A Country Affair

by Rebecca Shaw

  Mungo was lost for words.

  “I know why you’re taking this stance. I saw what you saw when Kate looked up and smiled at you when she was stroking Perkins. She brings back too many memories for you, doesn’t she? Dismissing her would be a good way of ridding yourself of the problem.”

  “You’re being bloody stupid, Joy, or more likely bloodyminded. Sometimes you lose your sense of proportion, you know, always have done at moments of crisis.” He stood up and turned away from her to look out of the window, aware he’d been more rude to her than he had ever been and knowing she was right about Kate: That look she had given him at the lunch had rocked the boat and no mistake.

  “Well, there’s been plenty of moments of crisis working for you, believe me.” As an afterthought and between clenched teeth she snapped, “And don’t you dare swear at me.”

  Mungo recognized the fury in Joy’s voice and knew he’d gone too far. He held up a placatory hand. “I’m sorry, love. Truly sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper and I shouldn’t have sworn. I won’t tolerate theft, though. We have to be seen to take steps. React in whatever way you think fit. I’ll leave it to you. Must go.” He opened the door, then looked back at her and smiled as only Mungo could. “I’m sorry. You know? Friends?”

  Her anger at his attitude melted away at his smile and she said, “Friends.”

  She could hear him greeting his clients and their dog, using all his charm to ease their anxiety and succeeding, for the clients were eating out of his hand before the had even reached the consulting room. Joy smiled a little grimly at the way all his clients worshipped the ground he walked on. No wonder, though, because he was immensely good at his job. However, he couldn’t solve her present crisis, could he, for all his charm and talent?

  AT lunchtime Joy issued an ultimatum. If the missing money was back in the drawer by the time they closed the cash sheet for the night, then nothing more would be said. She knew she was avoiding the main issue entirely and that, in fact, it solved nothing, but at the moment it was all she could come up with.

  During the afternoon Miss Chillingsworth was discovered by Kate sitting quietly in the reception area, having made no one aware of her arrival. “Why, Miss Chillingsworth, you’ve come. I’ll tell Mr. Murgatroyd.”

  Her tear-stained face told Kate all. “Oh no! Oh, dear, I am sorry.”

  “In the night.”

  “What happened . . . do you know?”

  “I am sorry. In the night I woke up and had this dreadful feeling inside. I went downstairs to the kitchen and there she was. She’d struggled out of her basket by the stove—she always sleeps there: it’s warm all night, you see—and was lying on the floor, breathing all funny, and I picked her up and loved her, and she died as I held her.” Tears rolled down her face.

  Kate took a clean tissue from her pocket and offered it to Miss Chillingsworth, but she was too overcome to notice, so Kate gently wiped away her tears for her. “What a lovely way for her to go, though, in your arms. That must have been so comforting for her.”

  “She looked up at me as if she knew, just knew it was all over. Seventeen years we’ve been together, the two of us. I’m not going to be able to go back into the house and find her not there, but I had to let you know because you were expecting me.”

  “Well, that was kind of you, to come to tell us. A cup of tea. How does that sound?”

  “Thank you, dear. Yes, that would be nice.”

  Kate told Graham and he came out of his consulting room to see her. “Miss Chillingsworth, let’s go in the back and you can tell me all about it.”

  “Oh, Mr. Murgatroyd! What am I going to do?”

  “You’re going to be thankful that Cherub found a lovely way to go. She didn’t have to be anesthetized for the X-ray and she didn’t have to go through an operation. She just quietly slipped away as though she knew it was of no use whatever we did. Be glad for her.”

  “Oh! Mr. Murgatroyd, you expressed that quite beautifully. I should be glad, shouldn’t I, that she didn’t have to suffer anything at all but simply went to her Maker as gently as she could?”

  “Exactly. And what’s more, she had you to comfort her, didn’t she?”

  “You’re right, and I did.”

  He handed her the tea Kate had brought her and watched her drink it while he searched for the right words to say. “Sometimes I think animals are wiser than we humans realize. They seem to have an intuitive sense about when the end is in sight. It’s almost as if they are resigned to what happens to them and it makes life easier for them finally. They don’t fight what is happening to them, if you see what I mean.” He paused for a moment and then asked, “So if I might mention it, where is she now?”

  There was a short silence, then Miss Chillingsworth said, “I’ve buried her in my garden under a tree she liked to climb in her youth. I did the whole funeral service for her, every word. I just hope the good Lord didn’t mind her being a cat.”

  Graham patted her shoulder and looked away.

  “I’ll take my money, that is if you don’t mind. You won’t need it now.”

  “Of course, Miss Chillingsworth.”

  She got to her feet. “You’re a dear boy.” They shook hands and she left to collect her one hundred pounds and he to catch up with his client list.

  Kate needn’t have gone to the bank on her lunch break to get out the money, for the envelope with “Miss Chillingsworth” written on the front of it in Kate’s own hand was in the drawer ready and waiting. Kate watched Joy hand it over and she broke out in a sweat of relief—relief which couldn’t be measured.

  When Miss Chillingsworth had left, Joy winked at her. “You needn’t have gone to the bank.”

  “But who . . . ?”

  “No idea. But in future you make very sure all money is registered and banked. For whatever reason, do not promise to take care of money for clients. Ever. There’s a powerful lesson to be learned from this.”

  “I know. What I can’t understand is who and why?”

  Joy had her suspicions but had vowed to keep them to herself and to keep a closer watch in future. She replied, “Can’t answer that because I don’t know.”

  Scott came in at about four, just as Kate was leaving. “Sweet one! Long time no see. Just finished? Great!”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” Scott clapped a hand to his forehead in mock despair. “She asks why. Because I’ve had a rotten day and need your company.”

  “I see.”

  “You haven’t a prior engagement, have you?”

  “Are you leaving right now?”

  “Just got these samples to hand over to Joy for dispatch and then I’m all yours.”

  “I’ll wait in my car.”

  Out of the corner of her eye Kate saw Lynne watching her with a slightly malevolent expression on her face and it occurred to Kate that it might be Lynne who’d removed the envelope from the drawer. But of course she wouldn’t have, not Lynne. Now had it been Stephie . . .

  Scott slid into the seat next to her and grinned. “So where shall we go?”

  “Actually, I can’t go anywhere tonight because . . .”

  “You’re not going out with that Adam fella, are you?”

  “What if I am?”

  “I’ve told you he’s a nutter.”

  Memories of running along the embankment toward Sainsbury’s car park flooded back. She avoided the issue by saying, “If I tell you where I’m going, you’re not to breathe a word. Right?”

  “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

  “This is my first night going for tutoring for chemistry.”

  Scott turned a delighted face to her. “You’re not! You’ve decided, then.”

  Kate nodded.

  “Well, I am pleased. Really pleased. You’ve made the right decision. Yes, definitely. My chemistry is rusty, but if you need any help, shout for Scott.”

  “She’s a great teacher and thrilled to be helping me.”

  “Good
girl! This calls for a celebration.”

  “I need to eat before I go.”

  “Quite right. Won’t Mia be expecting you?”

  “She will. I’ll go back in and give her a ring.”

  Scott scuffed about in the cavernous pockets of his Barbour and proffered her his mobile. “Here, use this.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  He squeezed closer to her and showed her how to make a call.

  Kate spoke to Mia and explained. “Now, how do I switch it off?”

  “I’m amazed you haven’t got one of your own. Time you did.”

  “I shall have, tonight, if Dad does what he says.”

  “He thinks you should have one, does he?”

  “He does. Your car or mine?”

  “Mine, of course. The whole inside absolutely stinks, so I’ll put a cloth over the passenger seat. It still hasn’t recovered from my episode with the slurry pit.”

  Kate smiled. “I keep having a laugh about that; I thought it was so funny.”

  “Thanks! Trust a Limey to find it amusing. Doesn’t say much for your sense of humor.”

  “Oh! Sorry. It’s a sign of maturity, you know, to be able to laugh at oneself.”

  “Is it, now?” He spread a clean cover over the seat and she climbed in.

  “Where are we going?”

  When he looked at her, there was that same gleam in his eye that she’d seen before and she felt a blush creeping over her cheeks. His admiring gaze stayed on her face while he said, “People who show dogs use the expression ‘It fills the eye,’ meaning it’s a first-rate dog with that special something that they’re keen to find. That’s just what you’re doing tonight, filling my eye.” He leaned toward her and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Nothing more. “Not the Fox and Grapes, I think. No, this calls for the King’s Arms.”

  “I’m not dressed for the King’s Arms.”

  He assessed her suitability by examining her from head to foot. “Like I said, you fill my eye, so there’s no need to worry. I’ve a clothes brush in the back for emergencies like these and I’ll brush my trousers before I go in, and then we’ll both be suitable. What the hell, they won’t be feeding us for nothing, you know, so they’ll put up with us, believe me.”

  “I expect you know them all.”

  “I do.”

  “Thought so.”

  And he did. He was greeted like an old friend by waiters and bar staff alike.

  “Is there any place where food is served that you haven’t tried?”

  “Not many.”

  They all looked curiously at her and she guessed he’d been in there with other girls before her. She wouldn’t ask. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, as Mia would say.

  They both ordered steak with French fries and vegetables, and Scott asked for lager for himself and cider for Kate. While they waited they discussed work.

  “What’s this I hear about Mungo and Joy having a row about you? What have you been up to? Explain yourself.”

  She rounded off her explanation by saying that she could hear the raised voices but not the words and that they both sounded furious with each other but not angry about her at all.

  “Ah! Well, didn’t you realize that Joy carries a torch for Mungo? Has for years, apparently.”

  “But she’s married.”

  “So? People marry for all kinds of reasons.”

  “But she wouldn’t, not Joy.”

  “Wouldn’t what?’

  “Love someone else when she was married.”

  “Like I said, people marry for all kinds of reasons.”

  “So in your opinion why did she marry that nice man Duncan?”

  “I haven’t the faintest idea.”

  “You’re no help at all. I’ll ask Bunty when she comes back on Monday. She’ll know. She knows everything about everybody.”

  “Does she?” Scott took a long drink of his lager and asked casually, “She’s been away two weeks, is it?”

  “She’s left-handed, so she couldn’t assist at operations with things all bandaged up, or whatever.”

  “All bandaged up?”

  “Her finger.”

  “Explain.”

  “She dislocated the little finger on her left hand in an accident playing netball at school and since then it’s kept dislocating itself on the slightest excuse, and it’s so painful when it happens and puts her out of action for a few days each time, so they’ve operated on it and hopefully this will cure it for good.”

  Kate realized that Scott was paying very close attention to every word she spoke. “OK? Is there anything else you’d like to know? Like her blood group, for instance?”

  “Is this true?”

  “Why would I lie? Of course it’s true.”

  Why Bunty’s finger being operated on should silence Scott, Kate had no idea, but it did. He cheered up a little when they ordered their ice-cream sundaes and was forcing himself to be chirpy by the time their bill arrived at the table.

  “Mustn’t be long.” He looked at his watch. “Nearly time to go. The sundae wasn’t as good as the Fox and Grapes’.”

  “You’re right. Thank you, though, I have enjoyed it. I’ll be off. I shall need a lift back to the practice to pick up my car, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Of course. Yes.”

  He waited until she’d started her car and returned her wave as she drove out of the car park.

  So the question was, was Bunty pregnant and remaining so or had she fooled him completely by making him think she was away from work having an abortion when all the time she was having her damned finger operated on and she wasn’t pregnant at all? Or was the dislocated finger a blind to cover a trip to an abortion clinic? If she was pregnant and she intended keeping the baby, should he do the right thing? Not likely. Marriage wasn’t for him and most definitely not for him and Bunty. Women! Why did he bother? Well, he knew why he bothered, but why did he always bother with the wrong ones? Answer: because they were the most fun.

  But Kate was the exception. She was delicious, in a quiet, innocent kind of way. Refreshing, untouched. That was what made her so fascinating. And a virgin, because that Adam wouldn’t have the guts. Well, he’d better not have. That clumsy, blundering nutter would have as much subtlety when making love as a bull in a china shop. But if she got her chemistry A level, then that would be the key to getting her away from that blasted Adam. What was it about that nutter that made an insensitive, unperceptive Aussie feel such concern? The question hung about at the back of his mind all weekend.

  Chapter

  6

  On the Monday morning, having decided to tackle Bunty first thing before he went on his calls, he found her in the laundry room sorting the operating linen from Sunday. “You’re better, then.”

  Bunty’s bright-blue eyes met his. They stared at each other for a moment and Scott asked her again if she was better.

  She turned back to the washing machine. “As well as can be expected in the circumstances.”

  “What are the circumstances?” He’d shed his normal casual approach to everything outside his work and was standing, hands out of his pockets, waiting to pounce like a panther. Bunty might not have been looking at him but she was fully aware this was a different Scott from the one she had known that hot, passionate night they’d shared.

  “Well?”

  She still didn’t answer, so he covered the space between them in a moment and took hold of her arm. “Look me in the face and tell me straight out. Why have you been absent from work?”

  “Worried?”

  “No, I am not. Just asking on a need-to-know basis, that’s all.”

  Bunty dropped the last of the bloodied linen into the machine and faced him. Holding up her left hand still encased in a plastic glove she said, “Operation on finger. OK?”

  A huge sweat of relief came out on Scott’s body, which just as quickly disappeared when he realized how she’d tried to trick him. “You lied to me. That’
s nasty, that is, Bunty, downright evil to lie about something as important as that.”

  “Disappointed there isn’t going to be a little Scott Spencer for you to coo over?”

  “I would have walked away quick smart, believe me, nothing surer. You could bet your life on it.”

  “That’s nice, that is.”

  “It isn’t, but it’s the truth.”

  “Typical man.”

  “Believe me, I don’t feel good about what’s happened, but it did take two of us and I most certainly didn’t force you.”

  Bunty peeled off the plastic gloves, flung them in the bin and stormed out. Scott shrugged his shoulders. He caught up with her as she began preparing the operating room for the day. Putting his head around the door he said, “By the way, you’ve not switched the machine on.” He slammed the door shut before whatever it was she’d thrown at him reached its target.

  As he retreated he bumped into Joy, who was looking for him. “Scott! There you are. Your list awaits you. What are you up to?”

  Scott flung his arms around her and kissed her on both cheeks.

  “You naughty boy! What brought that on?”

  “My reprieve! I’m on my way. I reckon I’m the only one who does any work around here.”

  “You’re not, believe me.” Joy watched him disappear into reception and went to greet Bunty on her first day back.

  “Hello, Bunty. Now, how are you, dear?”

  “I’m fine, thanks, Joy. Quite glad to be back. Mum’s been fussing over me all the time.”

  “So she should. You be thankful she did.”

  “Yes, I expect you’re right.”

  “You’re still looking peaky, though. Are you sure you should be back?”

  Bunty was laying out instruments on the trolley cart and, without turning around, she said, “I’m fine, thanks. Fine.”

  “Finger working OK? Let me look.”

  Bunty waggled her finger in the air. “They’ve done a good job. I’ll need a morning off in two weeks for a checkup.”

  “Tell me the date and I’ll fix it on the roster.”

  Bunty nodded. “Thanks.”

  Joy, glad that the nursing side of her responsibilities was fully manned, closed the door behind her and went out to reception. On the counter were the appointment lists for the small-animal vets and the lists of calls for the farm practice side. She briefly checked them through. Rhodri and Scott were out on call this morning with Zoe, and Colin, now that he was back, would be starting work at one. Graham and Valentine would be consulting this morning. Mungo’s list was crammed with appointments all morning and he had two operations in the afternoon. She studied the names of his clients. Some she knew, others . . . The phone rang. The Welsh accent gave the caller away.