Village Secrets by Rebecca Shaw Read Free Book Online Page A

all right?’
    ‘Yes, thank you. You’ll have to get back into your stride; you haven’t played a stroke since we’ve known each other.’
    ‘You’re right – I shall have to get my eye in again. My best score was forty-five against Magdalen way back in … Can’t remember.’
    ‘It’s no good, Peter.’
    ‘What isn’t?’
    ‘Trying to talk as though nothing has happened. It has, and I’m very annoyed.’
    Peter put his cup back on the coffee table and, fidgeting with his wedding ring, sat waiting for her to speak again.
    ‘Why can’t I have the best of both worlds? Other women do. Other women are back at work after six weeks at home with a new baby. They have nannies organised or au pairs organised, and everything goes with a swing.’
    ‘Does it?’
    ‘Oh yes.’
    ‘On what do you base your assumption? Someone you know?’
    Caroline sipped her coffee. ‘Well, no one specific but you do hear about them.’
    ‘In newspaper articles on the women’s page?’
    ‘Don’t sneer, Peter, it’s beneath you.’
    ‘You putting the needs of your child second is beneath you.’
    ‘So I’m to give up, am I? Let people down? Stay at home, play the role of Mummy ad infinitum? When shall I be allowed my life? When she’s gone to university?’
    ‘Now you’re being ridiculous.’
    ‘Ah! You’re not?’
    ‘No. Next time she makes it out of school, she may not go to Jimbo’s.’
    ‘Well, they’ll have to take proper care of her, won’t they? I’ll have a word with Liz Neal. She’ll sort it for me.’
    ‘You are her anchor, you see. She loves you dearly; she relies on you for her security. Not Sylvia, not me. You .’
    ‘Well, this job is only for six months.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘You’ve put your sad expression on.’
    ‘I haven’t put it on. I look sad because I am sad. But there we are. I would marry an intelligent, highly motivated, passionate woman …’
    ‘I married that kind of a man too.’
    ‘You did, indeed. My own way this week?’
    Caroline hesitated and then gave in. ‘Very well.’
*
    At five minutes to nine the following Monday, Hetty Hardaker rang the school-bell to call the children in. Margaret Booth came out to collect her infants.
    ‘Rector’s coming this morning – look.’
    ‘So he is. Let’s hope he has better success than he had last Monday, or else Madam will be fuming again.’
    ‘You don’t like her, Hetty, do you?’
    ‘Kate Pascoe is a totally different ball-game from Michael Palmer and I don’t … That will do, boys. In line, if you please. Flick, your shoelace is undone. That’s lovely, Stacey – I’ll look properly when we get inside. Brian, you’ve dropped your reading book. Pick it up quickly before it gets trodden on. Come along then, children, in we go.’
    Peter waited until the main rush of children had gone in. He held Beth’s hand tightly. Alex ran in without even a backward glance. Beth had her lover in her other hand, and under her arm her old rabbit from her baby days. With one ear missing it didn’t look the least bit respectable, but she didn’t care. Peter took her into the playgroup room and tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Beth stood beside him, thumb in mouth. Nothing could tempt her to join in. Kate Pascoe popped her head round the door at playtime.
    ‘Still here, Rector? All’s quiet this morning. Coffee?’
    ‘Yes, please.’ Beth consented to having her drink and biscuit seated beside Alex at a little table, so Peter left her and went into the hall to join the three teachers.
    ‘I’ve decided I don’t want to continue having prayers in the church,’ Kate began. ‘I’d much rather have it in here, in school. Takes less time, for one thing …’
    Hetty Hardaker indignandy interrupted. ‘You have not consulted me about that, nor Margaret. I think it should be decided between us, don’t you, Margaret?’
    ‘Well, I enjoyed going into church. The rector does such good services for children; they all