together for her, Venetia dashed in. She'd changed her pink track suit for a pale green one, all colour co-ordinated
48
with her headband and slouch socks. Emblazoned across her back were the words Turnham House Health Club.
'Harriet hi! I met your husband this morning. I'm trying to persuade him to join our health club. Do you think he will? Would you like to join as well? We're expecting a rush for membership so you'd better make your mind up quickly. He was out with this gorgeous man called Peter this morning. Now, he really is a superb physical specimen. Just the kind I like. Tall, well made, fair haired, with surprising muscles. I told him a few hours on a sunbed would just set the seal on him. My dear, he's devastatingly attractive. I could really make music with him. Can't think what he's doing living out here in the sticks. Do you know him at all? Of course you must, if he was out running with your Jimbo.'
Harriet tried to hush her up but it was no good. Caroline grew steadily more and more angry as Venetia blithely enthused over Peter's physique.
'Are you aware that you are speaking about my husband?' she asked finally. Venetia turned to study Caroline. 'You should be delighted to hear his praises sung so enthusiastically.'
'I'm not delighted, I'm very angry.'
At this Venetia only laughed and said, 'All's fair in love and war.'
Caroline left the Store without her shopping. She strode home in a furious temper and then burst into tears as soon as she got inside the rectory door. Alex and Beth, sensing her distress, also began crying. When Peter got home a few minutes later he found the house in uproar.
'Darling, whatever is the matter? Come here to me.' Peter took hold of Beth and put his other arm round Caroline as she sat herself on his knee holding Alex. She wept.
'I've been such a fool. I've made a complete idiot of myself. That dreadful Venetia Mayer came into the store
49
and what had been a nice conversation with Harriet turned into a steaming row with Venetia.'
'What about?'
'You.'
'Me?'
'Yes, you. She thinks you are absolutely superb and wants to make music with you. Sunbed and all.'
'Did she not realise who I am?'
'No, not till I spoke up. I should just have laughed and made light of it, instead I got furiously angry.' Caroline began laughing through her tears. 'I really was a fool. I expect it's because I'm so tired, I take umbrage at almost anything. I shall have to apologise to her.'
'Don't do that, I'll go and see her, do the apologising and warn her off.'
'You'll do no such thing. ' / do the apologising. It was me who blew my top. She doesn't know you're the rector and I didn't enlighten her. I couldn't hide behind that as a reason for her to hold off.'
'I do love your sound commonsense Caroline. You do know I haven't encouraged her don't you?'
'Yes, I do. Absolutely. She's the threat, not you. I shall apologise the very next time I see her.'
50
Chapter 5
Caroline met Venetia a few days later when she was in Harriet's tearoom having morning coffee. She'd left the twins with Sylvia who'd promised to keep an eye on them while she did the ironing. Caroline was glad to escape for a little while and become a person again in her own right. Life was beginning to get a certain balance to it since Sylvia had come to live in. Her parochial .duties having taken second place since the twins had arrived she was becoming aware of her neglect of Peter's flock. So this morning she would rectify the matter. And where better to meet people than in the tearoom?
It was half full when she went in. There was the usual sprinkling of tourists come to view the ancient tombs, the church murals and the stocks on the green and, dotted amongst them, were villagers out to meet anyone and everyone who might have some news to impart. She greeted the parishioners, smiled at a few of the strangers then took a seat at a table near the back. She ordered her filter coffee and a slice of Harriet's famous carrot cake
48
with her headband and slouch socks. Emblazoned across her back were the words Turnham House Health Club.
'Harriet hi! I met your husband this morning. I'm trying to persuade him to join our health club. Do you think he will? Would you like to join as well? We're expecting a rush for membership so you'd better make your mind up quickly. He was out with this gorgeous man called Peter this morning. Now, he really is a superb physical specimen. Just the kind I like. Tall, well made, fair haired, with surprising muscles. I told him a few hours on a sunbed would just set the seal on him. My dear, he's devastatingly attractive. I could really make music with him. Can't think what he's doing living out here in the sticks. Do you know him at all? Of course you must, if he was out running with your Jimbo.'
Harriet tried to hush her up but it was no good. Caroline grew steadily more and more angry as Venetia blithely enthused over Peter's physique.
'Are you aware that you are speaking about my husband?' she asked finally. Venetia turned to study Caroline. 'You should be delighted to hear his praises sung so enthusiastically.'
'I'm not delighted, I'm very angry.'
At this Venetia only laughed and said, 'All's fair in love and war.'
Caroline left the Store without her shopping. She strode home in a furious temper and then burst into tears as soon as she got inside the rectory door. Alex and Beth, sensing her distress, also began crying. When Peter got home a few minutes later he found the house in uproar.
'Darling, whatever is the matter? Come here to me.' Peter took hold of Beth and put his other arm round Caroline as she sat herself on his knee holding Alex. She wept.
'I've been such a fool. I've made a complete idiot of myself. That dreadful Venetia Mayer came into the store
49
and what had been a nice conversation with Harriet turned into a steaming row with Venetia.'
'What about?'
'You.'
'Me?'
'Yes, you. She thinks you are absolutely superb and wants to make music with you. Sunbed and all.'
'Did she not realise who I am?'
'No, not till I spoke up. I should just have laughed and made light of it, instead I got furiously angry.' Caroline began laughing through her tears. 'I really was a fool. I expect it's because I'm so tired, I take umbrage at almost anything. I shall have to apologise to her.'
'Don't do that, I'll go and see her, do the apologising and warn her off.'
'You'll do no such thing. ' / do the apologising. It was me who blew my top. She doesn't know you're the rector and I didn't enlighten her. I couldn't hide behind that as a reason for her to hold off.'
'I do love your sound commonsense Caroline. You do know I haven't encouraged her don't you?'
'Yes, I do. Absolutely. She's the threat, not you. I shall apologise the very next time I see her.'
50
Chapter 5
Caroline met Venetia a few days later when she was in Harriet's tearoom having morning coffee. She'd left the twins with Sylvia who'd promised to keep an eye on them while she did the ironing. Caroline was glad to escape for a little while and become a person again in her own right. Life was beginning to get a certain balance to it since Sylvia had come to live in. Her parochial .duties having taken second place since the twins had arrived she was becoming aware of her neglect of Peter's flock. So this morning she would rectify the matter. And where better to meet people than in the tearoom?
It was half full when she went in. There was the usual sprinkling of tourists come to view the ancient tombs, the church murals and the stocks on the green and, dotted amongst them, were villagers out to meet anyone and everyone who might have some news to impart. She greeted the parishioners, smiled at a few of the strangers then took a seat at a table near the back. She ordered her filter coffee and a slice of Harriet's famous carrot cake
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