The Village Show (Tales from Turnham Malpas) (6 page)

Friday lunchtime in The Royal Oak dining room was always busy. There was a hint of the freedom of the weekend coming up, and besides retired people enjoying their well-earned pleasures, there were plenty of villagers intent on enjoying themselves too. As they had already promised, Ron and Sheila had arrived for lunch, breathlessly later than they had intended so they were having to wait in the bar while a table became free. Ron was standing talking to Bryn with one foot on the bar rail and in his hand a pint of Bryn’s homebrewed ale. Sheik was sitting at one of the small round tables in the window sipping her gin and tonic. She was scrutinising Ron and comparing him with other older men in the bar. He’d weathered quite well really, considering. Now he’d lost weight his stomach had been reduced to more manageable proportions and the fat
around his throat, which had wobbled when he spoke, had disappeared.

The door opened and in came Sir Ralph with Muriel. She never could get used to calling her Lady Templeton. After all, Muriel had only been a solicitor’s secretary before she married Sir Ralph. My, but he was handsome. All that thick white hair and his tanned skin and that aristocratic haughty nose. Class. Yes, definitely class. Sheila waved eagerly to Muriel and she came across.

‘There’s room for the four of us if I move my handbag. Here, do sit down. It’s so busy in here today, isn’t it?’

Muriel sat down, eager to be friendly. ‘Hello, Sheila. It’s a little warmer today, isn’t it? I’m so glad the snow has almost gone. How’s Louise? Has she got a job yet?’

Sheila laughed. ‘No, not yet. She’s looking round though. Wants the kind of job she can get her teeth into. Though how she’s going to find the time I don’t know. She’s so busy at the rectory now, especially with Dr Harris being away.’

‘Of course. I haven’t heard today. Do you know how things are?’

‘Well, they’ve both had their operations and it’s simply a question of waiting to see. Six hours in the operating theatre, they say. Of course, at their age it must have been the most tremendous shock.’ Ralph brought Muriel’s drink across and then went to rejoin Ron and Bryn. ‘Louise’s helping all she can. She’s having lunch there today and looking after the twins for Sylvia this afternoon.’

‘She’s certainly keeping very busy. I understand she was hoping to join the choir. Has she done anything about that at all?’

‘Well, yes.’ Sheila drew closer to Muriel and quietly said, ‘She persuaded Gilbert Johns to give her an audition, which
of course she passed, but he’s said no way will he have women in the choir. She’s very upset about it, but she’s not given up on him yet – oh no, not my Louise.’

‘Well, if Gilbert Johns has said no I don’t see how she will change that. He’s a very quiet man but very determined where his choir is concerned. We’re really very lucky to have him, you know. He’s made it such a wonderful choir and when you think about it, for so small a village we are very privileged.’

Ralph came across, glass in hand. ‘Hello, Sheila. Everything all right with you and yours?’

‘Yes, thank you, Sir Ralph. Everything’s hunky dory. I hear Mr Fitch is opening the Village Show. Pity it couldn’t be you.’

Muriel saw Ralph’s lips press together with annoyance but his answer came out cordially enough. ‘We shall be abroad when the Show is taking place, Sheila, so the matter doesn’t arise.’

Muriel quickly decided she needed her lunch. Anything to stop Sheila putting her foot in it any more than she already had done. Sheila was renowned for annoying Ralph.

‘I think we’ll go in for lunch, Ralph. We booked for half-past one, didn’t we? If you’re ready, that is.’

‘Of course, dear. Of course. Will you excuse us, Sheila?’

To Muriel’s distress, Sheila and Ron followed them into the dining room and asked if they could share their table as it looked as if all the other diners had become glued to their chairs.

‘Would it be a bother?’ Sheila asked.

Ralph stood up, pulled out a chair for her and said, ‘Certainly not. We shall be glad of your company.’ When they had got seated they discussed the menu. Ralph said,
‘I’ll order, this is on me.’ Under the table Sheila tapped Ron’s knee with a newly lacquered bright red fingernail and he agreed to Ralph’s suggestion and thanked him for his offer. Ralph went to the food hatch and placed their orders.

They chatted about village affairs and the Show and the annual Stocks Day and how nice it was having somewhere decent in the village to eat lunch. When Ralph returned to his seat, Ron mentioned the houses Ralph was having built. ‘So glad you got permission for them. The price of houses around here is astronomical. Renting out your properties will inject new life into the place – encourage families and such. This snow has held things up though, hasn’t it?’

‘Unfortunately it has, but with luck they’ll all be completed by the middle of the summer.’

‘Have you got any tenants yet?’

Muriel eagerly explained the situation. ‘Alan here,’ she nodded her head in the direction of the barman, ‘and Linda are having one, though it won’t be ready in time for their wedding, and three of the others are already promised. So that leaves us with four tenants to find, but we’ve had lots of enquiries, haven’t we, Ralph?’

‘Yes, we have. I’m being a bit particular about the tenants. I don’t want the houses being rented by people who don’t actually
need
housing in the village. None of this business of using them as weekend hideaways. The houses must serve a definite purpose. I haven’t, or rather
we
haven’t had them built just to make money.’

Sheila, impressed by Ralph’s good intentions, said, ‘Well, I think it’s wonderful. The village needs those houses – we’re losing so many young people because they can’t afford to buy. I hear Mr Fitch is trying to snap up any
cottages going spare. He’s bought Pat’s and he’s put in a bid for one of the weekenders’ cottages, but I don’t suppose he’ll be as high-minded as you are, Sir Ralph.’

Just as Ralph was about to thank Sheila for her compliment, the dining-room door burst open and Louise stood on the threshold looking around. She spotted Sheila and Ron, smiled sweetly when she saw with whom they were dining and went to join them. Ralph stood up, and belatedly Ron did too after another dig from Sheila’s sharp fingernail.

As Sheila moved her chair closer to Ralph’s to make room for Louise, she asked, ‘Why aren’t you having lunch at the rectory? You said you were.’

Teetering between tears of disappointment and an outburst of temper, Louise said between gritted teeth: ‘They’re going to Harriet’s straight after lunch for the afternoon. Sylvia arranged it. I’ll go and order my food.’ She pushed her chair back so roughly that it almost fell over, but Ron caught it adroitly and stood it up for her.

‘Well, really! She does seem annoyed,’ Sheila whispered. ‘I wonder what made Sylvia decide to do that? It seems awfully rude.’

Trying to pour oil on troubled waters, Muriel suggested that maybe Sylvia had got her plans confused. ‘She must have so much to do with Caroline being away and the telephone to answer and things, I expect she’s got mixed up. And the children will be missing their mother, so I suppose they’ll be more difficult than usual, which won’t help. They are such dear little things but so … inventive!’

Ralph wholeheartedly agreed with Muriel, and Ron said, ‘Yes, I expect so. One at a time was enough for us. Two must be murder!’

‘Looks to me as if our Louise could commit murder. That
Sylvia is getting too big for her boots, you know. But still, Louise loves working for Peter and he’s so appreciative of what she does. She’s completely reorganising the quarterly magazine, and of course you’ll have got your copy of the parish telephone directory?’

Muriel nodded her agreement. ‘Oh yes, we have. A very good idea, that. I didn’t realise we had so many people connected with the church. I just wish they all …’

Louise returned, and as she sat down again she said, ‘I’ve been told I’m to keep to the secretarial side and have nothing to do with the children or the house. I’m permitted –
permitted
, mind – to make myself a coffee when I want as Sylvia has too much to do to be waiting on me, she says.’

Muriel grew increasingly uncomfortable at Louise’s outburst. When she’d finished speaking, Muriel said quietly, ‘I think Sylvia is overwhelmed with the responsibility and all the work, and—’

‘Oh no, Lady Templeton, it’s because Caroline has told her not to let me have anything to do with the children.’

Ralph decided to intervene. ‘Louise, I’m quite sure you’re mistaken. Caroline’s not like that.’

Louise retorted sharply, ‘Peter would be delighted for me to help with the twins, but Sylvia’s put her foot down and he’s got to go along with it, or he’ll catch it in the neck from Caroline if Madam Sylvia gives her notice in.’ Louise said how sorry she felt for Peter with two women dominating him; it wasn’t fair to him, not fair at all. He certainly didn’t deserve all the harassment he got. So engrossed was she in her sympathy for Peter, she didn’t realise that her eyes and her face glowed with love.

Muriel read the signs only too well. So did Ralph. So too did Ron. But Sheila blundered on with, ‘Well, of course he’s so lovely, so kind, he’ll let them ride roughshod over
him. You’re so perceptive, Louise, trust you to put your finger on the problem. You ask him again, he’s bound to let you help.’

Ron cleared his throat and firmly intervened. ‘Louise, you’ll not meddle in other people’s affairs. Accept the situation. After all, since when have you enjoyed children’s company? You’re better with computers and things. That’s the best way for you to help.’

‘Please don’t be telling me what to do, Dad. Haven’t you noticed I’m a grown woman now?’

‘In that case then, you should have more sense and behave like one. Finished, Sheila?’

‘Well, yes, but I want …’

‘Thank you, Ralph and you too, Muriel, for a very nice lunch. We’ll do the same for you sometime. Come along, Sheila, we’ve lots to do.’

‘Lots to do? What have we got to do then?’ But Ron took her by the elbow and hurried her out. Louise gulped down the remains of her meal and after a quick, ‘Goodbye,’ she too left.

Ralph finished the last drops of his coffee, put down his cup and said, ‘I’m afraid there’s a big problem there. Let’s hope Peter knows how to deal with it.’

‘I’m sure he does.’

‘Well, we’ll see. “A woman scorned” you know …’

Jimbo was unable to attend the next meeting of the Show committee, due to a severe cold. He’d been determined to go, but Harriet had insisted that he go to bed. ‘Next week is absolutely hectic, so if you don’t take care
this
week then it’s a sure thing you’ll be too ill to do anything
next
week. Ask Pat to go instead. After all, she’s in charge that day.’

‘Brilliant! Of course – ring her up. She’ll enjoy all the gossip. Tell her she’ll need to call round for my file with all my notes in.’

When Pat called Jimbo was in bed so Harriet gave her the notes and wished her good luck. Pat asked if there was any more news from Northumberland.

‘I babysat for them last night and Peter said Caroline’s parents were beginning to come round though they were still not out of the woods, obviously. Slight improvement, I understand. Caroline’s hoping to come home next week. She’s missing the children, to say nothing of Peter.’

‘Oh well, that’s good news. Them children are missing her and not ’alf.’

‘They are. If you don’t mind me saying, you’re looking very smart tonight. I love your suit’

‘I saw this in a closing-down sale and it fitted. Glad you like it. I didn’t really want to dress in the Oxfam shop but I’d no alternative before. I’ll make notes of anything important and let Jimbo have these back.’ She waved goodbye with the file and pushed her bike up Stocks Row.

There was plenty of laughter coming from The Royal Oak. A while since she’d been in there. If the meeting finished in good time she’d call in. See if Vera and Jimmy were in. She missed her chats over the garden wall with Vera. Pat glanced across to her old cottage as she crossed Church Lane. They’d put new windows in now. Double glazed, too – now that would have been nice. Still, not nearly as nice as where she lived now. She wouldn’t change, not for a king’s ransom. She wheeled her bike to the dark side of the church hall and put the lock on it. Yer never knew these days, not even in Turnham Malpas. The lights were on and Louise was making the coffee.

‘Hi there! Milk and sugar?’

‘Yes, please. One sugar.’

‘I’m doing the coffee with Caroline being away.’

‘She’s hoping to be back next week.’

Louise swung round quickly, almost spilling the coffee she was handing to Pat. ‘Is she? How do you know?’

‘Harriet told me.’

‘I see.’

Barry was the next to arrive. ‘Two sugars, Louise, and plenty of milk. Make it strong. A man needs something to give him stamina!’ He accepted his cup and went across to sit next to Pat. ‘Hello, Pat. You’re looking great tonight.’

‘Thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself. New jumper?’

‘Yes, Mum bought it me for Christmas. Haven’t seen you around.’

‘No, well, I’ve been busy getting the house straight.’

‘Any problems, ring for Barry. I shall be only too pleased to pop round and have a coffee in that nice kitchen of yours.’ He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a good squeeze.