'Hello Rosie, what a lovely surprise to hear from you,' said Jimmy, cheerfully, when he came to the phone. 'How are you all down in the country?'
'I'm very well, Jimmy, but I am not ashamed to admit that I am very lonely. Papa and Mama are away, Jonathan is out playing tennis and Uncle Gordon is not much company for me. Would it be possible for you to come and visit me? We could spend lots of time together, just the two of us.' I was tempted to add a remark of perhaps a more intimate nature but who knows who might be listening in either here or at Jimmy's house-nevertheless, I added: 'I would love to take a walk in the woods with you and have a picnic lunch. The weather is wonderful today, blue skies and lots of golden sunshine.'
'It's very tempting,' he said, with an eagerness that broke through the distance between us. 'I was going to watch the cricket match between Eton and Harrow this afternoon but as luck would have it my parents are also away so I'm just going to skip the cricket and take the first train down to Midhurst.'
I squealed with delight. 'Oh, how marvellous! I'll have the coachman meet you at the station. You'll manage to get the eleven o'clock train from Victoria, won't you?'
'I'll be on it, never fear,' Jimmy promised, and after a short pause he added somewhat shyly: 'Er, should I bring an overnight bag?'
'You can stay overnight, Jimmy? I'm so pleased-perhaps you can stay for a few days. I'm sure we can find plenty to do all day.'
'And what about at night?' he asked teasingly.
I was so happy that I became reckless and caring not whether Miss Maggs or anyone else was listening to us, I replied: 'Ah, that will be our special time. I have some secret plan for the warm summer evenings which I know you will enjoy even more than taking outdoor exercise during the daylight hours.'
'It sounds spiffing, Rosie. Let's say goodbye now as I must get Goulthorp to pack a bag for me. Should I bring my man along, Rosie, or will you spoil me as usual so that I can leave my servant at home?'
Jimmy might have guessed that I had planned some hi-jinks when I told him to leave Goulthorp in London as the staff at Argosse Towers hardly had enough to do in the absence of my parents. After blowing a kiss to each other down the line we said au revoir and I replaced the receiver with a blissful smile on my face.
The sun was now shining fiercely and as I entered the drawing room Uncle Gordon looked up from his armchair and the sheaf of papers he was studying and said: 'Rosie, my dear girl, I hope you won't be going out for too long in this weather because I don't want you over-tiring yourself-but if you must venture outdoors, do remember to take your parasol for too much sun will affect your lovely complexion.'
I informed him that I was only going to Midhurst Station in the carriage to meet Jimmy Horobin who would be staying a night or two with us. My uncle frowned. 'Really, Rosie, you should have told me beforehand that you were expecting a guest. I shall have to tell Mrs. Callaghan to prepare a room for young Horobin. Is his man coming too?'
'No, he is coming alone as it is only a short informal visit. I'm sorry I forgot to mention the matter before but I have only just confirmed the arrangements with Jimmy on the telephone.'
Uncle Gordon sighed. 'Very well, Rosie, but could you have not simply written a letter instead? A telephone call to London costs at least five shillings. I won't sneak on you this time, though your Mama will accuse me of needless extravagance, for she has it in her head that I use the telephone constantly to speak to my London friends when the truth is that I come down here to get away from the noise and bustle of the city.'
And to fuck our prettiest servant girls, I added silently, and live off the fat of the land. Still, Uncle Gordon was a nice old stick really and he and Sarah had just afforded me a most educational and entertaining diversion, so I meekly accepted his rebuke which, after all, was not unfairly given.
'I am going out myself shortly to Mr. Andrew Bennett's house over at East Lavington and I don't expect to be back till around six o'clock because you remember my interest in folk songs? Well, Mr. Bennett has purchased the latest recording equipment and we hope to get some villagers to sing into the machine and preserve these old ditties for posterity. You and young Horobin are welcome to join us this afternoon if you are interested.
'Than you, uncle, but I think we have already made other plans,' I said, with genuine regret, for I have always derived great enjoyment from all kinds of music. 'Do send me a set of the recordings when they have been finished. Are those sheets on your lap some of the songs you will be recording?'
'Yes, we'll try and get through as many as we can. Look, here is one of my favourites. Would you like to hear it? It's called 'Rosebuds In June':
Here the rosebuds in June, and the violets are blooming;
The small birds they warble from ev'ry green bough,
Here's the pink and the lily,
And the daffydowndilly,
To adorn and perfume the sweet meadows in June.
'Tis all before the plough the fat oxen go slow
And the lads and the lasses to the sheep-shearing go.
A pleasant, simple melody, don't you agree? Farmer Massey is giving his labourers an afternoon off to come and sing for us and Mr. Bennett is providing a barrel of beer to loosen their throats. I'm sure we'll have a most rewarding day.'
Not as rewarding as the day I hoped to have, I said to myself as I pulled the cord to summon Sayers the butler and inform him of the day's arrangements and of the impending arrival of our guest. I also suggested a luncheon menu he should ask Mrs. Moser, our cook, to prepare for Jimmy and myself.
I could scarcely wait until just before noon when Haines came to the drawing room to inform me that the carriage awaited me, Haines the coachman had brought out a very smart landaulet (a small four-wheel carriage with a top in two parts so that it could be closed or thrown half or entirely open – Editor) and in no time at all we were at the station. The London train was as punctual as ever and my spirits soared as I saw Jimmy leap down from his compartment. He had already pulled out his two cases by the time I reached him (I could not be too forward in front of Haines) and offered only my hand in greeting.
'Welcome to Sussex, Jimmy! It was so good of you to drop everything at a moment's notice for me.' I said, brightly, as Jimmy clasped my hand and kissed my cheek. 'How could I spurn such an urgent invitation,' he smiled. 'I can hardly wait to find out what surprises you have in store for me.'
'You won't be disappointed,' I promised, as we walked to the carriage. I told Haines to lower the roof so that Jimmy and I could talk privately and as we pulled away from the station Jimmy whispered: 'You know, I may have the tiniest inkling of what is in your mind, Rosie. I just pray that I've guessed correctly because I'll be overjoyed if I am on the right track.'
I pondered my reply as I looked at my handsome hero. Jimmy was so good-looking, being blessed with a slim figure, a fresh-complexioned face with sparkling blue eyes and a trim moustache as fair as the hair on his head which he wore always slightly on the long side, which I am sure he knew pleased the ladies but irritated his father, Viscount Sevenoaks, who was an old-fashioned 'short-back-and-sides' individual. I decided to act boldly. 'Did you have in mind something like this?' I said softly, and without further ado kissed him firmly on the lips. He responded by taking me in his arms and returned my advance by embracing me as our mouths mashed together and I could feel his cock rise against my tummy.