Jake had been very tempted to give Beth a kiss as he was leaving, but one look at Peter’s face and he changed his mind. He could tell the Rector had weighed him up and found him wanting. Those all-seeing eyes of his! Oh well, there was always Janey from down the road. She was proving very accommodating, was Janey, and she hadn’t a father who wore a dog collar. What’s more, like his own ‘uncle’, her father didn’t really care what she did, so that saved a lot of bother.
Then he wished he hadn’t thought that, because the mysterious something that he had for Beth plagued him when he got to bed and he couldn’t get to sleep. She’d looked so beautiful in her blue costume. It made her look like paintings of the Virgin Mary you saw in books, which in a way she was with her innocence, which her dad was only trying to protect. He’d make it up to Peter tomorrow by turning up at church. That would prove his good intentions where Beth was concerned.
At home in Glebe House the Queen and the Earl of Leicester were removing their costumes, delighted with the brilliant success of their evening.
‘That mead! Heavens above, it’s a wonder they weren’t all laid out on the floor. Did you see Maggie? She must have been unconscious for nearly half an hour. It was all such splendid fun, wasn’t it, though? I’m so glad we did it.’
‘You acted your part wonderfully well, Merc. Very regal, I thought.’
‘I felt so nervous, but it worked out OK, didn’t it?’
‘Absolutely terrific, and the Fitches enjoyed themselves, too. He’s not nearly so stiff and starchy when you get to know him. Did you know he’s asked me to play golf with him one day?’
‘He has?’
‘Yes. I’m really pleased. Everyone needs a friend.’
Merc’s hand shook as she placed a necklace back in its box. Her instincts told her there was something ruthless about Craddock Fitch, and it worried her, but Ford didn’t appear to feel that way. ‘Mmm.’
‘What do you think?’ By now Ford was in his pyjamas and heading for the bathroom.
‘We’ll wait and see.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘Like I said. He’ll probably forget all about it, anyway.’
‘Oh, no. We are chums now, since I saw through him and told him so straight from the shoulder.’
‘Just watch your step, Ford. I don’t trust him an inch.’
‘What is there not to trust? He’s like me, pulled himself up out of the mire and doing rather nicely, thank you.’
‘You won’t listen, will you?’
‘When have I ever slipped up about anything? Eh?’
Merc dropped her nightdress over her head and, as her face emerged, she said, ‘There’s always a first time and he’s the very one to do it without batting an eyelid, because he has no conscience whatsoever. The only one he cares about is himself . . . well, and Kate. He does care about her, I can see that.’
‘Look, Merc, what on earth could he do that would harm us? We’ve left all that ducking and diving behind, haven’t we? A new start, new house, new everything.’ He gently kissed her cheek. ‘Just enjoy yourself - that’s what this new start is all about, enjoying ourselves, with plenty of money to do it.’ ‘You’re right.’
But when Merc finally got into bed her heart was heavy and she dreamed about Ford locked up, dressed in an outfit with arrows all over it and her staring through bars at him, with tears streaming down her cheeks. She comforted herself by blaming it on the mead.
Chapter 16
Despite their late night, everyone at the Rectory was at morning service at 10 a.m. as usual, Peter having already conducted early Communion at 8 a.m. Beth felt very odd and it required a lot of self-control not to wobble about as she walked. It was the mead, she guessed. She’d drunk far too much of it.
How, how she’d longed for Jake to share breakfast with her at home, but her dad was still distant with her at breakfast, and that was very unusual for him, because he didn’t harbour grievances overnight, so she knew things were decidedly touchy. But she realised why, because she’d been devastated, too, when Jake had grabbed her hand and dragged her in front of Merc and Ford. But she wouldn’t let herself care. After all, the whole event was pretence, every single minute of it, so it simply didn’t matter.
Just before the service started - in fact, only a minute before it all began - there was Jake standing in the aisle, looking at the three of them sitting in the Rectory pew. Beth’s heart leapt with joy. She scarcely recognised him. On the school coach he wore his uniform, Prince Henry’s being old-fashioned and not allowing the sixth-formers to wear casual clothes, and she was used to that, but this morning he wore a smart suit, a really smart tie and, when she looked down at his feet, highly polished shoes, too. He’d done all this for her sake. Her heart swelled with pride. He looked so good, so incredibly handsome.
‘Good morning, Doctor Harris, may I join you?’
Caroline looked up and instantly knew he was trying to curry favour with Peter. She moved her feet so he could squeeze past her and sit next to Beth.
Jake took Beth’s hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it, and Beth loved him for it. Alex made a point of showing his disgust by pretending to vomit, so she kicked his ankle. Why on earth had she been given a brother? God, he was awful.
Jake swiftly found his way through the service, finding the right places at the right moment, with no fumbling or hesitation, which made her prouder still, because she knew he never went to church, ever, and here he was behaving as a regular churchgoer should. He could sing, too - a light tenor, she judged - and she blushed bright red when he caught her admiring him singing.
At the point when the choir sang their anthem, the entire congregation was amazed to see Ford Barclay step forward, obviously about to sing the solo part. Gilbert Johns gathered the eyes of every member of his choir and they burst into song. Everyone knew Ford was a member of the choir but had no idea he was good enough to sing solo. But was he? More than one cringed at the prospect.
His glorious voice rose to the rafters in the manner of an Italian tenor, impressive, pitch-perfect. Ford gave everyone a wonderful experience and the rest of the choir rose to the occasion. A moment of silence greeted the conclusion of the anthem and then, spontaneously, the congregation burst into applause. A restrained murmur of delight ran through the church as the choir sat down and Ford returned to his place.
For Beth, apart from her appreciation of Ford’s big moment, the entire service passed in a mist while she planned how to get Jake invited to lunch. But she needn’t have bothered because her dad did it himself, much to her total astonishment. She began to suspect he was hatching some kind of plot to discredit Jake, but as the time wore on and they’d had coffee, sat talking in the sitting room and eaten lunch, which happened to be another of Mum’s triumphs, Beth began to relax. So Dad wasn’t being devious. But what was he doing?
There was an antiques fair in the village hall in Little Derehams that afternoon, and as a way of escaping parental supervision Jake suggested he and Beth went to see it. ‘We could go on our bikes.’
Beth quickly agreed, went upstairs to change, hoping he wouldn’t suggest detouring into Sykes Wood on the way. But he didn’t. He was courteous, thoughtful and chatty.
In some stretches of the road to Little Derehams they cycled one behind the other as the road was so narrow, then as they cycled side by side when the road was wide enough Jake said, ‘Considering your brother beat me up the other week he has been uncommonly friendly.’
Beth’s brakes shuddered her bike to a stop. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Didn’t you know?’ Instantly he regretted mentioning the fight, because now she’d ask the hows and the whys, and before he knew it he’d be on the rack . . .
‘I did not. He’s never said a word. What made him do it? When? That’s not like him.’
Jake had to lie. ‘I think it was because we went for that walk that Saturday.’
‘That’s ridiculous. I’m going home to challenge him about it. Right now.’ She turned her bike round.
Jake put his hand on her handlebars. ‘Don’t do that. It’ll spoil our afternoon together. I like your parents but being on our own is much more fun.’ He leaned across and kissed her mouth, and kissed it again and then once more, and he felt her calm down. ‘There, let’s push on. He didn’t mean anything by it, honestly, and I wasn’t hurt.’ He remembered his heavily bruised ribs and stiff jaw, and knew he’d lied again, but it was all in a good cause. To his relief Beth agreed, having loved his kisses and, like him, wanting to spend time together. They chained their bikes together outside the village hall and wandered in.
They dutifully paid their entrance fee and set off round the stalls. There were a few things they fancied but didn’t buy, and then they bumped into Merc and Ford. There was no way of pretending not to have seen them, the hall was too small for that. Beth was horrified. They’d be bound to say something about Jake being at their party last night. But they never mentioned it, not a word, and Ford suggested that they all sat in the little café and had a drink and some cake.
‘Would you like that, Beth?’ Merc asked. ‘I can imagine what it’s like being short of money when you’re still at school.’
‘Thank you. That would be lovely, wouldn’t it, Jake?’
Jake nodded.
So they sat down together and ate slices of lemon cake oozing with lemon curd. Jake and Ford had a second slice, and Ford ordered another pot of tea. They chatted away as though they were lifelong friends, which seemed odd with people their age, but the two of them made it so easy to talk.
‘How did you get here?’ Ford asked.
‘Well, I’ve been to lunch at the Rectory and we’ve come on our bikes.’
‘In that case, I’ll put the bikes in our 4x4 and drive you back. It’s a long way uphill for Beth and it’s on our way. Finished?’
Before they left Jake helped Ford to load a 1930s solid oak bureau they’d bought into the back of the 4x4. ‘Merc saw it and it reminded her of one her granny used to have. It’s the genuine thing, you see. Needs a bit of cleaning up, but it’ll be all right. Thanks, Jake.’ Then he leaned towards him and said quietly, ‘Didn’t know Beth had a boyfriend.’
Beth overheard him and blushed furiously when Jake answered, ‘We’re just friends, you know, that’s all. Her brother Alex goes to the same school as me.’
‘Ah! Right.’
She’d thought they were more than just ‘friends’, that he was her friend not Alex’s. She wanted to cry. Was that how he really saw her? As Alex’s sister?
They stopped outside Glebe House for Jake to help Ford lift the bureau out and carry it into the house, then he and Beth lifted their bikes out and wheeled them along to the Rectory.
Jake stood holding his bike. ‘I’ll just come in and thank your mother for lunch and then I’ll go,’ he said.
‘I see. Don’t worry, I’ll give her your thanks.’ Her voice was tight and squeaky because she was so upset. But she was glad he was going home, and hated the thought of seeing him on the school coach the next morning. She’d probably not even acknowledge him, not after what he’d said to Ford. ‘See you then.’
Jake took hold of her hand and squeezed it, ‘Did you mind me coming to church? Was it all right?’
‘Of course. After all, you are Alex’s friend. I’ll take my bike round the back. See you Monday.’
She felt shrivelled inside, smaller and insignificant. How could he? How
could
he? Not even a kiss. What had she done wrong? Expected too much, pushed things along too fast? She hadn’t, though. Dad had warned him off and that had made him cool it. He, her dad, was to blame. Tears formed in her eyes, but she couldn’t let them, because before she knew it Dad would be comforting her and she could not allow that, because she wouldn’t be able to be cross with him then.
She stormed in through the back door ready for battle. Caroline was reading the Sunday paper.
‘Where’s Alex, Mum?’
‘Doing his prep.’
‘Huh! Typical. Dad?’
‘In the study.’
Beth crossed the hall, and though the study door was shut she burst in without knocking, which she knew from babyhood was not permitted. She’d always accepted it as a fact of life and never questioned it, but today . . . life-long restrictions were for casting aside.