Chateau Despair

by Red Rose Publishig

  “I don’t mind what I do but…” She faltered and blushed as a man stopped on the pavement as they were leaving the hospital after their visit and tipped his hat to her. “Forgive me, I hadn’t noticed you. May I introduce you to my mother – this is Sir Frederick, Mummy.”

  “Mrs. Kavanagh, what a pleasure to meet you,” he said and they shook hands. “I believe we may have seen each other across a room before, but I don’t think we had been introduced, had we? Are you both staying with Caro?”

  “No – at a hotel.” Christine was acutely conscious of his intent gaze. “We just came up for a meeting my mother needs to attend, not a long stay this time.”

  “That is a pity. I have prior engagements for the next few days, but I hope that we shall meet again very soon. Excuse me now, Christine – Mrs. Kavanagh. Unfortunately I have an important meeting myself.”

  He turned and signalled to his car, and the chauffeur brought it into the kerb. They watched as he got inside and was driven off into the traffic.

  “What did you think of Sir Freddie, Mummy? He seems nice, doesn’t he?”

  “He is a gentleman,” her mother replied. “One of the old school. Caro is quite fond of him. I hope she hasn’t been putting ideas in your head about him, Christine? He is rather old for you, darling.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, Mummy,” Christine said and laughed. “I like him but I don’t want to play second fiddle to a ghost. I think he must still love his wife or he would have married again before this.”

  “Perhaps he hasn’t found the right person.”

  “Well, I’m not her,” Christine said. “Shall we go and have something to eat?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea, but I’m not hungry. Not after that meal Jack treated us to last night. I felt terribly guilty for gorging myself.”

  “Me too,” Christine admitted. “Especially on that treacle pudding!” She linked arms with her mother. “Let’s have that cup of tea. Jack has invited me to visit the workshops with him later this afternoon, and I’m looking forward to it. He says there are several new lines in that I might like to see…”

  They had been back home for two days now. Christine had decided not to stay in town for longer after all. She was making out a list of invitations for the dance. It was difficult to find enough young men, because most of those she knew were either that bit too young or away in one or other of the armed forces. However, she thought that Simon might have some friends who were also on leave, and she could invite them to make up the numbers.

  When she had finished compiling her list of invitations, she began the task of addressing the charity envelopes she had planned to do that afternoon – forty in all. She had at least two hundred to get done by the end of that week, but she was quite content to spend an hour or so working on it every day.

  She wished there was more that she could do to help out generally, but she had been too young to sign up for one of the services when the war began and there didn’t seem to be much point now. All the newspapers were reporting the Allies advance into Berlin had been an unqualified success and it seemed the war must be finally over, though the fighting dragged on. There were so many horrific pictures and stories that she could hardly bear to read the paper.

  Even though they said that the war was in effect over, the stories of atrocities that were coming out as the clearing up process began were almost as frightening as the conflict itself.

  “Come on – let’s go for a walk!” Christine summoned the dog that had been lying on its front paws staring at her for ages as she worked. His soulful eyes had reproached her for wasting the entire day indoors. “I need some air to blow the cobwebs away.”

  Jasper jumped up, tail wagging, ears pricked.

  Christine laughed at his eagerness, forgetting the constant ache in her heart for a while. Her visit to the hospital had somehow put her own unhappiness into perspective, not erasing it but making it bearable. Her dreams had been shattered, but she was still young and healthy – there must be something more she could do with her life than this. She just hadn’t discovered what it was yet.

  It would be easier when Simon and Helene had gone.

  She heard them talking in the hall and slipped out the back way, preferring to see as little of them as she could. It was a lovely warm, still afternoon, more like summer than late spring; the only sounds the occasional buzzing of insects and the far away whine of an aeroplane somewhere beyond the horizon.

  When she saw Miss Timpson walking towards her, she waved and went to meet her, calling out a greeting, but to her utter dismay the music teacher stopped, turned and hurried away in another direction as if she didn’t want to speak to her.

  What had she done to offend Miss Timpson? Christine couldn’t imagine. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she ought to go after her and discover what was the matter, but decided that perhaps it was better to leave the woman alone. She must have had a good reason for behaving that way.

  However, the incident worried her, and she mentioned it to her mother when she returned to the house.

  “She must have been upset about something,” Beth said. “Miss Timpson is always so pleased to see you, darling. Are you sure she actually saw you?”

  “Yes, quite sure. I was going to tell her about some new knitting patterns in the magazines Jack gave brought for us, but she hurried away as if she didn’t want to speak to me. Do you think her mother has taken a turn for the worse?”

  “I was thinking much the same myself,” Beth said, concerned. “I shall telephone the Vicar and see if he has heard anything. He usually knows everything that goes on in the village…”

  The news when she came back from her phone call was even more upsetting than they had thought; Mrs. Timpson had died earlier that day, and her daughter had gone rushing out of the house in distress immediately afterwards.

  “The Vicar told me that she hasn’t been seen for hours,” Beth said. “They are thinking of getting up a search party if she doesn’t come back before dark.”

  “Oh, how terrible! What a pity I didn’t go after her.”

  “I shouldn’t worry too much, Christine darling. I dare say she will go home when she is ready. I expect she just wanted to be private for a while.”

  Christine looked upset. “Her mother was all she had, Mummy – she devoted her life to looking after her, gave up everything for her.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s terribly sad…”

  Beth went into her study to work, and Christine decided to go upstairs and sort through some music sheets she had bought in London, thinking that she might walk down in the morning and give them to Miss Timpson. .

  She met Simon at the top of the stairs. He looked at her awkwardly for a moment, then ran his fingers through his hair in the way that had always made her heart turn over.

  “Mother tells me you are going to stay with her for a couple of days soon?”

  “Yes, I’ve said I will when she gets back from Scotland – but not until after next weekend. It’s the children’s sports day and I have to be here for that.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard about that,” Simon said giving her a faint smile – the first she had had from him in ages. “Is there anything I can do to help? “

  “You could come along and support us, spend some money. It all helps towards the next time the village committee needs something.”

  “Yes, I suppose so. And you go up to London next week?

  “Yes – why?”

  “I might come with you, that’s if you would like company?”

  “Are you leaving Penhallows?”

  “I can’t impose on your mother’s hospitality forever.”

  “We thought you would stay until the end of the summer. You will come back for the dance – won’t you?”

  “Yes, of course, brat. Helene may be back by then…”

  “Is she going away?”

  “For a few days I think. She wants to see the cottage in Cromer apparently.”

  “Are
n’t you going with her?”

  “No…” Simon frowned. “She has asked Jack to take her next week. He’s buying her a little car so that she can drive herself about.”

  “I – I see…”

  “Do you? I wish to hell I did!” He glared at nothing in particular. “I can’t see why she wants to go – the cottage will probably be in a mess.”

  “No, of course it isn’t. We haven’t used it for years, but Mummy employed an agent to look it over after Daddy…” Christine faltered. “I can assure you it is in good condition.”

  “I wish it were a complete ruin. Perhaps she wouldn’t want to go there then.”

  “I expect she’ll come back soon. It doesn’t compare with Penhallows or Jack’s house.”

  “What has his house got to do with it?” Simon was glaring at her now. “You all think she’s after him for the money – but she isn’t. Helene isn’t like that, even though you all believe she is. She says money isn’t that important to her. She just wants a family, which is why she came here if you want to know the truth.”

  “Is it?” Christine looked at him thoughtfully. “If that was her reason why didn’t she want to make friends with me? I would have been friendly if she’d wanted it that way, but she didn’t.”

  “She says you didn’t want her here.”

  “Well, I certainly didn’t start it,” Christine said. “I think you are being very unfair, Simon – but I would expect you to take her side.”

  “So you don’t want me to travel with you when you go up to town?” Simon called as she walked past him and down the hall to her room. “It was just a suggestion, but please yourself.”

  Christine didn’t turn her head. What did Simon think he was playing at? He couldn’t please her and Helene, so he had far better stick to the French woman – it was her he wanted anyway.

  Christine was shocked by the news at breakfast the next morning. It put her own problems completely out of her mind. She stared at her mother’s white face, feeling slightly sick as she listened to the news concerning Miss Timpson.

  “Oh, Mummy – how could she?”

  “I suppose it was a quick death. Apparently, she never learned to swim and she just jumped into the river from the railway bridge. They say she probably hit her head on the way down, and must have been unconscious as she went into the water…”

  “If only I had gone after her! Perhaps I could have said or done something to make her change her mind. I feel terrible about this – as if I were in some way responsible.”

  “Of course you aren’t. I very much doubt that anything you could have said would have changed things. I suspect that Miss Timpson has been very unhappy for a long time. She always seemed cheerful enough but…”

  “She may have seemed that way but she wasn’t. That was just a front, Mummy. I knew she was lonely. She gave up everything for her mother…her music…”

  “It wasn’t just the music. Henry said that she wanted to marry at one time, just before the last war. Her mother made her wait until he came back, but of course he never did. He was killed at Mons. She never had another boyfriend after that…”

  “Oh, Mummy!” Christine was moved to tears. “Did you know?”

  “I had no idea. Henry told me last evening. By the way, he’s having a day in bed because his leg is playing him up – but he asked me to be sure and tell you he is expecting at least one visit.”

  “I think I shall go up to him a little later,” Christine said. “I feel so awful over this, Mummy.”

  “My darling, if you hadn’t been so patient over it, I should have had to tell her we didn’t need her ages ago. She was no longer young herself, and it was too late for her to start again. Perhaps it was for the best…”

  “No! I can’t believe that.” Christine gave a little sob. “I know she didn’t have much to look forward to but to die that way was horrible.”

  “Yes, I know, darling. It’s very sad, and I feel terribly sorry about it, but these things happen sometimes. We have to learn to cope…”

  “Perhaps I should put off my visit to Caro until after the funeral? What about the sports day – must we cancel that?”

  “Certainly not,” her mother said. “You’ve all put so much work into it. No you must go ahead as planned, and you should go up to London next week. I shall attend the funeral for the family and that is perfectly adequate. Caro is expecting you, you don’t want to disappoint her.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Well, that’s settled then.” Beth frowned. “Is Harry coming for the dance? You said he had some leave due soon.”

  “He promised to try,” Christine replied. “He wants to take me to the sea afterwards, but I don’t think he’s keen on the dance itself. He might delay until it’s over.”

  “Just like Harry! He never did like anything remotely sociable. Oh, well, we shall just have to wait and see. I’m afraid we may not have enough young men to go round.”

  “Caro sent Sir Freddie an invitation for me. He isn’t young, but he’s nice – and he would be company for you and Caro, Mummy.”

  “Be careful, Christine. You don’t want to encourage hopes you can’t fulfil – do you?”

  “No, of course not, but it can’t hurt just to be friendly – can it? And we do need more men for the dance.”

  “Yes, we do. Let’s hope Simon will invite some of his friends, and attend himself.”

  “Yes, I do hope so.”

  Christine thought that Simon’s presence at the dance might depend on Helene. If she was still away, he might not think it was worthwhile.

  Beth went off to start the first of her many tasks for the day, and Christine decided to take the dogs for a walk before visiting her grandfather.

  It was all very well for her mother to say she wasn’t responsible for what had happened to Miss Timpson, but she had a sick feeling deep down that told her she could have changed things if she had tried.

  However, her mother was right. They had to go ahead with the sports day, because the children were looking forward to it, and so was she if she admitted the truth.

  For once the weather was kind and the sun shone all day. Christine was surprised at how many people actually turned up, and at the way they all seemed so pleased with life.

  “You would hardly think there had been a war at all to see everyone smiling and joining in the fun,” she said to Paul Crane when he came into the tent towards the end of the afternoon to snatch a sit down and a cup of tea. “I’m afraid you’re too late for most of the food, though there are a few rock buns left…”

  “No, thanks,” he said and smiled at her. “All I want is a cup of tea. It’s exhausting looking after so many children. Far harder than working on a building site.”

  “Yes, I can imagine,” Christine said and laughed as he grimaced. “I can’t see you volunteering again next year.”

  “Oh, you never know, I might. What about you – have you enjoyed yourself?”

  “Yes, very much.”

  “I thought you were looking a bit glum when I came in. Are you tired?”

  “No, not really. If I looked sad it was because I was thinking of Miss Timpson. I wish I'd asked her to help us. Perhaps if I had…”

  “From what I hear she had enough to do looking after her mother.”

  “Yes, I suppose…”

  Christine broke off as she heard the sound of noisy sobbing and then a child of about six came into the tent. She had blood on her knee and had obviously fallen over and hurt herself.

  “It looks as if we have a casualty.

  “Yes.” Christine went to the child quickly. “Can I help you?”

  “Want Mummy…” the girl let out a wail of despair. “Knee hurts…”

  “Yes, I can see that,” Christine said. “Shall I make it better for you? I’ve got a nice clean bandage in my box. I’ll bathe it and make it comfortable, shall I?”

  She picked the child up, carrying her over to where Paul was sitting. She put her on the chai
r next to him while she fetched what she needed. Christine worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning the wound, and applying a little cream and a bandage. Paul supplied a small bar of chocolate from his pocket, and by the time a rather harassed-looking woman came in search of her lost daughter, the tears had miraculously vanished.

  “Someone told me Janice had come in here,” she said. “Oh, has she hurt herself?”

  “It’s just a scratch,” Christine said. “I’ve washed it and bound it up. I don’t think she’ll come to any harm, Mrs. Brown.”

  “I’m sorry if she was a nuisance.”

  “She wasn’t a bother at all. It’s all better now, isn’t it Janice?”

  The child nodded solemnly and went off, holding tight to her mother’s hand. Hearing a soft laugh from her companion, Christine glanced at him.

  “I’m not laughing at you,” he assured her. “I thought you handled that very well, Christine.”

  “Thank you. It wasn’t hard but I’m glad I brought the first aid box with me. I thought we might need it.”

  “Have you ever thought of going in for nursing?”

  “Me – be a nurse?” Christine looked at him in surprise. “My mother wouldn’t hear of it. I’m sure she wouldn’t…”

  “Perhaps not.” He frowned. “For a moment I forgot who you were.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I’m sure you know.”

  “No, I don’t…” Her cheeks heated. “That’s a bit mean, isn’t it? I’m not a snob.”

  “I know you’re not,” he replied. “It was wrong of me to say it – but your family are looked up to around here, aren’t they? As you said yourself, your mother wouldn’t like you to soil your hands by working at anything so real as nursing.”

  Christine stared at him. She had been about to ask him to her dance, but now she wasn’t sure. If he could say such unkind things about her family, he wasn’t the man she had thought he was.

  “I would rather not listen to things like that,” she said. “If you have nothing better to say, please go away.”

  “I had better get back anyway.”