âI must say that I wouldn't want to earn my living by selling houses at the moment,' said Henry. He looked troubled. âHave they actually sold it?'
âYes.' Gussie turned back a sheet or two. âApparently a naval friend had always coveted it and gave them a good price. Nell's going down next week to move the furniture out. She says that they'll have to sell that, too. There's no room at the flat for it all.' Gussie looked sombre. âIt must be a frightful blow for her.'
âShe mustn't sell the furniture,' declared Henry. âWrite to her, Gussie. Better still, telephone her. Tell her to have the stuff brought here. We've masses of space to store it for her. She may want it later on when they get another home. She mustn't lose everything.'
Gussie looked at him with great affection. âThat is a very kind offer, Henry dear. Nell will appreciate it, I know. She had all her special things there. It was her little retreat. Poor child. I do wonder if they're not getting into difficulties.' She sighed. âNell's a very private person and it's not easy to know exactly what is happening. It must have been something very serious for her to sell her little cottage.'
âIt must be dreadful to lose your home.' Henry looked quite shocked. âAsk her if there's anything we can do.'
âI will, of course.' Gussie folded the sheets and put them by her plate. âPoor Nell. She used to so look forward to her little holidays there. And Jack will be very upset. Which will make it even worse for her, of course. She'll have nowhere to take him now.'
âThey must come here,' said Henry at once. âTell her that too when you speak to her. There's plenty of room for all of them and plenty to do. They'll be welcome any time they wish to come.'
âOh, Henry.' Gussie rarely let her emotions have a free rein but her eyes felt rather prickly and she blinked a little. She cleared her throat. âThat is extremely generous. I know that Nell will be very touched. You know, she was so very good to me â¦'
Gussie fished her handkerchief out of her sleeve and blew her nose loudly. Henry, who knew just how good Nell had been, smiled at her.
âI shall love it,âhe said. âNethercombe was made to have lots of people in it.'
âJust what I always say myself.' Gillian strolled in and smiled sleepily at them. âGood morning. Are you thinking of having a party, Henry?'
âWell, actually, I think I might be.' Henry beamed at her. âIt's time we had the people up from the Courtyard. You haven't met Guy yet, have you, Gillian? And the Beresfords are down next week for their holiday. It's time we all got together. We may even have Nell here.'
âOh?' Gillian sounded unenthusiastic. âWhy?'
âShe's on her way back from somewhere,' he said blandly while Gussie looked at him in surprised admiration. âAnd we may have something to celebrate.' He picked up one of his letters. âIt looks as if Gussie may have sold another cottage for us!'
âHenry!' Gussie sat bolt upright in her chair. âOh! How wonderful! Mrs Henderson?'
âThat's right. Pretty good, isn't it? I'm going in to see Mr Ellison this morning. Want to discuss the offer with him. Better get on.'
âWonders will never cease.' Gillian yawned and poured herself some coffee as Henry pushed back his chair and went out. âI'm beginning to hope he might be human after all.'
Gussie opened her mouth to speak, thought better of it and shut it again.
âI must make a telephone call,' she said. âYou'll have to excuse me.' She gathered up Nell's letter and disappeared into the hall.
âOnly too willingly,' muttered Gillian, gazing with distaste at what remained of breakfast.
She drank her coffee and thought about the proposed party. She'd need something new to wear, especially if Nell were coming. It occurred to her that John might be coming too and her eyes narrowed a little and a tiny smile played around her lips. Definitely, something new would be required. She'd telephone Lydia and scrounge some lunch and have a potter round the shops.
âFinished then?' Mrs Ridley stood in the doorway.
Gillian's smile widened. âHaven't even started,' she said. âNothing worth eating. Never mind. Don't let me hold you up.'
She got up, taking her coffee cup with her, and, bowing ironically as Mrs Ridley stood aside for her, she passed through the hall and went back upstairs.
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IN THE END, AT Gillian's insistence and in the face of Henry's protests, it turned out to be a pool party. With the aid of Mr Ridley and Bill Beresford, Gillian transformed the dilapidated if spacious summerhouse tucked away beside the swimming pool. They painted and creosoted, cleaned the windows, refelted the roof, laid new rush matting on the floor and installed comfortable Lloyd Loom chairs that Gillian found in various unused bedrooms. When she was satisfied with it, she went off in her car and returned with a barbecue. Bill Beresford assembled and erected it whilst Mr Ridley strung fairy lights in the branches of the rhododendron bushes and by the time everything was ready the whole setting looked delightful. Even Henry decided that it might be quite fun after all.
Late in the afternoon of the day before the party, Nell had arrived, to be followed, in due course, by a removal van, and Gussie showed her upstairs where the furniture was to be put.
âBut these are bedrooms, Gussie,' said Nell anxiously. âWon't Henry want to use them? Not that I mind if he uses our furniture but even so â¦'
âHenry wants to feel that you can come and stay with all your things round you,' said Gussie. âNow please don't worry,' she added quickly, seeing a variety of emotions struggling on Nell's face. âGood heavens! There are so many empty rooms that it won't make any difference at all. We thought this bedroom for you and John, you see,
because it's got a dressing room off it which could be used as a little sitting room. And there's another room next door for Jack.'
âWait a minute, Gussie.' Nell shook her head. âWhat do you mean? You make it sound as if we're about to move in with you.'
âNo, no, dear. Of course not. I explained to you when we spoke on the telephone. Henry hopes very much that you'll spend your holidays here now that you can't go to the cottage. And he wants you to be comfortable and feel at home. He thought having your own things would help.' She peered at Nell, praying that she wouldn't be too proud to accept the offer. âWe'd be so happy, Nell,' she pleaded, âif you thought you could come. I've missed you so much and Henry was so taken with Jack. It's a wonderful place for a child.'
âOh, Gussie.' Nell looked quite desperate. âIt's amazingly kind of him, of all of you, but honestly, I can't just use Nethercombe as a hotel. It's terribly good of Henry to store my furniture. I would have hated to sell it. But I wasn't angling for a private suite â¦' She swallowed and walked over to the window.
Gussie watched her. She guessed very accurately at the loss of pride as well as the pain that Nell must be suffering and made no attempt to insult her by attempting to belittle it or gloss over it.
âIt was selfish of us,' she said quietly to Nell's back. âI realise that. We were so delighted at the thought of seeing more of you that we didn't really think about how you might see it. I hope you'll forgive us. You must do whatever is right for you.'
âI'm sorry.' Nell turned back. She looked exhausted. âI'm being quite unreasonable and very ungrateful. It's been rather dreadful, packing everything up and leaving the cottage.' Gussie nodded understandingly, privately shocked that John had allowed her to make this particular trip alone, but she said nothing and Nell attempted a smile. âI should love to think that we could come to Nethercombe and I know Jack would be quite beside himself. It's so generous of you all.'
âNo more generous,' said Gussie, âthan you were to me in Bristol. Oh yes,' she said firmly, as Nell made as though to speak, âI know that
I couldn't have managed without you. So please, my dear, shall we just look upon it as a kind of
quid pro quo?
Could you do that? Just until things improve again for you? It would give me so much happiness.'
âPut like that, how can I possibly refuse? Thank you. It will be wonderful to think that we can come and see you all.'
âThen that's settled.' Gussie's relief was palpable. âNow you're going to have something to eat and when the van arrives I'll see to it. There's to be a little party tomorrow beside the pool so Gillian's busy getting things ready and Henry's off somewhere but you'll see them both later.'
Nell, following Gussie downstairs, was too tired to make any more objections. The thought of a party was too horrific for words but she felt that it would be churlish to make any more protests. Perhaps tomorrow she would feel more up to it.
In fact, she almost enjoyed it. Although it was now September the weather was very warm and several guests swam while Bill Beresford instructed Henry in the art of barbecuing. Nell sat in the dim interior of the summerhouse, her mind pleasantly dulled by fatigue and wine, and made no attempt to be anything but an onlooker. She met people whose names she almost immediately forgot and wished she could spend the rest of her life sitting in this comfortable chair, watching the twilight gather in the rosy sky, whilst the murmuring of voices and clinking of glasses surged and ebbed around her. Bats darted among the shadowy branches of the trees and presently a slender silver arc of moon appeared above the roofs of the Courtyard cottages. The fairy lights twinkled like multicoloured stars, casting their reflection in the water below, and people moved to and fro like actors in a play.
The strain of the last two years, culminating in the shock of having to sell the cottage and finding herself pregnant, had left Nell feeling quite light-headed in this magic setting. Reality had drawn off from her and she wondered if she might wake tomorrow and find that none of these dreadful things had happened. She was aware that someone had come into the summerhouse and she saw now that it was the young man to whom Gillian had been speaking earlier beside the pool. He was tall
and dark with an unsmiling countenance and cool grey eyes. Nell was almost too relaxed to acknowledge his presence but she roused herself enough to smile and he took the chair that stood next to hers.
âI don't think we've been introduced,' he said and his voice was warmer and more flexible than she had expected. âI'm Guy Webster. I live down in the Courtyard.'
âI'm Nell Woodward.' Even as she spoke, she felt again the sense of unreality and gave a little chuckle. Guy looked more closely at her. âI'm sorry,' she said, still chuckling a little, âI feel as if I've stumbled on an enchanted scene. You know. Like Bottom and Titania.'
âWell, I've certainly been called an ass often enough â¦' began Guy cautiously and Nell burst out laughing.
âNo, no,' she protested. âIt's nothing personal. Don't take any notice of me.' She made an attempt to be social. âAre you happy in the Courtyard?'
âOh, I think so.' She was aware of his eyes studying her in the shadows. âHave you bought one of the cottages, by any chance?'
âGood heavens, no.' Nell shook her head. âIn fact, I've just been selling my cottage. I moved out yesterday.'
She fell silent, unwilling to be drawn back into the present. Guy simply couldn't stop looking at her. He was mesmerised by her unearthly beauty and they sat without movement or speech for some time. Presently Nell stirred and, as if a spell had been broken, Guy leaned towards her.
âAnother drink?'
âI'm not sure that I should have any more,' said Nell reflectively. âIt seems to be having a very strange effect on me. I feel most peculiar.'
âMaybe you're tired,' suggested Guy. âIf you moved house yesterday you must be feeling the effect today. Do you live round here?'
âI live in Bristol,' answered Nell reluctantly. The magic was beginning to fade and the familiar sensations of weariness and fear were hovering close at hand. âPerhaps I will have another drink after all.'
Guy stood up and took her glass. He hesitated for a moment but,
before he could speak, Gillian appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a long black sinuous garment that clung to her slender figure and accentuated her fair hair.
âIt looks as if we're going to be able to eat at last,' she said, her glance flitting between the two of them. âBurnt offerings all round! Coming, Guy?'
âOh, yes. Right.' Guy paused and looked at Nell. âAre you ⦠?'
âI'll be there in a minute. You carry on.' Nell nodded, encouraging him to go, feeling an almost desperate longing to be alone again, to recapture that glorious feeling of light-headed peace. âHonestly. I'm not terribly hungry. And don't bother with that drink. Like you said, I'm very tired.'
âSuit yourself,' said Gillian easily. âPlenty of time.'
Guy followed her with a backward glance at Nell who tried to relax back into her former state of mind. It eluded her. All she could think of now was the cottage: empty, abandoned, no longer her refuge; of John: sullen, silent, wary and unapproachable; of Jack: in Tuscany somewhere with friends, not knowing that he was to have a sibling. Finally she thought of herself, the child she was carrying and how she would deal with all these separate problems.
There was a burst of laughter and a black, feathery cloud, silver edged, hid the moon from sight. Nell stood up and slipped away, passing through the little wrought-iron gate on to the path which led up to the house. In the hall, she paused for a moment. Mrs Ridley, who was putting out coffee cups in the drawing room, saw her and came out to her.
âI'm going up to bed, Mrs Ridley. I feel very tired all of a sudden. Goodnight.'
âYew'll want a bottle.' It was a statement. âAn' a nice 'ot drink, p'raps.'
âOh, no, no. It's really kind but I'm perfectly OK.'
âHmm.' Mrs Ridley gave a disbelieving snort. â'Tisn't no trouble to do a bottle. An' there's a pan o' milk on the stove, ready for the coffee. They'll all be in, wantin' somethin' to warm 'em up. Seems
daft to me, sittin' out there in the dark, bein' bit to death by midges. Go on up. I'll be there direckly.'
Nell had no energy to protest. She climbed the stairs, visited the bathroom and went into her bedroom. How odd it looked, this high, large room with her cottagey furniture in it! Nevertheless she was glad to see her old friends placed around the room and her heart lifted a fraction. She was standing at the window, gazing out at the fields and woods, shadowy and mysterious, when Mrs Ridley arrived, a hot-water bottle under one stout arm and a mug of hot milk in her hand.
âThere d'be nuthin' like a bit o' warmth when yew'm breedin',' she said comfortably, putting the bottle into the bed. She brought the mug to where Nell stood. âDrink it âot, now.'
âBreeding?' Nell faltered a little over the word as she took the milk obediently.
Mrs Ridley gave her a quick glance up and down. âThree months?' she hazarded. âNot more 'n four.'
âThree. But nobody knows yet, Mrs Ridley. Please don't say anything. I can't imagine how you guessed. I don't want anyone to know just yet.'
Mrs Ridley's mouth relaxed into what, for her, passed as a smile.
âI shan't say nuthin'. Yew get to bed now an' rest. âTis a tricky ol' time, the third month. Movin' 'ouse 'n I don't know what all!'
Clicking her tongue disapprovingly, Mrs Ridley passed from the room and Nell undressed quickly and climbed between the warm sheets. She lay propped against the pillows, sipping the slightly oddtasting milk and listening to an owl in the woods. It was only after she'd set down the mug and was almost asleep that it occurred to her that Mrs Ridley had laced the milk with brandy.
Â
HENRY SAW NELL GO and caught Gussie's eye questioningly. Gussie shook her head. She guessed that Nell needed to be alone and she intended to see that her privacy was respected. Gussie was enjoying herself enormously. The guests treated her as though she were
almost part owner of Nethercombe with Henry and she revelled in this wonderful feeling of belonging. She'd needed her mantra less and less since she'd been here, although her gratitude to the Almighty had increased more and more as her blessings pressed in upon her. Truly her cup was running over. She moved among their friends and her heart was full of happiness. Only Nell was a cause for concern. Even Gillian seemed quieter just lately, less provocative, readier to adapt. Perhaps her first instinct had been wrong and all Gillian needed was time. She shivered a little in the cool night air and wondered if the moment had come to shepherd everyone indoors.
The same idea had already occurred to Gillian, whose dress was not designed for warmth, and she was already encouraging people up towards the house. The party had been a great success and Gillian was puzzled that her enjoyment of it had been rather muted. She was not even particularly disappointed at her singular lack of success with Guy or annoyed at his obvious interest in Nell. She had felt this strange listlessness ever since her lunch with Sam Whittaker; she simply couldn't get him out of her mind. She was beginning to realise that her first sensations of nervousness should have warned her that this relationship was going to be unlike anything she'd known before. She imagined that it would take the usual course but Sam seemed to be in no hurry to get her into bed and she was confused. They'd met several times now but Sam seemed much more interested in their project than in seriously pursuing her and Gillian began to wonder if she were mistaken in his intentions. She found him immensely attractive and this tendency to hold her at arm's length only fascinated and excited her more. During their discussions, she would catch an expression in his eye or he would run his finger across the back of her hand and she would know, without doubt, that he felt exactly as she did. But as the days passed and he made no move, doubt would creep back and she felt uncertain and off balance. Her ambition to find an investor for his scheme grew strong and she was determined to achieve it, and not just because of the handsome commission he'd promised her.