Village Gossip by Rebecca Shaw Read Free Book Online

her come back from seeing the children to school he called out, ‘There’s a note for you, darling, on the hall table.’
‘Thanks.’
    She came into the study with it in her hand. He watched her tear it open.
    ‘It’s from Hugo. There’s a meeting about the play on Monday night. You’re free aren’t you, if I remember rightly?’
    ‘I am. In fact I’ve three evenings free next week. Almost unprecedented. Shall we have an evening out together while we have a chance?’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘There’s bound to be seats going at the Royal. Culworth isn’t exactly at the forefront where theatre-going is concerned, is it?’
    ‘There might be rehearsals planned. Let’s wait until Monday night before we book. Just in case.’
Peter patted his knee. ‘Come and sit on my knee for a moment.’ With his arms encircling her and her feet tucked into the kneehole of his desk he said, ‘This play is really important to you, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yes, it is.’
    ‘I’m glad. Something completely different from church meetings and children. There’s a light come back into your eyes I haven’t seen for a while.’
    ‘Is there?’
    ‘Yes. I hope, no, I know you’ll do marvellously in this play. I shall be so proud of you. You must throw yourself into it and forget all about us. Go for it, you know. What an opportunity for you and for the village. He’s such a generous man, doing this without a thought for his reputation.’ They sat quietly for a few moments then he said, ‘Love you, must get on.’ He kissed her and tipped her gently off his knee.
    Caroline had to make absolutely sure he didn’t mind her being involved with the play.
    ‘Of course not. Why should I mind?’
    ‘You shouldn’t, I suppose, I don’t know why I asked. You hold me by the tightest of bonds and yet I am totally free.’
    ‘Good. That’s how it should be.’
    ‘Do you feel free?’
    He had to smile. ‘No. I’m bound hand and foot to you. I’m not free and never will be, not even in the life hereafter.’
    ‘Oh God! What a responsibility that is for me!’
    ‘You musn’t feel like that, because for me it’s pure joy.’
    She held his face between her hands, looked deeply into his eyes and briefly saw into his soul; he was alight with love for her. Right at this very moment, love like his she did not deserve. Why she didn’t deserve it she didn’t rightly know, but there were stirrings inside herself she couldn’t analyse, and what was worse didn’t want to analyse. It was as though she was at a crossroads, not knowing which way she would turn. Unable to find anything to say in reply to the look in his eyes, she tapped him lightly on his shoulder. ‘I’ve some addresses to call at to collect jumble for Saturday, I’ll be a while.’
‘I’ll have gone by the time you get back.’
    After she’d left, Peter sat gazing out of the window. He watched Vera wave to Sylvia as she passed her house. Saw Jimmy setting out with Sykes at his heels. Caught sight of one of the weekenders in shorts and the briefest of tops setting off to the Store by the looks of the large shopping bag she was carrying. The busy life of the village went on, day in day out, despite the trials and tribulations which beset it. He thought about Hugo who could turn out to be a trial and a tribulation without doubt. Though what a lovely chap he was; friendly, caring, very charming, obviously in need of a respite from his demanding life and what better place was there than here in this village amongst friends? It was ridiculous to worry about the man, but somehow Caroline’s enthusiasm for being in Hugo’s play worried him.
    Deep in his heart he became filled with a dark foreboding.
    Chapter 4
    It had been quiet all evening in the Royal Oak until the crowd from the meeting came in. But then it was always quiet on Mondays in summer, a fact for which Georgie and Dicky were quite grateful. Summer weekends were hectic, good for business as Georgie always said with a