"I think, sir, that in the drama of the moment you have become confused when you speak of inequality. Perhaps you have been so taken up listening to Mrs Kingdoms unhelpful statements that you have not had time to consider the benefits to your niece of having a husband in possession of a twelve-roomed Victorian farmhouse with extensive outbuildings, stables, and thirty-three acres of prime grazing land, with a conservative estimate of, at the last count, fractionally over 750,000, fifty per cent of which is being transferred into my future wifes name even as we speak. I know my fiancee was well provided for by her parents, but I shall be astonished (although very pleased, of course) if she brings anything like that sum to our marriage. Being in possession of these facts, sir, I would be grateful if you could indicate the areas of inequality that give you so much concern.
I stood beside him, staunch but shaking, oscillating wildly between fear, admiration, and now, hope.
Uncle Richard sat back, looking thoughtful. Aunt Julia, however, was not done.
"Thats as maybe, she said, dismissing twelve rooms and thirty-three acres with a flick of her wrist. "But I must inform you, Mr Checkland, that po that Jennys precarious state of health precludes her from living anywhere except quietly in her own home, here with us.
This was crunch time for me. I would be locked away. Once again, he stepped in.
"I knew it, he said to me. "Youre a vampire and you have to come home every night to your coffin in the cellar.
I inhaled the lovely smell of warm ginger biscuits and whispered, "I live in the attic.
"Then youre an android and have to return to plug yourself in every night? Not a problem well get batteries. Or how about a really long extension lead?
He was doing it on purpose. Aunt Julia was unused to being mocked. She swelled alarmingly. I was surprised to find I was almost enjoying this.
"If, Mr Checkland, you had taken the trouble to become acquainted with my niece instead of just meeting her at a party and then making this ridiculous proposal so soon afterwards, then you would know very well why Jenny should continue to live here.
She turned to me and her face softened. "Jenny, I have your best interests at heart. We both do. This man has met you once, decided you can be easily influenced, and is here solely because hes desperate for money and cant get it any other way. Please dont allow yourself to believe what he tells you. Far from owning a large and prosperous home as hes led you to believe, his house is falling down a virtual ruin. Youre his last-ditch attempt to avoid having to sell up.
"And besides ... but she stopped there. Even Aunt Julia couldnt bring herself to mention the most important reason I shouldnt marry him was because of the scandalous link with her daughter. I saw her lips move, but she just couldnt get it out.
Russell watched her struggle for an interested minute and then said brightly, "Oh, none of that is really a problem. Youve obviously forgotten Jenny and I have known each other off and on for about fifteen years now. Shes been at Frogmorton this last fortnight, helping with the painting and what-not, so shes got a pretty good idea of the state of the place. And frankly, Julia, I cant see there would be any problems with her living quietly in the country, happy and busy and most importantly, included.
"Are you telling me shes been working there? For two weeks? Youve been making her work?
"Well, youre hard to please. First youre peeved because you think weve hardly met and now youre all bent out of shape because we have. You need to make up your mind, Julia, so we can move on.
Aunt Julia made a valiant comeback. "Her doctors ...
"Oh yes, he interrupted. "I knew there was something. Jenny, Im sorry. Another reason I was late is because I was on the phone to Peter Westall. You wont know him, but our mothers were pretty good friends and so are we. Anyway Julia, youll be thrilled to hear this hes one of the leading authorities in his field and hes promised to see Jenny very quickly if we care to make an appointment. I think it would be quite useful to get Jenny checked out by someone with fresh eyes and ideas and get his recommendations, and then we can all rest easy knowing that Jenny is benefiting from top-notch expertise. What do you think?
She still wasnt giving up. "I have always had complete confidence in her current "Im sure you have, he said, smiling at her. "And the Jenny we see today is a testament to your care for her.
There was something going on here.
"No, Im all at sea, too, said Thomas.
"Right, well, if thats it then well be off. Were meeting my cousin and his friend for a meal. Do you fancy a trip to the cinema, Jenny? Theres some sort of Chain Saw/Zombie/Vampire/Creepy Psychopath thing on. Or Hugh Grant, of course, if you prefer, he said, catching a glimpse of my aunts face.
She opened her mouth.
"Let it go, Julia, said Uncle Richard.
"But ...
"Thats enough.
"Lovely to have met you again, said Hurricane Russell, ushering me out of the door. "Get a warm coat, Jenny, its cold outside. No idea what time well be back. Do you have a key?
I shook my head.
Wordlessly, Uncle Richard opened a drawer in the little hall table and handed him one. It was that easy.
Russell handed it to me.
"Here you go, Jenny. Dont lose it. Ill get you a key ring. Youll need keys for my place sorry our place as well. What a lot there is to think about. My heads whirling. Bye.
He slammed the front door behind us.
"Well, he said, climbing into his diseased Land Rover. "That went well.
We pulled out into the road to the alarm of a pa.s.sing white van. There was hooting.
"Look on the bright side, said Thomas. " The way he drives, well all be dead long before he can marry you so none of this really matters.
We clattered down the High Street. Watching normal people doing normal things was somehow rea.s.suring. Gradually I felt the tension drain away, leaving me sick, tired, and weak.
"Im going to drop you here, he said. "Get us a table in The Copper Kettle and Ill park this beast. Ill be with you in five minutes.
He pulled over and it seemed to me there was less outraged hooting. Maybe I was beginning not to notice it either.
He drove off.
Thomas and I stood on the pavement and drew breath. "Do you think this is how its going to be from now on? I asked him.
"With a bit of luck. Shall we get out of the rain?
We ducked into The Copper Kettle and only when I was actually in there with the smell of fresh ground coffee all around me did I realise how much I was gagging for some tea. I stood at the "Please wait here to be seated sign. And stood and stood. All the waitresses seemed to be busy doing something at the other end, although at this time of the day and the weather being what it was, the place was almost deserted.
I stood for a long time. Beside me, Thomas shifted but said nothing. Occasionally, one of them would glance over and there would be giggling. I felt my face grow hot. Time pa.s.sed.
"Stand your ground, said Thomas.
"Why?
"Youll see.
"I dont need any more grief today.
"Just wait and see what happens.
More time pa.s.sed. I didnt know whether to just go and sit at an empty table or what. I looked around the room. I could sit anywhere, but the board said to wait. On the other hand, Id just fought a great battle. Well, Id stood to one side while a great battle was fought on my behalf, but I had been on the winning team, so ...
"Why are you still standing here? said Russell, bounding through the door at the speed of light. He looked down to the clump of waitresses at the far end. Seeing him, one of them detached herself and came up to us, a practised smile on her face.
"Welcome, she said to him. "This way, please.
He didnt move. She repeated herself a little more loudly. Finally, he seemed to see her.
"No, not you, he said, and I gasped. He looked over her shoulder. "Hey, Sharon.
A very pretty, very plump girl came out from round the back of a screen. I guessed she was the most junior member of staff and, as such, would be doing most of the work.
"h.e.l.lo, Mr Checkland, she said, shyly.
"h.e.l.lo there, how are you? Jenny, this is Sharon. Shes Mrs Crisps niece.
We smiled at each other. Her face was beautiful with huge brown eyes and blonde ringlets. Her teeth and skin were perfect. But she was a large girl and her hips b.u.mped some of the tables as she pa.s.sed. One of the girls laughed. I watched her blush painfully and decided I would never come here again.
"The staff here are hopeless, said Russell, and the waitresss smile abruptly disappeared. "Can you find us a table please, Sharon?
"Of course, she said and led the way to the one in the window. She produced menus as we got settled. Russell ordered tea. "Teacakes. Plenty of them. And when weve finished those, well want to have a look at the cake trolley, please.
She scribbled, smiled beautifully, and walked away, knocking against a chair as she went.
"What a lovely girl, said Thomas. "The face of an Irish princess.
I looked at him in surprise.
"I met one once.
"So, said Russell. "How do you think it went?
"Peter Westall is a hairdresser, isnt he? Or a chain of chemists. Or something you spray on athletes foot. You made him up.
He just laughed again. I obviously wasnt going to get an answer. Maybe it was best I didnt know. Plausible deniability.
Sharon brought our order and Russell set to as if he hadnt seen food for days instead of a couple of hours.
I drank my tea, got a refill, nibbled a tea cake, had another, and allowed myself to be tempted to a strawberry tart.
"Afternoon tea, he said. "Best meal of the day. Everyone has happy memories of afternoon tea. Nothing to beat it after an emotional day. Do you want that cream slice?
I shook my head and then he had a custard tart as well. I looked at his long, lean body and pondered yet another of the worlds injustices.
He looked up and the bill materialised seconds afterwards. He pulled out his wallet and said to Sharon, "Do you pool your tips here?
She shook her head regretfully. She was at the bottom of the food chain, tip-wise.
He settled the bill and then stood up, ostentatiously holding a 20 note between his long fingers. "Thank you, he said. "Excellent service. She went red with pleasure and gratification and tucked it safely away.
He helped me on with my coat and made his usual dash for the door. Another waitress, maybe hoping for a generous tip herself, opened it for him.
He lowered his voice but I heard him quite clearly. He said, "Dont ever ignore this lady again, and the harmonics in his voice lifted the hairs on my neck. And then he was out of the door and striding down the pavement.
I stood in the rain and watched him go. People scurried past, heads down against the rain. Everyone was eager to get home. Shop lights were reflected in the glistening pavements. I suddenly felt more alone than I ever had in my entire life.
"Tell me, said Thomas, quietly.
"Its all right for him. h.e.l.l go back home to Frogmorton at the end of the day but I have to go back to Aunt Julia and Uncle Richard and Ill be alone.
" No, you wont. Youre never alone. Ill be with you. Ill help you think what to say and protect you while you say it. Well manage, Jenny. Just like we always do.
"Nothings actually changed, though, has it? Im just going to be overlooked by a whole new set of people. Ive burned my bridges for nothing.
" I doubt your aunt and uncle will say anything to you tonight. And possibly not tomorrow either. And here he comes. Wonder how far he got before he realised hed lost you.
Russell and I looked at each other in the rain.
"Are we having our first row?
I shook my head.
"Are you having second thoughts?
"Tell him, advised Thomas. " This is normal. The two of you need to establish ground rules. h.e.l.l stand up for you and protect you and kill dragons for you, but he wont always know that sometimes, hes the dragon.
He pulled me gently out of the rain. "What is it?
I marshalled words. "Im leaving the ... safety and security of my home for a whole new world. I have just put ... my entire future in your hands and Im frightened.
He said nothing. Oh G.o.d, had he changed his mind? Cars swished past in the rain. Hardly anyone was about now. Thomas moved to my side, standing really close for rea.s.surance.
"Do you want me to take you home?
Did I? At that moment, my attic room felt pretty good. Thomas and I could watch a little TV, argue over the news. I could make some hot chocolate and go to bed and listen to the rain on the roof.
"And tomorrow? said Thomas. " What will you do tomorrow night? Watch a little TV, drink hot chocolate, and go to bed? Of course, it might not be raining, so that will be different, wont it?
"Thomas, I dont know what to do.
" Then go to the cinema. Even if you do change your mind, at least well have seen a film and we havent done that for ages. Lets at least have a night out and well decide what to do in the morning.
"Id like to go to the cinema.
"Then you shall, He pulled my arm through his and we set off, albeit at a slower pace. "Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed?
I nodded.
"I should have realised. But listen, Jenny, you must speak up. Im selfish and Im not bright. You need to tell me things. Please dont be one of those awful women who expect me to guess whats wrong and then sulk when I dont.
Francesca? I wondered.
"Just what I was thinking.
I nodded. "All right. I promise to complain ... bitterly at every opportunity.