Village Gossip

by Shaw, Rebecca

  Her mind wandered away from reality and she was back in the wood with Hugo’s head resting on her legs and her fingers entwined in his dark silky hair. She remembered how she felt about him in the role of Leonard and particularly his attempt at seduction in the second act. With her cup she toasted him as the actor, the lover, the man and wished she was drinking some exotic, madly expensive wine instead of dull, everyday, comforting, mundane tea. Her thoughts were broken by a cry. Instantly, she raced for the stairs.

  ‘All right, Beth, I’m coming! All right!’

  After she’d soothed away Beth’s nightmare Caroline returned to bed and lay on her side looking at Peter in the glow of her bedside light. She could see just the faintest of lines around his eyes, and a very slight hint of a white hair here and there above his ears. He had one hand tucked under his chin, the fingers half curled, and she examined his well manicured nails and recalled the sensitivity of the touch of his fingers. She leaned over him and breathed in the familiar scent of him mingling with the faint aroma of the soap he’d used before he came to bed, and risked waking him by touching his cheek with her fingers and then kissing him. But it wasn’t only his physical attributes which impressed. It was his courage, his all-adoring love and his steadfastness.

  Unquestioning. Profound. Passionate. What more could a woman want?

  Impatiently Caroline turned off the light and lay down again. Peter, feeling her presence even in sleep, reached out an arm and drew her close. How she wished he hadn’t. At this moment she wasn’t worthy of him.

  The phone rang around half past nine the next morning. ‘Turnham Malpas Rectory. Peter Harris speaking.’

  ‘Oh! Good morning! Hope I’m not ringing too early.’

  ‘Hugo! Good morning. What can I do for you?’

  ‘It’s Caroline really. Is she in?’

  ‘She is indeed. I’ll get her for you. Hold the line.’ Peter went to the study door and called, ‘Caroline! It’s for you.’ He picked up the receiver again and said, ‘How are the rehearsals going?’

  ‘Absolutely fine, thanks. Taking a bit of knocking into shape but very well really. Your dear wife is doing excellently. Really got into the part.’

  ‘She’s certainly enjoying herself, all due to you.’

  There was a moment’s hesitation and then Hugo replied, ‘Good. I’m glad. How’s life for you?’

  ‘Couldn’t be busier. Would you mind if I sat in on a rehearsal sometime? Just interested to see what goes on. Never seen a world class actor at work, you see.’

  ‘Be delighted. Come any night you can get a sitter for those children of yours.’

  Peter thought he detected a slight emphasis on the word ‘yours’. ‘Ah, here she is. It’s Hugo, darling.’ He made no move to leave the study so she could speak to him privately.

  ‘Hello, Hugo! What can I do for you?’

  Peter watched her listening to him: the restlessness, the barely disguised excitement, the slight huskiness of her voice. He turned back to the work on his desk.

  ‘I’d love to. Yes, I really would. No, Peter’s busy all day. I’d need to be back by three because of the children.’ There came a pause as she listened to him. ‘No, he cannot, he’s working. See you about half past eleven then? OK. Bye.’

  Peter watched the receiver being returned to its cradle, and waited.

  ‘Darling, you don’t mind if Hugo and I go out to lunch, do you? Just some things we need to talk over about the play. It’s difficult when he’s producing and acting at the same time, you see. There are important things he doesn’t get a chance to tell me.’

  Peter swung his chair round and faced her. ‘Of course I don’t mind. All I will say is be careful.’

  ‘You’re not suggesting he might seduce me over the lunch table, are you?’

  Peter studied what his reply should be. ‘That kind of comment is not fitting and well you know it. Of course I don’t mean that.’

  ‘Good, because there’s no need for you to worry.’

  ‘I’m not entirely blind to the effect he has on you. It’s hardly surprising, even I can see he is a very attractive man.’

  ‘Not to me he isn’t.’

  Peter sighed. ‘You’re fooling yourself, my darling girl.’

  ‘Is this on the basis that the onlooker sees most of the game?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘I’m not a complete fool.’

  ‘I know. Indeed I do. Just a friendly warning, don’t you know.’

  ‘No, Peter, it isn’t. You’re doing what you always do, standing aside and allowing me to do whatever I want, pretending to be giving me my freedom but at bottom it’s because you’re so damn confident that your love for me will bring me to heel.’

  ‘What would you prefer me to do? Go break his legs?’

  Caroline gave him a slight smile. ‘You could at that. At least it would be something.’

  ‘Whatever, the warning still stands. Be careful. I don’t want you hurt.’

  ‘How about if I fancy being hurt? Fancy having a fling? Fancy doing my own thing? Fancy not doing the Rector’s wife bit?’

  ‘That’s up to you. Do as you wish.’ He swung his chair to face the desk and she took is as a dismissal. After she’d left the study, Peter tried to settle to his work, but on every page Hugo’s face intruded on the words. He put a stop to the pretence of working and sat with his head in his hands thinking. He knew Caroline would realise the situation that was developing, she was too astute not to. What made it worse from his point of view was that she was going headlong into it with her eyes wide open. The play was merely the vehicle by which she gained access to the man. Damn and blast him. Why had he ever come?

  The restaurant Hugo chose was one recommended by Jimbo. ‘He says it’s brilliant and just right for a tête-à-tête luncheon.’ He took a moment from watching the traffic to glance at her. ‘Happy?’

  ‘I am. It’s years since I had a ride in an open car. They really are fun, aren’t they?’

  ‘They are. Fun, that’s just what you need. Fun and lots of it.’

  ‘You’re right. I do. Being a doctor all the people you speak to you are people not at their best. It can be very draining. Then Peter has a similar kind of job in a way and between the two of us we have all the cares of the world on our shoulders. A bit of fun is just what I need.’ Hugo pressed firmly on the accelerator as they turned onto the bypass and her hair began blowing about, bringing a stunning sense of freedom to her which she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

  ‘Did he mind?’

  ‘Yes and no. He’s like that.’

  ‘Loves you very much, doesn’t he?’

  Caroline shouted back. ‘He does. Too much sometimes.’

  ‘Ah! I see. Cloying, is he?’

  ‘Absolutely not. Well, just a little. What did you say this restaurant was called?’

  ‘I didn’t. Believe it or believe it not it’s called The Lovers’ Knot.’

  Caroline laughed. ‘That is just too obvious for words. Are you sure it was Jimbo’s suggestion?’

  ‘Why? Does the word “lover” have some significance for you and me?’

  Quickly Caroline shook her head. ‘Of course not, I don’t know why I said it.’

  Hugo smiled and pressed even harder on the accelerator. As the speedometer went up to a hundred he smiled even more broadly.

  ‘It does for me. Have significance. I want you, Caroline.’

  ‘Do you indeed.’

  ‘Yes. I do.’

  ‘Hard luck. How far is this place?’

  ‘About twelve miles.’

  ‘Twelve miles! Just for lunch? What are you thinking of?’

  ‘I hug my thoughts to my breast, they are not for public declaration.’

  ‘You are being ridiculous. I don’t want to go twelve miles for lunch. Please turn round and we’ll go to The George in Culworth. That’s much nearer.’

  ‘Too late.’

  ‘That’s what I shall be if you don’t
go back. I can’t have the children coming home to an empty house, they would be devastated. In any case I’d never live it down if they had to sit on the doorstep waiting for me.’

  ‘Tut tut. Your reputation in jeopardy again. Ring Peter and tell him you’ll be late. He can be there.’

  ‘No, he can’t.’

  ‘Yes, he can.’

  ‘No, he can’t.’

  ‘This sounds more like Gilbert and Sullivan by the minute.’

  ‘I mean it, Hugo. I want you to turn round and go back. There, look, half a mile there’s a turn off.’ This caused Hugo to speed even faster.

  ‘You are upsetting me.’

  ‘No, I am abducting you, my dear,’ he said in the tones of a thoroughly ham actor, as he twirled the ends of his imaginary waxed moustache.

  She had to laugh.

  ‘That’s wonderful, hearing you laugh like that.’

  ‘You’re right it is. I feel as though I’ve been deadly serious for far too long. Carry on.’ She waved a carefree hand. ‘Drive wherever you like. I don’t care.’

  At half past two she rang Sylvia on the hotel telephone to ask her to collect the children, but there was no reply. She rang the Rectory but there was no reply from there either. So she tried Harriet, then Muriel, and finally the school. Kate, the head teacher, promised to keep the children until someone came to collect them.

  Hugo and Caroline arrived back at five o’clock. Hugo tooted the horn with a flourish as he pulled up outside the Rectory. ‘There we are. Home at last. I have an apt quotation for this situation but it won’t quite come to mind.’

  ‘Good, because I haven’t time to listen. Where’s my bag? Oh, here under the seat.’ As she brought her head up he kissed her ear. ‘Hugo! For God’s sake.’

  ‘I know. Your reputation. Sorry.’

  She didn’t wait for him to open the door for her but got out, saying, ‘Thanks for a wonderful day, it’s been truly memorable. And the restaurant just as great as you promised.’

  Hugo put his hand to his heart and murmured, ‘I am desolate. My darling girl is leaving me.’

  His unwitting use of a phrase of Peter’s brought her back to earth with a crash. ‘For God’s sake just go.’ As she fitted her key in the latch she heard Beth shouting. Relief flooded over her. Without even answering Hugo’s wave she fled inside.

  ‘Mummy!’ Beth raced across the hall and flung her arms round her. ‘You’re back. Daddy came for us. We thought you’d got lost.’

  ‘Not lost, darling, just busy talking to Hugo Maude about the play.’ She bent down to kiss Beth and as she straightened up she realised Peter was standing in the kitchen doorway listening to her.

  ‘You’re back. At last,’ he said.

  ‘Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t be back?’

  ‘No, that wasn’t what I was thinking at all.’

  ‘We’ve had lunch.’

  ‘You said.’

  ‘Lovely place. Not somewhere to take children though, it’s hideously expensive.’

  ‘It would have to be. What’s it called?’

  Alex burst out of the sitting room where he’d been watching television. ‘Mummy! Miss Pascoe let us play with her cats, Beano and Dandy. We had such fun.’

  ‘Good. I’m sorry I’m late, I didn’t realise the time.’

  ‘Daddy came to find us.’

  Caroline looked her thanks at Peter. ‘Silly me. I shan’t let it happen again.’

  Peter said, ‘I am glad. Just once is once too often, isn’t it?’

  The children disappeared. ‘I did say it was just for lunch.’

  ‘I know you did. What did you think I meant?’

  She stood in front of the hall mirror and began dragging her comb through the tangles in her hair. ‘He had the hood down on the car. It’s ruined my hair.’ Caroline tugged painfully at the knots.

  ‘Here, let me have a try.’ He took the comb from her and began gently combing her hair at the back. He caught her looking at his reflection in the mirror, and for a moment he looked straight back at her. Between two people who know each other intimately, a look can speak volumes. He was trying to assess how far things had gone that afternoon between her and Hugo; she appeared to be asking his forgiveness. But for what? Being late for the children?

  Peter turned her round and began to comb the knots at the front. ‘My word, you’re brave, you’re not even flinching.’

  ‘Am I not?’

  When he’d disentangled the last knot he straightened her hair and then, putting the comb down on the hall table, he took her face between his hands and kissed her mouth, a long slow massaging kiss. Then his arms slid round her and he held her close, but she wasn’t part of it.

  ‘My darling girl. I’m so glad you’re home.’

  ‘Have you started the meal?’

  His arms released their hold on her. ‘I have.’

  ‘I’ll carry on with it then.’

  ‘You haven’t told me where you went.’

  Alex shouted from the sitting room. ‘Daddy! It’s that cartoon you like, be quick!’

  Without looking at him Caroline answered, ‘It’ll keep.’

  He watched her dash into the kitchen, leaving him no wiser. But surely she wouldn’t have, would she? Not his beloved Caroline. He felt certain his instincts would have told him if she had. But then she wasn’t herself at the moment. He damned Hugo yet again and went to watch the cartoon with the children.

  Chapter 11

  Eating their supper seated around the table that night at the Garden House were Greenwood Stubbs, Pat, Barry, Dean and Michelle. They’d discussed what had happened during the day and had now got round to the subject of the theft.

  Greenwood put down his fork, took a swig of his beer and commented, ‘Well, Pat, from where I’m sitting things aren’t looking too good. As I see it, Mr Fitch is bound to back old Jeremy’s decision, and that means I’m out.’

  Pat protested. ‘But Dad …’

  ‘No “buts” about it, love, I’m for the chop. I think you haven’t realised what that means.’

  Pat scooped up the last of her pudding, licked the spoon and asked, ‘What does it mean, then?’

  ‘Barry and me’s been having a talk and we’ve decided that I shall lose my job and with it this house. He won’t employ me any longer, he won’t be able to trust me, yer see. Teach me a lesson.’

  ‘What!’

  ‘House goes with the job, doesn’t it? Let’s hope he gives us time to find somewhere.’

  Pat was devastated. ‘I never thought! Yer can’t mean it? Does he, Barry?’

  ‘’Fraid so, love,’ Barry replied: ‘There’s no way he’d allow me to have tenancy of this house. He’d need it for the new garden chap, it doesn’t go with my kind of job. By the looks of it we’ll be out sharpish.’

  Michelle began to cry. ‘I love this house. I love it. It isn’t fair. I don’t want to move.’

  Pat lent her a handkerchief and Greenwood said, ‘Come and sit on yer grandad’s knee.’ When Michelle had seated herself comfortably her grandad said, ‘It’s yer daft old grandad’s fault and I’m sorry.’

  Between sniffs, Michelle said, ‘You were only being kind.’

  Dean, who’d quietly been finishing his pudding while they’d been talking, remarked softly, ‘It’ll mean the end of that university scholarship old Fitch promised me.’

  Pat burst into tears. ‘Dean! I never thought. Oh, God! What shall we do? Barry!’

  ‘Calm down, Pat. Anybody’d think we’d no money coming in. We have. You and me both. We’ll see he gets to university, don’t you fret. Don’t give it another thought, Dean. I’ll see yer all right. I shall be proud to have a son, even if he isn’t my very own, at Oxford or wherever you go. Proud. That’s what. We’ll find the money somehow for whatever yer need.’

  Greenwood apologised for the hundredth time.

  ‘Just stop it will yer, Greenwood. You weren’t to know. Let’s face it, they do get stuff stolen day in day ou
t and it is time they put a stop to it, and unfortunately it’s you who’s been caught out.’

  ‘But it’s not just me who’s affected, is it? It’s all of us. I’m that sorry, Dean, about yer scholarship. It’s blooming rotten luck. Somehow we’ll manage it, if I have to sweep the streets.’

  Barry objected. ‘There’s no way you’ll be sweeping the streets, you with your skills. No. I won’t allow it. I reckon we’ll manage fine.’

  Michelle slipped off her grandad’s knee and went to put an arm round Barry. ‘You’ll look after us all won’t you, Barry?’

  ‘Of course I shall. That’s one good thing about me marrying yer mother, you’ve always got me at the back of you. I shan’t let yer down.’

  Michelle kissed his cheek. ‘I knew you wouldn’t. See Mum, you can stop crying now. You’d forgotten we’ve got Barry, hadn’t you?’

  ‘I ‘ad, yer right. I’ll take on more work with Charter-Plackett Enterprises, day and night if necessary and we shan’t go short. How long before old Fitch gets back?’

  Barry sipped his tea, put down his cup and looked to Greenwood for confirmation. ‘They say Thursday after next, don’t they, if nothing holds him up?’

  Greenwood nodded. ‘That’s right. Thursday before the play on the Friday.’

  ‘That gives us time, then.’

  ‘Time for what?’ Pat asked.

  ‘Time to take action. Remember when old Fitch tried to steal the church silver that time? We all got together and showed him we wouldn’t stand for it, didn’t we? Well, how about a bit of action culminating on Thursday? He hates things going wrong. Likes it all moving along like a well oiled machine. Well, when he gets back it won’t be a well oiled machine. It’ll be chaos.’

  Excited, they asked a million questions. Barry held up his hand to silence them. ‘Be quiet! Right! I’ll give it some thought and let you know. It can’t be the central heating like last time, it’s too hot for that to cause a problem at the moment. It could be the power, that’d ruin everything in the freezers.’

  Pat interrupted. ‘I don’t want Jimbo getting hurt in this. It’s all money to him is the freezers.’