Read Online A Village in Jeopardy (Turnham Malpas 16) by Rebecca Shaw - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rebecca Shaw
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apparently there wasn’t any, despite him saying how much he wanted to be with me. I . . . I’m . . . well, I suppose I’m deeply in love with him, and want to be with him, for always, but . . .’ Alice shrugged.
‘I see.’
‘No, you don’t, Peter. You don’t see anything. I’ve been two-timing Marcus almost from the first day Johnny arrived in the village. It’s not his wealth I’m interested in, but believe me he is very wealthy . . . it’s him, he’s magic. We can’t help ourselves. Have you felt like that, ever?’
‘Only with Caroline; we met and married inside four months. We both knew the first time we met.’
‘It was like that for Johnny and me. All consuming. Inevitable. Him going has made me see what a pointless marriage I have, so at last I have stood up for myself and finished it. Trouble is I’ve lost Johnny too.’ Tears welled in her eyes.
‘Has he said he won’t be back?’
Alice shook her head.
‘Then maybe he will, Alice. There’s always hope, you know.’
‘I don’t think so.’
Someone knocked at the door. ‘That’ll be a pupil I’m expecting. Sorry.’
‘I’ll let them in. I’m always at home to anyone in trouble. Don’t hesitate, will you? Just come and see me?’
Alice nodded her acknowledgement of his kindness and went to greet her pupil, more unfit to teach than she could ever remember.
Peter’s phone was ringing when he got back to the Rectory and Dottie was rushing down the stairs to answer it.
‘I’ll get it, Dottie, thanks. Good morning. Peter Harris speaking. How can I help?’
‘It’s me.’
‘Yes?’
‘Marcus March. I don’t doubt you know that Alice banned me from the house last night with some story about having had enough of me. I’m certain she doesn’t mean it, because she wouldn’t. After all, I’ve done nothing wrong. Not been unfaithful or anything. However, I’m off to London today, to see my publisher.’ He paused for effect, expecting to get an admiring response, but none was forthcoming. ‘So I’m going to give you my mobile number in case Alice is upset and needs me at home. You’re the first person I thought of because I know you won’t gossip like the rest of the ill-begotten lot in the village.’
‘Right. I have been to see her, and yes she’s upset, but determined to carry on. However, if things get worse I will gladly phone you, but only with Alice’s permission. On that understanding.’
‘With Alice’s permission! What does that mean?’
‘Exactly what it says. Only at her request. Hasn’t she got your mobile number herself? She must have.’
‘Yes, but she might not ring. She can be very stubborn and she has no one but me to care for her.’
‘I see. Give me the number then.’
‘I wouldn’t want . . . anyway . . . never mind.’ He gave Peter the number and Peter dutifully put it in his phone.
‘Hope everything goes well with your publisher. Big opportunity for you.’
‘Only what I deserve, you know. Only what I deserve. Thank you. Bye.’
‘Bye.’
Peter guessed that Marcus was trying to preserve his marriage as though he were the innocent party and he rather despised him for it. His motives appeared to be self-driven rather than Alice-driven. He’d never liked the man; he was far too concerned with his own ego. Still, if he did get published, financially one hoped they would be better off, but . . . and there was a big but . . .
Had Peter known that as soon as Marcus switched off his mobile he went immediately to the bank and cleaned out his and Alice’s joint bank account he might not have been so helpful.
In the bar that night there were mixed feelings about Marcus’s dramatic departure. Willie was certain it was the best thing that could have happened, but Sylvia wasn’t quite so sure. ‘Marriage is marriage and just because he doesn’t know how to behave within a marriage is no excuse for driving Alice to such drastic action.’
This confusing statement puzzled
‘I see.’
‘No, you don’t, Peter. You don’t see anything. I’ve been two-timing Marcus almost from the first day Johnny arrived in the village. It’s not his wealth I’m interested in, but believe me he is very wealthy . . . it’s him, he’s magic. We can’t help ourselves. Have you felt like that, ever?’
‘Only with Caroline; we met and married inside four months. We both knew the first time we met.’
‘It was like that for Johnny and me. All consuming. Inevitable. Him going has made me see what a pointless marriage I have, so at last I have stood up for myself and finished it. Trouble is I’ve lost Johnny too.’ Tears welled in her eyes.
‘Has he said he won’t be back?’
Alice shook her head.
‘Then maybe he will, Alice. There’s always hope, you know.’
‘I don’t think so.’
Someone knocked at the door. ‘That’ll be a pupil I’m expecting. Sorry.’
‘I’ll let them in. I’m always at home to anyone in trouble. Don’t hesitate, will you? Just come and see me?’
Alice nodded her acknowledgement of his kindness and went to greet her pupil, more unfit to teach than she could ever remember.
Peter’s phone was ringing when he got back to the Rectory and Dottie was rushing down the stairs to answer it.
‘I’ll get it, Dottie, thanks. Good morning. Peter Harris speaking. How can I help?’
‘It’s me.’
‘Yes?’
‘Marcus March. I don’t doubt you know that Alice banned me from the house last night with some story about having had enough of me. I’m certain she doesn’t mean it, because she wouldn’t. After all, I’ve done nothing wrong. Not been unfaithful or anything. However, I’m off to London today, to see my publisher.’ He paused for effect, expecting to get an admiring response, but none was forthcoming. ‘So I’m going to give you my mobile number in case Alice is upset and needs me at home. You’re the first person I thought of because I know you won’t gossip like the rest of the ill-begotten lot in the village.’
‘Right. I have been to see her, and yes she’s upset, but determined to carry on. However, if things get worse I will gladly phone you, but only with Alice’s permission. On that understanding.’
‘With Alice’s permission! What does that mean?’
‘Exactly what it says. Only at her request. Hasn’t she got your mobile number herself? She must have.’
‘Yes, but she might not ring. She can be very stubborn and she has no one but me to care for her.’
‘I see. Give me the number then.’
‘I wouldn’t want . . . anyway . . . never mind.’ He gave Peter the number and Peter dutifully put it in his phone.
‘Hope everything goes well with your publisher. Big opportunity for you.’
‘Only what I deserve, you know. Only what I deserve. Thank you. Bye.’
‘Bye.’
Peter guessed that Marcus was trying to preserve his marriage as though he were the innocent party and he rather despised him for it. His motives appeared to be self-driven rather than Alice-driven. He’d never liked the man; he was far too concerned with his own ego. Still, if he did get published, financially one hoped they would be better off, but . . . and there was a big but . . .
Had Peter known that as soon as Marcus switched off his mobile he went immediately to the bank and cleaned out his and Alice’s joint bank account he might not have been so helpful.
In the bar that night there were mixed feelings about Marcus’s dramatic departure. Willie was certain it was the best thing that could have happened, but Sylvia wasn’t quite so sure. ‘Marriage is marriage and just because he doesn’t know how to behave within a marriage is no excuse for driving Alice to such drastic action.’
This confusing statement puzzled
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