Scandal in the Village

by Shaw, Rebecca

  ‘A while.’ She reached across the table and stroked his hand.

  ‘What can I say which doesn’t sound empty and trite? I am deeply sorry. You’ve been carrying this burden all alone. How can I possibly have failed you so much that you felt you couldn’t share it with me? I am so, so, sorry that I’ve let you down.’ He placed his free hand on top of hers. ‘I shan’t treat you like a fool and say are you sure, might there be some mistake, I know you too well for that.’

  ‘There is no mistake, darling. And you haven’t let me down. It’s my fault, I couldn’t bear to tell you. I didn’t want to break your heart.’

  ‘My heart! What’s my heart got to do with it? It’s you who has it to face.’

  ‘You have it to face, too. Let’s be frank. If it’s worse than they think then ... it may mean you coping on your own.’

  ‘Dear God! Dear God!’ Peter sat with his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his hands. He sat up again. The shock of what she’d said had drained all the colour from his face, it was deathly white. Just as slowly as she had spoken when she’d broken her news he said, ‘Let’s look on the bright side. We musn’t assume the worst. It could be a matter of a simple operation and hey presto! it’s all over and done with. Obviously you’d have to take care and perhaps only work a few hours, not try to do too much, but there’s no reason why things couldn’t be back to normal in no time at all. Is there?’

  ‘None at all.’ Caroline smiled bravely, and he recognised the bravery and held out his arms to her. She got up and went to sit on his knee. ‘This is why you fainted is it? I can scarcely manage to ask this but, are you in a lot of pain?’

  ‘Sometimes. But maybe it’s all in the mind, fright you know. that’s why I get snappy.’

  ‘Snappy? I hadn’t noticed! Wednesday. Three days. Will you go to the surgery just the same?’

  ‘Yes, it’s easier that way. Keep busy, you know. No time to dwell.’

  Peter sat patting her arm, stroking her knee, rubbing his cheek against her hair. ‘I’ve been so blind. I’ve been absolutely unforgivably blind.’

  ‘I told you not to ask didn’t I?’

  ‘I shan’t do as you say ever, ever, again. Never. If I want to question something I shall. This not trespassing is ridiculous.’

  ‘No, it’s not. It’s agreeing that we are two intelligent human beings with rights to our own thoughts and decisions. What could you have done if you’d known? Nothing. No one can.’

  ‘I could have been more considerate.’

  ‘You are already far more considerate than is good for me. I haven’t told anyone at all. No one knows and I don’t want them to.’

  ‘We shall have to tell Sylvia.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because she told me as she left just now that I … that she wanted some answers on Monday or else.’

  ‘I wonder what “or else” will be?’

  ‘Caroline, you must tell her, or I will. It’s only fair. We may need to rely on her.’

  She held Peter’s face between her two hands and studied him closely. With her fingers she traced his eyebrows, and then with her thumbs gently closed his eyelids and kissed them sweetly. ‘You are my beloved. All the David Lloyd-Jones in the world can’t hold a candle to you. And why I don’t know. I wasn’t really a church person at all you know, so it wasn’t your dog collar that did it, but that morning when you walked into my surgery with your bad throat and your streaming nose and red watery eyes and that dreadful cough and your face all flushed …’

  ‘Heavens above! I can’t have looked very appealing!’

  ‘You didn’t. But you twanged my heart strings and they’ve never stopped twanging since.’

  Peter grinned at her. ‘I’ve often wondered what that curious noise was when I got close.’

  ‘Oh that noise! that’s my hormones clamouring!’

  Peter began laughing but it changed to tears. She kissed his tears away. ‘Stop or I’ll be crying too.’

  ‘You’re being so brave. I’ve discovered I’m not brave at all.’

  ‘You will be, just you wait and see.’ She got off his knee. ‘Let’s clear up. The children are very quiet, just look out and see what they’re doing.’

  He blew his nose, ran his fingers through his hair, and then went to look out of the window. ‘You’re not going to like this.’ He raced out of the back door leaving it wide open. Caroline hurried to see. Alex was balanced on top of the wall and was preparing to leap down into the back lane. Beth was coming back in through the gate hobbling, both her knees badly grazed and holding her hand as though it hurt. Great fat tears were beginning to roll down her lovely rounded cheeks. ‘Oh heavens!’

  They’d had them both to sort out as, before Peter could reach the wall, Alex had jumped. The drop was something like five feet and the surface of the ground uneven, so he’d hurt himself too.

  After they’d settled them both in front of the television well bandaged and drinking hot sweet tea, which Alex declared doctors always said you needed for shock, Caroline had sighed and said ‘Never a dull moment!’

  So here he was waiting for the telephone to ring. He’d tried concentrating on some study he wanted to do in preparation for the following Sunday but he might as well have been reading the Radio Times for what good it did him. Peter’s thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing.

  It was Caroline. It was only eleven o’clock. ‘I’m coming home.’

  ‘Oh, right!’

  ‘Won’t be long.’

  ‘No, right. Drive carefully. Take care.’

  Then she told him as soon as she got in. The growth was larger than they’d anticipated and they had to operate a.s.a.p. He hugged her tightly to him. ‘Sort of in the next few weeks, when there’s a bed, kind of thing?’

  ‘No, this Friday. Gave me a day to get organised.’

  ‘That must mean …’ He stopped and changed tack. ‘There’s no organising to do.’

  ‘There is. We have to tell the children, for one thing. I’ve two meetings next week, I shall send my apologies, say I’ve had a clash of appointments or something, anything, anything at all, but I don’t want people to know.’

  Very gently Peter said, ‘We can’t disguise the fact that you’re going in to hospital. They’ll have to be told something.’

  Caroline slumped down into Peter’s chair, laid her head on his desk and wept. She was inconsolable. Her sobbing tore at Peter’s heart. In all their lives together he’d never seen her so deeply, so torturously distressed, and there seemed to be nothing he could do to reassure her, to give her comfort. He stood beside her helplessly hugging her shoulders. Gradually the sobbing slowed and she turned to him, put her arms around his waist, and pressed her head against his body.

  ‘Oh Peter! I do need you. Please help me!’

  Chapter 8

  Grandmama had been invited to take coffee with Muriel on the morning after her hospital appointment. Despite herself she couldn’t but be flattered at the opportunity. Muriel might be a retired solicitor’s secretary but she was still called Lady Templeton and had that lovely man Ralph for a husband. Grandmama paid meticulous attention to her toilet and emerged at eleven o’clock feeling on top of the world. As she turned the key in the lock and stood back to admire her cottage with something akin to love in her heart, some children from the school came past, walking in a neat crocodile. With them was that nice girl Kate.

  ‘Good morning, children! Good morning, Miss Pascoe!’

  ‘Good morning, Mrs Charter-Plackett. Isn’t it lovely today?’

  ‘It certainly is. Out for a walk?’

  ‘We’re going for a visit to Nightingale Farm.’

  ‘How lovely! You’ve chosen the right day! Bye-bye, children.’

  ‘Bye-bye, Mrs Charter-Plackett.’ She distinctly heard at least two of them say ‘Bye-bye, Duchess’ but she didn’t fix them with her most disdainful eye, they were only being complimentary.

  Muriel answered the door when she rang
. Muriel in smart checked trousers and a lovely rose silk blouse. Give her her due she could dress well, but considering the money they had she should look smart.

  ‘Good day to you Muriel!’

  ‘And to you Katherine. Do come in. Lovely day.’

  ‘It is indeed.’

  Ralph came from his study. ‘Good morning, Katherine.’

  ‘Dear Ralph! And how are you?’

  ‘Well, thank you, yes, very well. I’m leaving you two ladies to your coffee, I’ve a business meeting. See you after lunch, my dear.’ Ralph kissed Muriel on the lips, when Grandmama thought a kiss on her cheek would have sufficed. She hated it when sex came into a relationship between two people at their age. It amounted to obscenity.

  Muriel patted his cheek. ‘Take care, Ralph. No fast driving!’

  ‘As if I would!’ He laughed and Grandmama saw the young man he used to be and for a second was quite envious of Muriel, but she’d invited her into the sitting-room and the moment passed.

  ‘The kettle’s just boiled, I’ll make the coffee.’

  Grandmama placed herself in the chair, which from its size she guessed was Ralph’s. Really this room did have charm. There were a lot of uncoordinated things in it which Ralph must have collected during his years abroad but somehow he and Muriel had made it all gel and the room was welcoming and attractive and it had warmth. The colours of the furnishings were pleasant to the eye too. Lovely mellow creams and soft browns, and a hint of peach which spiced the overall impression.

  ‘Here we are!’ Muriel placed her tray on a small table in front of the fire. Grandmama was very gratified to see that the family silver had been brought out in her honour. Coat of arms no less!

  Muriel poured the coffee into a china cup so thin Grandmama thought she could see right through it. There was a matching plate and she put on it two of the homemade biscuits Muriel offered her.

  ‘This is delightful. So civilised!’

  ‘We are!’ Muriel laughed.

  ‘I didn’t mean you weren’t, but some of them around here are definitely not civilised.’

  ‘It doesn’t do to think that you know. They’re all kind well-meaning people. Salt of the earth.’

  ‘Well! After what happened on Sunday in the public house, I do wonder!’

  ‘It all adds to life’s rich tapestry.’

  ‘I know something to add even more to life’s rich tapestry as you call it. Oh yes. I had occasion to visit the hospital yesterday …’ Muriel’s instant concern for her made Grandmama have to reassure her. ‘Only for a check-up, I shan’t have to go again.’ Muriel relaxed and Grandmama continued her story. ‘I got lost, it has such a bewildering layout and I had to ask at reception in the antenatal clinic which way to go. Well, I was waiting while the receptionist finished a long-winded conversation about a changed appointment or something and who should I see! Guess!’

  ‘I don’t know. A patient you mean?’

  ‘Yes, exactly that.’

  ‘I don’t know anyone expecting a baby in the village.’

  ‘Well, there is someone. She fainted on Sunday.’

  Muriel was nonplussed. ‘Fainted on Sunday! Someone else fainted too then?’

  ‘Only one, my dear Muriel, only one.’

  ‘You can’t mean Caroline.’

  ‘The very one. Coming out of the consultant’s room. He said “Good luck” and she said “Thanks for everything”. I guessed when she fainted that that might be it, but I got confirmation didn’t I? Otherwise what would she be doing in the antenatal clinic? She doesn’t work at the hospital does she?’

  ‘Not any more. No. But I understood …’

  ‘So did we all, but there are things that can be done nowadays aren’t there and she has been looking decidedly peaky of late. Morning sickness of course, but you won’t know about that.’

  ‘Well, no, I don’t. I’m amazed though. Truly amazed, oh she will be pleased. So very pleased.’ Muriel clapped her hands with delight. ‘How absolutely lovely.’ She sipped her coffee, took a bite of her biscuit and then said, ‘But we’d better not say anything, you never know.’

  ‘Why ever not?’

  ‘Because … well, I don’t know why but it would be indelicate and thoughtless to spread the news, just in case …’

  ‘Indelicate in this day and age? When they’re doing it, well almost doing it I hope, in full view on the television, I don’t think we need to be coy about it!’

  ‘Doing it? Doing what? Who is?’

  ‘Really, Muriel, I sometimes wonder if you are in the real world at all. However to use your own words I will refrain from being indelicate and we’ll close the subject.’

  Muriel sat silently contemplating her guest, thinking about Caroline and Peter. They couldn’t be. On the other hand Katherine did have a point, and she was very astute, it must have been Caroline she saw. A lovely glow filled her, she felt so warmed by the news. But she wouldn’t say a word to anyone, well only to Ralph.

  ‘If I might be so bold, Katherine, I think it would be best for them to tell us the news themselves. Perhaps it’s early days and they’re not quite sure, sometimes there are mishaps.’

  ‘But everyone will be so pleased for them. I know, I am. Those twins might be Caroline’s pride and joy but every time she looks at them she can’t fail to remember how she came by them.’

  Muriel was indignant. ‘Well, really!’

  ‘Who wouldn’t want children to that gorgeous man. I think he’s the most attractive man I’ve met in years. Were I but thirty years younger, well between you and me, forty years younger, I could set my cap at him.’

  Muriel began to boil. ‘I think you need to choose your words more carefully. “Set your cap” indeed. I’ve never heard such a thing.’

  ‘Grow up, my dear. You can’t mean to tell me you haven’t noticed how attractive he is, the sheer delight of it is he isn’t aware he is! I bet there’s many a female heart fluttered madly when he’s looked at them with those deep blue eyes of his. I should think he has to fight them off in droves! It must be a constant worry to Caroline, especially when he’s strayed once and with such dire consequences!’

  Muriel positively steamed. She got to her feet and proclaimed, ‘I had looked forward very much to this morning but I’m rapidly beginning to regret inviting you. I don’t know how you can have such thoughts running through your head.’ She heaved in a great breath and continued fiercely, ‘It’s preposterous! Indeed outrageous!’

  Grandmama’s cup rattled in the saucer, she was so incensed. She placed it on the little side-table by her chair and stood up. Her cheeks were wobbling with fury. ‘That’s the last time I shall tell you any news Muriel Templeton! Preposterous indeed! Outrageous! I’m only speaking the truth, as you well know. What’s wrong with the truth?’

  ‘Sometimes it’s best left unsaid.’

  ‘Is it indeed. When I’m proved right about the baby I hope you will eat your words and apologise to me! I think it best if I leave now. Thank you for the coffee and good morning to you.’ Grandmama left Muriel’s sitting-room in a rage. She had to struggle to get the front door opened, and when she did she couldn’t face the thought of going home and being in a rage all by herself, but didn’t know where to go.

  Then she decided, and stormed off in the direction of the Royal Oak having a real need of something to fortify herself after mat little confrontation. She pushed open the saloon door and marched in. It was the first time she’d been in there and she was agreeably surprised by the furnishings and the general pleasurable air of the place. Quite upmarket she thought. Georgie was behind the bar.

  ‘A whisky, please. Make it a double.’

  ‘Why, how nice to see you, Mrs Charter-Plackett.’ Georgie served her and said, ‘On the house, seeing as it’s your first visit.’

  ‘Why thank you.’ She downed it in one go.

  ‘My word, you look as though you needed that.’

  ‘I did. There are times when Muriel Templeton’s Goody-Two-S
hoes attitude is distinctly trying. I’ll have another.’

  ‘Very well.’

  She downed the second one and then proffered a ten-pound note. ‘Take for two, I need another, but I’ll drink that slowly with water. I don’t like standing at the bar, would you care to sit down and join me, you’re not busy.’

  ‘For a while yes, I will.’

  ‘Take for another drink for yourself then.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Grandmama went to sit by the log fire in the huge inglenook fireplace. At least it’s a genuine one she thought, not made with modern bricks trying to look ancient by being blackened with synthetic soot.

  Georgie chose a stool and sat down beside her. ‘A fire’s comforting isn’t it?’

  ‘It is. I like my cottage for having an open fire. You can dream dreams.’

  ‘Ah! Yes.’ Georgie sat, drink untouched, staring into the fire.

  ‘You look as though you have dreams to dream.’

  Georgie sighed. ‘Ah, well!’

  ‘I heard about Dicky.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Listen to me, my dear, if you will. I know I don’t know you very well, but perhaps I can offer some advice, you should never pass up a chance of happiness. Life doesn’t present us with many bouquets and when it does, one should hold out one’s hands and grasp it.’

  ‘Think so?’

  ‘I’m sure so. There’s nothing worse than living with regret. Nothing. Believe me. I know.’ She sipped her whisky and decided to change the subject. ‘I know you won’t have heard this, because I think I’m the only one to know, except for Muriel Templeton that is, but I believe we shall be hearing the patter of tiny feet at the rectory before long.’

  Georgie’s face changed from dejection to delight. ‘Really! I’d no idea. Well, that’s wonderful! Really wonderful. Dr Harris will be thrilled. Is it she who told you?’

  ‘No, but quite by chance I met her in the antenatal clinic at the hospital. And after fainting on Sunday …’

  ‘I didn’t know that.’

  ‘Well, you went out before it happened. That Dicky is certainly a card isn’t he? Bold as brass.’

  Georgie blushed. ‘I do wonder what he’ll do next.’