Second Time Around

by Marcia Willett

  ‘I’ll drink to that.’ He drank deeply. ‘I’ve got something to suggest, actually. It’s a bit sudden but I’m sure you’ll understand.’

  She looked at him quickly and once again he saw that odd look in her eyes. Could she possibly have guessed at his real feelings? If she had, then at least what he had to say would put her mind at rest.

  ‘I’ve been thinking.’ He put down his glass and reached for her hand. ‘You know I think I was wrong to say that we should wait to get married until after Washington.’ She stiffened a little and he held her hand more tightly, knowing that she had been hurt at his refusal to go along with her idea of a quiet ceremony before he took up his post. ‘I’ve changed my mind. What about fixing the wedding as soon as possible. Mother’s perfectly happy to organise it. What d’you say?’

  ‘Have you spoken to your mother about it?’ She was staring at their joined hands; at the winking of the stones in her engagement ring.

  He thought quickly. ‘Well, I have. Don’t be cross with me. I had to clear it with her. To make sure she could cope before I asked you. It’ll be a bit of a rush and you did say that you felt your cousin couldn’t be expected to deal with it.’

  ‘I know I did. Don’t worry. I wasn’t accusing you of anything. What did your mother say?’

  ‘She said that it could be done. It would be a bit hectic but that she’s perfectly happy to take it on.’

  ‘I see.’ So that was that. Her escape route was closed.

  ‘You don’t look too certain about it?’

  He was watching her with a strange expression in his eyes and she was distressed lest he should be hurt by her lack of enthusiasm.

  ‘Sorry.’ She made a tremendous effort and smiled at him as brightly as she could. ‘It’s come as a bit of a shock. I’d … well, I’d resigned myself to waiting. In fact,’ she made one last try, ‘I had a tiny suspicion that you might be changing your mind.’

  She was staring at him so desperately that he felt a stab of guilt followed by a rush of tenderness for her. ‘What rubbish!’ he said and leaned over to kiss her. ‘Just too much on my mind, that’s all. So what about it?’

  ‘Wonderful.’ She raised her glass. ‘Here’s to us.’

  For a moment he thought that she had tears in her eyes and he sighed inwardly. How could he possibly have imagined that he could hurt her?

  ‘Here’s to us,’ he said.

  BEA ORDERED COFFEE AND went back to the table in the corner where Sidney, waiting obediently by her chair, wagged his tail and lay down with a sigh. Bea sighed too as she looked about her and settled herself more comfortably in her chair. Isobel had brought her to the Bedford Hotel, several months before, and she had been struck by the quiet comfortable bar where locals and residents alike sat talking over pots of tea or coffee or reading the newspapers. Well-behaved dogs were welcomed and Bea felt content to sit here in this peaceful atmosphere and wait for Will. She glanced down at Sidney who was attracting attention from a couple at a neighbouring table. Clumber spaniels were by no means a common sight and his square sturdy body and big domed head drew much praise. Strangers approached crying, ‘Oh, isn’t he beautiful. But what is he?’ and Sidney stood patiently as they stroked his silky coat and gently pulled his long ears.

  Bea stretched out a foot and patted him with her toe, smiling at the couple. She was secretly enjoying the vicarious admiration which he attracted and was becoming resigned to white hair on the carpet and slobber marks on her skirt. This surprised her but she knew that there was always a price to pay if life was to be lived fully; the mess a cat or dog made; the ash and dust from a wood fire; the clearing up after the preparation of a delicious meal. It was tempting—and Bea knew that living alone she might easily have been so tempted—to simplify life, to pare it to the bone, cutting out anything that made unnecessary work. The trouble was that this nihilistic attitude could lead to boredom and emptiness. Bea was grateful that Will saved her from this temptation. Will lived with great enthusiasm and Bea was very happy to be taken along with him.

  The coffee arrived and Bea shuffled forward on her seat so as to pour herself a cupful. She was reaching for the sugar when the sound of her name, uttered with great surprise, arrested her action. Hand outstretched she stared up at Tony Priest.

  ‘It is you,’ he said with the lazy smile that had caused her such flutterings in the past. ‘Well, well.’ His eyes took in the casual shirt and sailcloth skirt, her tanned skin and well-cut cropped hair. ‘I must say you’re looking extraordinarily fit. Being a landowner obviously suits you.’

  Bea swallowed and dropped a lump of brown sugar into her coffee. ‘It … has its moments,’ she said, wondering whether Will was likely to arrive and unwittingly show her up. She remembered her mother saying, ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive,’ and took a deep breath. ‘How are you, Tony? How’s everyone? ’

  ‘Fine.’ He glanced down at the slumbering Sidney and, to Bea’s dismay, sank into the chair opposite. ‘Missing you, of course.’

  He smiled at her again and she remembered how he had enjoyed making her a little confused, delighting in her silent admiration. Bea looked away from him—outraged that she had ever been fool enough to have given him such satisfaction—and saw Will come in and look about him. The expression on her face caused Tony to glance round, giving Bea just long enough to make a warning face at Will. He came across, smiling at Bea and noticing the wariness with which she greeted him.

  ‘This is Tony Priest,’ she said. ‘The History master at my old school. This is Will Rainbird,’ she told Tony. ‘My land agent. He met Marian when we came to collect my things.’

  ‘So I heard.’ Tony had risen and was shaking Will’s hand, looking at him appraisingly. ‘She was very impressed … with the whole thing, of course.’ His implication that Marian had been taken with Will was left hanging in the air and there was a moment of awkwardness. Bea remembered how he had loved to create these little frissons, often very amusing ones, and how he liked to stand back and watch the effect. Generally—and flatteringly—he had invited Bea to be a fellow spectator. This time she refused to play his game.

  ‘Oh, Marian was all over him like a rash,’ she said dismissively. ‘Poor Will. Very embarrassing wasn’t it, darling?’

  Tony’s eyes opened wide and he looked sharply at Will, who was patting himself all over, his face expressionless.

  ‘Dreadful woman,’ he said, producing his pipe. ‘Terribly obvious. What an afternoon! Now then, my darling, are you ready or do you want more coffee?’ He took her hand and held it for a second and then turned back to Tony, who watched this by-play with amazement on his face. ‘Sorry. Am I butting in? Are you staying in the hotel?’

  ‘We are.’ Tony took a grip on himself. ‘Nicola will be along in a moment. Why don’t you stay to see her?’

  Bea, who was dithering between fleeing whilst there was time and a desire to brazen it out, looked at Will. It was clear that, having given her the opportunity to escape, he was leaving the next move to her. She remembered that he’d had no coffee and that Sidney would probably not be welcome in any of the other cafés. Moreover, she had not yet drunk her own coffee.

  ‘Good idea,’ she said easily. ‘You need some coffee, Will, after the drive over. Why not order some. Tony?’

  ‘No, none for me,’ he said quickly. ‘I had plenty at breakfast. So, Bea.’ He sat down, looking at her intently as Will went to the bar, the old teasing smile willing her to share her secrets. ‘What a dark horse you are.’

  She refused to be drawn or flattered. ‘Oh, not particularly,’ she said, meeting his eye provocatively. ‘I just take advantage of what life sends. Don’t we all?’

  ‘We do indeed. Ah!’ He got to his feet. ‘Nicola. Over here. Look who’s here?’

  Bea looked at the slim, smart, pretty woman and realised that she no longer felt inadequate, nor clumsy and plain. She smiled, raising her eyebrows at Nicola’s surprise.

  ‘What
fun,’ she said calmly. ‘How are you, Nicola?’

  ‘I’m well thanks, Bea. And you, I hear, have become a wealthy landowner.’

  Her sharp eyes examined Bea coldly: Bea laughed.

  ‘Old Marian does like to be first with the news, doesn’t she?’ she asked admiringly. ‘I expect the whole school knows. Probably the town, as well. Did she tell you about Will, too?’

  ‘Will?’ Nicola looked faintly discomfited. ‘Well, I’m not absolutely certain …’ She looked at Tony, who was obviously enjoying the encounter enormously.

  ‘No need to be prissy, Nicola,’ said Bea impatiently. ‘I’m sure she did. And here he is. Will, darling, this is Nicola, Tony’s wife. This is Will Rainbird, my land agent.’

  ‘How d’you do?’ Will shook her hand warmly. ‘Perhaps I should have ordered more coffee.’ He sat down beside Bea, leaving the other two standing, and stroked Sidney who groaned and rolled over on to his side.

  ‘Did he come with the estate, too?’ asked Tony, still looking amused.

  ‘He comes from a broken home,’ said Will blandly. ‘He’s learning to trust again. We’re a very happy little community, aren’t we, my darling?’

  He beamed at Bea, who smiled at him with genuine affection. ‘We certainly are,’ she agreed. She looked up at Tony and Nicola. ‘Do sit down,’ she said, a testy note creeping into her voice. ‘Are you sure you won’t have some coffee?’

  ‘Perfectly sure.’ Nicola stared disbelievingly as Bea laid her hand upon Will’s and their fingers intertwined. ‘We must go. So nice to see you, Bea. Come on, Tony. We shall be late.’

  Tony looked down at Bea with a little smile as Nicola turned away. ‘I have a feeling,’ he said softly, ‘that I underestimated you. What a pity.’

  Bea raised her cup to him. ‘Good luck,’ she said. ‘Don’t forget to give our love to Marian. Off you go. Nicola’s waiting.’

  When they’d gone she sat back in her seat with a gasp of relief. Presently she began to laugh. Will’s coffee arrived and he began to pour, smiling at Bea’s reaction.

  ‘We shall have to be careful,’ he said. ‘Who knows who else may pop out of the woodwork?’

  ‘She’ll go rushing back to Marian with the news,’ said Bea with enormous satisfaction. ‘Her eyes were like organ stops. Talk about Lady Chatterley!’

  They laughed immoderately and drank their coffee companionably, temporarily forgetting about Isobel and her meeting with Helen at the cove. It was pleasant to be at leisure together and presently they fastened Sidney’s lead to his collar and wandered out into the town. The weather was brighter and they pottered slowly. Since Isobel had asked them to give her plenty of time with Helen they had the whole day before them. Bea, delighted with her routing of Nicola, took Will’s arm.

  ‘Just in case,’ she told him demurely, ‘they’re still about.’

  ‘Quite right,’ he said, giving it a squeeze. ‘And if I see them approaching we’ll go into a clinch and pray that Sidney can cope with a sudden display of unbridled passion.’

  ‘I wish I’d thought of that,’ said Bea wistfully. ‘That would have really given them something to think about.’

  ‘There’s still time,’ said Will cheerfully. ‘They’re staying at the hotel. We’ll go back for lunch and give ’em a treat.’

  Chuckling together, arms linked, they strolled across the road and disappeared into the market.

  Thirty-one

  SEBASTIAN PUT DOWN THE telephone receiver, glanced at his watch and shrugged at his oppo, Rob Walters.

  ‘She’s not there,’ he said. ‘I’ve left a message on the ansaphone.’

  ‘So you’ll come anyway?’

  Sebastian nodded. ‘Why not? She’s probably only walking the dog. It’s a pity to waste time and if you really don’t mind me coming on with you if she’s not there … ?’

  ‘Not a bit. Barbara will be pleased to see you again. She was rather miffed that as soon as we bought a house down here I got posted to Pompey. She’s settling in but she’ll be pleased to see a friendly face. She’s thrilled that we’ve got more problems and the ship’ll be stuck alongside for a day or two. Let’s get going then.’

  ‘You can spare a minute to see Tessa, I hope,’ said Sebastian, as they went down the gangplank together. ‘Seeing that you’re going to be best man.’

  ‘Can’t wait to meet her again,’ said Rob, feeling for the car keys. ‘We must all get together while the ship’s in.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Sebastian—but he sighed as he waited for Rob to unlock the door. He was determined to be positive but it was not quite as easy as he’d hoped.

  ADRIAN PEARSON DROVE SLOWLY past the church looking for the house which Tessa had described to him. He had been wary when he’d first heard her voice on his mobile. How was she going to react to his visits to the cove? His second visit had been unproductive. The old boy had checked the figures over again and indicated the one or two pieces he might be prepared to sell. One of these was an elegant, if simple, Regency writing table and, although the sabre legs had been repaired with brackets and the leather top was scored and marked, it would easily bring five and a half thousand pounds. The old buffer had been delighted at an offer of four hundred pounds for ‘that old table’, as the old aunt or whatever-she-was had called it, and had promised a final decision soon.

  Adrian, peering through the windscreen, had been quickly reassured by Tessa’s call. She had been friendly, apologised for not getting in touch before and explained that she had some rather interesting pieces to show him. He felt the familiar excitement begin to build. Should he, he’d asked, give the owner a bell? Tessa answered that the owner was away but that she, Tessa, had permission to show him a few pieces with a view to selling. Could he come over to Tavistock? she’d asked. He could.

  So here he was, turning in through the gate of a Victorian house set well back from the road, and there was Tessa opening the front door. She led him straight through to the kitchen and invited him to sit down while she made coffee. He glanced about him; nothing particularly exciting here but that was often the way. It was surprising how many people had just one or two really valuable things, inherited over the years and regarded with the contempt that familiarity brings. These were the kind of customers he wanted; not those whose homes were stuffed with goodies and who knew their value down to the tiniest silver thimble. He looked at Tessa and smiled to himself. Perhaps he hadn’t misjudged her after all. She could lead him to all sorts of treasures but he must make certain that she was on his side.

  ‘How are things?’ he asked, bringing his charm to bear on her. She was not really his type——but business is business. ‘I tracked you down to the cove, you know, but you weren’t there. I’ve been hoping that I would see you again.’

  She smiled at him and he realised that there was none of that early caution he remembered. She leaned against the sink and looked at him appraisingly.

  ‘I’ve been thinking about you, too,’ she said.

  Her smile was a peculiarly intimate one and he raised his eyebrows, smiling a little in return. He was surprised—and a faint excitement stirred which had nothing to do with profit-making.

  ‘I’m flattered,’ he said lightly. ‘You shouldn’t be so elusive. Those relations of yours are very efficient guard dogs.’

  She laughed and shook her head. ‘What a pair of old dinosaurs they are. I inherited the property with them, you know, so we all have to rub along together.’

  He grimaced sympathetically. ‘Not too easy, I should think. The old … um, Mr Rainbird seems a nice enough chap but your aunt is a bit fearsome, isn’t she?’

  ‘She’s my cousin.’ Tessa turned away to make the coffee. ‘She’s been a matron in a boys’ school all her life.’

  ‘I should have guessed.’

  He studied her, wondering how far this might lead. She was wearing a denim mini-skirt and a T-shirt and, as he watched her moving about; the excitement increased.

  ‘So.’ She turned round
so suddenly that she caught his eyes on her legs and once again she smiled that intimate knowing smile. ‘Making a valuation?’ she asked provocatively.

  He burst out laughing, throwing his hands up to signify that she’d scored a hit. ‘I admit it. Should I apologise?’

  She shrugged, pushing his coffee towards him. ‘That depends on the valuation.’

  ‘Out of my league.’ He pretended despondency. ‘I’ve known it all along really.’ He sighed. ‘But you can’t blame me for trying.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t.’ She leaned her elbows on the table, mug in her hands and stared at him. ‘I’m wondering how truthful I can be with you.’

  He pulled down the corners of his mouth. ‘That sounds very serious. Totally, I hope.’ He conjured up the sympathetic interest he reserved for the Mrs Carringtons. ‘Got a problem?’

  ‘Uh-huh.’ She nodded. ‘Between you and me—and not a word to my old dinosaurs—I have quite a serious financial problem. I … Well, the truth is, I was led to believe that the house in the cove was going to be left entirely to me and I borrowed against my expectations. I won’t go into why, for the moment, but you can imagine my horror when the two old fossils turned up on the doorstep.’

  ‘Sure.’ He watched her, fascinated. ‘So …’ He hesitated. ‘So how can I help?’

  ‘Do you want to help?’

  ‘Certainly,’ he said swiftly. His heart knocked against his breast. ‘Do you have any suggestions?’

  ‘It’s already occurred to you that I go to many places where there are odd items of furniture that are up for grabs. You offered me commission … ?’

  ‘Certainly,’ he said again. ‘That would be only right and proper. But I thought that you were rather upset the last time I mentioned it.’

  ‘I wasn’t on the ball that day,’ she admitted. ‘I’d just got engaged and it seemed that my problems were over. Well.’ She shrugged. ‘He’s changed his mind.’