speaking.
‘I said that I am willing to tell you what really happened. But maybe we should wait …’
Corrie shook her head. Her eyes were absorbed by the heavy grey clouds hanging oppressively over the village. ‘No, I don’t want to wait,’ she said flatly. ‘Tell me now.’
Ted heaved himself to his feet and walked to the door. ‘Hattie!’ he called, ‘bring us some tea.’
When a few minutes later Hattie brought in the tray Corrie was sitting down again. She looked up at Auntie Hattie’s anxious face. ‘Did you know?’ she said quietly.
Swallowing hard Hattie nodded, and once again Corrie was aware of that strange feeling of weightlessness.
‘So,’ she said, when Hattie closed the door behind her.
‘So,’ Ted repeated. He handed Corrie a cup of tea then sat down with his own. For a moment or two he studied Corrie’s face, loving her and admiring the inner strength that shone so clearly now in her eyes. These past few years had not been easy for her, the past two weeks must have been hell. And now here he was, adding to her distress, and there she sat, perfectly under control again, chin raised, and the only sign of the strain she was under showing in the faint shadows beneath her eyes. He could wish that perhaps she weren’t so brave, that she would let go of her emotions and allow herself the release she needed. But that would happen in time, he told himself, he just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.
He took a sip of his tea then set the cup back in the saucer. ‘I’m aware of the story your mother told you,’ he began on a long breath, ‘and it is true that she was working in a Brighton dress shop when she met Phillip – your father. It’s also true that they fell in love at first sight. In your father’s own words, Edwina wasn’t like all the other girls he’d met. She had no affectations, no guile, just innocence and, as you know, a great beauty. She trusted him and loved him, and in a fit of youthful romanticism Phillip decided that he should marry her before deflowering her. Which is what he did.
‘They told no one until after the honeymoon was over. It was then that the trouble began. When he took her home.
‘Phillip’s mother and father were furious. Phillip was only just out of University and they had a great future planned for him, which included hopes of a brilliant marriage to Octavia Farrington, the daughter of a close friend of the family.
‘Serena, Phillip’s mother, was, I believe, right from the start, inordinately cruel to Edwina, and from what I remember of Serena, I have no problem in believing that. She treated your mother as though she were incapable of normal human sensitivities. She was also behind Harold, your grandfather’s, threat to cut Phillip off if he didn’t end the marriage immediately. The only person who showed Edwina any kindness at all was Cornelia, Phillip’s grandmother. Your mother named you after Cornelia,’ he smiled.
Corrie didn’t say anything.
‘In no time at all Serena set about convincing Phillip that Edwina was doing nothing to advance him either socially, or professionally,’ Ted continued, ‘if anything she was holding him back. Phillip himself was confused, and, remember, very young. I think initially he stood up to her, but Serena was a formidable woman, and clever. It took only a matter of weeks for her to show Phillip just how inept his new wife was when it came to holding her own in their world. Of course Edwina could have managed, given the chance, but Serena saw to it that she was never given the chance. It would be better all round, Serena insisted, if Phillip were to leave Edwina at home rather than introduce her into their élite circle of friends. It was for Edwina’s own good, since she was so painfully shy with those who were her superiors she would be sure to embarrass not only herself, but him too. To keep the peace with his mother Phillip started to do as she said. Whether Edwina fought back I
‘I said that I am willing to tell you what really happened. But maybe we should wait …’
Corrie shook her head. Her eyes were absorbed by the heavy grey clouds hanging oppressively over the village. ‘No, I don’t want to wait,’ she said flatly. ‘Tell me now.’
Ted heaved himself to his feet and walked to the door. ‘Hattie!’ he called, ‘bring us some tea.’
When a few minutes later Hattie brought in the tray Corrie was sitting down again. She looked up at Auntie Hattie’s anxious face. ‘Did you know?’ she said quietly.
Swallowing hard Hattie nodded, and once again Corrie was aware of that strange feeling of weightlessness.
‘So,’ she said, when Hattie closed the door behind her.
‘So,’ Ted repeated. He handed Corrie a cup of tea then sat down with his own. For a moment or two he studied Corrie’s face, loving her and admiring the inner strength that shone so clearly now in her eyes. These past few years had not been easy for her, the past two weeks must have been hell. And now here he was, adding to her distress, and there she sat, perfectly under control again, chin raised, and the only sign of the strain she was under showing in the faint shadows beneath her eyes. He could wish that perhaps she weren’t so brave, that she would let go of her emotions and allow herself the release she needed. But that would happen in time, he told himself, he just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.
He took a sip of his tea then set the cup back in the saucer. ‘I’m aware of the story your mother told you,’ he began on a long breath, ‘and it is true that she was working in a Brighton dress shop when she met Phillip – your father. It’s also true that they fell in love at first sight. In your father’s own words, Edwina wasn’t like all the other girls he’d met. She had no affectations, no guile, just innocence and, as you know, a great beauty. She trusted him and loved him, and in a fit of youthful romanticism Phillip decided that he should marry her before deflowering her. Which is what he did.
‘They told no one until after the honeymoon was over. It was then that the trouble began. When he took her home.
‘Phillip’s mother and father were furious. Phillip was only just out of University and they had a great future planned for him, which included hopes of a brilliant marriage to Octavia Farrington, the daughter of a close friend of the family.
‘Serena, Phillip’s mother, was, I believe, right from the start, inordinately cruel to Edwina, and from what I remember of Serena, I have no problem in believing that. She treated your mother as though she were incapable of normal human sensitivities. She was also behind Harold, your grandfather’s, threat to cut Phillip off if he didn’t end the marriage immediately. The only person who showed Edwina any kindness at all was Cornelia, Phillip’s grandmother. Your mother named you after Cornelia,’ he smiled.
Corrie didn’t say anything.
‘In no time at all Serena set about convincing Phillip that Edwina was doing nothing to advance him either socially, or professionally,’ Ted continued, ‘if anything she was holding him back. Phillip himself was confused, and, remember, very young. I think initially he stood up to her, but Serena was a formidable woman, and clever. It took only a matter of weeks for her to show Phillip just how inept his new wife was when it came to holding her own in their world. Of course Edwina could have managed, given the chance, but Serena saw to it that she was never given the chance. It would be better all round, Serena insisted, if Phillip were to leave Edwina at home rather than introduce her into their élite circle of friends. It was for Edwina’s own good, since she was so painfully shy with those who were her superiors she would be sure to embarrass not only herself, but him too. To keep the peace with his mother Phillip started to do as she said. Whether Edwina fought back I
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