by E A Harvey
"That's Valance Road where the Kray family lived. You know who they were I am sure. Now they are buried in Chingford Cemetery. This will be our first stop for a cup of tea. E.Pellicci Café, used very often by the Krays, understandably as they do the best bacon sandwich in London. Sadly we cannot have one because lunch is next; the walnut panels make this café a listed building. Arthur Harvey another cousin supplied the veneer to the people who pressed the panels and I have that on good authority from one of the Pellicci family who sadly died six or seven years ago, I believe his nephew works the cafe now”
"How do you know all this, the cabbie or the East End bloke”?
“No from Mummy, she still talks about Brick Lane and biegles, prawns and winkles, but they are for another day”
They walked a little further along Bethnal Green Road.
"Here we are. Kelly's Pie shop"
Bob took one look.
"Are you sure? It’s not what you call the Ritz is it"
"Just shut up and sit down while I get served. Hello, Pie and mash twice, please"
"Janet I am not eating that it looks like green slime on the top"
"Put vinegar and pepper on it and try will you, stop being a baby"
He did as he was told, and pulling a face like a man who was about to be poisoned he took a mouthful.
"Hey you’re right that's not bad. I must say it tastes a damn sight better than it looks".
They finished their meal and Bob was surprised at the speed his plate was cleared, the moment he put down his fork and spoon.
"The local people sure like their pie and mash don't they? It's very busy". "Now where to” he asked
"Desert next and you will love it”.
They walked back to the Marquis of Cornwallis, the pub on the corner of Valance Road, turned right and collected the car.
"Do a left back towards the pie shop and keep going. That's it straight over into Roman Road and in about a mile there is a fishmonger on the right. Yes that's it. Stop where you can and I will shoot in and get you your pudding"
Ten minutes later she jumped back in the car
"What have you got in those tubs, another of your weird and wonderful delights? Let's have a look. Oh my god what is that? It's a snail. You don't expect me to eat that do you”?
"You know you’re such a wimp give me one. Oh they are great. Here you go get that down you" Bob was reluctant but he took the whelk and put it in his mouth with a look of disgust.
"That is disgusting; it's like chewing a rubber band”.
Janet ate a few more and obviously enjoyed every one
"So what's in the other tub? Let's have a peek. You have got to be kidding me; more slime only a different colour”
"You know Bob you have led a much too sheltered life, if you don't try things how will you know what's good or bad? Now try it before I hold you down and force feed you".
He jokingly held his nose as she put the jellied eel into his mouth "Well she said, truthfully not so bad was it”?
"I have tasted worse, but not much”
Janet tucked in and finished the eels off.
As the dove home, they laughed and joked about the day and Bob's reaction to seeing the different dishes.
"Jan, thank you for a really great day that was so much fun, even if the food was, well, interesting. And what you know about the East End and Cockneys the Krays was quite amazing. I would never have believed it of you, and without sounding patronizing, I have seen a side of you which has made me love you more, if that's possible. Do Penny and Peter know this side of you”?
"I enjoyed the day too, it was fun and I am sorry I made you eat slime, but you did enjoy the pie and mash so that makes you an honorary cockney. No Bob, they would not understand the Janet you met today, but Mummy would".
At home they sat cuddled up on the sofa.
"Bob do you think Penny could ever forgive me for what I did, you know with you and all the other things I did to hurt her. Being with you and being loved the way I know you love me has changed who I am, what I am. I want so much to share what I have with you and what Penny has with her future husband. She might even ask me to be her bridesmaid”.
"Darling, Penny is your sister no matter what you have done in the past and I am sure she is the sort of person to forgive you because in spite of everything she loves you. Plus why don't we ask her if we can make it a double wedding”?
"What a great idea”.
Janet never finished the sentence; she just looked at Bob with a look of shock on her face.
“Bob, did I misunderstand you or not hear you properly? Did you just ask me to marry you"?
"Yes darling I asked you to marry me in a roundabout way. I have been building up the courage to ask you since our first date and it sort of just slipped out. Well what do you think? Could you risk being stuck with a guy who hates jellied eels and whelks, but loves you so very much”?
"Yes Bob, of course I will marry you, even if you don't like jellied eels. I am very much in love with you too"
After they had kissed for what seemed hours "Do you think we really could have a double wedding Bob? It would be so wonderful"
"This is what we are going to do. We are going to book Euro Star online today, a hire car and we are going to have a holiday in Chantilly at my family's holiday home. It's not far from Paris. You will love it. It's in the country. We can take walks, if that's your thing. We can do nothing but make love, that's my thing. Visit Paris if you want. It's a big place so the chances of bumping into Penny are pretty long odds. Do whatever you want to do while we there, what do you think"?
"I think that sounds wonderful darling, making love all day Monday then country walks on Tuesday, making love all day Wednesday what could be nicer”?
"There are some lovely family owned restaurants locally which I know you will love. There is a vineyard where you can taste the wines produced yearly. My favourite little bar by a small lake is a joy, and I can now share it with the girl I love. I have never taken a girl there before because it really is a special place"
"Bob let's do it please. It sounds so magical”
Chapter 23 Plans
"Pierre it's so good to hear your voice darling. I am missing you so very much. I need you to hold me and kiss me and make love to me. When are you coming home, will it be soon”?
"Penny my Angel, believe me, I am missing you too, and I really could do with holding you and kissing you”.
"Are the architects doing their job? What about the planning you talked about, is that on schedule? Do I even know what I am even talking about” she laughed.
"Darling everything's on schedule, everything is going as planned but I still can't see me getting back to you for another few weeks, no matter how much I try to hurry things”.
"The reason I called you Penny, other than to hear your beautiful voice, is to tell you, wait for it, I
have your engagement ring and it's beautiful. I collected it this morning and you will love it, it is magnificent. I can't wait to put it on your finger and ask you once more to marry me.
You will say yes again won't you, please”?
"I might if you ask nicely darling" she teased.
"You had better say yes, the ring deserves a beautiful finger on a beautiful woman”.
"Then I suppose I had better say yes".
"How is everyone at your end darling? Is my sister driving you mad going on about the wedding”?
"Oh no, she is a delight and I love her and love talking about the wedding, but the one question she asks me constantly is where are we going to live, London or Paris or maybe somewhere else. Then she wants to know are we having a honeymoon and if so where is it going to be. I have told her that as long as I am with my new husband I don't mind and then she says, Paris live in Paris, please, please" she laughed.
"Darling I have never given a thought to where we would live, simply because I spend most of my life travelling here and there on business. Where would you like to live? Whate
ver you want, and where shall we honeymoon is there anywhere you would like to visit, whatever Penny DuPont wants is fine with me".
"Penny DuPont, that sounds lovely darling. It's Paris I want to live with you when you’re not traveling, Paris. And when you’re traveling I want to come with you until we have the first of our four children. And for our honeymoon I want to see Singapore where you had my beautiful ring made and I want to see the building which has kept you away from me if that OK with you”.
"Yes darling it all sounds wonderful, if that makes you happy”
"I had better go, baby. I have a business meeting and I need a shower. It's pretty warm here and I need some time alone just to think about you. Bye my darling, speak soon, love you".
"Goodbye darling. Take care. I will be thinking of you and I love you very much"
Just then Gabrielle walked in.
"Hello Gabby how was your day, I must tell you mine has been good and bad I am afraid”.
"Oh what has upset you, I hope it's not my hopeless brother, I will shoot him when he comes home if he has hurt you"
"Yes it was him, the good news is that has my engagement ring, but the bad is that we must live in Paris after we are married.
Gabrielle screamed with delight rushing about cuddling Penny and then cuddling her again then kissing her over and over. “Oh that's wonderful. My new sister will be near me. I am so happy".
Chapter 24 Chantilly
"Bob its beautiful and what a wonderful view, show me everything. The bedroom first, please". The pair had just arrived at his family's holiday home in Chantilly and, true to his word; it was lovely with a fabulous outlook.
He showed her around, bedroom first and the view which was even more spectacular from the balcony, then into the living room.
"Oh darling can we stay here forever. It's so peaceful and if it gets cold an Inglenook fireplace. How wonderful. Let's get unpacked and then take a walk, I want to walk to the river, are there fish”?
"Why don't we unpack and we can drive a mile down the road to the little café I told you about and have dinner”
"Sounds delightful darling, ten minutes and I will be ready. And after we have eaten we can come back, shower and you can make love to me in that great looking bed. The mattress must be ten foot thick. Or I can soak in that bath with lots of bubbles and you can join me and wash my back and anywhere else which takes your fancy, what do you think”?
"I think you're a little hussy Miss Scott but I can’t wait to get back from dinner. Are you sure you are hungry? We could take that bath now if you like".
"No that you can wait for Mister. I am hungry. If you shut up and let me unpack we can eat".
"You know you're a beautiful tease”.
The café set just off the main road to Paris had been in the same family for three generations, a delightful family which Bob knew well. They looked after the cottage for the Heath family when it was empty.
"Good evening Robert. How are you and who is this very beautiful woman that you have with you"?
"Bonjour Jacques. It's good to see you again, how is the family"?
"The same as always, life here never changes except we grow older. Look at you, for instance. It seems just a short time you were just this tall". He held his hand about two feet off the ground. They shook hands warmly and kissed on the cheeks.
"This is the girl I intend to marry, the sooner the better in case she changes her mind”.
Jacques took Janet’s hands and kissed both her cheeks.
"Robert you are a very lucky man, what have you done to deserve this lovely girl? I am sure she knows nothing about you. If she did she would run from you I am sure".
They all stood there laughing.
"Now sit down and let me get you a menu and a glass of wine".
He waved a waiter over.
"My sister's son you may remember, Robert".
"Of course I remember him, Bonjour Maurice and how is your family”
“Bonjour Robert. It is good to see you after so long”
"Sadly father died eighteen months ago but mother is fine. She would send her love to everyone I am sure"
They enjoyed the meal and as they ate the little restaurant began to fill with locals who knew Bob and waved or came to say hello.
Janet complimented the family on the meal and thanked them for their hospitality.
“You have made my first day so very happy. Thank you so very much".
As they returned to the cottage Bob asked "Shower or bath darling, but if you must have one or the other then make it a shower. I can't wait for the bath to run and the bubbles to bubble up. I have sat opposite this picture of beauty wanting nothing but to make love to her. So shower as quickly as possible please".
She stepped into the shower with her hair piled on top of her head and shivered in delight as the warm water ran over her body; she turned in surprise and a smile spread across her face.
"Sorry darling I could not wait. You looked so delicious wearing nothing but your smile".
He stepped into the shower and she turned her back to him. He made love to her while he held her breasts and kissed her neck.
Afterwards, he wrapped her in a large bath sheet and dried every inch of her body.
The next morning
"After breakfast darling I want to walk miles. It's so pretty here. Can we see the vineyard and maybe taste the wine you told me about and then finish at last night’s restaurant for lunch? Then I want to shop so that I can cook you dinner. Yes I can cook. Mummy taught me. I can do pies and mash and jellied eels for pudding"
"No thank you very much; we could try another nice restaurant a few miles further down the Paris Road. You will love it I am sure”
"Oh you silly thing, I was kidding as well you know, I want to cook for you, something French". Dressed in warm clothes and walking boots they set off across the country, he showed her the trout in the river and promised he would catch two for lunch one day as a very special treat. An hour later they reached the farm and vineyard. Robert knew the family well and showed her where and how the wine was made. As they were a small farm they only produced a few hundred bottles a year. She tasted a first class white wine and she left with two bottles; gifts for the beautiful English girl.
As they walked slowly back to the cottage she leapt on Bob's back making him nearly drop the wine.
“Darling, I love it here and I love you. I don't ever want to leave. Thank you for bringing me. I have never been so happy”.
"Tomorrow we will drive to the Chateau de Chantilly. It's a beautiful building which was started in
1358 completed in 1882. It would be a sin not to see it as it’s so near. I believe part of it was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt around the 1870s. It's open to the public and has one of the finest galleries in the whole of France".
"That sounds wonderful Bob, but five hundred years to build sounds like the same lot who are working on the M25 motorway” she laughed.
The next morning the drove the short distance to the Chateau, “What an amazing building darling. It's everything you said it would be. May we go inside? I would love to see the furniture and any pictures"
"Yes of course we can”.
They entered through the large doors and he heard her gasp “It is so wonderful. Look at those wonderful paintings” she said with such joy.
Bob smiled as she went from one work of art to another like a child in a toy shop. Was this really the woman who had done so much hurt to her sister? It's almost unbelievable who she had become.
“Surely Penny will see how she has changed and forgive her” thought Bob.
She turned waved and smiled and he saw beauty in motion.
Chapter 25 Hobbit
Justine sat with Lawrence and she read to him from one of his favourite books. They had read "The Lord of the Rings" together before the children had been born and now she found herself reading it out loud to him. Sometimes she could see he was enjoying her storytell
ing but on other occasions she knew he had drifted away from her.
She remembered days when they took turns to read from the book and they would end up laughing so much that they cried. Each would read and take on the character of a Hobbit or an Orc and even Gandalf.
On a day when Lawrence was at his best he remembered the times when he would pretend to be Frodo Baggins, his favourite. He always wanted to pretend to be Frodo because he knew no matter how many times he did it Justine would cry with laughter.
When the children were old enough they read to them and they would also be a character from the book. In later years the children would dress as their favourite. She was sure that she still had costumes which she had made for them somewhere in the loft. She had hoped that one day her grandchildren would take over the stories and then the dressing up. Maybe they will but she doubted that Lawrence would ever see it.