Village Gossip Page 4

  Peter came in the kitchen for his tea. ‘You know he really is very pleasant. Considering his fame, he is a very modest chap, doesn’t push it in your face like some would.’ He saw her making a sandwich. ‘That’s not for me, is it?’

  ‘No. It’s for me.’

  ‘I thought you’d had lunch with Hugo.’

  ‘No, I walked out.’

  ‘Walked out? Why?’ He saw her shopping on the table. ‘That a new dress? It looks extremely eyecatching.’

  ‘It is. I walked out because he got me very angry and I’m not telling you why.’

  ‘Oh, I see. I won’t ask, then.’

  ‘No, don’t. Here’s your tea. I’ll move my shopping.’

  Caroline devoured her sandwich with one eye on the clock.

  Peter drank his tea. ‘I’ll collect the children, if you like.’

  ‘Thanks. We’ve been invited to Harriet’s on Wednesday. I checked the parish diary, you’re free and Sylvia’s promised to sit in.’

  ‘Oh good, I shall look forward to that.’

  ‘Yes, I expect you shall.’

  ‘Shall I be taking you in that dress?’

  ‘You shall. If I dare to wear it. Not quite the thing for a Rector’s wife, is it, do you think?’

  Peter heard the challenge in her voice. ‘I don’t see why not.’

  ‘Oh good. Because I’m wearing it, and damn the lot of them.’

  ‘My darling girl! What lot?’

  ‘Your parishioners. Your prim, narrow-minded, gossiping, trouble-making parishioners, that’s who.’

  ‘What’s brought this on? It’s not like you to be so miserable. We’ll talk about it, shall we, when the children are in bed?’

  ‘We won’t, you’ve a meeting.’

  Peter stood up. ‘Must go get the children. So I have. Damn meetings. Well, tonight then, when I get back.’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  Wednesday evening came round all too quickly. Sylvia had admired the dress, though privately she thought it unsuitable for a Rector’s wife, but it appeared to be something Caroline needed and as far as Sylvia was concerned if Dr Harris wanted to wear it, it was all right by her. When she saw her actually wearing it Sylvia was very surprised, it was even more out of character than she had first thought. But the Rector seemed pleased with it, so it must be all right. ‘Have a good time! Forget everything and just enjoy yourselves!’

  When Caroline and Peter left the Rectory to walk to Harriet’s they met a total of four villagers on their way. They all greeted them with something just short of surprise.

  ‘Evening, Rector. Evening, Dr Harris.’ This from Anne Parkin who typed for the parish.

  ‘Good evening, Caroline! How lovely you look.’ This from Muriel who was popping round with a cake for her new neighbour. ‘Enjoy yourselves.’

  Barry Jones heading for the pub gave Caroline a thumbs up, his face twitching with a grin. ‘Good evening, Rector. Dr Harris. Nice evening!’

  Jimmy also heading towards the pub raised his cap and at the same time eyed Caroline from head to toe. He grinned and commented, ‘Going somewhere smart, eh? Wish I was thirty years younger! You’re a lucky man, Rector.’

  ‘I am. You’re right.’

  Peter and Caroline were the last to arrive. Gathered in the sitting room when they went in were Gilbert and Louise Johns, Craddock Fitch, Jimbo’s mother, and Liz and Neville Neal. Their drinks were being replenished by Jimbo.

  He broke off to greet the two of them and said ‘Wow!!’ when he saw Caroline’s dress. ‘Give us a twirl! Wonderful! Quite wonderful. Harriet will be jealous. What will you have to drink?’

  ‘Vodka and orange, please. You like it then?’

  ‘Like it? I should say.’

  Peter said, ‘So do I. It’s revealed a whole new side of my wife, has this dress. I’m beginning to feel old-fashioned.’

  ‘Well, you’re not darling, you’re just right. Thanks, Jimbo.’ Caroline took her drink and went off to speak with everyone. Grandmama was barely civil, but Craddock Fitch made a great fuss of her and made her laugh which she badly needed.

  Harriet came in to say dinner was almost on the table and where was Hugo?

  ‘Not down yet.’

  ‘Go give him a call, Jimbo. You know what he’s like.’

  ‘I’ll just finish in the drinks department and then I will.’

  Harriet sorted them out as to where they should sit and Caroline found herself between Gilbert and a vacant chair which she presumed was meant for Hugo. Trust Harriet to place him next to her. She was determined not to let him get under her skin. Never again. She would behave as if their contretemps in the restaurant had never happened.

  Just before Harriet served the vichyssoise Hugo came in.

  ‘So sorry. Am I late? I fell asleep by mistake.’ It wasn’t only Caroline who was charmed by his smile. She noticed Louise go gently pink and despite her misgivings about him Grandmama succumbed too.

  Jimbo did the introductions. ‘This is Hugo Maude, who requires no introduction to you. My mother you already know, this here is Louise, sitting next to Caroline is her husband Gilbert, county archaeologist and church choir master, this delightful creature is Liz Neal, wife of Neville Neal, right here, Neville is an accountant and the church treasurer, and of course you’ve met Peter, and last but not least Mr Fitch the owner of the Big House you glimpsed between the trees yesterday.’

  Hugo went around the table shaking hands and kissing as he thought appropriate. Caroline’s hand got a small squeeze and she received a kiss on her cheek too.

  Jimbo and Harriet were practised hosts, the food delicious, and the evening went by in the most enjoyable way. There was plenty of laughter and Hugo provided that extra bit of zest needed when it was a dinner party where everyone knew everyone else and the conversation might have become moribund. He told some splendid theatrical stories which everyone except Grandmama enjoyed. She was occupied casting scathing glances at Caroline, the last of which Peter had intercepted. Then it was Grandmama’s turn to grow pink, because Peter, who could do no wrong in her eyes, gave her one of his sad smiles. Well, if he didn’t mind Caroline dressing as though she was out to catch a man then who was she to complain. But that gown really was an eye stopper, not at all suitable for someone in her position. What was it Harriet was saying, she’d missed that. She watched her spoon some more raspberries into her mouth and heard her mumble, ‘Don’t you think it would be a good idea? In all the years we’ve been here we’ve never done a play. Have we?’

  An energetic burst of conversation answered her query. Peter’s powerful voice overrode everyone else’s and they all stopped speaking and listened to what he had to say. ‘I think it would be an excellent idea. It might be the beginning of the Turnham Malpas Amateur Dramatic Society. We have the stage in the Church Hall, we have the lighting, it’s all yours for the asking. There’s hardly ever been a show of any kind put on except the Gang Show each year.’

  Harriet said, ‘Hands up all the people who would be willing to take part.’

  Grandmama refrained from volunteering and so did Mr Fitch. Another notable exception was Louise.

  Caroline said, ‘Well, the baby is very young. I can understand you not wanting to be in a play, it takes so much time rehearsing and things.’

  Gilbert answered for her. ‘It’s not that. Well, it is in a way. We’re expecting another baby, you see.’

  Grandmama was scandalised. ‘Another one. Good heavens, you’ve only just got one.’

  ‘Congratulations!’

  ‘That’s wonderful.’

  ‘You must be pleased.’

  ‘Oh we are. Gilbert wants four.’

  ‘Four! Good heavens. Does your mother know?’ Grandmama downed the last of her wine and signalled to Jimbo she needed a refill.

  The conversation broke up for a moment and it took Harriet some time to get it back to the play. ‘I did think we might ask …’ she nodded her head in Hugo’s direction. ‘How about it, Hugo?’


  He’d been preoccupied entertaining Caroline and took a moment to realise he was being addressed. ‘How about what?’

  ‘How about helping us with the play? Directing it even? What say you?’

  ‘Me? It can’t be done in a fortnight, you know, and I wouldn’t want to outstay my welcome.’

  Jimbo charitably suggested that if he was helping with a village play then he wouldn’t be outstaying his welcome. He could stay as long as it took.

  Harriet, poised on the brink of victory, beamed at him. ‘Well? Say yes. We’d be so proud to have you on board.’

  ‘What play would you want to do?’

  Suggestions flooded out across the dining table. ‘Blithe Spirit’, ‘Absurd Person Singular’, ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’, ‘Noises Off’, ‘The Odd Couple’. Ideas ebbed and flowed.

  ‘Well … what do you think?’ Jimbo asked Hugo.

  ‘Yes, yes, mmmmm, I’ll have to think about it. If I say yes can I be leading man and producer?’

  ‘If you wish. Why not?’

  ‘We haven’t asked you to do something which is kind of not the thing for a famous actor to do, have we? I mean, we wouldn’t want to put a spanner in the works or anything.’ Caroline smiled at him.

  Hugo smiled back and for a moment the conversation came to a standstill. Caroline recollected herself and picked up her glass of wine intending to take a sip, but Hugo took it from her, held on to her hand and said, ‘My dear Caroline, how thoughtful of you to consider me.’

  Grandmama cleared her throat loudly and it broke the moment.

  Hugo raised his glass to them all, drank from it, put it down and began speaking. ‘It would be wonderful to do something just for fun. I don’t mean to diminish the idea by making it sound as though I wouldn’t be taking it seriously because I would, take it seriously, I mean. But just for once to work at something which didn’t demand high profile action on my part would be wonderful. After all it isn’t as if the whole world is going to know, not like they do when it’s Stratford or the West End or something. We can just quietly get on with it can’t we? Money isn’t a problem …?’

  ‘It certainly isn’t.’ Mr Fitch shook his head. ‘I should be proud to be associated with such an enterprise. Proud, yes very proud and I would like to commit myself here and now. I will underwrite whatever expenses you may incur. Yes, I certainly will. Who knows, this could be the beginning of something big.’ He beamed at everyone around the table and accepted their thanks with delight. ‘Now, Hugo, what do you think to that?’

  ‘I am humbled by your generosity. Humbled indeed I am. We shan’t be incurring massive expense, I would keep a stern eye on that side, believe me. Now, if I agreed to …’

  ‘Something quite appalling has occurred to me.’ Caroline’s strangled voice drew their attention. ‘How on earth can we expect Hugo, who has worked with most of the famous names on the British stage, how can we expect him to work with us, a load of complete amateurs? What presumption. We ought to be ashamed of ourselves even thinking of it. I’m sorry, so very sorry that we’ve put you in such an embarrassing position. Please accept our apologies. We all got carried away.’

  A deathly silence greeted her outburst. Hugo was the first to break the deadlock. Very quietly he said, ‘Please believe me when I say I would be honoured to work with you all. This business of the virus, I did have a virus certainly but it was exacerbated by the fact that I was also having a complete nervous collapse brought on by overwork. This rest I’m having, the media believe it to be because of the virus, which it is but also it’s because I have run out of steam. After years of working like a maniac it is very difficult for me to do nothing, but I daren’t, not yet, go back on the professional stage because it could be the end of not only me as an actor but the end of me. Producing this play would be heaven. You’d all be helping me to resuscitate myself. The decision is yours, but I hope you say you will.’

  Jimbo raised his glass and toasted Hugo. ‘Thank you for being so frank with us. Neither Harriet nor I had any idea how ill you have been. If we can help in any way then we will, and we’d all be honoured and privileged to work with you.’

  ‘Coffee. I think I’ll get the coffee. Anyone prefer tea?’ They all wanted coffee. With Caroline’s help Harriet swiftly cleared away the pudding and retreated to the kitchen to attend to the coffee making.

  Harriet banged about making the coffee saying as she worked, ‘God! that was awful. I’d no idea.’

  ‘Awfully brave of him to admit to it, don’t you think? I feel dreadful that I forced him into having to come out with it.’

  ‘You musn’t, you did right to bring us all up short. It was presumptuous of me. I can’t think what gave me the idea. I must have been mad. I’ve put the cups out on the side there. We just need the spoons, they’re in the cupboard in the dining room.’

  ‘You have to like him, don’t you?’

  Harriet grinned. ‘He’s a darling. An absolute darling, but don’t tell Jimbo I said that. I’m amazed he’s so agreeable to the whole idea.’

  ‘It must be Hugo’s charm.’

  ‘Well, he’s certainly got plenty of that, so just watch yourself.’

  ‘Me? Come on, for heaven’s sake.’

  ‘Yes, you. Carry the sugar in, will you?’

  Caroline and Peter fell into bed at midnight, having left the party well before the end in deference to Sylvia and Willie.

  ‘Peter, we can’t both of us be in it, can we? That would be impossible, finding a sitter every time.’

  ‘No, we can’t, not both of us. But you could.’

  ‘Do you think so?’

  ‘Oh yes. With my height I’d be quite out of place on a stage.’

  ‘Have you ever done anything on stage before?’

  ‘Never, and I don’t intend to.’

  ‘Hugo says you have such presence he can’t understand why you’re not an actor.’

  ‘Well, that’s one bit of his amateur psychoanalysis that is way off the mark.’

  ‘You think he does that too, do you?’

  ‘Oh yes. He does. Has he been practising on you?’

  She was on the brink of telling him about the incident in the restaurant but stopped herself just in time. ‘I’m nearly asleep. It’s the wine.’

  Peter reached over to kiss her goodnight. ‘God bless you.’

  ‘And you.’ Caroline was nowhere near ready for sleep but not for anything would she tell Peter what had made her leave the restaurant in such anger. Nor did she want to tell him how Hugo fascinated her. Nor that Hugo wanted her to be his leading lady in whatever play he decided upon. Nor that she was looking forward to the rehearsals with more enthusiasm than she had felt about anything for a long time. Not since … well, she wouldn’t think about cancer now. Not now. She would put that right at the back of her mind once and for all and get on with her life.

  Chapter 3

  A note had been put through the Rectory letterbox addressed to Caroline. Peter picked it up and propped it against the vase on the hall table. He didn’t recognise the writing, but then Caroline was always getting notes about one thing and another. When he heard her come back from seeing the children to school he called out, ‘There’s a note for you, darling, on the hall table.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  She came into the study with it in her hand. He watched her tear it open.

  ‘It’s from Hugo. There’s a meeting about the play on Monday night. You’re free aren’t you, if I remember rightly?’

  ‘I am. In fact I’ve three evenings free next week. Almost unprecedented. Shall we have an evening out together while we have a chance?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘There’s bound to be seats going at the Royal. Culworth isn’t exactly at the forefront where theatre-going is concerned, is it?’

  ‘There might be rehearsals planned. Let’s wait until Monday night before we book. Just in case.’

  Peter patted his knee. ‘Come and sit on my knee for a moment.�
� With his arms encircling her and her feet tucked into the kneehole of his desk he said, ‘This play is really important to you, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it is.’

  ‘I’m glad. Something completely different from church meetings and children. There’s a light come back into your eyes I haven’t seen for a while.’

  ‘Is there?’

  ‘Yes. I hope, no, I know you’ll do marvellously in this play. I shall be so proud of you. You must throw yourself into it and forget all about us. Go for it, you know. What an opportunity for you and for the village. He’s such a generous man, doing this without a thought for his reputation.’ They sat quietly for a few moments then he said, ‘Love you, must get on.’ He kissed her and tipped her gently off his knee.

  Caroline had to make absolutely sure he didn’t mind her being involved with the play.

  ‘Of course not. Why should I mind?’

  ‘You shouldn’t, I suppose, I don’t know why I asked. You hold me by the tightest of bonds and yet I am totally free.’

  ‘Good. That’s how it should be.’

  ‘Do you feel free?’

  He had to smile. ‘No. I’m bound hand and foot to you. I’m not free and never will be, not even in the life hereafter.’

  ‘Oh God! What a responsibility that is for me!’

  ‘You musn’t feel like that, because for me it’s pure joy.’

  She held his face between her hands, looked deeply into his eyes and briefly saw into his soul; he was alight with love for her. Right at this very moment, love like his she did not deserve. Why she didn’t deserve it she didn’t rightly know, but there were stirrings inside herself she couldn’t analyse, and what was worse didn’t want to analyse. It was as though she was at a crossroads, not knowing which way she would turn. Unable to find anything to say in reply to the look in his eyes, she tapped him lightly on his shoulder. ‘I’ve some addresses to call at to collect jumble for Saturday, I’ll be a while.’

  ‘I’ll have gone by the time you get back.’

  After she’d left, Peter sat gazing out of the window. He watched Vera wave to Sylvia as she passed her house. Saw Jimmy setting out with Sykes at his heels. Caught sight of one of the weekenders in shorts and the briefest of tops setting off to the Store by the looks of the large shopping bag she was carrying. The busy life of the village went on, day in day out, despite the trials and tribulations which beset it. He thought about Hugo who could turn out to be a trial and a tribulation without doubt. Though what a lovely chap he was; friendly, caring, very charming, obviously in need of a respite from his demanding life and what better place was there than here in this village amongst friends? It was ridiculous to worry about the man, but somehow Caroline’s enthusiasm for being in Hugo’s play worried him.