A Village in Jeopardy (Turnham Malpas 16) (24 page)

‘That wouldn’t be much use now, would it? And I certainly wouldn’t like it, believe me.’

‘I can’t bear the thought of that moneyed so and so living here.’

‘So you’re prepared to tear your guts out rather than snap his hand off for the money.’

‘Yes, that’s exactly right.’

‘It’s not right though, is it? What would be right is to allow a Templeton with
clean
money to come back into this house. It’s so right, and it’s in your hands to make it happen.’

‘Well, it won’t. I’m damned if I’ll allow it. That Ralph never liked me and I hated his ability to get his own way with his accent, and his reasonableness, and his paternalistic Lord of the Manor attitude. That council, who over the years had thousands of pounds from me slipped into their own pockets, were putty in his hands.
Putty!
And there was nothing I could do about it. Nothing.’

Kate stood beside him and slipped her hand into his. ‘Which is better, total financial ruin or selling to a Templeton whose money has nothing to do with Sir Ralph, absolutely nothing at all? He’s fabulously wealthy in his own right. If that Freedom Blade did come up with the money imagine what damage he’d do to this village, that, let’s face it, we both love. And remember we’ll be living in it too, at Glebe House.’

‘He may not use Ralph’s own money to buy it, but he has Ralph’s blood in his veins.’ He got up and walked to the window to stare silently out across the land. Glebe House! Huh! How he hated the idea of living there. So modern, so brash, so glitzy. His hand trailed along the window frame, tenderly caressing it. How he loved this place! He brushed away the tears that unexpectedly trickled down his cheeks. Was he really going to have to be grateful to Sir Johnny for his salvation? Damn it. No, he wouldn’t: anyone but him. He’d start up a new advertising campaign, different angle, new photos, different publications, he’d show ’em.

Kate’s sweet attempt to make Johnny Templeton more acceptable to him had had an effect – not enough to make him change his mind, but enough to make him at least contemplate the possibility of Johnny living here; it would after all be the right thing to do. Better than that maniac Blade whose face was plastered across the tabloids this morning, him having been arrested for something or other . . . what on earth for? Something revolting, no doubt. He gripped Kate’s hand tightly, saying, ‘What a comfort you are to me.’

‘Will you think about letting him buy it, then?’

‘Absolutely not.’

Johnny Templeton had other things on his mind this morning. Alice was not at all well. She kept getting sharp pains, not exactly contractions but almost. ‘But there’s five weeks to go; they can’t be real contractions, can they?’

Alice shook her head. ‘I’ve no more experience than you about babies. I just don’t know. But if they’re not, what are they?’

‘I’m going to get Caroline. She’ll know.’

‘She’s never had one of her own and she isn’t an obstetrician.’

‘Look, Alice, let’s stay calm about this. OK. It may be the early stages of labour but if it is we’re only . . . what is it? Six miles from the hospital, so it won’t take five minutes to get there in the car. So you make sure you have a bag packed and I’ll get you there in time if things get . . .’ he was going to say ‘worse’ but changed his mind, ‘more advanced?’ Inside he was terrified. Being the eldest of the three brothers didn’t mean he knew anything about babies, because he was only four when his youngest brother was born and though he loved the idea of his son being born and holding him in his arms bathed and fresh-smelling and presentable, the actuality of the whole event was more than he could bear.

Alice in pain. The threat of things going wrong and no one realising, the sweat, and the screaming. Would Alice scream? Perhaps not, and the slimy newborn sliding out, the most primitive experience any human being faces, was horrifying for him. If only his mother were there. But she wasn’t. So he had to be a man and face up to it. His hands shook as he struggled with making Alice a cup of tea. She loved tea at the moment, and it had to be in a delicate china cup. As he carried it to her, for she’d retired to the sitting room as the sofa was more comfortable in there, he braced himself to be cheerful and in charge.

‘Here we are, darling, your favourite cup of tea. If it isn’t right I’ll make another.’ He sat on the other end of the sofa and admired her. With him as its father and Alice its mother how could their expected child be anything other than beautiful?

Alice experienced another of those strange pains, but it didn’t upset her quite so much as the others, so maybe they were fading. Johnny felt relieved.

Someone rattled the knocker on the front door, the door opened and footsteps could be heard in the hall. Alice sensed something very familiar about the footsteps. They sounded like . . . but they couldn’t be . . . Marcus! Oh! God! She struggled upright, fearful of meeting him at a disadvantage. Why had he come? Not to stay! Please God not to stay; she didn’t feel strong enough to face that.

The sitting room door opened and there stood Marcus March, smiling. Smiling? Marcus? They were both shocked: all Marcus had become to them was letters from a solicitor about Alice’s divorce. Nothing more; they never contemplated how he fared nor what it would be like seeing him again, because they never expected to. But there he stood, smiling, holding himself with unaccustomed confidence, which was a surprise in itself.

Hand outstretched, he went to shake hands with Johnny. ‘Nice to see you again, Johnny. How are you?’

‘I’m very well thank you, Marcus. You look to be in fine fettle.’

Marcus didn’t reply. He turned to bend over Alice and kiss her forehead. ‘Nearly time for you, isn’t it, Alice?’ He turned again to Johnny, saying, ‘You’re a lucky man, but I expect you know that.’

‘Indeed I do. Tea or something stronger, or lunch even?’

‘I think lunch would be taking things too far in the circumstances . . . but a cup of tea would be more than welcome. I’ve driven down from London. Took an age, so much traffic.’ He went to look out of the window. Johnny flicked a look at Alice and winked. She smiled back, nervous of this invasion, worrying something nasty would come out of Marcus’s mouth and her whole world would fall apart.

While Johnny made a cup of tea for them Marcus sat on the other end of the sofa. ‘I thought I’d come myself to say I’m so sorry I caused our marriage to fall apart. Sins of omission rather than anything deliberate. I’ve found someone who thinks the sun shines out of me. I’ve become aware it doesn’t, but she thinks it does. It makes for a very happy life. It does me good. I think the world of her, and she of me. I don’t deserve to be so happy, I know that, but I can see you’re happy too so that makes it all right, doesn’t it?’

Alice was struck speechless by his understanding.

‘I can see Johnny’s good for you. I went up to the big house to find you, thinking he’d have bought it by now. Seen all the furore in the news about old Fitch’s collapse. I can just see you as Lady of the Manor.’

‘I’m not moving there.’

‘And what does Johnny think to that?’

‘He’s disappointed.’

Marcus leaned over and took her hand in his. ‘You should encourage him, if it’s what he wants. It’s only right if you love him.’

Alice almost laughed in his face. Marcus discussing love! What did he know about it? Then she looked into his eyes and saw compassion there. She wriggled free, uncomfortable at seeing emotion like that in Marcus’s eyes, of all people.

‘I mean it, Alice. I’ve learned a lot about loving and giving from Laura; it was her that helped me to survive when I was in pieces about you. She’s built me up, given me a new start. I’ve got a few copies of my very first novel in the car; can I give you one? I’ve already signed it to you both. Only if you want it, though.’

‘Well, yes, all right then.’ She got up to go out with him to the car, but he insisted she stayed where she was. ‘You’ve done enough running about after me in the past. It’s my turn now.’

The novel was in hardback, with a very attractive cover.

Alice was impressed. ‘Why, it looks great. Love the title:
Sky Spies
. The illustration is excellent. So appropriate.’

‘You sound surprised.’

‘Not surprised, no, of course not.’

‘Laura thought up the title. Brilliant jacket, isn’t it? You should have had more confidence in me.’

Johnny came in with the tray of tea and relieved Alice of having to find a sincere reply.

The three of them chatted politely whilst drinking their tea, then suddenly Alice felt deeply tired and it showed in her face. Marcus recognised her fatigue and said he must go. ‘You look tired, Alice. Look after her, Johnny. She’s very precious, but then you know that. My trouble was I never realised how precious she really was until it was all in ruins. Don’t make the same mistake, will you?’ He took hold of Alice’s two hands and bent over her; as he kissed her cheek he squeezed her hands affectionately. ‘Hope very much that all goes well with the baby. Let Laura and me know when it all happens. Remember what I advised, Alice. Thanks for the tea, Johnny.’

And then he was gone.

Johnny broke the silence. ‘Well, that was a surprise! He’s so much more approachable. So what did dear Marcus advise?’

‘He didn’t.’

‘I heard him say it.
Remember what I advised
, he said.’

Alice, emotionally exhausted by keeping her cool while Marcus was there, declared she couldn’t remember his advice, but Johnny knew she was being evasive. ‘The pains, have they stopped now, darling?’

‘Just about.’ Alice paused as though she had something else to say but couldn’t quite find the words. ‘Johnny.’

‘Yes?’

‘I’ve got to be truthful. He said if you wanted the big house I should go along with it if I loved you. I do love you, but I can’t go along with it. It isn’t in my nature to live in a house like that and all it entails.’

‘It entails whatever you want, no more, no less. You would make your own style of Lady of the Manor, just as Kate has done. I mean, headteacher of a village school
and
Lady of the Manor.’ He grinned. ‘That’s a funny combination if ever there was one.’

Alice smiled.

‘Besides, think of your son, our son. Think of his heritage. The big house should be his by right, don’t you think? But anyway, this Freedom Blade no doubt will buy it, so don’t worry.’ Johnny hoped to goodness not, but he didn’t want to worry Alice right now. His determination to be the owner hadn’t diminished. It was all a question of timing. He turned to speak to Alice again but she was asleep. How beautiful she looked, fair-haired, fair-skinned, sweet-faced, long eyelashes fluttering slightly, as though she dreamed a dream, elegant hands gently holding the bump that was their son. How he longed for his arrival. He had to buy the house for his son, for all the future generations of Templetons, of that he was certain. Somehow Alice had to be persuaded.

Chapter 19

Gilbert had taken over the training of the Ladies’ Choir, both for the competitions they were pledged to undertake in the New Year and the performance they were giving during the Christmas services in the church, which was a new departure for them. Some had queried whether or not it was the right thing to be doing, but Gilbert with his charm and his underlying sexy personality had won them over. Beth had been allocated the task of organising the music for the church performance and also for the competition. So she had two sets of music to print out and covers to design for them for each and every member of the choir.

She loved helping Gilbert. He was such an enthusiastic person to work for, always so ready with genuine praise that working for him became a privilege. But the sexy side of him touched her not one bit. It was Jake who provided that for her, even though he was away in Cambridge and she hadn’t seen him since he’d treated her to tea in the George. They communicated by texting almost every day, and Beth had not told her parents that they were regularly in touch. She knew she should, but at the same time things were so delicate between them that she felt she mustn’t tell anyone at all. But five days before Christmas Beth did tell them both.

Alex was now home and the four of them were just finishing breakfast when Beth said, ‘Jake will be home for Christmas tomorrow.’

‘Will he? How do you know?’ Caroline asked.

‘He texted me yesterday.’

Caroline had no inhibitions about asking for further explanation of this surprising news. ‘Does he text often?’

‘Every day. Well, nearly every day.’

Alex laughed. ‘The crafty beggar. He said he was, but I didn’t believe him.’

It was Beth’s turn to be surprised. ‘When did you see him?’

‘At a party just before I came home.’

‘You never said.’ This was Caroline, trying to keep cool about the matter.

Peter smiled. ‘He must be besotted.’

‘Dad! We’re just good friends.’

‘OK, sorry. Will you be seeing him then?’

‘Of course. He’s spending Christmas Day with his dad and coming to see us on Boxing Day. Just for an hour, not for a meal or anything. Like I said it’s all very casual.’

Caroline, keeping a smile well hidden said, ‘Oh! Right. Your granny and grandad will be delighted to meet him.’