Authors: Stella Whitelaw
‘I could hear you having a time of it upstairs,’ said Mrs Harris. ‘I didn’t interfere. I hadn’t done Lily’s bedroom, more’s the pity. I’d better do it now before her ladyship starts into me.’
‘You put up with a lot,’ said Jessica.
Mrs Harris nodded. ‘Sometimes we have to. That’s life.’
‘Where’s the nearest swimming pool, Mrs Harris? I really want to get Lady Grace into the water. Walking in the shallow end of a swimming pool is one of the best exercises after a hip operation. Because the water is buoyant and holds you up, there’s very little stress on the hip. She would enjoy it.’
Mrs Harris said nothing. She knew about Lady Grace’s
aversion
to water.
‘A pool would be a good idea,’ Jessica went on.
‘She’d say the water was too warm, too cold, too wet,’ said Mrs Harris, going upstairs. She paused halfway, lowered her voice. ‘Yet she used to be a champion swimmer. Used to swim in the sea, off Brighton beach, any weather, I’m told.’
Jessica found a copy of Yellow Pages and roamed through, looking for leisure centres. Brighton and Worthing were both unsuitable having large pools. Lady Grace would certainly refuse to go anywhere that members of the public might be using at the same time.
Lucas was a puzzle, one minute kind and charming, and the next cold and aloof. Perhaps one day he would tell her what had made him so unfathomable. There was no antagonism between them but she never knew where she was with the man. He was unpredictable. And yet so attractive. But he was the last thing she wanted. There was no place for another man, however good-looking, in her life.
She had to keep him at a distance.
He could be dangerous. One move from him and she might find herself unable to forget him. He had spirit and texture and soul. Not many of those about.
There was a range of keys hanging from hooks near the kitchen door. Jessica glanced at the labels. There were more keys than doors. One of them was the key to the vintage car waiting for her in the garage and this was a good time to try it. She knew how to drive and it was not far to the village. If Mrs Harris could cycle the distance, she could drive it.
It was a small, low-roofed car with sleek lines, not what she had expected at all. She thought all Austin cars were saloon, family cars. This was a neat shape, park it anywhere, with a walnut dashboard, leather seats and the famous picnic trays at the back. She slipped into the driver’s seat and switched on the ignition, took off the hand brake. The car shot into life, almost taking the garage doors with it.
Jessica stamped hard on the foot brake, was flung against the wheel, no seat belt fastened. She gasped. She had not realized that automatic gears need very gentle handling to ease the car away.
She sat back, regaining her breath, slowly fastening the seat belt, hoping she had not bruised her ribs. Lucas had been right. Automatics take some getting used to. Good thing that there was no one around watching. She tried again, easing the car away with only a couple of little jerks. Once moving, the car was a dream. She loved it. She drove slowly out of the drive and onto the road.
Left or right? She could not remember which way they had come yesterday. Well, she only had two choices and the village couldn’t be far. So she went right.
It was a quiet, leafy lane, twisting and turning so she drove carefully, hoping to see the village of West Eastly come into sight, cottages, pub and church. A male pheasant hopped across the road, its long tail feathers gleaming. If she was going the wrong way, then the station would appear. If she saw anyone, she would ask for help.
There was no one around, not a soul. Only a few grazing sheep and they weren’t much help. She doubted if they had any sense of direction. This was not the time to panic. Surely she could not get lost in such a small place?
She drove on. More leafy lanes, no signposts, nothing to say where she was. The hills looked all the same. There were no houses. At this rate she was going to end up in Brighton or Worthing or maybe back on the M27.
She was lost. She had no idea where she was. Surely Mrs
Harris didn’t cycle all this way from Dove Cottage to Upton Hall? Jessica glanced down at the milometer but the figures were no help. It was more than ten minutes ago that she left Upton Hall, turned right at the end of the drive and now she could be anywhere.
She slowed down, worried about petrol. She had not checked. Always check on your petrol before setting off, the driving instructor had said, many years ago.
She drew into the next lay-by and turned off the engine, taking stock, hoping that someone would drive by. If she heard a car coming, she would flag them down and ask for directions.
There was a throb of a car in the distance, coming closer, maybe too fast to stop for her. Jessica stood clearly on the side of the road, her hand up in the air, hoping for a Good Samaritan. She prayed that it would be someone helpful, articulate and English.
It was. Someone very articulate. The car braked.
‘What the hell are you doing out here, Jessica? I told you to wait for me. I said I would come with you, the first time you went out in the Austin. I suppose it was you who nearly took the garage door off? And now you are lost. Well, it serves you right.’ Lucas glared at her.
Jessica stood shocked by the onslaught. She didn’t deserve this. Her intentions had been the best. She had intended to get some books for Lady Grace and find out how to renew Lily’s inhaler prescription. Not exactly in line with robbing a bank or stealing the church silver.
‘Yes, sir, I am lost,’ she said, briskly. ‘All these lanes look the same. I’m hardly to blame if your council doesn’t spend any money on signposts. It must be because of some literacy deficit among the locals.’
Lucas was still glaring at her. ‘Did you turn right coming out of Upton Hall?’
‘Yes, I turned right. I’m not stupid.’
‘Then right again at the fork?’
‘What fork?’
Jessica could not remember any fork. The lane had been twisting and turning. She had been concentrating on driving round the bends, keeping to the left.
‘There’s a fork after the third bend. It takes you directly to West Eastly. A child could follow it.’
‘There was no signpost.’
‘It’s in the hedge.’
‘Overgrown no doubt.’
Jessica was tired of the argument. At least Lucas could not refuse to see that she got back to Upton Hall. ‘I think I should return,’ she said. ‘Lady Grace may be needing me. We’ve got a lot to do.’
‘She may well indeed. A pity you didn’t think of that when you took off in the Austin, not telling anyone where you were going.’ Lucas was still fuming.
‘Shall I follow you?’ she asked, recovering some dignity.
‘Yes. I’ll lead.’
‘Please drive at my speed, not like a bat out of hell.’
He was about to make a retort but thought better of it. He sat there, engine turning, while Jessica got back into the Austin. She was very careful, trying not to do a jerk start. She handled it smoothly, pleased with herself, and lined the Austin up behind the Porsche Boxster. Piece of cake.
It was a slow and careful procession back to Upton Hall. Lucas was deliberately going at a snail’s pace to irritate her. Any locals would have thought it was a funeral. Any slower and the Austin would stall.
Jessica smiled to herself. She would let Lucas have his little joke and say nothing. But she was relieved when she saw the tall chimneys of Upton Hall coming into sight. Somehow she had done a tortuous circle.
She parked the car in the stables, next to the Porsche. The garage door was not exactly coming off. He had been exaggerating as usual. Lucas was nowhere to be seen. He had not waited to see if she was all right.
She went into the kitchen, hoping Mrs Harris would not
mind if she made a cup of tea. Her throat was dry and a cup of tea would be welcome.
The kitchen was empty, everywhere tidy, no coat or hat on the door. Mrs Harris had gone. Jessica immediately thought something awful must have happened to Lady Grace in her absence and she had been taken to hospital in an ambulance.
She raced up the stairs and rushed into the tower bedroom. Lady Grace and Lucas were sitting by the window. There was a glass decanter of sherry on the table and Lucas was pouring a small amount into a delicate sherry glass.
‘Don’t barge in like that, young lady,’ said Lady Grace. ‘Please knock.’
‘I thought you had had … an accident … fallen or
something
,’ said Jessica, getting her breath back.
‘I’m talking to my son. Kindly leave us alone. We have something to discuss. Something important.’
‘Of course,’ said Jessica, turning to leave. ‘I’m making some tea. Would you like a cup?’
‘No, thank you. I’m having my afternoon sherry,’ said Lady Grace.
‘But I’d love a cup,’ said Lucas, leaning back and laying on the charm. ‘I’ve just had a maddeningly slow journey. The traffic these days and learner drivers.’
‘Better slow and safe,’ said Jessica, ‘than fast and flashy.’
Lady Grace glared at Jessica and she retreated, smiling to herself as she closed the door. At least she had had the last word.
Mrs Harris had an urgent dental appointment and Jessica made the children’s tea when they got home from school. She found some Bramley apples in the orchard and stewed them with honey and raisins. She made cheese, tomato and lettuce sandwiches with celery sticks to crunch on. No doubt there would be complaints from little Miss Sugary Sweet-tooth. No jam and no cake for her today.
Lily surprised everyone by saying she liked this tea. ‘I like
this sandwich,’ she said, holding the celery stick between two fingers as if it was a cigarette. ‘Have you got a light, miss?’
‘Got a light?’ repeated Daniel.
‘I’m not the nanny before last, the one who smoked,’ said Jessica. ‘Hurry up, then we can play in the garden before it gets dark.’
‘I want to play in the dark,’ said Lily, jumping up and down. ‘I like the dark. It’s all spooky.’
Daniel said nothing. He was lining up raisins on the rim of his plate before eating them. It was a slow and deliberate procedure.
Lucas came in the kitchen with his cup and saucer. Lily was pretending to smoke the celery stick, giggling and coughing. ‘Have you got a light, mister?’
‘Bad habits already, young lady?’ he said, gravely. ‘We shall have to watch you. I’ll get you a nicotine patch.’
Lily blew out pretend smoke and started coughing again. Jessica fetched a glass of water from the tap. She drank it and the coughing eased.
‘Is there another inhaler for Lily?’ Jessica asked. ‘I think her current puffer is nearly empty. We’re going to have a lesson this evening on the best way to use it.’
‘I keep Lily’s inhalers in a safe place. I’ll get one for you before I go back to the hospital,’ said Lucas, closing the dishwasher door.
‘Another RTA?’
‘No, I had a list this morning. I’m going back now to check on them. They should be in recovery or transferred to their rooms by now.’ He spoke in a vague manner, miles away, mentally going over what he had to do. ‘I’ll catch a quick bite at the canteen. Don’t wait supper for me.’
Jessica discovered that Mrs Harris had left a cold supper tray for Lady Grace and all she had to do was heat some soup and take it up. She would have soup and another sandwich.
They played in the garden till the light began to fail. Jessica could only remember how to play
He
and
What’s the Time, Mr
Wolf
?
Lily threw herself into both games with a complete disregard for the rules. Daniel didn’t understand what they were doing but enjoyed shouting
What’s the Time, Mr Wolf
? Jessica noticed that his motor skills were not co-ordinated and he ran awkwardly, sometimes almost falling.
They danced and sang
Ring-a-Ring a-Roses
, which seemed to help his co-ordination, because they were inter-acting together. He didn’t know the words. Lily sang loud enough for two.
When she took Lily upstairs for her bath, Jessica told Daniel that he could stay up for another half an hour as he was older. He didn’t react.
‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’ he said.
‘Bedtime,’ Lily shrieked.
At this rate they would have Lady Grace banging on the floor with Fred.
It was quite late before Jessica took her supper on a tray into the library and settled herself into a comfortable armchair. Lady Grace had had her supper and was settled with a book.
One of the bookcases had a false door which opened and revealed a medium size television set. It was an older model but the picture was clear with a good signal and Jessica was happy to watch any programme.
She was lulled into deep relaxation with the undemanding programme, a pleasant supper by herself, a strenuous day and the fresh air activity. She was dozing off, halfway to a rambling dream about trains, when she jolted awake by a tiny noise.
Lucas was switching off the television.
‘Late night film,’ he said. ‘Were you watching it?’
Jessica shook her head. ‘No, I wasn’t. I fell asleep. What’s the time?’ She nearly added,
Mr Wolf.
‘It’s after midnight. Cops and robbers film, very violent. Not at all suitable for a young lady to watch.’
She struggled to sit up. ‘Heavens. I’d better clear up the supper things.’
‘Leave it for Mrs Harris in the morning,’ said Lucas. He was
looking at her with an expression that was impossible to fathom, his eyes full of warmth. ‘You don’t look nearly so fierce when you are asleep,’ he added.
Her heart began to beat faster as he came over to the
armchair
and held out his hand. He smelt fresh and manly. It was a heady scent. ‘Would you like me to tell you a bedtime story?’ he asked.
‘What story would it be?’ she said, her throat going dry. He helped her to her feet. She was quite unsteady.
‘I thought Beauty and the Beast would be appropriate.’ He paused. ‘Since I am so handsome and you are quite beastly at times.’
Jessica began laughing quietly and that broke the spell. They brushed against each other as they went out of the room. There was no madness in the moment, only a brief recognition of the contact, then moving apart.