Read Online Promise to Obey by Stella Whitelaw - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stella Whitelaw
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the fork?’
‘What fork?’
Jessica could not remember any fork. The lane had been twisting and turning. She had been concentrating on driving round the bends, keeping to the left.
‘There’s a fork after the third bend. It takes you directly to West Eastly. A child could follow it.’
‘There was no signpost.’
‘It’s in the hedge.’
‘Overgrown no doubt.’
Jessica was tired of the argument. At least Lucas could not refuse to see that she got back to Upton Hall. ‘I think I should return,’ she said. ‘Lady Grace may be needing me. We’ve got a lot to do.’
‘She may well indeed. A pity you didn’t think of that when you took off in the Austin, not telling anyone where you were going.’ Lucas was still fuming.
‘Shall I follow you?’ she asked, recovering some dignity.
‘Yes. I’ll lead.’
‘Please drive at my speed, not like a bat out of hell.’
He was about to make a retort but thought better of it. He sat there, engine turning, while Jessica got back into the Austin. She was very careful, trying not to do a jerk start. She handled it smoothly, pleased with herself, and lined the Austin up behind the Porsche Boxster. Piece of cake.
It was a slow and careful procession back to Upton Hall. Lucas was deliberately going at a snail’s pace to irritate her. Any locals would have thought it was a funeral. Any slower and the Austin would stall.
Jessica smiled to herself. She would let Lucas have his little joke and say nothing. But she was relieved when she saw the tall chimneys of Upton Hall coming into sight. Somehow she had done a tortuous circle.
She parked the car in the stables, next to the Porsche. The garage door was not exactly coming off. He had been exaggerating as usual. Lucas was nowhere to be seen. He had not waited to see if she was all right.
She went into the kitchen, hoping Mrs Harris would notmind if she made a cup of tea. Her throat was dry and a cup of tea would be welcome.
The kitchen was empty, everywhere tidy, no coat or hat on the door. Mrs Harris had gone. Jessica immediately thought something awful must have happened to Lady Grace in her absence and she had been taken to hospital in an ambulance.
She raced up the stairs and rushed into the tower bedroom. Lady Grace and Lucas were sitting by the window. There was a glass decanter of sherry on the table and Lucas was pouring a small amount into a delicate sherry glass.
‘Don’t barge in like that, young lady,’ said Lady Grace. ‘Please knock.’
‘I thought you had had … an accident … fallen or something ,’ said Jessica, getting her breath back.
‘I’m talking to my son. Kindly leave us alone. We have something to discuss. Something important.’
‘Of course,’ said Jessica, turning to leave. ‘I’m making some tea. Would you like a cup?’
‘No, thank you. I’m having my afternoon sherry,’ said Lady Grace.
‘But I’d love a cup,’ said Lucas, leaning back and laying on the charm. ‘I’ve just had a maddeningly slow journey. The traffic these days and learner drivers.’
‘Better slow and safe,’ said Jessica, ‘than fast and flashy.’
Lady Grace glared at Jessica and she retreated, smiling to herself as she closed the door. At least she had had the last word.
Mrs Harris had an urgent dental appointment and Jessica made the children’s tea when they got home from school. She found some Bramley apples in the orchard and stewed them with honey and raisins. She made cheese, tomato and lettuce sandwiches with celery sticks to crunch on. No doubt there would be complaints from little Miss Sugary Sweet-tooth. No jam and no cake for her today.
Lily surprised everyone by saying she liked this tea. ‘I likethis sandwich,’ she said, holding the celery stick between two fingers as if it was a cigarette. ‘Have you got a light, miss?’
‘Got a light?’ repeated Daniel.
‘I’m not the nanny before last, the one who smoked,’ said Jessica. ‘Hurry up, then we can play in
‘What fork?’
Jessica could not remember any fork. The lane had been twisting and turning. She had been concentrating on driving round the bends, keeping to the left.
‘There’s a fork after the third bend. It takes you directly to West Eastly. A child could follow it.’
‘There was no signpost.’
‘It’s in the hedge.’
‘Overgrown no doubt.’
Jessica was tired of the argument. At least Lucas could not refuse to see that she got back to Upton Hall. ‘I think I should return,’ she said. ‘Lady Grace may be needing me. We’ve got a lot to do.’
‘She may well indeed. A pity you didn’t think of that when you took off in the Austin, not telling anyone where you were going.’ Lucas was still fuming.
‘Shall I follow you?’ she asked, recovering some dignity.
‘Yes. I’ll lead.’
‘Please drive at my speed, not like a bat out of hell.’
He was about to make a retort but thought better of it. He sat there, engine turning, while Jessica got back into the Austin. She was very careful, trying not to do a jerk start. She handled it smoothly, pleased with herself, and lined the Austin up behind the Porsche Boxster. Piece of cake.
It was a slow and careful procession back to Upton Hall. Lucas was deliberately going at a snail’s pace to irritate her. Any locals would have thought it was a funeral. Any slower and the Austin would stall.
Jessica smiled to herself. She would let Lucas have his little joke and say nothing. But she was relieved when she saw the tall chimneys of Upton Hall coming into sight. Somehow she had done a tortuous circle.
She parked the car in the stables, next to the Porsche. The garage door was not exactly coming off. He had been exaggerating as usual. Lucas was nowhere to be seen. He had not waited to see if she was all right.
She went into the kitchen, hoping Mrs Harris would notmind if she made a cup of tea. Her throat was dry and a cup of tea would be welcome.
The kitchen was empty, everywhere tidy, no coat or hat on the door. Mrs Harris had gone. Jessica immediately thought something awful must have happened to Lady Grace in her absence and she had been taken to hospital in an ambulance.
She raced up the stairs and rushed into the tower bedroom. Lady Grace and Lucas were sitting by the window. There was a glass decanter of sherry on the table and Lucas was pouring a small amount into a delicate sherry glass.
‘Don’t barge in like that, young lady,’ said Lady Grace. ‘Please knock.’
‘I thought you had had … an accident … fallen or something ,’ said Jessica, getting her breath back.
‘I’m talking to my son. Kindly leave us alone. We have something to discuss. Something important.’
‘Of course,’ said Jessica, turning to leave. ‘I’m making some tea. Would you like a cup?’
‘No, thank you. I’m having my afternoon sherry,’ said Lady Grace.
‘But I’d love a cup,’ said Lucas, leaning back and laying on the charm. ‘I’ve just had a maddeningly slow journey. The traffic these days and learner drivers.’
‘Better slow and safe,’ said Jessica, ‘than fast and flashy.’
Lady Grace glared at Jessica and she retreated, smiling to herself as she closed the door. At least she had had the last word.
Mrs Harris had an urgent dental appointment and Jessica made the children’s tea when they got home from school. She found some Bramley apples in the orchard and stewed them with honey and raisins. She made cheese, tomato and lettuce sandwiches with celery sticks to crunch on. No doubt there would be complaints from little Miss Sugary Sweet-tooth. No jam and no cake for her today.
Lily surprised everyone by saying she liked this tea. ‘I likethis sandwich,’ she said, holding the celery stick between two fingers as if it was a cigarette. ‘Have you got a light, miss?’
‘Got a light?’ repeated Daniel.
‘I’m not the nanny before last, the one who smoked,’ said Jessica. ‘Hurry up, then we can play in
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