‘So am I. Not quite the same as taking in an evacuee family, but the house won’t seem so empty.’
She picked up her nightdress and disappeared to the bathroom. He knew she was doing that for his sake so he wouldn’t see her naked until they were able to make love again.
When they were in bed he asked how much longer they had to wait. ‘It’s been five weeks since you miscarried. Didn’t the doctor say it would be all right to resume relations at six weeks?’
‘I’m going to see him on the tenth and I’m as eager as you for things to get back to normal.’
‘Much as I’d like to make love to you right now it wouldn’t be very enjoyable for either of us when I’ve literally no hands.’
*
Life at The Rookery changed with the addition of Joan. She was a churchgoer, as were Stan and Eliza, and was dismayed that they didn’t attend.
‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in Him, He believes in you and that’s all that matters. Please come with me this Sunday. I’m sure half the congregation don’t have strong beliefs; they go because it’s part of the community.’
‘We’ll come with you this week but I don’t promise that we’ll become regular churchgoers,’ Ellie said. When she told Jack, he shrugged philosophically.
‘We’ve got a lot to be thankful for, honey, doesn’t hurt to say so even if we’re not sure anyone is listening.’
So, smartly dressed in their Sunday best, the three of them set out in a light drizzle for church. Jack was holding a large black umbrella over them. Joan was wearing a felt cloche which matched her moss green suit. She was wearing a pretty floral frock with a warm cardigan and no hat, but she did have a silk scarf in her handbag to put on when she got there. Jack was uncomfortable in his best trousers, crisply ironed shirt and jacket.
He ran his finger around his collar and pulled a face. ‘Somehow it didn’t seem so bad being smart when it was a uniform.’
They were halfway there when Ellie realised the dog had followed them. Jack immediately volunteered to take him back.
‘No, you’re not getting out of it that easily. I’m sure Grey will wait quietly outside and a bit of rain won’t hurt him.’
He grinned. ‘Was worth a try. Last time we were in a church was at your niece’s christening and the time before that at your grandfather’s funeral.’
‘We got married in church as well, so all the important events in our lives take place there. Perhaps we should be at least attending at Christmas and Easter.’
‘That’s a start, Ellie. You haven’t made many friends of your own age and church is a good place to begin,’ Joan said.
‘I’ve been to a couple of Women’s Institute meetings but all they talked about was jam and no one talked to me.’
‘You can’t bottle fruit or make jam with the surplus from your garden if you don’t have enough sugar.’ Joan had taken her comment at face value.
Eliza and Stan were waiting in the porch of the church. ‘Nasty old day. I reckon we’ve had a lot more rain than sunshine this summer,’ Eliza said.
‘You’re right; let’s hope the weather improves.’
There were already half a dozen furled umbrellas propped against the wall and Jack and Stan added two more. This was the first time Ellie had been inside the local church, but it smelt familiar. Damp and gloomy – no vases of flowers or candles flickering to cheer the place up.
There was ample room as the pews were less than half full. She had expected it to be packed as it was a relatively small Victorian building and could only seat around a hundred. Maybe the rain had put people off.
Joan sat with Stan and Eliza and she and Jack slid in behind them. There was no organ playing and only a soft murmur of voices to fill the silence.
‘There are no children so far in the congregation,’ she whispered to Jack. ‘And no one remotely close to us in age.’
‘You’re right. Something a bit odd about this church, don’t you think?’
She leant forward and tapped Eliza on the shoulder. ‘Where is everybody? Why are there no families here?’
Instead of looking concerned or offended she smiled. ‘You wait and see. Don’t want to spoil the surprise.’
A few more older people drifted in but they remained by far the youngest here. Instead of being concerned at the unbalanced congregation Ellie was now intrigued. An air of anticipation rippled around those present and she sat up straighter in the pew.
Twenty-Four
There was no procession down the aisle as there was no choir. She glanced over her shoulder expecting the vicar to walk on his own but there was no sign of him. Then a small, incredibly ancient, figure emerged from the vestry. His cassock was so old it had faded and he was in danger of tripping over the hem. However, his surplice was snowy white and crisply ironed.
He stumbled up the steps to the pulpit and there was a collective sigh of relief when he arrived there safely. He was so short only his head and shoulders were visible. Then he shuffled about and stepped onto a box of some sort.
Now she understood why the church was half empty. This vicar was so old he probably didn’t know how to conduct the service correctly and no doubt rambled on for an hour or more when it was time for the sermon. The same thing had happened at her dad’s church.
‘Good morning, I’m delighted to see three new faces in my diminished congregation. Welcome, and I hope after today that you want to come again.’ The vicar smiled directly at them and his eyes were bright with intelligence and humour. He continued to talk to them as if they were the only people there. ‘No doubt you are wondering what has happened to the regular incumbent. The splendid young man who was here a year ago is now serving as pastor to the invasion force. I am another temporary replacement.’
As he was still looking at them she thought some response was called for so she nodded and smiled. Jack did the same but Joan sat rigid with disapproval – or possibly embarrassment at being singled out.
‘There will be no hymns as we have no organist or choir. I will do my best to follow the book of common prayer but my eyesight is poor and I lost my spectacles months ago.’
Why did nobody offer to help him? Surely he couldn’t conduct an entire service from memory? It became obvious why nobody volunteered as his deviations from the text were far more interesting than what was written in the book.
Eventually he meandered his way to his sermon. If he couldn’t see then he wouldn’t have notes to follow. He told them an amusing story about two young men who had been mistakenly identified as German spies by the home guard. Everyone was laughing when he got to the end.
‘The point, my dear friends, is that when mistakes are made, however grave the consequences, we should be prepared to forgive and move on.’
He rushed through the closing prayers, stepped off his box and then failed to reappear. Had he fallen? Did he need someone to go and help him? To her astonishment nobody seemed bothered by this extraordinary turn of events and they quietly stood up and started filing out.
No one stayed to talk, the vicar wasn’t there to shake hands and offer platitudes, and within minutes they were walking back, umbrellas up, with the dog gambolling beside them.
Sunday was the only day that Stan and Eliza didn’t work. Ellie wanted to know everything about the extraordinary vicar and couldn’t wait until tomorrow to find out.
‘Eliza, please come back with us for lunch. I put the chicken in to roast before we came out and I only have to cook the potatoes and vegetables, make the gravy, and everything will be ready.’
They accepted immediately. ‘Liza and I will do everything. We’ll eat in the dining room, Ellie, make a bit of an occasion of it,’ Joan said.
The two of them hurried off, leaving Stan to walk with them at a more leisurely pace. ‘Did you enjoy it? He’s a grand old gentleman but he’s divided the village. Some folk think it wrong that you don’t follow word for word what’s written down but me and Liza ain’t that bothered.’
<
br /> ‘I’m mystified as to why no one has provided him with some reading glasses. They can’t be that hard to get,’ Jack said.
‘Them what left don’t care and them what still come prefer it the way it is. Instead of being stuck inside for two hours we’re now out in half that time.’
‘I’ve got two pairs of spectacles that once belonged to Mary – I’m going to take them to him after lunch if it stops raining.
‘I’ll come with you, honey, and I expect the dog will come whether we want him to or not.’
‘Try and persuade the vicar to give you his cassock and I can turn it up for him. It’ll only take a jiffy on your machine,’ Joan said.
*
The vicarage was a big Victorian house at the back of the churchyard. They strolled up the garden path and to her surprise the door opened before they reached the front door. The diminutive vicar was now dressed in corduroys, check shirt and a jumper that had seen better days. There was no sign of his badge of office – his clergyman’s collar.
‘To what do I owe this enormous pleasure? Mr and Mrs Reynolds, if I’m not mistaken.’
‘I’ve got two pairs of glasses that belonged to a friend of ours who no longer needs them. We thought they might be suitable for you,’ she said with a smile.
‘Please come in. Mrs B doesn’t come over the weekend to tidy up, so please excuse the chaos.’
The Reverend Clark was several inches shorter than Ellie, probably no more than five foot tall. But without his trailing robes he walked briskly and was remarkably upright for a man of his years. He must have been in his eighties at the very least.
He led them through the house and into a light, glass sided room that she thought was probably known as an orangery. Despite the dismal weather the room was warm and welcoming.
‘I spend most of my time in here. Won’t you sit down for a moment?’
It would be rude not to do as he’d asked although she hadn’t intended to remain above a few minutes. ‘Here are the spectacles I mentioned. Would you care to try them on and see if they help?’
He took them and tried the first pair on. He picked up a discarded book and read it with delight. ‘My word, I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to be able to see the page clearly once more.’
He removed the first pair and tried the second and was equally thrilled. ‘Mrs Cross, my husband’s aunt who has come to live with us from the East End, has offered to turn up your cassocks. We would be happy to take them back with us so they are ready for next Sunday.’ Ellie wasn’t sure if there were midweek services but she thought not.
‘The church isn’t locked, my dear, so you and your husband can collect them on your way home.’
‘I’m surprised that no one has offered to do it for you. There are a dozen women in your congregation quite capable of wielding a needle,’ Jack said.
‘I think they are hoping that I’ll fall and break my neck and then they can have me replaced with someone more suitable. I don’t suppose either of you can play the organ?’ Then he glanced at Jack and smiled. ‘Although that might be somewhat more difficult for you, young man.’
‘No, I’m sorry, we can’t help you with that. I can’t believe that the villagers disapprove of you because you lost your glasses.’
‘People want the church to remain the same now that everything else is changing around them. Next week I’ll be able to give them what they want and will bore them to death with an hour-long sermon.’
‘I’m sure that won’t be necessary. How long have you been here?’
‘I arrived last month. They had an assortment of other retired clergy since their proper vicar departed last year. I am the first incumbent prepared to take on the role full-time.’
‘I take it that the robe you wear belonged to the vicar who is now a padre in France?’
‘Indeed it does, young man. I retired twenty years ago and got rid of my own cassock and surplice some time ago. Do you wish me to accompany you to the vestry?’
‘No, I’m sure we can find what we want. Someone will return everything to you as soon as possible.’
They said their farewells and were left to find their own way from the vicarage. On their return to The Rookery Jack carried the bundle of rolled up garments under his arm whilst she held the umbrella above their heads.
‘I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that people here are so unwelcoming. Look at the way they ostracised Mary. I’m glad that her son now has her trust fund and that the other members of her little coven have their share of her money.’
‘If I’m honest I love the house, sweetheart, but I don’t really like the village. We’ll have to stay here whilst I’m studying but after that perhaps we can move somewhere else.’
‘We haven’t talked about what happens when you go in September. I was wondering if you could get lodgings at your college and stay there during the week? Now I’ve got Joan for company I’d prefer you not to be travelling there and back every day.’
‘That would be swell, honey, if you’re sure you don’t mind. The academic term is only eight weeks, basically October and November.’
‘I hadn’t realised it was so short. That means we could in fact move whilst you’re still there. Anyway, we don’t have to think about it at the moment because I’m in no hurry to start house hunting again.’
‘Which reminds me, when are Amanda and Nigel leaving here?’
‘At the end of this month. We’re invited to dinner on Friday and will find out the exact day then. I always thought it a bit strange that they moved from the cottage they’d rented near Hatfield to the one here. I never asked why they did.’
‘I can tell you that. Nigel said it was too urban where they were, and when they knew they were having a baby they wanted somewhere safer and quieter.’
The rain was getting heavier and even the dog was looking miserable. ‘Grey will need drying when we get back. I don’t want him trekking through the house the way he is.’
‘If I hold him then you can do it. Let’s run, we don’t want these robes to get drenched.’
*
Jack offered to accompany Ellie to the doctor’s surgery the next day but she assured him that wasn’t necessary. ‘He would think it very odd if you came. Husbands don’t do that sort of thing as a rule.’
‘In which case I’m going to spend the day in the study. If I’m going to be able to understand my course then I’ve got a lot of work to do. I wish now I’d stayed on at school as I’m beginning to think I’m woefully short of the necessary skills.’
‘Why don’t you try and find a tutor? It’s possible there’s someone in the village with a maths degree who could help you.’
‘Good idea. If I write a card will you get it put up in the post office window on your way past?’
‘You’d better do it quickly as I’ve only got half an hour and it takes fifteen minutes to walk there. If you’re going to be studying then I think I might catch the bus into Oxford after my appointment. I should be back mid-afternoon.’
‘Good idea. See you at teatime then.’
Joan was busy in the kitchen doing something domestic with Eliza but she said she would bring him a cup of tea.
‘No thank you. Please don’t disturb me once I close the door. I need to concentrate.’
‘You’re an intelligent young man, you were always good with numbers and I’m sure you’ll soon get the hang of it.’
Jack retreated to the desk that was already covered with textbooks – mostly incomprehensible as far as he was concerned. He’d really overestimated his ability to learn but he wasn’t going to give up just yet. If he could find someone to teach him what he needed to know then he’d take his place at Oxford in October. If not, then maybe he could go to a teacher training college instead as he had enough qualifications for that.
After a frustrating few hours he abandoned his books and decided to walk into the village and meet Ellie from the bus as he’d heard it trundle past a few moments ago.
/> He poked his head around the kitchen door just to check she wasn’t in there. ‘Jack, I’ve got the vicar’s robes ready to return to him. Could you drop them in for me if you’re going out?’ Joan asked.
He picked up the neatly folded pile and nodded. ‘It means I could miss Ellie as she comes back the other way. Will you tell her where I’ve gone?’
He didn’t like to suggest that Joan could take them herself so he could meet his wife as he’d planned, because his aunt was busy making jam.
He looked around for the dog and he appeared from behind the hedge eager to accompany him. Yesterday’s storm had passed and it was now warm and sunny the way summer should be. There were two lines of laundry flapping in the wind – for some reason Monday was always washing day. This was a task done by a lady from the village who came in three times a week to do the heavy stuff.
When he knocked on the vicarage door it was opened by Mrs B who took the items, nodded frostily and closed the door in his face. He’d no idea what he’d done to offend her but this just reinforced his opinion of the unfriendliness of the villagers.
He expected to find Ellie waiting for him but she hadn’t returned. Joan was in the kitchen. ‘She must have missed the bus. Don’t suppose you know what time the next one gets in?’
‘Liza said there’s the one at three o’clock which has just gone and the last one gets in at six-thirty. Ellie will have ever such a long wait. I wonder why she didn’t catch the afternoon bus.’
It belatedly occurred to him that she might have stayed on and got off at Amanda’s house two stops down the road. He went straight to the telephone. He gave the operator Amanda and Nigel’s number and waited for the clicks and whirs to finish and for the telephone to ring in their hall.
‘Amanda, is Ellie with you?’
‘No, should she be?’
‘She went to Oxford this morning and said she would be back on the afternoon bus. I was hoping she’d gone to see you but I realise now that she must have missed it. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation but at the moment I don’t have it.’
Over and Out Page 23