Painted Wings

by Lucy Gillen

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  DERYN went shopping no more often than she was obliged to, not because she disliked the village orthe village people,'but'shopping for food economically, she felt, was almost a skilled job, and one that she had never given a great deal of time to. Her own appetite was easy enough to cater for, for she was a simple and not too big an eater, but having to cater for Dominic as well made things more difficult. He had such a healthy appetite that her estimations often fell far short, and she was obliged to go into the village again if he was not to go hungry. Once or twice she had persuaded him to go himself when they had run short of food, but he was even less domesticated than she was herself, and he frankly disliked going, and said so. She was, she often told herself, an idiot to have allowed herself .to be talked into such an arrangement, but having committed herself there was nothing to do but cope as best she could. It looked very much as if it might rain before the day was out and as she made her way along the path across the field, on her way to the village, she thought ruefully, that she would probably regret having come without a coat. At the moment, however, the. sun was shining, even though it peered out from behind big, grey clouds. Whenever she went into the village she always tried to look a little more conventional with regard 123 to her dress. Mostly because, despite her extrovert nature, she found the curious gaze of the village people a little disconcerting when she was the only cause of distraction. Brightly coloured smocks and sandalled feet looked quite out of place and almost barbaric amid the respectable little grey cottages and the much more sombre garb of the residents. Today she had plaited her long hair into one thick braid that hung down her back, and put on a short but quite ordinary blue cotton frock and white casual shoes. She ." . i 'still raised several eyebrows, but that was unavoidable with a girl as attractive as she was. There was really only one shop worthy of the name, and that, a surprisingly big one, had been converted from two cottages and quite trendily moved into the age of the supermarket by an enterprising local trader. The woman at the pay desk smiled recognition when she saw Deryn, and remarked on the possibility of rain, while a customer immediately behind her studied her surreptitiously and not altogether approvingly. 'Mrs. Jenner was saying you've taken Llanwellon Cottage,' the cashier said chattily. 'Nice out there, isn't it?' 'Lovely,' Deryn agreed, assuming that Mrs. Jenner was either their unexpected visitor at the cottage, or else someone related to her, for no one else to her knowledge knew where she was staying. 'Enjoying it here, are you?' the woman went on. 'You an' your husband.' Oh yes. Yes, it's quite beautiful out there.' She 124 had for the moment quite forgotten about the misapprehension that Dominic had not seen fit to correct, and she hastily did her best to conceal her left : hand as she packed her purchases into her basket. , But she was certain that eagleeyed woman behind her hadn't missed the fact that she was not wearing I a wedding ring, and if the cashier did not notice it I for herself she would no doubt be enlightened at the L first opportunity. 'Doing some painting, is it?' she asked, looking as if such frivolity was beyond her comprehension, but she was prepared to be tolerant. 'Yes. Yes, I'm an illustrator. Bookt,' Deryn added by way of explanation, and the cashier nodded. . 'Lovely,' she approved vaguely. 'See you again, love.' Outside again, Deryn breathed relief and started up the steep cobbled hill that led out of the village , and into open country. There was an oppressive : threat of thunder in the air and she wondered ruefully if she would make it back to the cottage before it started. Not that getting wet bothered her too much, but she had to consider the leaking roof of the cottage. She had, at one time, nursed hopes that Gerald would offer to do something about repairing it, at least temporarily, but he had never yet raised the subject and she hesitated to ask him to do it. It was even less likely, she thought, that Dominic would see himself as a handyman in that direction, so the roof still leaked. Once clear of the village, she breathed in the rainheavy air, the sultry wind that blew in over the 125 valley, stirring stray tendrils of hair in her neck. Great black clouds were rolling in in the wake of the wind and she felt the inevitable expectant thrill she always did before a thunderstorm. There was something savagely exciting about a storm that she found irresistible, and fear was the last emotion she felt. Down the hill she went again, towards the valley and the path to the cottage, and she thought she might just make it after all. Very little traffic had passed her on the way, for the road through the village was not a much used route, but as she neared the gate that gave access to the field path, a car came along from behind her and its hom sounded . loudly on the still, heavy air, making her start. It took. her a second or two to recognise Gerald's car, and then she waved an acknowledging hand and waited by the gate for him to join her. 'Very nicely timed,' she told him as he came up, a smile on his face at the sight of her 'Very nicely,' he agreed, taking her free hand in his and leaning over to kiss her lightly on her cheek. He smiled, 'You look lovely.' 'Thank, you, kind sir.' She laughed and dipped him a mock curtsy as he took the shopping basket from her. 'I like your hair like that.' 'Do you?' She smiled, remembering Dominic's objection to her having it pulled back from her face. 'Don't you like my wild and woolly look?' 'Of course I do, but you might know I'd prefer a more conventional and tidy style.' He squeezed her fingers and the message in his eyes was unmistak126 able. 'Anyway, you know I love you, no matter how you look.' She made no reply, because there was always a sense of uneasiness in her whenever Gerald talked like that, so she merely smiled and gave her attention to the view that never failed to enchant her. As they came down the hillside from the road the whole valley lay stretched out before them. The taller hills in the distance, grey and hazy now with the approaching storm, and the river winding like a grey ribbon blown by the wind and tangled jound and round and in and out of the patches of woodland with Llanwellon Cottage squatting small and cosy at the end of the path. Even in this dark, overcast light it had a breathtaking beauty and a sombre sense of isolation that defied description. As if here, time had never moved. She thought Gerald shared at least some of her awareness, for he said no more, but walked with her in silence. After a while, however, Deryn was distracted by the sight of two more people, walking up from the direction of the river, just off to'their left and heading across the field with the obvious intention of joining the same path that she and Gerald were using. It took her a moment or two to place them, although they struck her immediately as familiar from somewhere. When she realised who they were, she bit her lip, wondering if they would recognise her. It was the middleaged couple that she had seen at the cottage, talking to Dominic, and it was quite feasible that they could recognise her from that brief but quite distinct appearance at the cottage window. 127 If she was recognised it was not too hard to imagine what sort of interpretation they would put upon seeing her now, walking hand in hand with Gerald. It was obvious all too soon that the woman at least recognised her as soon as they came within twenty yards of them, because her sharp eyes behind hornrimmed glasses went first to Gerald and then to their clasped hands, finally coming to rest on Deryn with a keen, curious look that was unmistakable. She said something to her husband and Deryn saw him look vaguely uneasy. . Using the pretence of brushing back the tendrils of hair from her forehead, she managed to free her hand from Gerald's without being obvious about it, and she had a smile ready when the couple came nearer. It was quite ridiculous, of course, she told herself, to care what these people thought, and even more ridiculous to foster the impressi6n that she was Dominic's wife, but she was merely responding to some instinct quite beyond her comprehension. The man, she thought, still looked uneasy, but his wife was smiling broadly, as if recognising an old friend. 'Good morning she said, glancing curiously at Gerald. 'Going to rain, isn't it?' 'It looks very much like it,' Deryn agreed, sensing Gerald's curiosity. 'A thunderstorm, I think.' 'That's what we thought,' the woman told her. 'We've just been having a word with your husband,' she added, 'down by the river.' 'Oh! Oh, have you?' She had felt Gerald stiffen beside her and knew he was looking at her, trying to dec
ide what was happening and if he should do anything about it. She ia8 I.'fervently hoped he wouldn't. If only the couple I would continue on their way before any more harm . .was done, but the woman seemed in no hurry to I get on, despite the darkening of the storm approachI ing from the valley behind them. 'He was out with the dog her informant went on. 'Such a nice old dog, isn't he? Very friendly.' 'Very,' Deryn agreed, dreading Gerald's probable intervention now that he knew who the supI posed husband was. 'If you'll excuse us she said, 'I think we should get on. We don't want to get caught in that storm.' . 'Oh no ' they agreed in unison. 'Goodbye ' They smiled and nodded their heads. 'Goodbye, Mrs. Gregory!' 'Mrs. ' 'Goodbye!' Deryn hastily smothered Gerald's protest and took his arm, pulling him with her down the path to the cottage, not giving him either s time or breath to question her. ' "Deryn!' He. planted himself firmly and deter: minedly in the doorway of the cottage, as if he would go no further until he was satisfied there was some reasonable explanation. 'Oh, please, Gerald!' She put the basket down on the kitchen table and sighed over the inevitability of it, but Gerald was not to be put off, as she should have known. He had kept silent the rest of the way.down the path, but now he looked as if he would demand an explanation and she was very unsure that she had a good one. . His eyes watched her suspiciously while she unpacked the shopping basket, and his expression would have probably dismayed another girl. Deryn, however, deciding that her own conscience was quite clear, merely busied herself and refused to be browbeaten. 'Mrs. Gregory,' he said, making it sound like an insult. 'They called you Mrs. Gregory.' 'I know, it's a mistake.' 'Then why didn't you tell them so?' 'Because I didn't think it was worth making a fuss about.' She banged down a tin on the wooden table, and shrugged. 'I still don't.' He came further into the room then, stiff and unrelenting. 'Look, Deryn,' he said slowly, as if every word took a great deal of thought, 'I don't know what's been going on here, but when I hear Gregory referred to as your husband, and my girl called Mrs. Gregory, then I think I have every right to ask what the hell it's all about. Why, Deryn? Why Mrs. Gregory? Why the reference to him as your husband? There must be .something behind it there's no smoke without fire.' 'You obviously believe there isn't,' Deryn retorted. 'And while we're on the subject of accuracy, Gerald, I'm not. your girl.' He would not argue that point at the moment, but he was still prepared to pursue the rest of his argument. 'Why, Deryn? Why do those people think you're Mrs. Gregory?' She sighed, deeply, to let him know that she found the subject tedious, and she sat down on one corner of the table. 'It's going to be one of those 130 'days she bemoaned. 'I know it is.' i 'Is it some scheme of his?' Gerald asked, refusing to be sidetracked. 'I can quite believe it is.' 'I suppose it was, in a way,' Deryn agreed. 'At least it was his fault originally that he didn't correct those fr people when they referred to me as his wife.' I 'But what on earth gave them the idea that you I were his wife, in the first place?' he demanded. Deryn shrugged. 'I suppose it was a natural as sumption when they saw him coming out of the cott 'tage after lunch one day, and I was in the Kitchen, I. washing up.' f 'I see.' He looked satisfied on that point at least, t but she was obviously expected to relate the whole Story and she shrugged. , 'Dom simply didn't bother to correct the impression she told him. It was less than the whole truth, ' but there was no need for him to know any more. '. 'And you didn't?' i 'I wasn't there,' she explained. 'I didn't go out, I was still in the kitchen.' 'So you let him get away with it?' : Resentment prickled sharply, but she tried not to show it. 'Not altogether,' she said. 'There seemed f little I could do about it once it'd gone that far. I lost my temper with him and told him what I t thought of him, when they'd gone, though,' she f added. 'But well, as he pointed out, the alterna, five explanation could have. given a much worse impression.' , 'Isn't that what I tried to tell youright at the start?' Gerald asked, and she nodded. 'Damn it!' he exclaimed angrily. 'I knew I shouldn't have allowed i31 you to stay on here under such circumstances! It was bound to cause this kind of trouble!' 'I disagree that you could have had anything to do with it,' she retorted. 'It was my decision, and you couldn't have influenced it one way or the other.' 'You won't stay on here now?' 'Yes, of course I will!' 'With the whole village thinking you're married to him? That you're living here together?' 'Oh, for heaven's sake!' she snapped. 'It isn't the whole village.' She remembered the cashier in the shop then, and bit her lip, wondering if he could be right. It was no doubt only a matter of time before that sharpeyed customer behind her at the pay desk passed on the information that she was not wearing a wedding ring even if she did call herself Mrs. Gregory. Unless human nature was very different from what she thought it, things were already .well on the way to getting out of hand, and it was all due to Dominic Gregory's bizarre sense of humour. 'Those people sounded like locals,' Gerald observed, noticing her expression, and guessing there was something more that he did not know about. 'They were, or at least they used to be.' 'And they'll talk.' 'They may not she said. He smiled with a superiority that irked her. 'The Welsh are garrulous,' he declared knowingly. 'They'll talk.' Deryn glared at him. 'I might remind you,' she said stiffly, 'that I'm Welsh. Are you telling me I talk too much?' 'Oh no, darling, of course not! But well, you 132 don't really count as Welsh, do you?' 'I count myself as Welsh as anybody in this valley,' she declared firmly. 'And I object to having my race called garrulous. That's sheer bigotry.' 'Darling, I'm sorry.' 'So you should be.' He put his arms about her and looked down at her earnestly. 'Please believe me, Deryn, I only want what's best for you, and I wish you'd give up this this brokendown heap and come back to town with me.' 'Llanwellon isn't a brokendown heap, and I love it here.' 'Well, you haven't got so much time left now, have you? And it's not so very long to September either. You'll be nearer in town, if any queries arise.' 'September?' She looked at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. 'What ' 'The African job,' he reminded her. 'You are coming, aren't you, Deryn?' 'Oh! Oh yes, I'd forgotten that.' 'You promised you'd let me know your answer, and you'll have to soon.' 'I know I did.' She moved away from him, looking out at the first big spots of rain that plopped heavily on the window panes. 'I had forgotten about it, Gerald.' 'I'm disappointed,' he told her. 'I thought you'd be as excited about it as I am.' 'Oh, it's a marvellous thing, I know, but ' 'You are coming?' She said nothing for a moment, or two, but gazed out at the rapidly approaching storm, restless fingers ' "133 toying with the top fastening of her dress, and wondering why it was that Llanwellon seemed to hold such a fascination for her that she was so reluctant to leave it even for the excitement and novelty of such a trip as Gerald was offering. She had truthfully quite forgotten about it until now, even the fact that he had suggested that she look upon it. as a working honeymoon, and now she was forced to consider seriously and apparently immediately. It was a very difficult decision, and she found herself unwilling to contemplate the time when she would have to leave the cottage for something else. She was, too, very reluctant to commit herself to either the job or the prospect of marriage to Gerald. 'I don't think so, Gerald.' She had not really been sure what her answer would be until she actually spoke, but now it was said and she knew Gerald was regarding her not only with disappointment, but suspicion as well. 'I see.' She turned and looked at him, smiling ruefully, prepared for him to argue. 'I wonder if you do,' she said quietly. 'Oh, I do! I see, all too clearly ' Gerald!' His light blue eyes sparkled with malice and she knew who was getting the blame for her decision. 'I see it only too well. I realised I should have difficulty in persuading you, as soon as' I saw Gregory here 'Dom has nothing to do with it!' He laughed shortly in disbelief. 'No?' i34 'No!' she insisted. 'It has. nothing at all to do with his being here, Gerald, and I wish you'd get rid of that idea, once and for all.' 'Then why won't you come to Africa with me?' 'Oh just because!' She turned away from him again. The storm was making her restless, but there was something else, too, something indefinable that nagged away at her peace of mind and Gerald's insistence only served to increase it. 'You you musthave guessed I'd probably say no to the idea of
treating it as a honeymoon,' she to'ld him, 'pressing her forehead against the cool panes of the window. 'I was afraid you might he admitted. 'But I thought you'd jump at the chance of coming on the trip, and the job of illustrating the book. It's a marvellous chance for you.' 'I know, Gerald, and I'm very grateful to you for giving me the opportunity.' 'I don't want you to be grateful ' 'But I am I realise how lucky I am to have the chance.' 'But ' He was watching her from across the room. 'You've decided to turn it down?' ''I ' She nodded slowly. 'I know you probably think I'm very stupid and I don't mean to seem ungrateful, but but I just can't.' 'Can't?' She nodded insistently. 'Call it what you like,' she told him. 'I've grown attached to this place, I've always wanted to come back to Wales, and now I'm here I'm very reluctant to leave it for somewhere so so different.' 'But you'd love it there. 35 'I love it here.' He made a tch of impatience and shook his head. 'You're impossible to understand,' he told her shortly. 'And I could shake you. You just can't see it, can you?' 'See what?' She turned again and looked at him curiously. 'That it's because of Gregory that you don't want to leave here.' 'It isn't' She denied it vehemently, and Gerald came across the room in two long strides, his face set determinedly. 'Do you think I don't know?' he demanded, and took her by her shoulders. 'Stop bullying me!' He shook her hard. 'You know damned well it's Gregory ' he insisted through clenched teeth. 'See sense, Deryn, before it's too late!' He shook lier again and she tried to evade his hands, struggling against him. 'Stop it, Gerald! Don't do that!' 'Then listen to me.' 'Let me go t' He shook her again until her teeth rattled and she cried out in protest. 'Stop it!' 'Do as the lady says, Gerald!' They both turned sharply at the sound of the short but obviously serious advice, and Deryn half closed her eyes, admitting to a sense of relief when she saw Dominic standing there. For the time being she had forgotten it was raining and that she would need to put the bath under the hole in the roof. He would be thinking about her carrying it upstairs herself at least she presumed that was his reason 136' for being there. Whatever his reason, Gerald was definitely not pleased to see him, and he glared at , him malevolently, although he did take his hands from her shoulders. 'What the devil do you want?' he demanded abruptly, and Dominic smiled slowly, giving his attention to Deryn, now that Gerald had released her. I 'I didn't want you breaking your neck trying to (haul that tin tub upstairs on your own,' he told her. 'In case you hadn't noticed, it's raining.' 'I know,' Deryn said. 'I was just thinking I'd ('better do something about it. Of course,' she added with an inexplicable flash of mischief, 'it would be much more to the point if I got someone to mend the t'hole in thereof.' I,'Much more,' Dominic agreed with a wry grin. I'Are you dropping hints?' I 'Any repairs that need doing,' Gerald informed l'him sharply before Deryn could reply, 7 can do for her I 'Be my guest,' Dominic told him amiably. 'I'd fas soon your neck was broken as mine.' t 'No doubt t' Gerald glowered. 'And now you know I'm here, you needn't bother about the bath Joeing taken upstairs. I can do all that's necessary.' I 'Including manhandling her?' Dominic suggested I'spftly, and Gerald's thin face flushed darkly as he clenched his hands. I 'Mind your own damned business, Gregory,' he 'said harshly. 'Get back down there and leave Deryn f alone.' ! 'Oh, I will,' Dominic told him with a meaningful ' 137 smile. 'When Deryn tells me to.' His eyes were fixed on her steadily and they looked a much darker grey than they normally did,. so that she realised with a start that he was angry probably just as angry as Gerald was, but he did not show it so obviously. Instinctively she reached out a hand and curled her fingers round his arm, exerting a gentle, persuasive pressure as she spoke. 'Please, Dom,' she said quietly. 'I can manage.' 'You don't need an avuncular arm for support?' Mischief reduced the anger in his eyes, and she smiled her relief to see it there. 'No, thank you.' 'O.K., if you're sure you're all right.' 'Quite all right, thank you.' He turned in the doorway and eyed her solemnly. 'This is good weather for frogs, you know,' he informed her with a very sober wink, and was gone, leaving Gerald glaring after him and Deryn trying desperately to control the laughter that bubbled up inside her. 'What the devil's he babbling about?' Gerald asked gruffly. 'What the devil have frogs to do with anything?' 'Oh, nothing really,' Deryn assured him, but smiled to herself when she thought about the crazy things supposedly sensible grownups can get involved" in. Like frog princes that changed at the touch of a kiss a frivolity Gerald would never understand. 138