A Village in Jeopardy (Turnham Malpas 16) (25 page)

‘I’d forgotten they’re coming for Christmas. Oh! Well, he’ll have to put up with the inquisition.’ Beth was delighted she’d got away with her news without too much opposition, but the thought of her granny meeting Jake was almost too much to bear. Granny would be like some kind of high executioner, interrogating him about his pedigree, his attachment to Beth and a very in-depth discussion about his future plans and most especially his earning potential.

‘Can you ask her to soft pedal her inquisition, Mum? She could frighten him off.’

Alex intervened. ‘No such luck, sister dear. She won’t frighten him off; from the way he was talking to me he’s too devoted to you.’ Alex pretended to be sick, which made Beth slap him. He just laughed and Beth flung herself out of her chair and went upstairs to avoid any more leg pulling.
I could kill him, I could, the stupid boy. Who wants a brother like Alex? Certainly not me
. . . then she stopped on the top step wondering what Jake had said about her. She raced back down the stairs, burst into the kitchen and asked, ‘What did he say to make you think he was devoted to me?’

‘Look! I hardly said a word; it was just the way he so delicately asked questions to confirm you weren’t seeing anyone else. As I said at the time, I am not my sister’s keeper so I can’t say for certain,’ he grinned, ‘but she is very captivated by the chap she’s working for at the moment, so maybe . . .’

Beth was furious. ‘I am not.’

‘I said he’s married and has five children and he’s acknowledged to be the sexiest man in the village but—’

Beth was about to slap him again.

But Alex reassured her. ‘I didn’t really, but he is thrilled to bits with you, though; I could tell by the way he tried to be casual but wasn’t, if you know what I mean.’

‘Huh!’ Beth stormed out, leaving her astonished parents cringing as the kitchen door slammed shut.

Alex drank the last of his tea, stood up and said he was going back to bed, which he did.

Peter took Caroline’s hand in his and kissed the back of it. ‘Darling, it had to happen. He’s not a bad chap. We’ll just have to get used to the idea.’

‘He’s leaving Cambridge in the summer, so you know what that means: she’ll give up her place at Cambridge and go to live with him wherever he goes. Heavens above, this isn’t what I wanted for her.’

‘It isn’t what I wanted, but it’s her life and she has to live it as she sees fit.’

Caroline swung round on him, her eyes angry. ‘Let her do that without a fight? Just let it happen when we know it isn’t for the best?’

Peter sighed. ‘It isn’t what
we
want, is it? We can advise, but we can’t make her do what we think fit. Now can we?’

Caroline collapsed back on to her chair, her face grim with concern. ‘She’s worth more than just being a prop to a man with an ego the size of . . . I don’t know, whatever. All that charm.’

‘We’ll have to hope her own good sense will prevail; after all, they are very young.’

‘Exactly, too young to have good sense. Peter, please, have a word with her. She’d listen to you.’

The doorbell rang and Peter went to answer it.

The man in question was standing on the doorstep. He held a beautiful bouquet in his hand.

‘Hope you don’t mind me calling early, sir. I wonder, can I see Beth? Is she in? If it’s inconvenient I’ll come back.’

‘Jake! Of course, please come in. I’ll give her a shout.’

Peter stepped back to allow him room.

‘Is Doctor Harris in? These are for her, as a thank you for the meals I’ve had here in the past.’

‘Yes, she is; she’s in the kitchen. Go through. I’ll tell Beth you’re here.’

Beth came down, her face glowing with pleasure.

Jake couldn’t help it, he bent his head to kiss her cheek, but she avoided him, suddenly embarrassed in front of her parents and worried by the feeling of fear she experienced as he leaned towards her.

There was an awkward silence so Caroline found something to say about her flowers. ‘Look, Beth, Jake’s brought me these flowers! Aren’t they beautifully Christmassy?’

Beth dragged her eyes away from Jake and admired the blooms. My word, they were beautiful, magnificent even. Flowers for her mother? Why?

Jake smiled at her, and it worked its magic as usual. ‘I thought we might have lunch out.’ It wasn’t a suggestion, more a decision.

‘That would be lovely. It’s still early though. Shall we have a coffee first?’

‘Yes, thanks.’

The two of them sat in the sitting room drinking coffee, feeling self-conscious and not quite knowing what to say. But Jake appeared happy just to be with her. Beth, with so many weeks of not seeing him, felt uncomfortable.

Together they both said, ‘It’s—’ and laughter broke the ice. Then Alex came in carrying a coffee and before they knew it conversation flowed. It turned out that Jake was hoping to do research when he’d got his degree.

‘Where?’ asked Alex.

It was then the bombshell landed.

‘At an American university, I hope.’

Alex and Jake discussed it and what it would mean, leaving Beth confused and upset. American? Then I’d never see him. Is he going there on purpose to avoid me? How could he? She cautioned herself to be grown up about his news. After all, they’d no mutual arrangements, no talk of living together or marriage – they simply knew each other and he was free as she was to live anywhere in the world without obligations or breaking promises. But it was hard.

‘Thing is,’ Alex was saying, ‘now’s the time to do it, when you’re completely free to do whatever you want, and it’s a marvellous opportunity. I envy you.’

Jake warmed to his theme and by the time he turned to her for her response he’d painted a very convincing argument for going.

Poor Beth muttered that it seemed a long way to go, which wasn’t what she’d determined to say. She’d meant to be sensible like Alex, but instead she’d been feeble and she could have kicked herself for it. ‘But if that’s what you want, it does sound a brilliant opportunity.’ And somewhere deep down Beth was relieved.

‘You’d approve?’

‘It’s not for me to approve or disapprove.’

‘I’d still like to know how you feel about it.’

‘Like Alex; it’s a wonderful chance, if that’s what you want and you get the offer . . . I-I-I’ll take the mugs out.’

In the kitchen, emptying the dregs of the coffee and stacking the mugs in the dishwasher, Beth wanted to weep. Great big tears of disappointment welled in her eyes, but she wouldn’t cry; she was tough. The real Beth Harris didn’t cry. But somehow . . . she was terribly mixed up. Part of her felt glad for him and relieved he was going away.

Footsteps sounded in the kitchen. It was Jake. ‘I wanted your approval. It’s only for a year. That’s no time at all.’

Beth turned to face him. ‘No, it isn’t. It’s a good opportunity for you, and just think of your CV. It will look good.’

All Jake did was kiss her forehead and squeeze her hand. ‘Dad tells me a new restaurant has opened in Culworth, so I’ve been to see it and booked a table – they’re like gold, it being near Christmas, but I persuaded them we wouldn’t take up much room. Shall we try it? For lunch? It’s much less pompous than the George.’

The expression on his face was that of a little boy pleading for approval and she couldn’t resist him. ‘It sounds lovely. I’ll go upstairs and change.’

‘America may be far away, Beth, but it won’t separate you and me. Believe me. We’ve time on our side and we mustn’t rush things. While I’m away, make a go of it at Cambridge, get your degree; you’ll never regret it.’ Then he kissed her, properly, and she almost drowned in the waves of passion that rolled over her. Shaken to the core, she raced upstairs to change.

Peter came in.

‘Sir . . .’

‘Peter, please; no one calls me sir.’

Jake cleared his throat. ‘Peter. Can I take Beth out for lunch, or will it upset your plans for today?’

‘Of course you can, and there’s no need to ask my permission. If Beth wants to go that’s OK by me. I know I can trust you to take care of her.’

‘Yes, you can. Between you and me I’m trying to persuade her to take up her offer at Cambridge. I may have a chance of research at Harvard, so I shall be well out of the way. I’ve told her she’ll always regret it if she doesn’t make a go of it. Which she will, regret it I mean; you and I both know that.’

‘Thank you for saying that. She’ll listen to you.’

Jake smiled. ‘She’ll listen to you more than me. So if we both try to—’

Peter put a finger to his lips to hush Jake as he’d heard Beth coming down the stairs.

‘Have a good lunch. If you’ve time to spare, have supper with us, Jake.’

‘Sorry, but I’ve promised Dad I’ll be home. Beth, I could take you to see my Dad – he’d be delighted if you came. He’s a good cook.’

But Beth shrank back from that. She wasn’t ready for it. Officially meeting Jake’s dad. No. She wouldn’t go. ‘I’ve things to do, sorry.’ Mustn’t get too involved, not when Jake was hoping to go to the States, gladly, willingly leaving her as though afraid to make a commitment. No way. ‘Perhaps another time.’ The feeling of relief that Jake would be in America and not crowding her surfaced again. What on earth was the matter with her? Beth couldn’t reconcile the Jake she liked and the Jake she didn’t.

In the middle of that night Beth woke up. She was right under the duvet and dripping sweat all over her body. She pushed the duvet down to her waist and lay there terrified by the images that were teeming through her head. She was somewhere hot, and huge moist green leaves were touching her face; she pushed them away and still the leaves kept covering her face, and then it was branches crowding in on her, then it was the smell of someone else’s sweat – rank unwashed sweat, that suffocated her. There was no escape. Somewhere Alex was shouting as though he was raving mad. She began screaming and screaming but whoever it was kept coming closer. She was somewhere tropical surely, and she couldn’t get her breath.

Then her mother’s voice cut through the fear. ‘Darling! Whatever’s the matter? Calm down, love – you’re safe at home.’ Caroline took hold of her, flung the duvet off her completely and sat on the bed.

‘Come on, love, it’s Mum.’ She hugged Beth to calm her nerves, saying, ‘These jimjams are soaking. Let’s change them; there’ll be a fresh pair in the drawer.’

Caroline found some and went back to the bed to help Beth pull the sweaty ones off.

‘No! No! Leave me alone. Go away! Please, just go away!’

‘Please, Beth, let me take them off.’

But Beth began screaming again. Peter came in and in a moment they could hear Alex stumbling down the stairs from his attic bedroom. ‘It’s the nightmares again, Dad. Come on, Beth, you’re all right; it’s me. Alex.’ He took hold of her hand and shouted, ‘You’re home, you’re safe.’

‘Beth! It’s Dad here. It’s Mum and Alex holding your hands, darling. You’re absolutely safe.’

Peter’s reassuring voice brought a small measure of calm to Beth, but she was still shaking and fighting to escape. ‘Let me go. I’ve got to get away. Alex! Alex!’

‘I’m here, Beth. He’s dead. Absolutely dead. I’ll bury him.’

‘Not here, not here.’

‘No, not here, much further away from where we sleep.’

Beth took great deep breaths and, reassured by Alex’s promise, began to calm down.

Caroline sent Alex down to make tea for the four of them. ‘We’ll all go sit in our bedroom, Beth, and have a cup of tea, right? Now you’re feeling better.’

Peter disappeared to pull the little table out in their bedroom ready for the tray of tea. Caroline persuaded Beth to put dry jimjams on and then they slowly made their way across the landing. Every now and again she gave great gulps as though endeavouring to still her fast-beating heart.

There was nothing to say. Peter knew, Alex knew and obviously Beth knew, but Caroline didn’t, because she’d never been told what had happened in Africa to so seriously traumatise Beth. But for some reason the event, whatever it was, had reared its ugly head again. What on earth had triggered it? Bury him, bury who? And heavens above, how had the two of them finished up with a dead body to dispose of in the first place?

Caroline poured the tea out with hands that shook with distress. She knew it was six years that the three of them had kept this secret because Beth and Alex were thirteen just before they left for Africa. Some secret.

Very softly Caroline said, ‘Don’t you think it’s time I knew?’

‘Not right now, Caroline, please.’

‘Not right now, Peter? When then?’

Peter shook his head. ‘Just not right now.’

Alex handed Beth the biscuit tin. ‘Nothing like a biscuit with a cup of tea. Take one, go on.’

But Beth refused.

‘Mum?’

‘No, thanks, Alex. I’m asking questions here and I haven’t heard anyone answer me yet.’

Peter said, ‘In the circumstances there is no answer for you at the moment. Later?’

Caroline shrugged and turned her mind to practicalities. ‘Finished your tea, Beth? I’m going to change the sheets on your bed – they’re so damp. Would you like Dad to sleep in your bed, and you sleep with me? Just for tonight.’