"No, no, no, I didnt mean it that way, my dear. I meant, we could all have gone down with something dreadful, thanks to that stupid old woman, and it was fortunate, although not for you, of course, that only one of us was affected.
She regarded her half-drunk tea with suspicion, even though Id made it, and seemed to struggle with herself.
"Jenny, listen. I know you think well, I dont know what you think these days but I worry about you. You have so little experience of life and youre such a quiet little thing, and youre so far away from us now and every time I see you youre tired or ill or youve sustained some sort of injury. You dont see it, but I do. So does your uncle. Please, please no, dont say anything please just listen. I know your uncle spoke to you and now Id like to add my little bit. If anything ever happens that worries or alarms you, please, please, just one phone call and your uncle will come and make everything right again. Do you understand what Im saying, my dear? Were so worried about you.
Id never seen her so agitated.
"Dont answer me now, Jenny, but please think about what Ive said. There. Ive said it. Now I must be going. Thank you for the tea.
She got up.
"Well, said Thomas. " That was unexpected. And a little unsettling. Now, lets get her off the premises before the young master gets back and theres another free and frank exchange of views.
Mrs Crisp reappeared again after Aunt Julia had gone.
"I heard what she said. About me. Its what everyone must be thinking ...
"Im not ... thinking it. Nor is Russell. And its got ... nothing to do with anyone else.
"Well, thank you for speaking up for me. I do appreciate your ... Her face started to crinkle again. She sniffed. "Russell ...
"... Cant manage without you. You know that.
She sighed.
So did I. This was going to be very hard work.
"If Russell knew about ... you know ... Do you think I should tell him?
"No, I said, as firmly as I could, "No. Its ... done. Let it lie.
She looked relieved.
I was slowing down with all this effort.
"And obviously ... no ones ever going to hear it from ... me. I tried not to sound bitter. "I dont ... know if youve ... noticed, Mrs Crisp, but Im ... not a ... Gabby Gertie ... And I ... dont have anyone ... to ... gab ... to.
She began to cry again. That set me off. We pulled ourselves together. Noses were blown.
As she re-tied her ap.r.o.n with trembling fingers, I felt a huge stab of sympathy for her. She kept the whole place going. She was certainly the centre of Russells erratic orbit. She must feel she carried the world on her shoulders. No wonder she drank.
I couldnt do anything about her memories, but I could help her face her future with more confidence. Just a few last words.
"Please, Mrs Crisp. Dont leave us.
That was it. I put my hand on hers and suddenly realised I didnt need words any more.
Mrs Crisp was obviously determined both of us should get back on the horse as soon as possible.
"Omelette, she announced gesturing at eggs and another anxious-looking frying pan.
"Well ... I said, trying not to sound terror-stricken.
"Watch me, she said, cracking, whisking, pouring, cooking, and serving. "There.
I stared at the semi-circle of golden perfection on my plate.
"Now you, Mrs Checkland.
I cracked, mopped, tried again, whisked, poured, sucked my burn, prodded when I should have stirred, tipped a ma.s.s of yellow-grey worms onto a plate, and tried not to cry with frustration.
"What can I smell? asked Russell, coming into the kitchen.
"Omelette, I said sadly.
He picked up a fork, ignored my protests and tucked in. He said nothing until hed finished, laid down the fork, and said, "Delicious.
My heart swelled with grat.i.tude.
"You should marry that man.
"Really? I said to Russell. "You think it was OK?
"It was fine. A little more seasoning next time and it will be perfect. Can you do Shepherds Pie?
"For this I spent all those years at college, muttered Mrs Crisp, cleaning things away. "My slow roast lamb with garlic and rosemary is hailed across three continents and all he ever wants is Shepherds Pie.
After all that, and just when I thought nothing else could happen to me it did.
We were all set to go into town to pick up Russells art stuff when he announced a postponement.
"Sorry and all that, Jenny, but theres a problem with the feed bill. Im going to have to sort it out with Charlie Daniels G.o.d knows what he thinks hes playing at before we run out completely and have to start feeding the staff to Marilyn to save ourselves. Mrs Crisp, dont worry, youll be the last to go. But, Ill be finished by lunchtime, so well nip into Rushford then, have a spot of lunch, and then off to the shop. How does that sound?
"Fine, I said, wondering if this was a genuine problem or just an excuse.
" Oh, I think its genuine. Its not really in his nature to run away from things, is it? Hes more a "run full-tilt and argue them to death" kind of person, dont you think? Anyway, lets leave him to it and go for a walk.
"Good idea, I said, and it was. Spring was springing all over the place, with bright green leaves exploding everywhere and exuberant birds cartwheeling across the sky, yelling their heads off.
"Lets go the other way, said Thomas, so, just for once, we walked down the lane towards the village. We turned at the bottom and began to skirt the inaccurately named Duck Pond.
"Ive seen more duck down a coal mine, muttered Thomas, but I was watching a group of boys bending over something a sack? on the ground, half in and half out of the water. One of them poked it with a stick and I thought I saw it move.
Before I knew it, I said, "Hey! and began to run.
One of them said, "Quick, and another one shouted, "Come on, and pulled his arm. I never saw which one of them did it, but the sack was suddenly sailing through the air to hit the water with a splash. It definitely moved again. There was something in it.
The boys scattered as I ran towards them, which was just as well because I had no idea what I would have done if theyd stood their ground. I ran splashily into the water, tripped over some branch hidden beneath the surface, fell forwards, caught my face on something, panicked and floundered in icy water that wasnt quite deep enough to swim in.
My clutching fingers caught a corner of the sack just as it disappeared beneath the surface. Holding it high, I struggled back out again, tripping on unseen hazards, coughing and shaking because the water tasted awful and was freezing into the bargain. I dropped the sack on the ground and spat.
"Hope you havent got cholera, said Thomas.
"Where were you?
"Making sure they didnt come back.
"Oh. Thank you.
"My pleasure.
I began to pick at the knot with stiff, cold fingers.
Thomas shifted uneasily. "Im not sure ...
"I cant leave whatever it is in there.
"No, of course not, but it could be anything, so be careful.
I wasnt listening. There was no movement at all from the sack and I feared I was too late.
"Theres a hole. Just rip it.
I poked a finger through the hole to make it bigger, grasped the edges, tugged away, and whatever was in there stirred into sudden life.
"Look out, said Thomas, but it was too late.
I fell back onto my bottom with shock. Im not sure what Id been expecting a litter of cute puppies or kittens maybe, but that wasnt what I got. Now I was in real trouble. I had rescued THE CAT FROM h.e.l.l.
It was not happy. It was not happy at all.
It fought its way out of the hole I had made, accompanied by the worst smell of ammonia in the entire world. If it had had two eyes, they would have been blazing with fury. If it had had two ears they would have been laid back against its head as it crouched in full fighting mode, seeking what it might devour. If its fur hadnt been plastered to its skinny body it would have been bristling like a toilet brush on steroids, but despite not having any of that it still managed to give a very strong impression of stark, staring, incandescent rage.
"Jenny, get back, said Thomas from several yards away.
I always feel sorry for wet cats. They look like drowned rats, all their dignity stripped away, leaving them exposed and vulnerable. Not this one however. Vulnerable was not in its vocabulary. Which was rich and varied as it roared and spat its way up and down the musical scale, hurling challenges to the universe and everything in it.
"Jenny, said Thomas, again.
"What are you doing all the way over there?
"Protecting you.
"By post?
" I think you should move quietly away so he doesnt think youre a threat. All he probably wants to do is get away and lick himself clean.
I looked down at my wet hands. There were faint traces of blood. "I think hes hurt.
There was a slight pause.
"Jenny, the animal is unsafe and probably sick into the bargain. I forbid you to go anywhere near him.
"But I think hes hurt. And he seems to be missing an awful lot of body parts.
"Maybe, but they didnt just drop off in the last few minutes. You saved him, now come away before he attacks you.
I didnt move. The cat and I looked at each other. He got up from battle-crouch and wobbled his way towards me.
"Look out hes attacking.
"What is the matter with you?
"Its filthy and riddled with disease. Cats carry rabies, you know. And bovine TB. And anthrax.
"No they dont.
"I bet you this one does.
"Hes had a tough time, I said, quietly, looking at the scars, the bald patches, the tattered ear. This was not a cat who curled up happily in front of the fire every night. I stretched out a hand.
"Are you insane? You could lose your arm.
I was getting cross with him. Hed comforted Marilyn quickly enough and supported our efforts to steal her. Why not this cat?
"Its not the same thing at all. Now come back home and get out of those wet clothes.
"Good idea, I said, and gently stroked the cat, which produced a strange noise similar to Russells Land Rover when he missed third gear.
"Its purring, I said in delight.
"Its preparing to rip your throat out.
"He likes me. Im going to take him home.
"Jenny, I forbid you ...
That did it. What was the matter with him? Determined to get my own way, I reached out very carefully and said to the cat, "Im going to pick you up and put you inside my coat and then Ill give you some milk and something to eat.
"What are you doing?
"Well, if I tell him whats happening then he wont be scared. And Im sorry if you dont like it, but Im taking him home.
"Russell wont like it.
"Russell can ...
"Yes?