The Bright One (46 page)

She felt a stab of shame that she'd almost taken pleasure in giving Henry the news, but they were such a bombastic couple, Henry and Miriam. Such snobs.

‘Didn't he tell you?' she asked.

‘He did not!' Henry's voice was tight with anger. ‘He tells us precious little these days. Well, just you tell him from me he's to phone home, the quicker the better! His mother's going to be very upset about this.'

‘I'll pass on your message when I see him.' Opal's voice was cool. She put down the telephone. If Henry Prince thought he could give her orders, he was mistaken. Any. sympathy she had had for him melted away. She now felt herself firmly on Graham's side.

It was Sunday evening before Graham and Breda were back in Akersfield. They had left Kilbally, and a tearful Molly, on Saturday morning. Molly had hovered in the bedroom while Breda packed her case.

‘To think I will not be present at my daughter's wedding,' she said. ‘'Tis a terrible sadness!'

‘And your own fault, Mammy.' Breda's voice was gentle, but as firm as bedrock. ‘'Tis no great journey you would be making to England. Auntie Josie has been here several times, and she that much older than you. I'm certain sure Luke would be agreeable to your coming, even if
he
couldn't leave the shop.'

‘The distance is not the only reason, and you know it, Breda.'

‘I do so,' Breda said. ‘Why wouldn't I? Have you not told me a dozen times in this past week, even though not when Graham was present? If only I was not marrying a Protestant! Well I am, Mammy. No two ways about it. 'Twill not be the same if my own Mammy is not at my wedding, but 'twill still happen.'

Breda was glad of two things. Graham had been treated with the courtesy and politeness due to a guest, though as a guest, not as a member of the family; also, Mammy had reluctantly agreed to give her legal consent to the marriage.

It had been easier in Dublin. If either Moira or Barry had any doubts, then they didn't show them. In fact, Moira took to Graham at once. ‘He's quite gorgeous!' she said. ‘Isn't he like a film star – though no doubt he'll be the same as all the rest once you're married. Men are after only one thing!'

Which I long to give to Graham, Breda thought. She wondered if Moira still gave it to Barry, for there was no sign of more children, which was surely not natural. ‘You know he is not Catholic?' she said.

Moira shrugged. ‘So what?'

‘If Mammy heard you say that she would have a fit,' Breda said. ‘It upsets her.'

‘Well, don't let it upset you,' Moira said.

Those were the nearest to kind words Moira had ever spoken to her, Breda thought. She felt an unusual rush of affection for her sister.

It was different again with Kathleen, whom Breda and Graham visited on the Sunday morning. Though Kathleen knew the circumstances which made their mother so unhappy, and to which Moira was indifferent, she gave Graham the loving welcome she would have given to a brother.

‘I shall be glad when we are well and truly married,' Breda said to Graham later. They were sitting side by side on the ferry, crossing an unusually calm Irish Sea, only the smallest ripples disturbing the smooth surface of the water.

‘And so shall I,' Graham said. ‘And for reasons other than your mother. But don't be too hard on her, my darling. In any case it will happen in reverse with my family. Yours doesn't like it because I'm not a Catholic, mine will be against it because you
are
.'

‘Graham,' Breda said, ‘even if we can't be married just yet, will you come with me to see Father Delaney at St Peter's? He's the nicest of men. Auntie Josie thinks the world of him. He will tell us what we should do.'

Graham put his arms around her, drew her close. ‘Of course I will. Whenever you like.'

He kissed her on the lips and she struggled to free herself. ‘Everyone will be watching!' she protested.

‘I don't mind in the least,' he said. ‘Nor should you.'

On Monday morning Opal, with George Soames also in her office, gave the news to Graham. ‘But I must caution you,' she said. ‘All this is confidential. I don't want any leaks before I'm ready to announce the opening day. You do understand that?'

‘Of course!'

‘So what do you think?' Opal asked. ‘Oh, I'm not asking you for a definite answer on the spot, you can have a day or two to decide, but obviously I'll need to know soon. There's a lot to be done, especially between you and Mr Soames here.'

‘I don't need a day or two, Miss Opal,' Graham said. ‘All I need is the answer to one question.'

‘Which is?'

‘What about Breda? Will there be a job for Breda in Hebghyll?'

Opal and George Soames exchanged smiles.

‘Mr Soames and I have already thought about that,' Opal said. ‘In fact we'd have been surprised had you not asked the question.'

‘And . . . ?' But he knew by the expressions on their faces that the answer was the one he wanted.

‘Breda O'Connor can go to Hebghyll if she wishes to,' Opal said. ‘She would be part of a small display team. Of course I must interview
her
about the job, not you. I must make sure it's what
she
wants.'

‘Oh, it will be!' Graham interrupted. ‘She'll look forward to it as much as I do!' He was all eagerness, all enthusiasm. He felt lifted up by the news, as if he had come into a fortune. He saw his whole future, and not least because it included Breda, in the brightest of bright colours.

‘Nevertheless I must speak to her directly,' Opal said. ‘And I'll do it soon. Her appointment will be quite separate from yours. It means I shall be going away from the usual practice of not having engaged couples working in my store – though I've never quite believed in it. But I shall require totally professional conduct from both of you. Your personal relationship must be kept outside your work. You do understand that?'

‘Of course,' Graham said. ‘And may I ask one more question?'

‘You may.'

‘Then what is your attitude towards married couples working for you? When we're first married Breda will probably need to have a job.' Miss Opal had not offered him a princely salary in the new job, nor did he expect it.

‘We'll meet that when we come to it,' Opal said. Privately, though the occasion had never arisen, most new brides seeming to be only too happy to stay at home and keep house, she had never been against married couples in her store, providing they acted professionally. And if they didn't, then she didn't want either of them.

‘In the meantime,' she said, ‘you should spend some time with Mr Soames. I'm sure he has a lot to discuss with you. But let me warn you again, all this is confidential.'

‘Does my father know?' Graham asked.

‘No. I had thought of telling him but I changed my mind. I think the most you can say to your father is that you've been offered a job here. I'd like you to do that yourself but naturally I shall speak to him, as a matter of courtesy. But not before you've done so.'

When Graham had left the room Opal turned to George Soames.

‘I think I'd better see Breda O'Connor as soon as possible. Graham will burst if he can't discuss it with her!'

‘Shouldn't you have a word with Jim Sutcliffe first?' George suggested.

‘You're right,' Opal agreed. ‘I can't go around stealing his staff from under his nose, without a word. Anyway, we shall need Jim's co-operation on several things, and he's discreet enough. He's been with me since I opened here.'

Breda was summoned to Opal's office immediately after dinner. She had not eaten her midday meal with Graham. They did so less often now that they were free to meet at other times and in other places. Now she stood just inside Miss Opal's office, close to the door, her feet sinking into the thick carpet which was that lady's one touch of luxury.

She had no idea why she had been sent for. Jim Sutcliffe, without a word of explanation, had simply told her to report to Miss Opal. ‘At the double!' he'd said. It was an unusual command. Miss Opal only saw junior staff herself on more serious matters. Breda had had no contact with her since the time of the shooting.

What have I done, she asked herself, waiting for Miss Opal to finish a telephone call with her secretary. Had something gone wrong with her work during her week's absence in Kilbally?

‘Don't stand in the doorway, Miss O'Connor,' Opal said. ‘Please come and sit down.' She sounded brisk and businesslike but not in the least angry.

Over the next few minutes Breda found herself listening with almost total disbelief to what Miss Opal had to say. Wasn't it all quite incredible, and at the same time wasn't it the answer to all those prayers she'd said? Not that she'd ever asked for anything as specific as this. Just, ‘Dear God, make it come out all right for me and Graham.' Well, wasn't this more than just all right?

‘So what do you think, Miss O'Connor?'

Breda knew by the tone of Miss Opal's voice that she was repeating the question. She jerked herself back to reality from the daydreams into which the offer had propelled her.

‘I'm sorry, Miss Opal! 'Tis wonderful, which is all I can find words to say. And if you're after offering me the job, then I'm accepting, and thank you very much indeed, and I'll do my very best to please. And when do I start?'

‘That's not certain. It might not be until December, or even the beginning of January. There's a lot to be done. Which brings me to this: you mustn't talk about this to anyone.'

‘Not Graham?' Breda's face fell.

‘Of course you can discuss it with Graham, though only away from the store. And Mr Sutcliffe knows, but not many others. It might seem unnecessary to you, all this secrecy, but it's essential for several reasons. I shall announce the whole project as soon as I reasonably can, but in the meantime you are to say nothing.'

‘Please, Miss Opal . . . what about my aunt and uncle? You see, I live with them.'

‘I'm afraid not,' Opal said. ‘I'm sure they wouldn't gossip intentionally, but rumour flies around the West Riding as swiftly as a bird in flight. And with a good deal less accuracy.'

Later that same week Graham and Breda went together to see Father Delaney. ‘We want to be married as soon as possible,' Graham said the minute they were settled in the priest's study.

Father Delaney smiled. ‘I'm sure you do! But in a case like yours and Breda's it's not entirely straightforward. You wouldn't expect it to be. There are obligations to consider, questions to be asked and answered, on your part as well as mine. We have to be as sure as we can, and this is for the sake of both of you and your life together, as well as for the Church.'

‘We've discussed it between ourselves,' Graham said. ‘We're sure of ourselves.'

‘And perhaps rightly so,' Father Delaney said. ‘We shall see. In the first place I want you both to come to see me every week for at least four weeks, and not until this marriage preparation is over, Graham, shall I ask you to make any of the promises which will be required of you. And remember that these promises are not just for you, they are for the future of your marriage, and for the children you will have.'

‘I see,' Graham said. ‘And after that?'

‘After that, if you have made your promises, and the Bishop sees no other impediment, then he will grant you a dispensation. You will be married in the Catholic Church, though since you are not a Catholic, it can't take place in the Mass.'

‘How long . . . ?' Graham began.

‘Let's say between three and six months,' Father Delaney said. ‘It sounds a long time, but it will soon pass.'

‘I never dreamt it would take so long,' Graham said to Breda as they walked back to Waterloo Terrace. ‘I'm ready to make the promises here and now.'

‘I know,' Breda said. ‘But perhaps Father Delaney was right and 'twill soon pass, especially with all the changes we'll be going through between now and then.'

‘It can't pass quickly enough for me,' Graham said. ‘Oh, Breda, I want you so much. I can't tell you how much.'

‘You don't have to,' Breda said. ‘Aren't I made of flesh and blood, the same as you?'

The day before Breda and Graham had gone to see Father Delaney, Graham had telephoned his father. He said nothing at all of Opal's offer. That could wait. Nor did he discuss his visit to Kilbally. What he did was to accede to his father's request that he should come home for the weekend.

‘Though it depends on whether Miss Opal will let me have Saturday off – and Breda, of course. And we'll have to come back on Sunday.'

‘We'd have liked you for longer,' Henry said.

Breda was dismayed at the prospect. ‘It's so soon!' she objected. She had vaguely hoped that it might be put off, though she knew it would have to happen eventually.

It was late on Saturday afternoon when they reached Reigate. Tompkins was at the station to meet them. Breda had never ridden in a chauffeur-driven car in all her life, hardly ever in any car, come to that. Nevertheless she smiled at Tompkins, took a deep breath and climbed into the back as to the manner born. It was the way, she decided, she'd meet the whole weekend. She would just do her best in every situation. Less than twenty-four hours, she reminded herself, as the car sped smoothly out of the town and in a mile or two along a tree-lined country lane.

‘Here we are, darling,' Graham said.

There were high gateposts, surmounted by stone pineapples. As they turned into the short drive, the imposing house facing them, Graham held her hand tightly. ‘Chin up!' he said.