And no wonder, thought Beattie. You try being up against a conspiracy! But she thanked him politely and said it was a good idea, but not tomorrow as she would need to make arrangements. Perhaps next Sunday. She would give it some thought.
After lunch, Theo wandered once more into the kitchen, sure that Rose Budd would be here any moment. To his dismay, he found Beattie, still in her working clothes, reading the newspaper. Usually at this time on Saturdays she had cleared away dishes, changed and tidied herself ready for market. He looked at his watch.
“Beattie!” he said. “Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m fine, thank you, Mr. Theo. Oh yes, of course, that reminds me,” she said. “I shan’t be going into town this afternoon. You’ll remember I said how disappointing the market is these days. I thought I’d give it a miss today. Plenty of food in the larder, so we shan’t starve.”
She was delighted with his reaction, which could only be described as one of complete panic.
“But Rosebud? Won’t she be expecting to come?”
Beattie shook her head. “I gave her a ring just now. She’s quite happy about it. In fact, she sounded rather relieved and said how much she had to do at home. Rang off quite quickly, saying she’d tackle the ironing straightaway.”
“I see,” Theo said. “Well, it’s your decision.” He left the kitchen at a trot, and Beattie chuckled quietly to herself. Wonderful. Now, if she had timed it correctly, Deirdre Bloxham would be on her way.
IVY HAD WOKEN with the pain in her back returned. Mrs. Spurling said the wind was very cold this morning, and advised Ivy to stay in the warm. “We have a lovely lady coming in to play the piano for a sing-song,” she had said. “I am sure you and Mr. Goodman will love the old songs.”
As Ivy was well aware that a frog in full croak was more tuneful than her singing voice, she said she thought she would stay in her own room. She had a novel she wanted to finish before the library van came to the village next week. Then she had rung Deirdre to see if it was vital this time for her to sit outside the shop in the cold wind just to see Beatrice Beatty safely on the bus. Deirdre had said straightaway that she was sure all would go as before, and she must stay in the warm. She had not thought it necessary to tell Gus, and concentrated on making herself as attractive as possible.
Gus had forgotten to check on Beattie going off down the lane, but consoled himself that Ivy would be there to play her part as before. He kept a watch at the window, waiting for the car to go by, and smiled to himself as he saw Deirdre wave to him as she passed.
BEATTIE ALSO SAW the Rolls as it swept into the stable yard and Deirdre got out. She waited out of sight until there was a confident knocking. She paused for a few seconds, and then she opened the door.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Bloxham. Can I help you?” she said, presiding confidently over her territory. Deirdre’s expression was one of the most gratifying things she had ever seen.
Forty-six
“AREN’T YOU FEELING well, Mrs. Bloxham?” Beattie said, with mock concern. “You look as if you have seen a ghost. Do come in and sit down in my warm kitchen.”
Said the spider to the fly, she added to herself.
“No, no, I shall be fine in a moment,” Deirdre said, “I think someone just walked over my grave!” She made a brave attempt at a laugh, trying to organise her thoughts.
“I insist,” said Beattie, taking her arm as if to help her up the steps. “Mr. Theo is very busy this afternoon, but I am sure he would be glad to see you in about half an hour’s time. He is trying to finish an important letter in time for the post. Now, come along in, and I shall make you a nice hot cup of tea. I’ve been baking, and you shall have one of my special biscuits.”
Deirdre did indeed feel a little shocked, and allowed Beattie to lead her to a seat at the kitchen table. Something had clearly gone wrong with their plans, and she supposed it must be that Ivy was not at her post, and therefore could not have raised the alarm.
“I had not expected to see Mr. Theo,” she said now, her voice stronger. She could bluff this one out, and nothing would be the worse for it. Just a delay, that would be all, until next week. They would have to be more careful. She wondered what Beattie had told Theo. Surely he should have been able to make a quick warning call to Tawny Wings? She knew he had had the telephones fixed so that Beattie couldn’t listen in.
“Have you come to see me, then?” Beattie said, pouring boiling water into a warmed teapot. “What can I do for you?”
“It was about the Women’s Institute,” improvised Deirdre, then thought, oh my God, what could I possibly want to know about the WI? “I was thinking of joining,” she said, gaining confidence, “and I know you have been a member for years. Perhaps you could give me an idea of the kind of things you do?” If I have to go once a year with my single rose for the competition it won’t do me any harm, she told herself.
A good try, but a lie, if ever I saw one, thought Beattie. “You’d certainly be very welcome, Mrs. Bloxham,” she said. “Membership is dropping, even though we try hard to attract younger members, having more interesting speakers, all that.”
“I’m not exactly a younger member,” Deirdre said.
“Young at heart, though, Mrs. Bloxham. My poor mother used to say you are as young as you feel.”
“Poor mother?” said Deirdre. She was rallying now, and thought she might as well make use of this mishap. “Is she still with us?”
Beattie shook her head mournfully. “Died years ago,” she said. “After a long and painful illness. My sister nursed her until the end. So sad.”
“And where did she live?”
“Oh, over the other side of the county. Local family.”
“So you still have relations over there? That must be very nice. I’m sure you keep in touch. Of course, I have my cousin Ivy living close by now, and I find it a great comfort. Since my Bert died, I mean.”
“Ah, we seek comfort where we can find it, don’t we,” Beattie said. “Now, have one of my biscuits. Fresh from the oven.”
“Oh, no thanks,” Deirdre said, “I won’t take your special biscuits.”
“Mr. Theo’s favourites,” insisted Beattie. “He would never forgive me if you didn’t have at least one. There are plenty.”
Deirdre hesitated. They were small biscuits, wafer thin, and rather than argue she took one and ate it in three mouthfuls. It had a sharp lemony flavour, a little bitter. She refused a second. Let Theo eat the lot if he liked them so much.
At this moment the kitchen door opened, and Theo stood looking in. He winked at Deirdre. “Mrs. Bloxham?” he said. “What a lovely surprise. Beattie, won’t you make us more tea and we can have a chat in the drawing room. You can bring me up to date with village news, De-er-Mrs. Bloxham. But first, Beattie, I wonder if you would just run down to the post box on the corner and get this letter off. I would like it to arrive tomorrow. Thank you, my dear,” he said, and patted her arm.
As he walked off, talking animatedly to Deirdre, Beattie scowled. “Damn, damn, damn,” she said.
DEIRDRE FINALLY LEFT the Hall just after three, having had two more biscuits and a second cup of tea. Theo had told her about Beattie’s last-minute change of plan, and Deirdre had explained about Ivy not watching out for Beattie on the bus, and so they had had no warning.
“She’s quite an adversary, our Beattie,” said Theo.
“Never mind, we’ll think of another way,” Deirdre said, rising and kissing him on the cheek. “Now you’re out and about, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t call on me. I must go now, and bring Gus up to date, but I’ll be in touch.”