Read Online The Very First Damned Thing by Jodi Taylor - Free Book Online

picking up the tab. Is Edward around?’
    Dr Bairstow appeared.
    â€˜Ah Edward. Good morning. As you can see, I made it. You said I wouldn’t and I did. Pay up.’
    Dr Bairstow regarded the small heap of metal currently lowering property values all over the parish.
    â€˜Good heavens, Evelyn. You appear to have driven here in a slice of Battenberg cake.’
    â€˜I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, defensively. ‘It goes like a bomb.’
    â€˜Not the happiest simile in this context. Can I offer you some coffee?’
    â€˜God, yes.’
    She plunged up the steps and entered St Mary’s.
    Seated comfortably in Dr Bairstow’s office, she stirred her coffee and smiled at him. Dr Bairstow found he could not help smiling back.
    â€˜Madam Chancellor …’
    â€˜Evelyn …’
    â€˜Evelyn. Please do not construe this as any form of criticism, but surely the need to disarm your political opponents with a display of irresponsible student behaviour is over now. You could perfectly easily have been driven here in your official car, surrounded by the Senior Faculty and enjoyed the status commensurate with that of Chancellor of the University of Thirsk.’
    â€˜Don’t talk to me about the Senior Faculty. Bunch of self-serving, political failures. You know the saying, “Those who can – do. Those who can’t – teach.” And those who never had any idea what it was in the first place are members of my Senior Faculty. Sorry, Edward, but this is in the nature of a day out for me. You surely wouldn’t deprive me of all the fun of getting back and finding what the bastards have been up to while my back’s been turned.’
    He stirred his coffee. ‘I was aware that yours was a somewhat controversial appointment, but are things really that bad?’
    â€˜There are those who feel that organising the resistance actually renders me not only unsuitable for this position, but positively dangerous. Never mind that Thirsk was the rallying point for all those opposing the regime. Never mind that we inspired and protected and defended and …’ She stopped. ‘Well, you know what I mean.’
    â€˜I do indeed. I’m just astonished that your opponents watched you in action for all those years and still think they possess the ability to take you down. That you couldn’t deal with them with one hand behind your back while chairing the Finance Committee at the same time.’
    She laughed. ‘You must know that it’s far easier to deal with the enemy shooting at you from the front than the shadowy bastards trying to knife you in the back.’
    â€˜I feel certain you are more than capable of dealing with these … er … shadowy bastards.’
    â€˜They’re not going to cause me any problems. I know I’m a controversial appointment, but I think the feeling was new beginnings etc.. Besides, some of those shadowy bastards weren’t quite as … unambiguous … in their loyalties as they could have been. I know it and they know I know it. I’ll have them out. It’s only a matter of time.’ She grinned mischievously. ‘Perhaps Professor Rapson could brew me something untraceable. How is he, by the way?’
    â€˜Thriving.’
    â€˜And Dr Dowson?’
    â€˜The same.’
    â€˜That’s good. They wouldn’t have liked the new regime at all and after their magnificent efforts during the uprising, they both deserved better. I’m glad you’ve taken them. In which particular attic have you locked Professor Rapson for the day?’
    â€˜Madam Chancellor, I am shocked you would believe me capable of such an action.’
    â€˜Sorry. He’s in the basement, then.’
    â€˜Of course. May I refill your cup?’
    â€˜And what of you, Edward? With your funding finally secured, you have surely surmounted your highest hurdle. If you have ever had a holiday