‘Exactly. All he’s worked for will be gone overnight.’
‘Well, we’ve had good reason to be thankful for them keeping quiet before, let’s hope they can do it again. Good thing we’ve lost our own police station, the Sergeant would have been here in a flash.’
Peter nodded. ‘I was sorry we lost him, but tonight I’m quite glad. He’d have been honour bound to report it. Good night, darling.’
‘Good night. There’s someone crying. It doesn’t sound like the children, it must be Bel. I’ll go see.’
Chapter 20
The following morning Jimbo was feeling considerably below par. He ploughed on day after day carrying the burden of the business and most often he loved it, but today, somehow, a week away with Harriet, on their own, sounded like paradise. Last night had been the final straw. The papers were late, he’d had a load of vegetables to throw out because they hadn’t kept over the weekend, the baker’s van hadn’t arrived, his accounts were getting behind hand, and to top it all he’d had a letter from a company in Culworth complaining about the food he’d provided for their company promotion meeting, when he knew all the time it was because they hadn’t really been able to afford such a big splash. It wasn’t the food at all. The fact that the promotion hadn’t been well attended wasn’t his fault, he’d only done the food and done it superbly well.
To add to his troubles it looked as though Linda would be late again. Jimbo decided that if she was that would be that. He could put up with so much, but she really was getting to be a trial. From experience he knew babies could be difficult, but he rather felt that Linda made more fuss than poor subdued little Lewis truly warranted.
He looked at his watch at ten minutes past nine and she still hadn’t arrived. Running between till and post office counter he wished Harriet hadn’t decided to do the farm run straight from taking Fran to playgroup. They were always busy first thing with the mothers when they’d left their children at school. He needed her right here this very minute.
The doorbell jingled and in rushed a breathless Linda. She called across, ‘Sorry Mr Charter-P. Isn’t it dreadful about Dicky and Bel? We hardly got any sleep and just to put the lid on it the girl who looks after Lewis on Mondays hasn’t turned up, so Alan’s having to look after him, and I’m all behind.’
‘In that case then go back home and catch up.’
Linda stopped in her tracks. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Watch my lips, I shall say this only once! If you’ve a lot to do, go home and do it and don’t bother coming back. It’s obvious that you’ve no time for work. So you can be free of it, free to devote your time to Lewis and Alan. I’ve got a note of how many times you’ve been late, and how many times you’ve taken more than an hour for lunch and then left early into the bargain and I’m sorry I can no longer employ you. It’s happening far too often and I’m not willing to put up with it. I’m running a business here not a charity. I shall send the money due to you as soon as I get a chance to calculate what I owe. Sorry, Linda, but that’s that.’
Jimbo carried on taking the money at the till ignoring Linda’s horrified expression. When she finally found her voice she said ‘Oh! What a joke, for one awful moment I thought you meant it. Now, Lady Templeton, what can I get for you?’
As Muriel opened her mouth to ask for ten first-class stamps and could Linda send this letter recorded delivery, Jimbo said, ‘Stop! I meant it! Don’t bother to undo your coat, just leave.’ He stabbed a forefinger in the direction of the door. ‘That’s the way out.’
‘Well. After all these years. I don’t believe it. You can’t sack someone who’s worked for you for years. You can’t do it. It’s not allowed.’
‘I have done it, and damn the consequences I say. That’s ten pounds and ninety-five pence, please. Thank you. Five pence change. Good morning and thank you for shopping with us.’ Jimbo looked at Linda with a surprised expression on his face. ‘You’re still here, Linda. I’ve shown you where the door is.’
Linda burst into tears and headed for the door, just as she was about to reach out to grasp the handle Alan burst in.
‘Oh, Alan! How did you know?’ She flung herself into his arms but he pushed her off.
‘The keys. Where are the keys? I can’t get in the pub. It’s all locked up! I’ve hammered on the door, back and front, and there’s no reply. I can’t understand it, it’s never happened before! I think Bryn must have been taken ill. Where’ve you put the spare keys? Eh?’
Because he was ignoring her predicament Linda cried louder still. She burbled out between her sobs, ‘In your sock drawer, right underneath.’ As he was turning to leave and go home to procure the keys a thought struck her, and gazing frantically about she screamed, ‘Where’s the baby?’
‘The baby? The baby? Oh my God, I’ve left him outside the pub by the bins.’ The two of them raced out leaving the door wide open.
Muriel, who hated confrontation and was standing by the post office section in a state of shock, began to tremble, it was all too much. In a faint voice she said, ‘I’ll help myself to a coffee if I may, Jimbo.’
‘Of course, you do that.’
Muriel stepped round to the shelf where the coffee machine stood, but it was empty. ‘Oh dear.’
At that moment Mrs Jones strode in. ‘What’s the matter with Linda and Alan? I’ve just seen them streaking across the Green as if the devil himself was after them.’
Jimbo sighed. ‘It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later. Be on the till five minutes while I do the post office will you?’
‘Well, all right but if I make a mistake …’
‘I’ll accept full responsibility.’
‘OK, but on your own head be it.’
Jimbo strode across. ‘Now Muriel … You didn’t get your coffee.’
‘No, there isn’t any.’
Jimbo took off his boater and smoothed his bald head. ‘I wonder if I could put back the clock and start Monday all over again? Perhaps it wouldn’t be any better if I did. Shall I …?’ He nodded his head in the direction of the coffee percolator.
Muriel shook her head. ‘Not for me, you’ve enough to do. Shall I come back later for my stamps?’
‘I’ll do it now. Who’d be an employer? I ask you? Now, let’s see.’
They found the baby safe and sound though somewhat surprised, and Alan took a tearful Linda back home grateful in some ways that she’d been sacked, then he wasn’t saddled with the baby to look after when he obviously had a crisis on his hands. Socks flew in all directions as he searched for the keys, grabbing them he rushed back to the pub. Opening the main door he strode into the bar and listened to the silence. It was profound. Either Bryn was laid dead somewhere or he wasn’t here at all.
He searched the bar, the public lavatories, the dining-room and the kitchens, the storerooms at the back, and then climbed the stairs. Knowing that Elektra had been making a bid for the lonely Bryn he was cautious which bedroom doors he opened. The door to his old room was ajar. He peeped round the door and saw the bed hadn’t been slept in. Or if it had she’d made the bed first thing. Drawing a blank he went to the main bedroom. That door was shut, so taking hold of the knob firmly he gently turned it and opened it just enough to put his head round. The bed had been slept in. Both sides. He tried the third bedroom which had always been more of a boxroom than anything, that too was empty. It occurred to him to look out onto the car park. He went to the window and realised Bryn’s Triumph sports car had gone.
There was no one in the lounge nor the kitchen. Obviously Bryn had packed up and left. Alan panicked. He couldn’t run it on his own. He’d have to get Georgie. Would she come back though? She’d have to.
When he got to Grandmama’s the two of them were just finishing a leisurely breakfast, in a lovely marigold yellow cosy country kitchen Linda would have died for. Grandmama was wearing a splendid housecoat and Georgie was in trousers and that purpley sweater Linda liked, with the pearl decoration on the front.
> Georgie stood up in alarm when she saw Alan. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Bryn’s gone.’
‘Gone? Gone where?’
‘Don’t know. But he’s not there.’
‘He isn’t?’
‘No. Not in the pub.’
‘He’s slept in.’
Alan shook his head. ‘No, he hasn’t. I’ve had to get my spare keys to get in. I’ve been to have a look.’
‘Been to look in the bedrooms you mean?’ Georgie’s heart began to thud.
Alan nodded. ‘That’s right. Elektra’s not there either.’
‘She’s not?’
‘No.’
Grandmama took a hand. ‘Best get over there. Have a good search yourself.’
Alan protested. ‘I’ve looked, I know that place like the back of my hand, I lived there. He isn’t there, I tell you.’
Georgie’s mind was whirling with questions. ‘His car?’
‘Gone.’
Georgie abruptly sat down again, dropping onto the chair with a thud. Inspired, she asked, ‘His clothes. Has he taken his clothes?’
‘I don’t know, I didn’t look in the wardrobes.’
‘No, of course not. It’s not like Bryn just to disappear. He’ll have gone into Culworth for something urgent. Or, I know, the cash and carry, we’ve run out of something. Yes, that’ll be it.’
Grandmama and Alan exchanged sceptical looks.
Georgie sprang to life. ‘He’ll be back soon. But I’d better come over. He hasn’t left a note?’
Alan shook his head. ‘It looks like more than just going shopping to me.’
‘In that case then we’ll have to get ready to open up. Has the chef arrived yet?’
‘No, but it’s still early for him.’
‘Damn it, and I was going to the bank this morning and the solicitors, well that’ll have to wait. Blast him. Blast him. And her. I’ll get my coat.’
Georgie turned up her nose when she saw the state of the kitchen. Whatever Elektra was good at, it wasn’t housekeeping. The sink and draining board were cluttered with dirty dishes, the waste bin was overflowing, and she noted lipstick smothered cigarette ends in a saucer on the kitchen table. Bryn was accustomed to a scrupulously clean kitchen, it surprised her what men were prepared to put up with. In exchange for what?
She saw the bedroom and realised.
Stiffening her resolve Georgie marched downstairs. ‘Alan! Now look here, there’s no way we can manage without some help. If we’ve to cover for Bryn then we need someone to clean, temporary, as of today to fill the gap. You’ll have to work extra hours which I know you’ll quite like. We’ll manage till we find out what’s going on.’
‘Don’t you worry we’ll cope, remember that time Bryn went into hospital for his hernia, we managed then didn’t we?’
‘You’re quite right we did. Who is there in the village could clean? Today, right now?’
‘Linda could. Jimbo sacked her from the post office this morning. She could, temporary, we’ll need the money. She’d have to bring the baby though, today.’
‘Well, she can for now. Give her a ring. Pay’s good tell her, she’ll get a bonus for coming in promptly. Right, let’s get cracking.’
That night the bar was crowded. The news had flashed round Turnham Malpas and the surrounding farms and villages in no time at all. All the regulars and plenty of customers who only came occasionally had found reason to be in there. Alan and Georgie were, to use an expression of Bryn’s “pulled out of the place”. Dicky, now that Bryn was no longer around, had called in for a drink but seeing how busy the two of them were he’d volunteered out of sympathy for their predicament and out of love for Georgie to be potman for the night.
‘Eh! Dicky, you’re back then, now the coast’s clear?’
‘So how’s love’s young dream tonight then?’
‘We shall miss Elektra, and not half!’
‘Don’t suppose you wear black lace knickers?’
Dicky took it all in good part, and began to enjoy himself. He liked people and that was something he knew you had to do if you were in the licensed trade. He started telling a few jokes if a particular table was receptive, and before he knew where he was he had an audience and there was nothing Dicky liked better than an audience and he played it to the hilt.
There was a round of applause after his impromptu performance and Alan and Georgie winked at each other with approval.
‘See, Alan, I knew I was right. Bryn didn’t know everything.’
‘Well, I agreed With you at the time. He’s a bit of all right is Dicky. Everybody likes him, you see.’
A germ of an idea formed in Georgie’s head, but she’d have to think hard first before she put it into words. Business decisions had to be well thought out before you took action. But it might just be the answer to a lot of problems.
Surprisingly it was Grandmama who came up With the complete solution. She called on the Thursday of the week Bryn had disappeared on the Monday, when she knew they would be quiet.
‘Georgie! Georgie!’ After a moment a tired-looking Georgie appeared. ‘Now my dear, get us both a drink and come and sit down before you fall down. I’ve had an idea.’
Grandmama placed herself in the comfortable wing-chair by the fireplace. It was the middle of the afternoon and the lunchtime crowd had gone but the evening crowd had not yet arrived.
‘Whisky?’
‘Not at this time of day and in any case I need a clear head. I’ll have a lemonade, thank you, my dear.’
Georgie plumped herself down. She was exhausted.
‘My dear, you look worn out.’
‘I am. Bryn did all the books and the bulk of the ordering. I never realised just how much time it took. And there’s the dining-room to keep an eye on, they’re short-handed in there, I’ve found that one of the part-timers has been taking food home so she’s had to go. I feel sorry for her, but it’s no good, once one does it the rest will follow.’
‘I agree. Now, have you heard from Bryn?’
‘No. Not a word.’
‘And when you went to the bank and the solicitor’s? You’ll pardon me asking but I have a rescue plan and I need to know where you stand.’
‘He’s taken almost all the money from our private joint account. I intended getting there first and taking half which I consider is my rightful share, but being faced with the crisis on Monday, of course, I didn’t get there did I? So he’s hopped it with almost all of it and I’m seething about it.’
‘The devil he has! You’ll have to get your share back. Quite definitely yes, you will. And the business account?’
‘That’s safe he hasn’t touched that, but then we only leave enough in there for trading, paying invoices and wages and such. Bryn always takes out whatever can be spared every month and puts it in our own account.’
Grandmama sipped her lemonade, put down the glass and cleared her throat. ‘I have a plan. Do you have a plan?’
‘Haven’t had much time to think but I’ve a germ of an idea which hasn’t formed yet really.’
‘Well, listen to my idea first and see if it matches yours. Until you find Bryn, financially you can’t do a thing. Can’t sell up, can’t sell his half of the business, can’t get a divorce yet, that’s if you want one.’
‘I want one right enough. It’s insulting, downright insulting and humiliating that he’s gone off with that bitch.’ Georgie’s face twisted into a grimace and her eyes glittered with tears. ‘I wanted out but this … If she walked in now I’d murder her, believe me. It’ll be her idea to take all the money, Bryn’s got a bit more honour than that. But what’s he doing letting her dictate to him like that?’
‘Besotted?’
‘I expect so. I should have thrown her out when I came back last Saturday … Anyway it’s all too late now. You’ve a plan?’
‘Yes. It solves all sorts of things. I understand you’ve been having some great times in here with Dicky helping out?’ Geor
gie nodded. ‘He’s made for this kind of place you know. He could belong here.’
Georgie smiled. ‘He could, you’re right.’
‘So, you’ve told me he doesn’t like his job where he is, but he does do accounts, now, with a bit of tuition from my Jimbo I’m sure he could take over the accounts and ordering and things and still have enough energy left over for helping in the bar every day too, just like Bryn does, well, did. So he could give up his job, and you could employ him.’
She saw interest sparking in Georgie’s eyes and pressed on with her proposal. ‘Now, it wouldn’t be a good idea for him to live here, there’s been enough tittle-tattle, and you don’t want any more of that, but that’s no problem with him living just up the road. But I don’t think it’s right that you should live here all on your own, in a public house. Not right at all. Not safe, so how about if Bel comes to live here with you. That then would solve the problem of everyone thinking Bel and Dicky are up to no good.’ Grandmama blushed with guilt as she said this and hoped Georgie hadn’t noticed. ‘The whole village would then forget all about the scandalous situation which they believe exists at the moment in Glebe Cottages.’
‘I do believe you might be on to something here.’
‘Oh I am! I know I am. Believe me! Now should there come a time when Bryn is wanting out and wants to sell his half of this,’ she waved a regal hand around her head, ‘Dicky could buy him out and the two of you could marry when you’ve got your divorce. There!’ She sat back and waited for Georgie’s reaction.
‘Well, it all sounds excellent, wonderful in fact, but you’ve forgotten one thing, even if Dicky sold his house he has such a big mortgage he wouldn’t have enough money left over to buy the half share and the bank certainly wouldn’t lend him it because without the house he wouldn’t have any collateral. So that’s a bit impossible. I couldn’t lend him it either because Bryn’s got what’s ours.’
Grandmama shook her head. ‘No, it’s not impossible. I’ve no doubt at all that with you and Dicky here keeping up your kind of high standards the Royal Oak would go from strength to strength. It would become an excellent investment for anyone. So why not me? I have capital which I would be willing to lend him as and when the time arrives.’
Scandal in the Village Page 22
