehow their decision feels good through and through.’

  ‘Exactly,’ said Vince, shaking the last drops of champagne out of the bottle into his glass. ‘Better than those other two, Venetia and Harry. I mean, fancy Peter, of all people, finding them at it! At least our two know how to behave decent, like.’

  ‘It is funny though, her disappearing like she has. Harry says he hasn’t heard from her, which is odd, don’t you think? He confronted Jeremy, would you believe, and all he’ll say is that she’s gone to stay with her mother. I didn’t even know she had a mother.’

  ‘That’s plain daft, she must have. Venetia didn’t just materialise!’

  ‘No, I know, but you see what I mean? It is funny. Harry being mad about her and her disappearing without any warning, and him not hearing from her, what with all this text business and mobiles and that, to say nothing of emails.’

  Vince answered by saying, ‘He’ll have murdered ’er.’

  Greta asked, ‘Who will have?’

  ‘Harry. He’s been away to get rid of the body somewhere.’

  ‘Sometimes you can be absolutely daft. Talk about way off the mark. Listen, that’s Paddy back. Perhaps he’ll want to talk about wedding plans. We’re in the kitchen, Paddy!’

  Vince wasn’t the only one who had macabre thoughts about Venetia’s disappearance. It did seem very odd. Harry disappears without a word to anyone and then, the very next day, everyone finds out that Venetia has also disappeared. But, and this was the big but, if they had gone away together, they wouldn’t have taken both their cars, now would they? It didn’t make sense. So … Maybe it was right what Jeremy had said. Venetia really had gone to see her mother. But considering the way her and Harry had carried on before they both disappeared, why had she not communicated? On the other hand, he hadn’t communicated to anyone either, except he’d come back with this tale about a family funeral. But don’t forget that he’d never said whose funeral it was. And what was wrong with saying, ‘Shan’t be here for a few days, I’ve got a funeral to go to.’

  These and dozens of other explanations were being discussed everywhere anyone met. In the store, in the church hall at the embroidery group meeting on Monday afternoons, in the bar, after church, and even eventually at the school, when the mothers collected together at going-home time. The more they all talked about it, the more mysterious the whole matter became.

  Even Kate Fitch discussed the matter that week over dinner. ‘The mothers are all talking about it. It really is odd. How does Jeremy seem?’

  ‘Honestly, Kate! As if I know how he’s coping. He’s probably glad to have her off his back for a while. You know I don’t get involved in my employees’ private affairs. He certainly doesn’t appear upset, not like I’d be if you’d gone off.’

  ‘Ask him. And if you won’t, I will.’

  ‘It’s none of our business.’

  ‘She is one of your employees.’

  ‘One of our employees, you mean.’

  ‘Put like that, then I shall ask. After school tomorrow, as soon as I get back.’

  As good as her word, Kate went straight to Jeremy’s office after school. She knew immediately he was upset because he was just finishing a Mars bar, and he hadn’t munched Mars bars since he’d had that heart attack and made a big effort to lose his excess weight.

  Jeremy hastily popped the wrapper in his bin. ‘Hello, Kate, what can I do for you?’

  Kate thought, he might sound jolly and welcoming, but he didn’t look it, anything but. ‘Just thought I’d pop in and see how you were faring with Venetia still away. I’m assuming she isn’t home yet?’

  ‘No. Another week, she thinks. Her mother’s not at all well.’

  ‘I see. How about if you come for dinner one night, it must be lonely without her.’

  Jeremy hesitated. ‘Well … most kind, but I won’t intrude. Mr Fitch sees enough of me during working hours.’

  ‘No, please come if you wish, we’d be delighted.’

  Jeremy got up and wandered over to the window and she noticed his hands were trembling as he clasped them behind his back. ‘Thank you all the same, but no. Very kind.’

  ‘If you’re sure?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘She’ll be back soon then, you think?’

  He nodded and Kate left, bewildered. She’d noticed his trembling hands; maybe he missed her more than any of them could possibly imagine. Love could affect people in very different ways. So she reported back to Craddock that Jeremy was expecting her back in about a week. Rather sceptically, Craddock replied, ‘Mmm. Only time wi
ll tell.’

  ‘Are you thinking she’s left him for good?’

  ‘Frankly, I don’t care.’

  ‘You should. You’ve known him for a long time, you’ve finally knocked him into shape, and he is very useful to you. You’ve said so yourself.’

  Craddock blew a circle of cigar smoke into the air and remarked very coldly, ‘He’s a fool to care for her. She’s worthless. Not worth anyone’s devotion.’

  ‘Harry must think a lot of her.’

  ‘He’s equally worthless.’

  ‘Harry? But everybody likes him, what makes you say that?’

  ‘It seems to me that there’s a lot more to Harry Dickinson than meets the eye.’

  ‘Yes. He’s a nice, decent, friendly chap doing a good job for Jimbo.’

  ‘Believe that if you wish.’

  ‘Is there something I don’t know, and you do? Something Jimbo should know?’

  ‘To be honest, Kate, my darling, I know nothing. It’s simply my gut instinct. That’s absolutely all.’

  ‘I see.’ Kate decided to let the subject drop for the moment, but the whole matter of the Harry, Venetia and Jeremy triangle would not go away. But at least her conversation with Craddock had confirmed, once and for all, that at one time, long before she and Craddock married, there had been something going on between Venetia and him. Otherwise why should his voice sound so venomous when he spoke of her?

  Chapter 16

  From his front window, if he glanced across to his left, Harry had a full view of the daily improvements to Sir Ralph’s old house. The work progressed slowly, but provided an interesting object for contemplation. Imagine having so much money that one owned a house of that size and could also afford to live somewhere else while the fire damage was repaired. Never in the whole of his life had he had money on that scale. He stopped once or twice and talked to the builder, who was there every day, but he found out absolutely nothing about the current owner from him. The same story was told to anyone who enquired. The house was being restored under instructions from a solicitor in London.