Act of Will (15 page)

Now Audra joined them. Vincent was instantly conscious of her coming to a stop next to him. He was troubled by the emotions she evoked in him, by the strong physical attraction he felt for her. He wanted to take hold of her hand, lead her out of this shop, go with her somewhere so that they could be alone. He wanted to crush her in his arms, to make love to her. His longing stirred within him and he felt the heat rise up into his face. He swallowed hard, tried to concentrate on the birds.

Presently, Audra said, ‘Theo wants that one over there, on the right, Mr Crowther. The one in the green cage. What do you think? Do you like it?’

Vincent could only nod.

Theo said, ‘Audra’s buying it for me, Mr Crowther.’

‘Aren’t you the lucky little lad,’ he managed to mutter.

‘Yes, I am. Go on, Mr Crowther, pick a budgie for Danny. They’re easy to look after. You don’t have to walk them like a dog and they don’t cost a lot to keep in food. They don’t eat much.’

‘True,’ Vincent agreed. He was in control again, and he exchanged an amused look with Audra.

Theo pressed on relentlessly. ‘Now just look at this one! What a pretty bird. I bet Danny would like it. And it’s a lovely example of the Australian parakeet… greenish-yellow body, bright blue on the cheeks and tail feathers, and brown stripes down the wings.’

‘
Parakeet
,’ Vincent repeated, sounding baffled. He frowned at Theo. ‘I thought these were budgies.’

‘They are. But the budgerigar comes from the parrot family, and there are three hundred and fifteen species of colourful birds in that family,’ Theo told him proudly, enjoying airing his knowledge. ‘Lovebirds, lories, cockatoos, cockatiels and macaws, to name a few. I wanted a parrot. I was going to teach it to talk. To say rude words. But you have to be careful when you buy parrots. Because of psittacosis. That’s parrot fever, and it’s an infectious disease that
people
can catch. It’s a bit like pneumonia. Anyway, Mr Harrison doesn’t have any parrots in stock. That’s why I’m getting a budgie instead. But one day I
will
own a parrot.’

Looking at the child in amazement, shaking his head, Vincent said, ‘For a little nipper you’re certainly a mine of information, Theo. That you are. You sound as if
you’ve swallowed an encyclopedia.
Is
that where you get all of your facts from then?’

‘Oh no, I get them from Audra,’ Theo explained. ‘She’s very clever, you know, and she’s taught me a lot since she’s been with me. My mother says she’s the best nanny I’ve ever had. If you don’t wish to get Danny a budgie, you could buy him one of those canaries over there.
They’re
from the finch family.’ Theo drew Vincent’s attention to the other birds, continued, ‘They’re pretty too, but the best thing about them is that they actually
sing
. I know Danny would like to own a canary. You’d have to teach him to sing, though. The canary, I mean, not Danny.’

‘Yes, I understand,’ Vincent said absently.
Nanny
, he repeated to himself. She was the boy’s
nanny
, for God’s sake, not a posh relative of the Bells after all. She was one of their employees. Of course, that did not alter the facts one iota. Audra Kenton was still a lady. But a lady who worked for a living. Impoverished gentility, he decided.

Perhaps she was not beyond his reach after all. Vincent’s hopes soared. His heart leapt.

***

The three of them walked up Town Street together.

Vincent carried the birdcage for Audra. They had bought similar budgerigars in the end, but Vincent had told Joe Harrison to hold his until he returned for it a bit later in the day. And then he had asked Audra if he could escort her and the boy back to Calpher House. She had said yes. Hoisting the birdcage in one hand, he had opened the shop door with the other and ushered her out, grinning from ear to ear, and congratulating himself on his luck this morning.

Now they walked along at a steady pace, side by side
and in step, not speaking but comfortable in the silence drifting between them. Theo frisked ahead like a happy little puppy.

Although it was almost noon it was still quite raw, but the wind had died away and it was a shimmering kind of day, crystal clear. The sky, so high and vast above them, was cerulean blue, cloudless, pristine, and bathed in the silver light of a cold winter sun.

It’s turned out to be magnificent, Audra thought, looking about, smiling with pleasure. A tiny burst of joy surged through her, filled her with a lovely inner warmth. A day like this made you realize that anything was possible in life. Anything at all.

Vincent breathed deeply, took a lungful or two of icy air, feeling healthy and robust, as he always did in this type of bright and bracing weather. He stole a surreptitious glance at Audra, thinking how smart she looked, and then he realized how proud he was to be with her—and to be seen with her in Town Street, the main thoroughfare in Armley and as busy today as it usually was on Saturdays.

Before they reached Calpher House he was going to invite her out, Vincent now decided, even though he was a bit nervous about doing so. If she refused him he would feel like a damned fool; on the other hand, if he didn’t ask her he would never know. He wondered where to take her if she did accept. That was a problem. Perhaps he should bring her to their New Year’s Eve party tomorrow. No, that wouldn’t work. The poor girl would be overwhelmed by his boisterous family. Besides, on their first date he wanted to have her all to himself. He began to wrack his brains for a suitable place to go.

Audra, also lost in her private musings, felt as though she was floating, so buoyed up was she. For two months
she had held onto the belief that they would meet again one day, but when he had walked into the pet shop she had been completely taken aback. Initially. And then, within minutes, it had all seemed so natural. She knew it was meant to be. The awkwardness she had experienced at the dance was no longer in evidence, and she did not feel in the least shy with him. Quite the contrary, in fact.

He was even more handsome than she remembered, immaculate in his appearance, and as well dressed as he had been at the dance. He was a charming young man with a pleasant personality, and the way he had behaved with the child had only made her like him all the more. Audra smiled.
Like
was a funny word to use. It hardly described her feelings. She had fallen in love with him in the pet shop.

She looked up at him through the corner of her eye. He was the only man for her. The only man she would ever want.

Vincent glanced down as she was looking up.

Their eyes met and held for a brief moment. He smiled at her, lovingly. She smiled back, a little tremulously. A very intimate communication passed between them at this precise moment, and they both caught their breath, staring at each other. And then fully understanding what had been conveyed without benefit of words, they instantly averted their faces, stared ahead, walked on in silence.

After a short while, Vincent finally spoke. He said, ‘I hope you don’t think I’m being nosy, but how long have you worked for the Bells then?’

‘A year,’ Audra replied. ‘As a matter of fact, Mr Crowther, it’s exactly one year ago today that I started my job at Calpher House. That’s why I bought Theo the bird. As an anniversary gift.’

‘They should be giving you presents,’ he said gruffly before he could stop himself. And then for a reason he could not fathom he experienced a small stab of resentment towards the Bell family.

Audra had caught the odd, disgruntled tone, and she eyed him curiously, for a moment puzzled. But then she smiled at him prettily and said, ‘They did, Mr Crowther. At breakfast this morning.’

‘Well, that’s good then, isn’t it. I’m glad.’ He cleared his throat rather loudly and went on, ‘You don’t come from these parts, I can tell that by your voice. You don’t speak with a Leeds accent. So where are you from?’

‘Ripon’s my home town, and that’s where I lived until last year. Have you ever been there, Mr Crowther?’

‘Yes, I have, to the races. It’s a lovely spot.’ His green-eyes gleamed with mischief. ‘And lucky for me, I don’t mind telling you. I’ve always managed to win a bob or two at Ripon races, and there are some nice pubs there too.’

Audra nodded. ‘Yes. And you’re from this area, aren’t you, Mr Crowther?’

‘Oh aye, I am that. Armley born and bred, that’s me. And listen a minute, would you mind calling me Vincent? I keep thinking you’re addressing me dad every time you say Mr Crowther.’

Audra laughed. ‘Of course I will, and you must call me Audra.’

‘Done,’ he cried and came to a sudden and abrupt stop. He took hold of her arm and gently broke her stride.

She stared up at him, frowning.

Vincent said, in a rush of words, ‘Will you go out with me tonight, Audra? I’d like to take you somewhere nice. Maybe into Leeds, to go dancing. Say you will.
Please
.’
He flashed her his most winning smile and held her with his eyes.

She said, ‘I’m afraid I can’t. You see I have—’

‘You don’t have to bother explaining,’ he cut in, sounding huffy and hurt. ‘I understand.’ A tinge of pink crept up into his face.

‘No, you
don’t
understand, Vincent,’ Audra said firmly. ‘I was about to say that I’m working tonight. But I would like to go out with you on my next evening off. Really I would.’

‘Oh,’ he said, momentarily thrown off balance. He recovered himself instantly, beamed at her. ‘That’s all right then. And when
is
your next night off?’

‘This coming Wednesday.’

His face fell. ‘Not ’til then. Oh dear. Well, never mind. But it’ll have to be the church dance that night. How do you feel about going there?’

‘I’ll enjoy it… with you.’ She offered him a small smile, suddenly feeling shy.

Vincent gave her a long, knowing look. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘so will I, Audra.’

They began to walk again.

Within seconds they were at the gates of Calpher House where Theo stood waiting for them. When they came to a standstill, Vincent turned to Audra and said, ‘I’ll meet you here at the gates on Wednesday, at seven sharp.’

‘But you don’t have to trouble yourself, Vincent. Really. I can find my own way to the Parish Hall.’

‘
No
. I wouldn’t want you walking down there alone.’

‘Very well then,’ she said.

He handed her the birdcage.

Theophilus said, ‘Goodbye, Mr Crowther. I hope I see you soon. Then you can tell me if Danny liked his budgie.’

‘I’ll do that, Theo. Ta’rar, lad.’

Vincent swung to Audra. With a faint smile he raised his hat and was gone.

Audra watched him walk down the hill in long, brisk strides. He turned once, saw her and waved. She waved back. And then she took hold of Theo’s hand and led him up the drive, only vaguely listening to the child as he chattered away.

As they drew closer to the house, Audra lifted her eyes and looked at it, thinking of the happy times she had spent here in the past year. And then some deep instinct told her she would not be living at Calpher House for much longer.

Today is the beginning, she thought. The beginning of my life with Vincent Crowther.

He is my destiny. I am his.

***

They were married five months later.

Some people were astonished; others were not.

The wedding took place at Christ Church in Upper Armley on a sunny June Saturday, a couple of days after Audra’s birthday and one week before Vincent would celebrate his.

The bride wore blue. It was a simple yet elegant afternoon dress of crêpe de Chine, which she had designed herself, cut and sewn with the help of a seamstress from
Paris Modes
, Mrs Bell’s exclusive gown shop in Leeds. Her cloche was of blue silk swathed in chiffon, her court shoes with Louis heels were of grey suede as were her elbow-length gloves. She carried a bouquet of pink roses, lily-of-the-valley and stephanotis.

Gwen Thornton was Audra’s bridesmaid and Laurette Crowther her matron of honour.

They were dressed in identical frocks of dove-grey crêpe georgette overprinted with yellow roses, cloche hats
of stitched grey silk and their posies were of yellow roses.

As they fussed and hovered around her in the entrance hall of Calpher House, Audra thought how truly lovely they looked, both so tall and fair, so young and fresh, and she was proud to have them as her attendants.

Mr Bell had graciously offered to give her away, and so it was on his arm that Audra walked down the aisle of the beautiful old Anglican church with its Norman architecture and magnificent stained-glass windows.

It was when the organ music swelled and the strains of the hymn ‘O Perfect Love’ reverberated through the high rafters that Audra’s throat tightened. Her eyes filled with tears and she ached for her brothers. But knowing she could not let herself break down, she took control of herself, blinked hard. She lifted her head higher, looked towards the altar where Vincent was waiting with his brother Frank, who was his best man.

The love illuminating his face, the genuine admiration in his eyes, were comforting, reassuring, and she thought how wonderful he looked in his dark blue suit, which was brand new, the crisp white shirt and silver-grey silk tie.

Within seconds of drawing to a standstill at the altar, Mr Bell stepped aside. Vincent took his place. His presence and the vicar’s kindly expression instantly dispelled the feelings of loneliness she had experienced a second before.

The Reverend Baxter’s words seemed to wash over Audra… for better or for worse… for richer or for poorer… in sickness and in health… forsaking all others. Of course she forsook all others. How could she ever want anyone but Vincent. The idea was quite unthinkable.

Before she realized it the ceremony was over.

They were married. She was Mrs Vincent Crowther.

She walked back down the aisle, this time clinging to the arm of her husband as the organist pumped away enthusiastically and Mendelssohn’s wedding march, joyful, thunderous, filled the church.

She and Vincent lingered on the church steps for only a few minutes, to have their photographs taken, greet his family, friends, the Bells, and Matron Lennox, who had travelled over from Ripon for the occasion.