27
NORA HAD BEEN asleep when Archie got back from the pub last night. They hadn’t stayed out late but his mother said that Nora hadn’t been feeling well so had gone to bed early, He hoped that’s what had happened and it wasn’t that his sister had been too much to deal with.
He woke the following morning to find Nora gone. He checked his phone and found a message from her saying she felt better and had gone to the lake and she’d be back after lunch. It was after nine now, so even if he went down to the lake she probably would have left by now. She’d pop home for a shower and some peace and quiet and that was completely understandable.
Archie and Caspar had a surprisingly good time at the pub. Away from the rest of the family, Archie found Caspar good company. He loved Betsy but was under no illusions as to how difficult she could be at times.
‘She’s got a bee in her bonnet about this vase,’ he told Archie. ‘I think she forgets that although she’s part of the family, she’s not in that sense anymore. She sees the estate as belonging to the family rather than to you.’
‘I can understand that. She was young when Papa died, so technically I was looking after her financially, and there was never a time when she was told she had to stand on her own two feet.’
‘To be frank, it doesn’t sit well with me that we live in your flat rent-free. I’ve tried to put my foot down about it but the fact is we’d have to move out of central London to find somewhere affordable and she won’t leave Chelsea. The idea of living in the suburbs horrifies her.’
Archie laughed. ‘I can imagine. I’m glad we’re having this conversation, Caspar. I only hear through Mama what Betsy says about your circumstances. I didn’t want to assume anything. And if things were difficult for you, of course I’d want to try and help.’
Caspar shook his head. ‘I can only imagine how tough it is keeping Croftwood Court going. I’ve said to Betsy, it’s wrong to expect anything from you when all you’re doing is trying to preserve the place for your family. For Florence.’
‘It’s a constant headache. The bloody roof has cost a fortune to repair and even then, it’s thousands for a relatively temporary fix. That’s where the money from the vase went. And towards the set-up costs of the wild-swimming at the lake.’
‘Look, Archie. I think we both know your sister well enough to know that she’s not going to change. And for me, I wouldn’t want her to change. High-maintenance as she is, she’s the woman I fell in love with,’ he said. ‘But let’s do each other a favour and agree that Betsy and I don’t need any help. So even if she asks, know that it isn’t coming from me.’
‘In that case, we must also agree that if anything changes, you come to me. I can’t guarantee that I can do an awful lot to help financially, but I’d want to try. Florence is the sole heir to the estate, so it’s only right.’
‘Deal,’ said Caspar. ‘Same again?’
Archie felt much more positive about the rest of the weekend now that he and Caspar were working as one. Betsy’s comments about the vase continued but he found it easy to stand his ground, explaining what the money had been spent on, and even going so far as taking her into the bedroom upstairs where the ceiling had collapsed. It was still in a state of disrepair since he had been concentrating on fixing the cause; the interior side of the repairs could wait without causing any further trouble.
‘I had no idea it was this bad, Archie,’ she said. ‘When Mama said the roof was leaking I didn’t think it was on this scale at all.’
‘It’s not for you to worry about,’ Archie said, kindly. ‘But also, I need every penny I can get my hands on to stop the place from crumbling around us. None of the investment in the lake or the Christmas market is giving me or Mama any income. Everything is going into the estate.’
‘It doesn’t seem right that you’re not benefiting when you’re working so hard,’ said Betsy, doing an about-turn.
‘I have enough from the wage I pay myself from the money we receive from the trust. I don’t need much.’
‘You need to buy some trendier jeans,’ she said. ‘And I don’t mean from the place in Croftwood where Dad used to get all of his clothes.’
Archie didn’t mention that his latest wardrobe additions had all been from there.
‘I’ll send you a couple of pairs from the place Caspar gets his from. Now you’ve finally got a girlfriend, you don’t want to frighten her off with your terrible fashion sense.’
‘Thank you. I wouldn’t want that either. So are we all happy?’
‘Archie I’m sorry. Caspar told me not to ask you for any money. He says we don’t need it, but I want things to be nice for Florence, like they were for me.’
Archie knew she was looking back with rose-tinted glasses, as he did himself. Their childhood memories, particularly from the time before their father died, were idyllic. But Archie knew that his father had been fighting the same battles back then around how to make ends meet. If anything it had been worse, because of the pressure of keeping the family name and reputation intact. Any sniff of money struggles would have been scandalous in a way it wouldn’t be now. And that must have added a whole lot of extra anxiety to their parents that they’d never been aware of.
‘You know Florence will have a wonderful childhood with you and Caspar whether it’s the same as ours or not. The privilege we grew up with wasn’t about where we lived. All of that is superficial. We had loving parents who did the best for us, always. And that is all Florence needs.’
Betsy threw her arms around Archie and hugged him. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened and it brought a lump to his throat.
‘You’re the best big brother in the world,’ she said, squeezing him tightly. ‘Nora is a lucky woman.’
‘You like her?’ Archie asked, slightly afraid of the answer.
‘I do,’ Betsy said. ‘She’s strong and you need that. If I’d come here six months ago asking for some of that vase money, you’d have given in. You’ve got a confidence I haven’t seen before and I can only assume that’s come from your relationship with her.’
Archie nodded. ‘She’s the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me.’
‘It’s a shame you didn’t meet earlier in life. Things could have been so different.’
It was strange that she assumed it was too late now for things to be different. Things were going to be different. It felt like the start of everything.
‘I think things have turned out for the best. Neither Nora nor I might have been ready for each other if we’d met earlier. It seems now is the right time for both of us.’
‘I’m thrilled you’re happy. Come on, let’s take Florence out for a walk, wear her out before dinner then we can eat in peace. Is Nora feeling better today?’
‘I think so. She’s heading back over.’
Archie was in the bedroom when Nora arrived back at the Court.
‘Gosh, you still don’t look very well, my love,’ he said when she came into the bedroom. If anything she looked worse than she had on Thursday. ‘You should have stayed at home. I’ve had a chat with Betsy and we’ve cleared the air.’
‘Oh, that’s great,’ she said, fussing Tatty and then sitting down on the sofa by the window. ‘I need to tell you something, Archie. This bug I have, it’s a baby.’
‘A baby?’ It slowly dawned on him what she was telling him. ‘You’re pregnant?’