Bryn was still very distressed. He appeared to be of two minds, he didn’t know whether to have another go at eliminating Dicky or whether to weep again at the dreadful, fearful thing he’d attempted to do.
Peter spoke in a tense well-controlled voice. ‘I should be glad Dicky and Bel if you would come to the rectory and we can have a try to sort this out. You too Georgie. This incident is extremely serious, and I am grievously distressed by it. Grievously distressed. It is so serious that if Dicky chose to he could press charges of attempted murder, which I should be honour bound to support. I sincerely hope we can avoid such an occurrence.’
‘Why avoid it? Let’s go for it. He’s a mad man.’ Dicky’s voice held a hint of hysteria which aggravated Bryn. He clenched his fists again and moved threateningly towards Dicky. Dicky picked up a chair and prodded the legs in the direction of Bryn.
Bel stepped towards him and wrestled the chair from him. ‘Don’t be stupid, there’s enough trouble already. Come on, let’s be off to the rectory.’
‘I’m not going to the rectory, I’m having nothing to do with him. He’s dangerous, he nearly killed me.’
‘And whose fault is that?’
Peter went to open the door. ‘Come along Bryn, and you too, Dicky, I insist.’
‘I’m sorry, Rector, but no. There’s no way I’m being closeted with that maniac in your house. Who’s to say he won’t try again.’ Dicky shook his head. ‘No way.’
Peter tried again. ‘Bryn has given me his solemn word that he won’t try anything again. Now for the last time, come with me to the rectory, I will guarantee your safety.’ Raising his voice and coming close to losing his temper with them all he shouted, ‘All of you, this minute. Well? I’m waiting.’ He stood with the door open.
Bel said ‘If you don’t go of your own accord, Dicky, I shall boot you all the way there. So it’s up to you, go on. Go!’
Dicky weighed up the consequences of refusing to go of his own accord and decided walking there was better than being kicked there by Bel. Slowly he headed for the door skirting Bryn with as much caution as he would a raving lion. Bel, Bryn and Georgie followed and Peter shut the door behind him. There was an air of anticlimax in the church hall when they’d left. To their extreme disappointment the anticipated fracas had not materialised.
Mrs Jones shook her head. ‘Poor Bel, it’s her I feel sorry for. Fancy having your husband running after someone else in broad daylight, it’s bad enough if they keep it quiet.’ Mrs Jones stood up and took hold of the twins’ hands. ‘I do, I feel really sorry for her, the poor thing. The embarrassment. The shame.’
‘She’s got no claim on Dicky. He’s free to do as he likes. They’re not married,’ Grandmama blurted out.
‘Not married! Are you sure?’ Mrs Jones sat down again abruptly.
‘No, they’re not. I have it on good authority.’
A general hubbub broke out all over the hall at this bombshell.
‘Not married! I don’t believe it.’
‘Neither do I. Be careful, we’ve been conned with one of the Duchess’s tales before.’
‘Who’d have thought it.’
‘Well, I never.’
‘Whatever next?’
‘So he’s a free agent then …’
‘Where did you learn this?’ Mrs Jones enquired of Grandmama.
‘I have my sources. It was someone who’s known him for years who told me. This tea’s getting cold, I’ll go make another pot.’
In bed that night Peter sighed and Caroline asked him what caused him to sigh so.
‘I intended spending some time polishing my sermon for tomorrow, some chance of that. I have never met four such obstinate people.’
‘But you did get them to listen to reason eventually.’
‘Eventually, as you say. Bryn is so incensed and no wonder. When I finally got them to agree to give themselves a week to sit back and think where all this is leading I was exhausted. Georgie’s wanting to leave Bryn. Bryn’s wanting to leave the village and make a new start with Georgie, some idea he’s got about running a bar on a cruise liner, I ask you! Dicky’s determined that Georgie is the one for him and Bel is the only reasonable one and she’s the least guilty of them all. So with the whole situation on hold for a week I hope, hope mark you, we shall reach a reasonable solution.’
‘I’m just so glad Dicky isn’t pressing charges.’
‘Exactly! I told him that if he really wanted to wash his dirty linen in public and ruin the reputations of both Bel and Georgie, to say nothing of Bryn and his business and Dicky himself, then that was the right way to go about it and would be no solution to anything at all.’
‘But it will mean two divorces if Dicky has his way won’t it? That is just so painful.’
‘Not two, only one.’
Caroline sat up and looked at Peter. He was laid With both his hands locked behind his head staring at the ceiling.
‘Only one? What do you mean?’
Peter turned his head slightly and looked seriously at her. ‘If I tell you, there’s not to be one word outside this bedroom! OK?’ Caroline nodded. ‘No one but those four and you and I know, you see. Bel and Dicky aren’t married.’
Caroline fell back on the pillow and laughed till she had tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘Not married! Oh Peter! Oh Peter! What a mess! They told you this today?’
‘Hush! Don’t make so much noise you’ll wake the children! Yes, they did, though somehow I got the feeling it wasn’t the whole truth somehow, there was something they were all four holding back. However, please don’t breathe a word because if they know they’ll be queueing at the rectory door saying Dicky isn’t fit to be Scout leader and I’m not having that. He’s brilliant. There’s no one can compare and I’m not having the Scout troop jeopardised by some narrow-minded bigots.’
Caroline wiped her eyes and, with a straight face bent over him and looked Peter straight in the eye and said ‘I can remember a time when you were very upset about Willie and Sylvia living together before they got married. Oh yes, you had a lot to say about that, to me at any rate. You’ve certainly changed your tune.’
‘It’s a question of priorities. If no one knows, the village won’t be any wiser and everything can carry on as before. He’s started the Scout band as you know and Gilbert Johns has volunteered to help and I thought I might …’
‘Peter! You’ve given them a week. A week of comparative peace, but what if at the end of it Dicky and Georgie decide not to get together? The idea of them all still living in the village is fraught with problems.’
‘Well, we’ll cross that bridge when, and if, we come to it.’
‘Yes, you’re right. The story of this particular All Saints’ Day will last for years! They’ll still be talking about it in a hundred years’ time! Come to think of it they nearly got another saint added to their number on a very appropriate day! Oh dear! I’ve got to go to sleep. I’ve suddenly gone very tired. Good night, Peter.’
‘Good night, my darling. I love you.’
‘I love you.’
‘God bless you.’
‘And you.’
‘Caroline, are you feeling better? About us?’
There was a silence which Peter waited for her to fill. She knew he would leave the question in the air if she didn’t reply and she knew she wouldn’t sleep if she didn’t answer him. She searched about under the duvet for his hand and having found it, she took it to her lips and kissed it. ‘Thank you for being such a wonderfully understanding man. No, understanding husband. You’ve seemed to know instinctively how to go about making me feel whole, when I’m not and won’t ever be. And I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. Yes, I am feeling much better about us and when I’ve got the go ahead …’
‘Which you sound confident of getting …’
‘Which I am confident of getting, then I truly believe everything will be all right between us. When I first came home I’d gone off you terribly, it was quite h
orrifying, but I expect it was because I was feeling weak and very frightened or maybe that’s how you feel when you’ve had my kind of an operation. I really could hardly bear you close to me which sounds a dreadful thing to say about someone one loves but it’s true. But now I do believe I appreciate your maleness all over again.’
‘Hallelujah!’
But ‘Hallelujah!’ wasn’t the word Peter used on reading the letter which he found on the mat when he went downstairs on Monday morning.
‘Damn and blast! Who the blazes has let the cat out of the bag?’
He read on … ‘As a consequence of these events it has been brought to our notice … living with someone who is not his wife … even in these more relaxed times his position is untenable … and we the undersigned … are agreed that Dicky Tutt is no longer a suitable person to be in charge of the St Thomas à Becket Scouts …’
‘Blast it!’
‘Daddy! that was a very rude word.’
‘Alex, you’re quite right it was and I’m sorry.’ He raced up the stairs. ‘Caroline! Look at this.’ He dropped the letter on her knee. ‘Who’s responsible for drafting this I wonder? They promised me they wouldn’t say a word. Not a word. Now, apparently everyone knows.’
Caroline broke off from helping Beth to dress and scanned the letter. ‘Oh dear! So they must. Here, Beth, put your tights on. No, the other way round, that’s it. Just look at the signatures. Six! Six of them. How could they. Some haven’t even got any connection with the Scouts. Look! Thelma Senior she wouldn’t know a Scout if she met one in the street. Venetia, Vince Jones but not Mrs Jones. This is awful. It simply isn’t fair to Dicky. How dreadful of them!’
Over breakfast Peter and Caroline discussed the matter further and Peter decided for a day or two at least he wouldn’t reply. Pressure of work he called it. Caroline called it avoiding the issue. They were both laughing about her comment when Sylvia came in to start work.
Caroline poured her a cup of tea as she said ‘Good morning, Sylvia.’
Alex jumped off his chair to show Sylvia his new shoes. ‘Look, Sylvie. Look at my new shoes.’
‘They’re lovely, Alex. What a good choice! They will keep your feet warm. I like the colour. Morning everyone. You’re looking better this morning, Doctor, in fact much better.’
‘Thank you, I’m feeling better, much better. I expect you’ve heard the latest news?’
‘About Dicky’s close encounter? I have of course. There’s no other subject of conversation.’
‘Peter got a petition this morning, asking for Dicky Tutt to be removed from being Scout leader. Someone’s found out that …’
Peter cleared his throat. ‘I didn’t think we …’
‘Sylvia will know soon enough, someone’s let it out that Dicky and Bel are not …’ – Caroline glanced at the children and continued by saying – ‘are not living in wedlock.’
‘Well, we all know who that was, don’t we?’
Caroline raised an eyebrow. ‘Do we?’
‘I was in the church hall checking to see if they needed any help before I climbed the tower and I heard the Duchess tell everyone. Said someone who’d known Dicky for a long time had told her.’
‘That blasted woman!’
‘Peter! Pas devant les enfants.’
‘Sorry.’
Alex said ‘That’s two times today, Daddy.’
‘I beg your pardon. Could be four or even five before this day’s out. This whole situation is developing into a major crisis when there’s no need at all. If everyone had just kept still tongues in their heads it would have all blown over. However, it’s Monday so it’s Penny Fawcett first. Anything you want from their market Sylvia? Caroline?’
‘Fresh vegetables, Rector, please, particularly potatoes.’
‘Caroline?’
‘Nothing thanks. I think I’ll take the children to school this morning. The fresh air and a change of scene will do me good.’
‘What a splendid idea. Yes, you do that. I’m off. Bye, children. Bye, darling.’
‘Don’t forget your cloak, it’s cold.’
‘OK.’
After Caroline had left the children at school she didn’t feel like returning home straight away so she wandered into the Store hoping for a chat with anyone who happened to come in. She’d been feeling really cut off since her mother had gone back, and felt it was time she took steps to widen her horizons.
Jimbo welcomed her with open arms. ‘Come for a hug have you? It’s lovely to see you out. Here, sit on this chair and I shall serve you with a coffee if I may. Just made it, so it’s absolutely fresh.’
‘Oh yes, please. That would be lovely. How’s things?’ Jimbo handed her a cup and offered her sugar. ‘Thanks I will. Don’t usually but Peter says I must get some weight on, so I will.’
‘You need to.’
The coffee was too hot to drink so Caroline put it down on the shelf nearest to her and asked Jimbo again if he had any news.
Before he could answer her Linda came in. ‘Oh, Doctor Harris, how lovely to see you out. I am pleased. Life getting back to normal is it?’
‘Well, not quite but nearly.’
‘My word, your two little ones must have had a nasty shock on Saturday. I’m glad I wasn’t there. Are they all right?’
‘Thankfully I don’t think they realised what was happening. They were so worried about their father fighting, that was what impressed them the most! Alex gave me a very graphic description when he got home. He was rather proud of Peter and couldn’t or wouldn’t understand that he wasn’t really fighting.’
‘Thank God for the Rector is all I can say. What a blessing he was there. Then when the Duch— Mrs Charter-Plackett let on that they weren’t married. You should have seen everyone’s faces, they couldn’t believe it. They were gobsmacked I can tell you …’ Linda propped her hip against a shelf and looked set for the morning. ‘Mrs Jones said …’
Jimbo ever mindful of his business interrupted. ‘Excuse me, Linda, but you were ten minutes late to begin with and I see you’ve someone tapping their foot by your counter. Could you get started, please. The customer is king in our set-up.’
‘Sorry, I must say.’ She hastened off and then had to come back for the key to open the post office till. Jimbo took it out of his pocket and she almost snatched it from him. He raised his eyebrows at Caroline. ‘Come in the back. Bring your coffee.’ Jimbo called out to Linda, ‘If I’m needed I’m in my office. Bel shouldn’t be long.’
He settled Caroline on his chair and perched on the stool.
‘Peter is not best pleased at what your mother said in the church hall on Saturday. It has proved to be true, I know, but Peter had been hoping it could be kept secret.’
‘I know, I know. She told me a week or so ago that she had some news about Dicky but I wouldn’t let her tell me. I said she musn’t say a word to anyone at all, keep mum, et cetera. But I expect the temptation proved too much.’
‘The other thing is, Jimbo, you’ll soon know so it won’t matter if I tell you first, Peter had a petition put through the letterbox this morning, stating that Dicky should be sacked from the Scouts. It was in your mother’s handwriting and her name was the first signature, I’m afraid.’
Jimbo groaned. ‘Oh no! I don’t believe this. After all I said to her. Obviously I didn’t say enough. I wish to goodness she’d never come here. She’s worse than a child. As soon as Bel comes I shall go pay her a visit. She really is the end. The absolute limit.’
‘Who is?’ Standing in the doorway was his mother. Dressed immaculately in black and white she was the epitome of the well-dressed older woman.
‘Close that door.’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘I said close that door.’
She did. ‘Well? Who is?’
‘You are, Mother. I asked you not to say a word about what the sewing-machine man told you. But what do you do? You blurt it out in front of half the village. As if that wasn’t bad
enough I hear you’ve signed a letter of protest about him. It simply will not do. What you do reflects on me. My position in this village is paramount to the success of my business. Are you determined to ruin it for me? Besides which it’s most unkind of you, quite thoughtless, in fact, to be a party to that petition.’
‘Don’t speak to me in that tone of voice. I am your mother!’
‘I do not need reminding.’
‘In any case it was bound to come out in view of Saturday. Bound to. Sooner rather than later I say. And I meant what I said about him in that letter, my grandsons’ moral rectitude is under threat and I won’t tolerate it, even if you condone it.’
‘I never said I condoned it, I said it was none of my business.’
‘Fudging the issue, that’s all that is. If you’d let me tell you at the time, you would know all the story. When I said Dicky was married the man in the shop said, “Dicky Tutt married! Not Dicky, he isn’t the marrying kind. Likes to play the field does Dicky, he wouldn’t let himself get trapped into marriage.” So I said, “Well, he is married now.” He said, “Well, I know for a fact he isn’t.” I said, “Well, he is.” And he asked me her name and of course I said “Bel”. His whole demeanour changed then, you could have thought I’d said a dirty word, he gave me a funny look, handed me my change and shut up like a clam. When I thanked him for saving my life with the spare part for my beloved machine he turned his back on me and didn’t even say goodbye. So it’s not just that Dicky isn’t married it seems to me there’s something else as well!’
‘Mother! You’re at it again! I warned you you’d have me to reckon with and …’
Caroline could see that Jimbo was working himself up into a colossal temper, his normally pallid skin was flushed deep red and his hands were clenching and unclenching at a furious pace, so she interrupted him. ‘Mrs Charter-Plackett, out of Christian charity I think it would be a good idea to let this suspicion go no further than these four walls. What on earth the significance is of the man behaving so oddly when you said his wife’s name was Bel I really cannot guess, but for everyone’s sakes, please don’t repeat it.’
‘As if I would. I must apologise for my son’s bad temper, he got that from his father not from me.’ Grandmama smiled at Caroline and in a completely different tone said, ‘Now, my dear, I am glad to see you out and about. You are looking well.’
Scandal in the Village Page 15
