Loving

'But then who was it dear?' Kate asked at last.

'Oh I never saw his face only the top of his head like I told you where he was going thin. It was the Captain make no mistake.'

They giggled a bit more at this then Kate wanted to know if she had not asked old Aggie Burch.

'Hush Kate she'll hear,' Edith said, 'but if you'd seen her face you could never've questioned her.'

'Look I'll just sluice some cold water over me and then I'll get down to the 'all,' Kate answered. 'I wouldn't miss the look she'll be wearin' for nothing in the world, not for a 'ug from an old ugly bastard of a tinker even,' she said.

'An old ugly what? Why Kate Armstrong whatever are you saying?'

'Forget it dearie. There,' she said throwing her towel down, 'I'm off.' And Edith had to rush so as not to be left out below. But where Kate made straight to the servants' hall Edith struck right-handed for the pantry. She was in luck, Raunce was there yet. The moment she saw him she seemed overjoyed. With for her an altogether extraordinary animation she fairly danced up. He stood as though embarrassed, fumbling his nose, squinting.

'Why Charley,' she laughed, 'what d'you know?'

'Yes,' he said solemn.

'Well then isn't this a knock out?' she asked. 'An' it happened to me,' she added. 'After all these years.'

'Now steady on lass there's my lad Bert to consider.'

'Bert?' she asked. 'Why 'e's getting our breakfast or should be at this hour. Why what about him?'

'That lad ain't of an age yet,' Mr Raunce replied but he spoke as though in apology. She quietened down, stopped rocking backwards and forwards and ceased almost pushing her flushed face into his.

'Well aren't you glad?' she went on after a minute, 'for me I mean,' she mocked.

'I can't make you out at all,' he answered.

'Why there's all those stories you've had, openin' this door and seeing that when you were in a place in Dorset and lookin' through the bathroom window down in Wales an' suchlike oh I've heard you or Kate has and now it's come to me. Right a'bed they was next to one another. Stuff that in your old smelly pipe and smoke it.' She began once more to force her body on his notice, getting right up to him then away again, as though pretending to dance. Then she turned herself completely round in front of his very eyes. He seemed ill at ease.

'But how would you know it was me?' she asked suddenly stopping.

'Miss Burch,' he replied. 'It come as a big surprise. I didn't guess she'd have the sense of right and wrong to acquaint me. But I shouldn't pay attention to this mess up if I was you.'

'What d'you mean pay no attention?' she asked and she spoke angry.

'What they see fit to do is no concern of our own,' he said still watching her as if ashamed and surprisingly he yawned.

'You mean you're going to make nothing of it just because I found 'em? The Captain in Mrs Jack's bed?' She blushed, with anger perhaps. 'You're going to try and take that from me?' Take it from you how's that?' he asked.

'Take it away from me,' she repeated and her eyes filled beautifully with tears.

'Honey,' he said calling her this for the first time, 'you don't want to go and talk, see, or you'll likely lose your place?'

'Lose my place?' she echoed, 'I should worry in this lousy hole.'

'Without a reference,' he added, 'you mark what I say.'

'I should worry,' she repeated and for the moment looked as if she might burst out crying. He put on a grin. He looked appealing and upset.

'What they do is no concern of us,' he said again. 'And there's the National bloody Service Officer waitin' for you over on the other side.'

'Don't you swear at me of all people,' she answered. Turning on her heel she actually ran out in the direction of the servants' hall.

Breakfast that morning took place at first in utter silence. Even Kate looked down her nose. Raunce fidgeted and often glanced quickly at Edith who was hurried in everything she did. But as for Miss Burch she could not eat anything at all hardly. Her hand shook so she spilled the tea from out her cup. Only Paddy behaved as usual, concentrated on his food.

Before this meal was done Miss Burch hastened out by the scullery door. She passed through to the kitchen. But Mrs Welch sat adamant with little Albert and barely looked round to return Agatha's dark good morning. So Miss Burch went off to her room to be alone. Meantime Charley spoke up in the hall. There's someone got to take the breakfast tray,' he said.

'Oh I couldn't,' Edith said at once, 'I'd spill it on that bed.' It was for her to answer because it was her duty each morning.

There'll need be two trays,' Kate put in sly.

There will not,' Raunce replied his eyes on Bert, 'the other party left the Castle first thing by pedal bicycle,' he said.

The Captain?' Bert asked, 'I seen 'im as I was doin' the brass.' It was probably instinct made the lad continue as he did. 'What room did he occupy then?' he enquired.

'Ah you may well ask boy,' Raunce answered solemn. At that Edith broke out with, 'I'm surprised at you Mr Raunce I am really, that you should make a mystery out of nothing.' She seemed furious and Kate watched avidly. 'Listen Bert,' Edith went on, 'the Captain 'e spent the night in my lady's bed next 'er, an' she was nude I saw, only they overslept the two of them as I know from when I went to open the room in the morning. And don't you let anyone tell you different because it was me found it and called Aggie Burch so there.'

'I'll bet they overslept,' Kate announced while Raunce's lad gaped at Edith. Raunce could not let this pass.

'That's enough thank you my gel,' he said, 'I'll thank you…' he was going on when a great braying laugh started out of the lamp-man. It swelled. It filled the room. Raunce said, 'Look what you've done,' and in his turn began to laugh. Kate joined in. So at last did Edith. These two girls did not giggle this time, they both deeply laughed. Only Bert was left as if embarrassed, twisting a fork over and over on the table.

'Why?' Raunce threw out at the first pause and in Nanny Swift's falsetto. 'All night? And in the same bed as well? Oh dear.'

'And I hope she enjoyed it there,' Kate pronounced, become serious.

'Now Kate!' Edith said starting to blush. Raunce watched.

'I got nothing against 'er,' Kate went on. 'She's all right she is.; Because it's not natural for a married woman with 'er 'usband away i' at the war. Not that Mr Jack ever was…' but at this Raunce interrupted loud.

'Now then,' he said, 'what d'you know about bein' a married woman?'

'Not that 'e ever was much to go on with,' Kate finished dogged.

'You can say what you please,' Edith replied scarlet and they could all see that she was truly angry still. 'But 'e tried to get me in a dark corner one morning just the same,' she said.

'E didn't,' Raunce broke out.

'Oh there's no call for you to fash yourself Mr Raunce, there was I no harm done nor offence taken if you're so keen to learn.'

'I'm sure it's no concern of mine,' he said and seemed on tenterhooks.

'Now you mention it I wouldn't say he'd never made a grab at me,' Kate brought out in a small voice. With great calmness Raunce commented, 'You surprise me.'

'You don't like to say he'd never but you never have said he did,' Edith cried and seemed to accuse.

'O. K. dear O. K. I know you found Mrs Jack and the Captain.'

'Of course I found 'em,' Edith remarked subsiding.

'Well now who's going to take her tray?' Raunce asked. Tell you what, I will.'

'But that would give 'er the idea you thought the Captain was up there yet,' Edith objected.

'Go on then I'll take the old tray,' Kate offered.

'Then she'll think I'm on to what she was doing last night,' said Edith.

'Well so she must if you did discover 'em.'

'All right dear I needs must then even if I should drop it,' Edith announced as she got up from table. She stood there and looked full at Raunce.