‘You’re a dark horse, Flappy,’ he said, leading her off the dance floor. ‘I suppose you’re going to tell me you learned to play polo next!’
Before Flappy could reply, she was being congratulated by her friends. Then Hedda was rushing up and throwing her arms around her and saying she had never seen anything so wonderful in her whole life. ‘You’re so full of surprises, Flappy. I needn’t have bothered with the entertainment,’ she laughed.
Flappy and Charles went back to their seats and the lights dimmed. A shiny black piano sat in a beam of light. Flappy wondered who was going to play it. She couldn’t imagine anyone could be more entertaining than her. However, there had been many moments in her life when she’d had to admit that she was wrong, and this was another one. To rapturous applause, Jason Donovan walked onto the dance floor.
Flappy was amazed that Hedda had managed to get Jason Donovan to come and sing at her party. She really must be infinitely richer than previously thought. Under normal circumstances, Flappy might have been a teeny bit jealous, but tonight, after having danced the tango with such success, she felt only elation. She took a gulp of wine from the glass Charles had just refreshed, and listened to Jason’s wonderfully deep and warm voice singing all her favourite songs. As she sat back in her chair and let the music entertain her, she reflected on the evening and how it was possibly the most thrilling evening she had ever had. Charles pressed his knee against hers and she knew it was only going to get better.
It was nearly midnight when Charles and Flappy escaped into the garden. Hedda was on the dance floor with her children, their partners, and George and Persephone, who had eyes only for each other, but Flappy was too busy to notice the success of her endeavours. She was following Charles out into the night, through a door in a wall and on into a secret garden, eerily silver in the watery light of the moon. He swung her round and kissed her. ‘You were wonderful on the dance floor, Beauty. I don’t think I’ll forget tonight for as long as I live.’
‘Oh, Beastie, you’re too sweet,’ she replied.
‘And you’re too modest.’
‘I know, it’s one of my many faults. I must learn to accept compliments when someone is kind enough to give them.’
‘I want to shower you in compliments,’ he murmured, pressing his lips to her temple. ‘But I’m going to shower you in kisses instead.’ Flappy was in heaven. In fact, she didn’t think heaven would be anything like as lovely as this. ‘I love you, Flappy,’ said Charles.
Flappy was taken aback. Love was a very powerful word. In fact, Flappy had only ever said ‘I love you’ to Kenneth and that was a very long time ago. She didn’t have time to reflect on love right now, but she knew she must still love Kenneth all the same. She wasn’t sure, however, that she loved Charles.
Charles’s lips were poised above hers and he was gazing into her eyes expectantly. Naturally, he wanted to hear that she loved him too. At this point, Flappy had the choice to tell him the truth, which was that she lusted after him, or to lie and tell him that she loved him. Flappy did neither. She pulled his head down and gave him a long and passionate kiss.
A loud gasp cut through the moment and brought the two of them back to reality with a terrible thud. They sprang apart as if stung. There, in the entrance to the walled garden, were Persephone and George.
Flappy stared at them in horror. So many terrifying visions passed in front of her eyes: Kenneth’s despair, Hedda’s fury, Badley Compton shunning her as a harlot and a slut. She wished the ground would open, swallow her whole and never let her out again, ever. This was possibly the worst moment of her life.
‘Come now, George,’ said Charles in a tone of voice designed to make light of the situation.
George stared at his father in disgust. ‘What are you doing, Dad?’ he exclaimed.
‘I was kissing Flappy. I admit it. Guilty as charged. But it’s one little kiss.’ He grinned at Flappy. ‘We’re both a bit drunk, aren’t we, Flappy?’
Flappy barely dared look at Persephone, but she could see, in her peripheral vision, that the girl was shocked. In fact, her face had gone white and she looked almost ghostly in the moonlight. Flappy did not know what to do. Flappy, who always knew the right thing to say, had no words. Flappy, who was usually so in control, found, to her utter dismay, that she had none.
Then Persephone spoke. ‘Mrs Scott-Booth. I believe the doctor told you not to drink alcohol with your medication.’
Flappy leapt at the chance to deny responsibility. ‘I have been drinking,’ she said in a confused voice, which she thought might help convince George that she was not in her right mind. She looked at Charles. ‘I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I’m doing. I think I’d better go home.’
‘I’ll drive you,’ said Persephone, stepping forward to lend an arm. ‘Lean on me.’ Then to George, ‘I’m sorry, George. But I think I’d better see Mrs Scott-Booth home. She’s clearly not well. Darnley’s only ten minutes away. I’ll come straight back.’
George gave her a wan smile and scratched his head. It was clear that he found the situation bewildering. ‘You’re very kind, Persephone.’ Then to Charles, ‘We need to talk. Mum is not going to be at all happy when she hears about this.’
Flappy fled through the door in the wall, the threat of Hedda hearing about it ringing in her ears. Suddenly she wanted to be as far away from Compton Court as possible.
Persephone managed to get Flappy into her car without anyone seeing her, thanks to having helped George with the placement the day before and consequently knowing her way to the car park without having to go through the marquee. Once on their way, Flappy confessed. ‘I’m going to tell you the truth, Persephone,’ she said with a sigh. If Flappy was good at one thing, it was knowing when the game was over and it was time to be honest. ‘You managed to get me out of there with dignity, for which I am enormously grateful.’ She hesitated, because what she was about to say had precious little dignity in it. ‘I’ve been having an affair with Charles. It’s been going on for about three weeks. I lost control.’
Persephone stared at the road ahead, which was a relief for Flappy, because she did not want her to crash the car nor did she want to look her in the eye. ‘I would never judge you, Mrs Scott-Booth,’ Persephone said calmly. ‘I know very little about your life. I’m in no position to pass judgement.’
‘I think you’d better call me Flappy,’ said Flappy. ‘If we’re going to be discussing my sex life, you’d better consider yourself a friend.’
Persephone smiled sympathetically. ‘You’re not the first to have had an affair and got caught, Flappy. What you need to do now is limit the damage. The two people most concerned are Mr Scott-Booth and Mrs Harvey-Smith.’
‘If you’re suggesting I tell Kenneth, I’m afraid I simply cannot. It will break his heart. I can’t do that to him.’ The thought of losing Kenneth caused Flappy’s heart to twist with pain. She put an unsteady hand on her bosom. ‘I love Kenneth,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I don’t love Charles. It’s just an infatuation. A foolish infatuation.’
‘It’s not foolish, Flappy. It’s understandable. He’s very handsome. I’m not surprised you fell for his charm.’
‘You’re very kind, Persephone, but at my age I should know how to behave.’
‘Age has nothing to do with it. You’re as old as you feel, and why should a sixty something-year-old have fewer sexual feelings than a twenty-year-old. You’re a human being who’s attracted to another. It’s as simple as that.’
‘But I’m married, and happily married too. I got carried away. Do you think George will tell his mother?’
Persephone, who had only known George for two days, could not answer that. ‘I’ll find out for you and let you know. If he does tell his mother I suggest you go and talk to her.’
‘And apologize,’ said Flappy with a gulp. She did not like the thought of apologizing to Hedda.
‘Yes. She doesn’t need to know how long it’s gone on for. Mr Harvey-Smith said it
was just one kiss. You can say you got carried away with the tango and one thing led to another. Blame it on the drink and your medication.’
‘What might the medication be for?’ Flappy asked. Flappy had never had to take medication of any kind. She was so very lucky to be in such good health.
‘Depression,’ said Persephone.
‘Depression?’
‘Yes, then she’ll feel sorry for you.’
Flappy laughed grimly. She did not want Hedda to feel sorry for her, on any account. ‘I hope we can keep it between us women,’ she said.
‘Exactly. I’ll try and persuade George to keep it quiet, but I can’t promise anything. I don’t really know him. I’m not sure what he’s going to do.’
‘You like him, don’t you?’ said Flappy, turning and smiling at her in a maternal kind of way.
‘I really do,’ Persephone replied, smiling back.
‘Young love,’ said Flappy wistfully. ‘It’s a wonderful thing. Treasure it.’
‘And by the way, I know you engineered my invitation to the party.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes, it was ingenious.’
Flappy laughed. It felt good to laugh when deep down she really wanted to cry. ‘I have my ways,’ she said. ‘I’m happy it worked out. Even the best plans sometimes fail. George is handsome like his father. You make a fine couple. Did he like your dress?’
‘He did,’ said Persephone. ‘Thank you, Flappy.’
‘No, thank you, for rescuing me tonight.’
Persephone pulled the car up in front of the house and Flappy got out. ‘Let’s talk about this tomorrow when I’ve spoken to George. And try to get some sleep. I’ll tell Mr Scott-Booth that I drove you home.’
Mr Scott-Booth, Flappy thought as she walked towards the front door of her beloved Darnley, so beautiful in the moonlight. Mr Scott-Booth. How could I treat him with such little respect? After all he has given me over the years, the many years of our marriage. It’s despicable. If any of my friends had behaved like that towards their husbands, I’d have shunned them. I’d have stood on my moral high ground, because it has always been so much higher than everyone else’s, and lectured them about decency and restraint. But here am I, fallen from a great height, with my pride bruised and Charles’s kisses turned to ash in my mouth, and I face losing everything. Darling Kenneth, my adorable Toad, can he ever forgive me? Flappy began to cry. Big fat tears tumbled down her cheeks and plopped onto the marble floor as she walked slowly across the hall. She looked up at the portraits and her eyes lingered on Kenneth’s. She hadn’t looked at Kenneth’s in a very long time. There he was in his yellow golfing clothes, sitting on a chair with his legs crossed, a golf club in his hand. His belly was round, his face shiny, his cheeks plump and pink and his smile wide and infectious, and Flappy’s heart flooded with love. It poured into every nook and cranny like golden honey, and Flappy realized how much she had taken Kenneth for granted. It was a shocking admission. Only now, as she teetered on the point of losing him, did she realize how much she valued him.
She dragged herself up the sweeping staircase, indeed the staircase at Darnley was uniquely sweeping, and staggered into her bedroom. She fell onto her bed with a sob. Oh, this is truly a dark night of the soul, she thought, putting a pillow over her face and crying loudly. I’m all alone! she wailed. My children are on the other side of the world, in fact, they couldn’t be further away from me if they tried, and I’m going to lose my home, my precious Darnley, and my husband too. I will have nothing left but regret. And one cannot live with regret. It would be better if I threw myself out of the window. Yes! I should make my peace with God, whom I have treated almost as badly as I’ve treated Kenneth, then end it all. She pushed herself off the mattress and went to the window. Outside, the round face of the moon smiled down at her, flooding the gardens, the magnificent gardens, in a soft, hoary light. How could the moon smile like that when Flappy was feeling so utterly desolate? She flung open the window and inhaled the sweet scent of damp earth and rotting leaves. The night was silent and still, guarding its secrets in the shadows that lingered in pools about the shrubbery and trees. Flappy raised her eyes to the stars. They twinkled in a velvety canopy above the lawn and she thought that, sure, the gardens at Compton Court were lovely, but this was something different altogether. This took one’s breath away. This was heaven. And, if heaven was here at Darnley, there was no point jumping out of the window and leaving it.
Flappy heard the distinctive purr of Kenneth’s Jaguar. Her stomach clenched, her heart contracted and she felt as if she might throw up. Hastily she wriggled out of her dress and pulled on her pyjamas. She dived under the duvet and turned off the light. She lay in silence for what felt like an eternity, listening out for the door but hearing only the thumping of her heart.
At length the front door opened and closed, and Kenneth’s footsteps could be heard on the stairs. He was coming up fast. Flappy wondered whether he knew. Was he going to shout at her? Would she have to pack her bags now and take flight?
She held her breath.
Kenneth walked into the bedroom. Flappy squeezed her eyes shut. She felt his weight on the mattress as he sat down. Then she felt a hand stroking her hair. ‘Darling, are you awake?’
Flappy pretended that she wasn’t. Then she thought better of it and replied, weakly, ‘Yes.’
‘Are you all right? Persephone said she had to drive you home.’
‘Oh, Kenneth,’ she cried, sitting up and throwing her arms around him. ‘I got drunk. I’m so ashamed! Did I make a fool of myself?’
‘No, darling, you were marvellous. When did you learn to dance the tango like that? You were amazing! I was so proud.’ Flappy felt sick with guilt. ‘I hope you’re not upset with me,’ he added, squeezing her tightly.
‘Upset with you? Why would I be upset with you?’
‘Because I never came and congratulated you after your dance. I don’t want you to think I was jealous of Charles. I’m not. I’m glad you had an opportunity to show everyone how beautifully you dance. But I should have been the first to congratulate you.’
Flappy kissed him on the cheek. ‘You’re sweet to think of that. It would have been nice, of course, to have been congratulated by you. After all, your opinion is the only one that matters to me. But I didn’t mind. In fact, I was a teeny bit tipsy, so I didn’t notice. Then, I went into the garden to get some air and was overcome with nausea. Fortunately, Persephone was there and offered to drive me home. I didn’t want to ruin your evening by asking you.’
‘It was a wonderful party, wasn’t it?’ he said.
‘The best party I’ve ever been to.’
‘Jason Donovan, fancy that!’
‘I know, they must be enormously rich,’ said Flappy with a giggle.
Kenneth laughed too. He stood up. ‘I won’t keep you up. You must sleep. We can debrief over breakfast.’
‘Darling, would you sleep in my bed tonight?’ said Flappy, suddenly wanting to be held. ‘I know it sounds silly, but I don’t want to be alone.’
‘If you like. I’ll probably snore,’ he warned her.
‘I don’t mind, in fact, I think I’ll like the sound of my bed-pig tonight.’
‘And I’ll lie in in the morning,’ he added.
‘So will I,’ she replied. ‘We can lie in together.’
Kenneth changed into his pyjamas and brushed his teeth. Then he slid into bed beside his wife. She wriggled over and snuggled up against him. ‘This is nice,’ he said.
‘Yes, it is,’ she replied, relishing the feeling of being close. She wondered why she hadn’t, for so many years, wanted to be close. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of George and what he might do.
‘Night, darling,’ said Kenneth and kissed her forehead.
‘Night, Toad,’ she replied. She hadn’t called him Toad in a very long time. But it sounded right.
Chapter 16
Flappy awoke with a headache. That wasn’t a surp
rise. However, the fact that Kenneth was pressed up against her in what people referred to as ‘spooning’ was. It was also a surprise to Flappy that she liked it. She looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was half past nine. She immediately thought of Persephone, waiting for her downstairs with news, and slid out of bed without waking him.
Hastily, she brushed her teeth and washed her face and slipped into her silk dressing gown and slippers. There was no point worrying about Persephone seeing her like this when the girl knew about her affair with Charles. After knocking back a couple of Panadols, she hurried downstairs.
Persephone was at her desk in the library. She looked bright-eyed and radiant for someone who had danced until dawn. ‘What did he say?’ Flappy asked, striding into the room and closing the door behind her.
Flappy could tell that it wasn’t good news. She sat down with a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach.
‘He’s going to tell his mother,’ said Persephone gravely and it clearly pained her to say it, because her bright eyes dimmed suddenly. ‘He says it’s happened before.’
Flappy swallowed. ‘I see,’ she said, sensing a horrible defeat.
‘But he won’t breathe a word to anyone else. As far as he knows it was a quick kiss in the walled garden and nothing more. He doesn’t blame you. He says his father took advantage of you, as he has taken advantage of women before.’
Flappy nodded.
‘I think you’d better drive over and see Hedda this morning.’
Flappy nodded again, a heaviness taking over from the sinking feeling, as if she were being filled with concrete. ‘Yes, I suppose that is what I must do.’
‘I’m sorry, Flappy. I tried to persuade him not to tell his mother.’
‘I’m sure you did,’ Flappy replied, but she couldn’t smile. ‘Thank you.’
‘Would you like me to come with you? I can wait in the car.’
Flappy Entertains Page 17
