An Accidental Man (21 page)

‘Charles and Geoffrey are discussing the crisis.'

‘May I get you another drink, sir?'

‘Thank you, dear boy.'

‘Henrietta Sayce has won the under twelve bridge championship.'

‘Is Dorina here?'

‘Don't be silly.'

‘Dr. Seldon is discussing liver fluke with Geoffrey.'

‘I don't think people should invite doctors, they're such a memento mori.'

‘Do you think that butler's just hired for the occasion?'

‘Of course he is! Richard thought the butler was real!'

‘Matthew and Oliver are discussing Oscar Wilde.'

‘Why, Austin, isn't that lovely, Austin's come — Pinkie, here's Austin, how super —'

‘Is that Austin Gibson Grey?'

‘He looks like a poet.'

‘Where
is
Gracie?'

‘Is that Gracie's intended?'

‘No, darling, that's Ann.'

‘No head for languages, I'm afraid.'

‘Richard Pargeter is going to buy a yacht.'

‘Is the young man in turquoise Ludwig?'

‘Austin, I'm still job-hunting for you —'

‘George, for God's sake don't waste your time.'

‘I did want to say if ever you're short we could —'

‘Thank you, George, I would actually like a loan, how much could you let me have?'

‘Well — er — I'd have to — Clara's signalling, excuse me — yes, Austin, we'll definitely arrange — excuse me —'

‘Matthew looks like a businessman.'

‘My dear, he is a businessman.'

‘Char darling, you're puss in the corner as usual.'

‘You know I hate parties.'

‘Who are you pushing, Richard P.?'

‘Sorry, I just wanted to get at Matthew.'

‘Penny dear, Hester has just been telling me about Mollie's boutique, it will sell nothing but white things.'

‘Geoffrey's pigs have all got liver fluke.'

‘I say, Clara, Austin accepts our offered loan with enthusiasm.'

‘Never mind, Pinkie, I must be getting drunk.'

‘Clara, what a super party.'

‘Clara, where
is
Gracie?'

‘Pinkie, do go and look for them —'

‘Oh hello, Austin.'

‘Hello, Matthew.'

‘Your job must be very interesting too, Mr Enstone.'

‘How about a drink some time soon, Austin?'

‘Sorry, Matthew, I'm just leaving town.'

‘Is Ludwig the man with the lace ruffles?'

‘No, that's Oliver Sayce.'

‘Hester, we were so sorry Sebastian couldn't make it to the Mill House.'

‘Look, Matthew and Austin are talking!'

‘No, they aren't. Austin's talking to Charlotte.'

‘About time somebody did.'

‘Wish I'd made it to Oxford.'

‘Austin is drunk.'

‘So am I.'

‘So is Mollie Arbuthnot.'

‘Where
are
Gracie and Ludwig?'

‘Karen Arbuthnot has got liver fluke.'

‘Austin is sloshed.'

‘He's gone off to the loo.'

‘Where is the loo?'

‘Char, I do want to talk to you —'

‘Mr Enstone and the young man in turquoise are boring each other into agony and have had empty glasses for ten minutes.'

‘Oh, Char, you do make me blush, I'm a rotten hostess.'

‘Yes, wonderful place, Oxford.'

‘Mr Enstone, I must introduce you to Lady Odmore, she's so interested in the liturgy. Mr Hilton, do meet Oliver Sayce, he's in the antique book trade.'

‘Oh, hello!'

‘Hello!'

‘I feel quite faint with relief.'

‘I've been wondering who you were all the evening.'

‘Char, listen darling, you're going to come and live here with us, we've decided it all, there's plenty of room and we just couldn't bear it if you were anywhere else, you can sleep in George's study and have Gracie's room when she moves, we'll bring the car at the weekend and collect all your stuff from the Villa, and then we shall be so snug here when we're all together, so let's say it's fixed and —'

‘It's very kind of you, Clara —'

‘Not at all, my dear, you know how anxious we are —'

‘It's very kind of you, Clara, but I have just made another arrangement.'

‘You can't stay in that hotel —'

‘I'm going to live in Austin's flat, we've just fixed it, he's letting me have it for a low rent. I feel I need a place of my own.'

‘Char — you're going to live in Austin's flat?'

‘Not
with
Austin, dear.'

‘Gracie and Ludwig are the limit.'

‘Matthew is leaving.'

‘Austin is locked in the loo.'

‘Everybody, Matthew is leaving.'

‘Oliver and the turquoise man have gone to the pub.'

‘Matthew has left.'

‘Hester, you and Sebastian must —'

‘Thank you, dear Mollie —'

‘We must leave too —'

‘Clara, thank you so much —'

‘Geoffrey is carting Mollie.'

‘Love to Karen.'

‘Love to Sebastian.'

‘Love to Henrietta.'

‘Love to Ralph.'

‘Goodbye — Why here they are!'

‘Gracie and Ludwig, just when everybody's leaving!'

‘Gracie and Ludwig, how wonderful they're looking!'

‘Just like a god and a goddess!'

‘Wait, everybody, Gracie and Ludwig —'

‘Gracie and Ludwig!'

‘Hooray!'

Austin Gibson Grey lay half-dressed upon his unmade bed and watched his long thin window change from a summer blue through purple to a lurid London night red. Having got drunk at the Tisbournes party he had made a complete nonsense of all his arrangements. He had let the flat to Charlotte for three pounds a week, partly because he was sorry for her but largely to spite George and Clara and also out of vanity. The trouble was that five minutes earlier he had accepted George's offer of a loan. Could he use George's money to subsidize Charlotte to spite George? No. So he had to write to George to refuse the loan after all. And meanwhile he was broke. He had only gone to the party for the drinks and the sandwiches, having had no lunch, and to see Gracie of course, and then there were no sandwiches, only rotten cheese biscuits, and no Gracie.

Charlotte's money would hardly cover the rates. He owed a month's rent and a quarter's electricity. He owed for clothes and for some books which he had already sold. He had sold his watch and his stamp collection. He had already borrowed as much as he could hope to get from Ludwig and Mitzi. No job that he would dream of taking had been offered. He would not be triumphed over. He was at the end of his tether. In fact he had been there for some time. Of course he could cancel Charlotte. But all he had left now was his pride.

It's all so petty, he thought, but it's destroying me. He had to eat, and Mitzi's suppers were getting smaller and smaller. Anyway there were days when he hated Mitzi. If only there were somewhere he could get away to, somewhere to which he could take Dorina, making mock of them all, somewhere in the south beside the sea, where the wind was warm and Dorina could walk barefoot in the waves and pick up shells to give him, and he would be clean and free and cherished. At present he felt too demoralized even to take a bath and his body smelt. Anyway Mitzi had turned the hot water off to save money.

He had still not been to see Dorina, and with everything in this muddle he could not go, and now that Charlotte had insinuated herself into the flat there was nowhere to bring Dorina even if he did get a job. He hated Charlotte. And he had read a letter from Dorina to Ludwig which he had found in Ludwig's room. It was quite a simple letter, but it was so affectionate and pleading. He hated Ludwig. He sat up jerking his pillows about. The pillows were old and greasy and wafer-thin and emitted dust. There was no clean linen any more. The warm powdery dirty London air drifted through the window and sifted down into his lungs making him gasp. He had mislaid his tablets. Wolfing cheese biscuits at the Tisbournes he had bitten his tongue again, it still hurt.

Someone knocked on the door and Austin hastily covered himself. The room was dark and a tall figure stood in the faint illumination from the landing. ‘May I turn the light on?' said Garth.

The light went on as Austin was fumbling for his shirt. His underwear was filthy.

‘Sorry, I didn't realize you'd have gone to bed.'

‘I haven't gone to bed,' said Austin, ‘I was just — resting.' His shirt seemed to be inside out.

‘Can I help you, Father?'

‘No.' Austin got his shirt and trousers on and pulled up over his rumpled bed an Indian counterpane so worn and frail that if he had let it out of the window it would have floated away like thistledown.

Austin sat on the bed. Garth sat on the floor with his back to the wall. He had a bulky bundle with him and looked, as the young can, poor and shabby and elegant at the same time.

‘Well, how are you, Garth?'

‘Very well, Father.'

‘Has Charlotte moved in?'

‘Yes.'

‘Have you moved out?'