Village Matters (24 page)

With Sebastian’s help Ralph held the flaming torch, and the two of them went steadily round the great pile of wood, lighting it in the eight evenly-spaced places where oil-soaked kindling had been placed. The crowd waited for the flames to take hold, and suddenly they did and roared up into the sky. A great cheer went up. The flames lit all their faces, good and bad, young and old, friendly and hostile, plain and beautiful, joyous and sad. From the loud-speaker system boisterous brass-band music blared forth, and then the music was stopped while a voice announced that the beer tent was open and the jacket potatoes would be brought round shortly.

Muriel had tears in her eyes. Her heart had nearly burst with pleasure when she saw Sebastian helping Ralph. She felt so proud of Ralph. So proud. Two Templetons lighting the fire. How fitting. Things did have a way of working out. She pulled her wool hat a little closer about her ears. She’d forgotten how sharply the wind blew straight across this open field. Her jacket potato held in her gloved hands, Muriel went to find Ralph.

Pat still hadn’t found the rest of her family. She’d been looking for them before the bonfire had been lit and still hadn’t made contact. She just hoped Michelle was OK. The girl was so confident, like as not she’d wandered off. Pat didn’t like the skin of jacket potatoes, so she found a convenient bush and popped her skin behind there, content in the thought that a badger or a fox might be glad to eat it during the night.

Pat jumped and spun round to see who it was.

‘You stupid thing, Barry. Gave me the shock of mi life, you did.’ Pat pressed her hand to her heart.

‘Pleased with yer kitchen, are you? Put a lot of work into it, I have. I bet you’ll be cooking some real nice meals in there, and I thought that bit of blank wall near the door yer could have a table and chairs. Nice warm kitchen to eat yer porridge in on a morning.’

‘Well, there’s one thing for certain,
you
won’t be eating
your
porridge in there.’

‘Aw! Pat! I’m cut to the quick. We could make a right go of it, you and me!’

He tried encircling her with his arms, but she gave him a hefty push on his chest. ‘Daft thing you are. Get off with yer. You’ve been drinking!’

‘I haven’t! It’s you, yer get my blood racing! Don’t send me packing. We’ll go for a drink in the beer tent and toast your good luck. Right?’

Why not? Pat argued to herself. ‘Right, yer on.’

‘Tuck yer arm in mine, don’t want yer tumbling on this rough grass before you’ve even had a drink.’ The first person they met was Venetia, wending her way back to the Big House. Venetia winked and gave Pat the thumbs-up. How embarrassing. Then she thought, who cares?

Peter and Caroline had got separated again. Beth was tired and fractious and obviously wasn’t going to stay awake long enough to see the fireworks. ‘Harriet! Have you seen my dear wife anywhere?’

‘I am indeed, Flick. I’m glad you’re well enough to come tonight. Don’t overtire yourself, will you?’

‘Daddy says I’m almost Ai at Lloyd’s now. So no, I’m not tired. Dr Harris is in the marquee, we’ve just left her there.’

Harriet laughed. ‘When this daughter of mine allows me to get a word in, she’s looking for you because Alex is tired and she’s wanting to go home.’

‘Right, I’ll head for the marquee, then. Hope the rest of the evening goes well.’ He waved and turned to go, but was stopped by Sheila Bissett. With her was a tall girl, a feminine edition of Ronald Bissett.

Sheila, bubbling with pride, introduced her daughter. ‘Oh Rector, this is my daughter Bianca, you’ve never met, have you? She’s come back home to live with us. Bianca, this is Peter Harris, our rector.’ Bianca held out her hand to shake Peter’s. He changed Beth over to his other arm and shook hands saying, ‘Welcome to Turnham Malpas, Bianca. Nice to meet you. You’ve got a new job, then, somewhere close?’

‘No, not yet. The bank where I worked was downgraded, someone had to go and it was a case of last in, first out. I’ve got various feelers out, so I’m hoping to get somewhere shortly. Mother tells me you have a very vigorous choir at the church. I’m a choral singer, sang Verdi’s
Requiem
only last month. I should love the opportunity of singing in the church choir.’

Peter, never wishing to turn down an offer of help in the church, hesitated a moment before replying. It was all male, and the choir master intended it staying that way.

‘Surely you’re not going to exclude me on the basis of sex?’ Bianca’s dark eyes began to spark. There was something about the way she hesitated before she said ‘sex’ which made Peter feel uncomfortable.

‘Oh, no, no certainly not on that basis. I wouldn’t like to be thought old-fashioned, but he is in charge not me, but I will have a word with him.’

‘I have very good secretarial skills, so while I’m at a loose end perhaps I could do some work for you?’

Sheila decided to put a word in for Bianca. ‘You’d be pleased for some help, wouldn’t you, Peter? You’ve got excellent computer skills, haven’t you, dear?’ Bianca, not taking her eyes from Peter’s face, nodded and smiled. Pressing the matter further, Sheila continued. ‘You have a computer in your study, haven’t you, Peter?’

‘Good evening.’ They hadn’t heard Caroline approaching. She’d been listening to the conversation and had decided to interrupt. ‘Sheila. Bianca.’ She nodded her head in greeting. ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Peter’s wife, Caroline. I wonder if you would mind awfully if Peter and I took the children home? They’re both very tired and I think they’re going to have the screaming abdabs once the fireworks start. Perhaps you could discuss your contribution to the parish another day. I really am anxious to leave.’

Bianca surveyed Caroline. She noted the expensive suede jacket, the well cut trousers, the Jaeger scarf at her neck, the air of authority. Caroline observed Bianca’s bleached hair, her strong features, and she recognised the hungry speculative look of a woman reaching thirty and still without a man of her own, and desperately wanting one.

‘Goodnight, Rector, ’night, Dr Harris.’ Sheila and Bianca waved as the rectory party left.

Out of their hearing Peter said, ‘You were rather abrupt, darling.’ By the light of Caroline’s torch they crossed the field towards their car.

‘Sheila Bissett and I will never get on. The woman thoroughly irritates me. If that Bianca wants to sing in the choir, it will take all your diplomatic talents, believe me, to achieve a result.’

‘I know, but I couldn’t say no straight out, could I?’

‘You’re too kind and I love you for it. I can’t spot the car. Where did we leave it? Oh, there it is. Perhaps not, but be warned. Open the door quickly, darling, Alex is getting awfully heavy, I think he’s already fallen asleep. Predatory females are the last thing an attractive rector needs.’

They drove home in silence. Peter pulled up outside the rectory, switched off the engine, and turned to look at Caroline. ‘My darling girl, you may well be right. I simply didn’t notice. I don’t need to say, do I, that I shall do everything in my power to keep the woman at arm’s length?’

‘Just watch your step. Occupational hazard, I’m afraid. Extraordinarily uncanny, how like her father she is in her looks. Come on, let’s get the children to bed.’

He was standing talking to Ralph, Muriel and Sadie. As soon as Mr Fitch saw Jimbo he broke off his conversation and went across to speak to him.

‘Charter-Plackett! Brilliant display. Brilliant! Thank you very much indeed. Send your invoice in and it shall be paid immediately. Now, children, you’ve got your toffee apples I see?’

The children thanked him. He picked up a cardboard box. ‘Look, I’ve some spare ones here in the box. Why not take an extra one home, each of you? Would you like that?’

The three children said in unison, ‘Yes, please, Mr Fitch,’ and helped themselves from the box he was holding.

‘Clever husband you have, Harriet. When I heard what he’d done, left the bank and opted for a village shop, I thought, what a fool. But maybe he isn’t as much of a fool as I thought! I’m quite taking to this country life.’

Harriet thanked him and, making her apologies, shepherded the children out. Frances was sleeping in her pram and Mr Fitch pulled back the blanket and took a peep at her. His face softened. He patted her arm, said, ‘Goodnight, young lady,’ and went back to Ralph and Muriel.

‘Now, have the three of you time for a drink in my flat before you go?’

Ralph was so staggered by his unexpected proposal that for a moment he was speechless.

Muriel answered indignantly. ‘Certainly not! I wouldn’t agree. It’s Ralph’s. It’s ours. I won’t allow it.’

Mr Fitch looked at Muriel and said, ‘It’s a joint venture then, is it?’

‘Oh yes, it is.’

‘I can’t tempt
you
with money then? Not even above-market valuation? Surely it will tempt you, just a teeny little bit?’

‘No, it won’t. Will it, Ralph?’

Having collected his wits, Ralph ignored Muriel’s question and asked Mr Fitch what he proposed to do with it; if he knew what he wanted it for he might, just might, be tempted. Muriel fumed. Mr Fitch smiled a little and replied, ‘My ideas are not for public scrutiny yet. Suffice to say I want it and I’m willing to pay well for it. Now what do you say?’

‘On the face of it, the offer is very tempting. Selling you the land would help finance the building of the houses, but I would want a good price, believe me, oh yes, a very good price. One can’t afford to turn down a good offer, can one? I could well be tempted. Oh yes! I certainly could. Most definitely.’

Mr Fitch laughed triumphantly and thumped his fist against the palm of his other hand. ‘Ha! I knew you’d see common sense.’

Ralph asked, ‘What do you want to use it for?’

‘As I’ve already said, I’m not disclosing that for the moment.’

Sadie interrupted their discussion. ‘You know full well what you want to do with it Craddock, for heaven’s sake stop playing the business magnate and be honest for once.’

Mr Fitch’s lips tightened into a straight line. He sometimes felt Sadie had too much to say for herself.

Ralph pressed on with what he wished to say. ‘The use to which my land is put is of paramount importance to me. If I’m not told what you will use it for I simply will not sell, no matter how much you offer. What’s more, when I think about it, I couldn’t trust you not to do something which would spoil the whole village, and this village of ours takes precedence over any get-rich-quick schemes you might care to come up with.’ He calmly put down his glass and, slowly taking a cigar case from his pocket, nonchalantly selected one and then asked, ‘Do you mind if I smoke?’ The others shook their heads and watched him light it.

Mr Fitch, exasperated by his attitude, permitted his anger to break through his iron control. ‘Hah! You country gentry think you own the world. I’m sorry, but it’s laughable.’

‘I do own the world. Round here, that is.’

‘Well, I have to say I’m here to stay and I intend to buy up every cottage that becomes available, every piece of land I can. I love it around here, I really feel as though I’ve “come home”.’