Talk of the Village (25 page)

'Why, yes, of course. My goodness Sir Ronald you look to me as if you've lost weight.'

Lady Bissett answered on his behalf, 'He has, a whole stone and a quarter
and
our best bit of news is we're off to the States, aren't we Ron. .aid. We've been married forty years this year so it's a kind of second honeymoon.'

Muriel blushed. 'Oh, how lovely. It certainly suits you being slimmer Sir Ronald. How long will you be gone?'

'Four weeks, coast to coast we're going.'

'How lovely. I've never been to the United States.

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Would it be helpful if I have Pom for you?'

Sheila looked grateful. 'Oh it would! I was dreading

him going into kennels, he's not used to it you see, and I

didn't like to ask.'

'Of course I'll have him. Pericles will be delighted.' Sheila patted Muriel's arm. 'I've been thinking, how

would it be if you called us Ron and Sheila? We're not

really titled in the proper sense of the word and it would

be much more friendly wouldn't it?'

'Well, yes, it would, in that case you call me Muriel.' 'Very well we will. Bye bye Muriel. Be seeing you.' 'Bye bye Sheila, and bye bye . . . Ron.' At home

Muriel sank gratefully into her favourite armchair and

consoled herself with a cup of tea and a biscuit. She'd had

just about all she could take this morning. There were

times when she wished she was a hermit.

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'Good afternon, Turnham House Health Club. Venetia speaking. How may I help you?' Venetia gripped the receiver between her jaw and her shoulder while she hitched herself onto Jeremy's desk.

'Hi Venetia. Jimbo Charter-Plackett here. How are you this fine bright day?'

'Bloody awful.'

'You don't sound too perky.'

'I'm not and neither is Jeremy. We are completely at the end of our tether.'

'Hold on Venetia, surely things can't be as bad as that?'

'You know full well they are. I wish I was in Timbuktoo, anywhere but here.'

'I jolly well hope you won't be in Timbuktoo on Monday.'

'On Monday? Why?'

'Because I have been incurring a huge phone bill beavering away on your behalf.'

'Yes?'

'Ann-n-n-d on Monday of this week, at precisely eleven thirty a certain company chairman in the City will be coming to give the Big House the once over.'

'The once over?'

'Venetia, you're not very bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning.'

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'Run it past me again and then it might sink in.'

'A person by the name of Craddock Fitch is coming to look over Turnham House with a view to purchasing it for his company. He'll be arriving at eleven thirty on Monday morning.' His announcement was met with total silence. 'Hello. Hello. Venetia are you there? Hello. Hello.' It sounded as though the receiver had crashed to the floor. After a moment Jimbo could hear a voice quite unlike Venetia's screaming, 'Sid, Sid.' He heard footsteps and then faintly, 'Sid, get up and come down.' The footsteps returned.

'Are you still there Jimbo? Oh God, I can't believe it. A buyer at last. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't know what else to say.'

'Now see here, I only said he was coming to
look.
There are no promises at all. A sale depends on the impression he gets. Can I be brutally frank?'

'Of course.'

'He is a very important person, Venetia, really important. He's coming because he is
seriously
interested. I happened to speak to him on the right day at the right moment, and he happens to be in the area at a weekend house party and is calling on his way back to London. You must, absolutely
must
give a good impression. On no account wear your screamingly dazzling track suit or bikini. Get out your darkest suit, your whitest blouse, tone down the old makeup, hide the gold jewellery in the drawer and wear only one small well chosen piece. In other words behave like a nun. Right? Get Jeremy togged to the nines in a dark suit, white shirt, restrained tie, well polished shoes. Have everywhere totally spick and span. Clear Jeremy's desk and in particular make sure there are no Snickers bars evident. Lots of flowers about, cushions plumped et cetera, create a kind of country house atmosphere. Get the picture?'

'Oh yes, oh yes. I'll start clearing up now. Right away.

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I can't thank you enough. Jeremy's right beside me and he's dancing up and down.'

Privately, Jimbo thought that wouldn't be a pretty sight. 'Don't build your hopes too high, just play it cool. Most important don't pretend you've someone else interested. He'll see through that immediately. He's not an idiot.'

'Will you be coming up?'

'No, I'm quite certain you can manage the whole thing without me holding your hand. Got the date and time?'

'It's engraved on my heart. Thank you Jimbo.'

'Anytime. The ball's in your court, let's hope you win the match. Bye.'

Jimbo banged down the receiver. 'Well, Harriet, I've done all I can. The rest is up to them.'

Jimbo was having a quick lunch with Sadie in her mail order office on the Monday when the phone rang. Sadie answered it. Jimbo heard her saying, 'I'm sorry I can't tell what you're saying. Yes. Yes. Oh Jimbo. Oh yes, he's here. Hold the line.' Sadie put her hand over the mouth piece and said, 'Some incoherent idiot wants darling, darling, Jimbo.'

'Jimbo is that you?'

'As ever.'

'Jimbo, it's Venetia, he's just gone and he's very, very keen. We did exactly as you said, and he is very enthusiastic. He'll let us know by the end of the week. Jeremy and I can't thank you enough. We'rejust having a toast to good fortune. We're so thrilled.'

'Hold on a minute, nothing and I mean nothing, as Jeremy well knows, is definite until you've got his signature on a piece of paper. Don't believe your troubles are over until then. Please. Do you understand?'

'Yes, of course, Jimbo I'm not a fool. Oh, he really was dishy. Have you met him?'

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'Only at business receptions, haven't spoken to him much.'

'He's one of those older men who still has that indefinable something. He's so handsome in an aristocratic kind of a way. I quite took to him.' Jimbo groaned. 'I did most of the talking.' Jimbo groaned again. 'Jeremy's so devastated by what's happened he can hardly speak. So I took charge.'

Jimbo interrupted her, 'Put Jeremy on the phone please.' He waited a few minutes while Venetia found him. He heard Jeremy's heavy footfalls nearing the telephone.

'Good morning Jimbo, things do seem to be working out don't they?Just opening the champagne.'

'Look here, I know in this day and age women no longer take a back seat and quite rightly so, but, men like Craddock Fitch still don't subscribe to that view. Please in future
you
must take the lead. You're the business man not Venetia. I know you've had a body blow, but please stand up and be counted. I know these kind of people and I know I'm right.'

'Righteo, yes, righteo. I'll do that. Thanks again.'

'Anyway, glad things are looking more hopeful. Keep me informed. Bye.'

Knowing Peter was out and that Caroline had gone to the dentist's, Willie called at the Rectory. He hammered on the door like he always did but dutifully waited for Sylvia to open it.'

'Come in, I expect you're wanting your coffee?' 'Yes, please.' He followed her into the kitchen. He hadn't been in many kitchens so he hadn't much experience to judge by, but this rectory kitchen always took his fancy. It glowed with comfort, yes, that was it, glowed. This morning the twins were playing on a big rug spread out on the kitchen floor. Their brightly

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coloured toys added to the welcoming feel of the kitchen. There were some gold chrysanthemums in a creamy vase on the window sill and the sun, the warm, autumn sun was shining in, casting a lovely colour on his Sylvia as she stood at the table stirring his coffee. Wholesome she was, downright wholesome. He bent down to give Alex back a ball which had rolled out of his reach. The sun picked up the reddish glints of the baby's hair. It was Peter's smile that he gave Willie when he got the ball. For a moment Willie felt sad that he would never see his own smile on the face of a child. Too late for that, but not too late for joy.

He took his mug from Sylvia and their fingers touched as she relaxed her grip on the handle. There was that thrill again, the sheer physical shock of touching her. They might live together and share the same bed, and you'd think the excitement of her presence would have waned a little by now, but for Willie the vibrance was as rich as ever and he wanted to claim it for his own.

Sylvia cleared her throat. 'I've been thinking Willie, it might be nice to get away for a few days.'

'I've got some holiday due to me, so I suppose we could. Where do you fancy?'

'I've always had a liking for Cornwall. I went there once when I was a little girl. My grandmother took me. Land's End we saw and I really thought it must be.'

'Must be what?'

'Land's End of course.'

'Oh, I see.'

Willie took a sip ofhis coffee, contemplating Cornwall. They could walk along the cliffs hand in hand, now that would be a romantic place for
a.
proposal. She'd have a scarf on which blew loose in the wind and wrapped around his face, he'd have to tuck it in her coat for her and she'd smile and touch his cheek. He could hear the violins in the background and in his mind's eye he could see him

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taking her into his arms, the wind blowing wildly and their passion mounting as she . . .

'Willie, did you hear what I said?'

'Pardon? No 1 didn't.'

'I said a friend of mine went to Cornwall on honeymoon. '

'Nice place for a honeymoon, Cornwall.'

'Yes, it would be.'

Beth began to cry. Alex was dragging her toy from her. Sylvia sorted them out by taking Alex onto her knee.

Smiling, Willie chucked Alex under his chin. 'That's one of my great regrets that is Sylvia, that we can't have children together. I'd have liked a nipper or two.'

'Bit late for that.'

'But of course, I wouldn't have wanted them to be bastards.'

'Willie! What a word to use in front of the children. Dr Harris won't allow them to hear bad language or anything about killing and guns and things. Goodjob she isn't here.'

'Sorry, but I wouldn't. It would have to be all legal like.'

'That's what pains you isn't it? Us not being married?'

'I'm willing to wait.' His head was bent and he was studying the table top as if he'd never seen one before in his life. Alex reached out to grab Willie's mug and had hold of it before either of them could stop him. The contents streamed across the table and onto Willie's lap. He leapt up. Sylvia put Alex back on the rug and went to get the kitchen roll.

She pulled off a good length and handed it to him to wipe his jumper and trousers with. He made only a half hearted attempt to mop himself so Sylvia took charge and vigorously set about cleaing him up. He took hold of her hand removed the sodden paper from it and put his

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arms around her waist.

'I hardly dare to ask this, because I don't want to hear you say no. But I'm going to say it. Would
you
like to go to Cornwall on your honeymoon with me?'

She laughed. 'Oh yes, Willie, I would.'

'Sylvia, do you mean that? Are you sure?'

'Oh yes, I am, I am.'

Willie kissed his precious Sylvia, his heart bursting with joy. 'Cornwall it is then. Right? We'll talk about this later, I don't want Dr Harris catching me in here again. I'll do my very best to make you happy Sylvia. We may be getting married late in life but the next thirty years will be the best believe me.'

'I know that, Willie, and I'm sorry I couldn't make up my mind sooner, but I had to be sure this time.' Sylvia kissed his cheek and smiled.

Willie had to get away to give himself time to assimilate what had happened. He almost skipped his way back to the churchyard. As he went through the lychgate he suffered a massive explosion of energy, he leapt up and punched the air with his fist. He'd have the mower out and cut the grass for the last time this year. Next time he got it out he would be a married man. Married to his Sylvia, the light of his life. By Jove, but life was good and not half.

Which was just what Jeremy was thinking when he dialledJimbo's number the following Friday.

'Hello, Jimbo that you? Jeremy here. Well we've done it. Craddock Fitch has taken the bait, he's buying.' 'Brilliant, brilliant. I'm so glad for you. Price right?' 'Oh yes, I had to bargain a bit with him but yes we are very satisfied. He came himself you know. Been here most of the day which was a bit unexpected. The little woman had to hurry off upstairs to titivate herself and leave the men to conduct the business. But yes, a very

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satisfactory conclusion I must say.'

'Good, good.' Jimbo's curiosity got the better of him. 'Been able to negotiate terms for staying on to manage?'

'That's in the melting pot, but I'm pretty certain I shall be able to organise that to our mutual satisfaction. Altogether a very successful day's work.'

Jimbo smild wryly. 'I'm glad. It's certainly saved your bacon hasn't it?'

'Well, I was pretty confident we'd clinch it.'

'Oh yes, that was very obvious.'

'When you've been in business as long as I have it doesn't take long to negotiate a deal does it? If you're holding all the best cards it's a matter of standing your ground. They soon come round when they realise you aren't going to budge.'

'Exactly. Well, busy, busy, got to get moving. Keep in touch Jeremy won't you?'

'Of course.'

Jimbo quietly put down the receiver and said. 'Well, thank you very much Jimbo for all your hard work. We really appreciate what you've done for us. You've pulled us right out of the mire, and we were in it up to our necks. How about a little dinner to celebrate?'

Harriet heard him. 'Talking to yourself are you, darling? It's the first sign you know.'

'Not a single word of thanks, I can't believe it. When he came that day he was on the floor, now he's bounced back up like a rubber ball, riding high and deceiving himself into thinking he's achieved it.'

'Let it go Jimbo, he isn't worth bothering about.'

'Dammit, I need cheering up. Let's ask Ralph and Muriel and Peter and Caroline for a meal tonight. Nothing fancy just something out of the freezer. What do you say?'