Chapter Twenty-Two
CHAPTER
TWENTY - TWO
Violet opened the door to the drawing room and caught Jenny’s eye.
‘Sorry to drag you away,’ she said.
‘No, no! Very happy to be dragged. Do you want a hand with the washing up?’
‘No. Henry’s doing that. I just wanted a quick chat. Shall we have a breath of fresh air before it’s completely dark?’
Jenny looked worried. ‘All right. I think I know why you want to speak to me.’
Violet pushed her arm. ‘I don’t want to “speak to you”, I want to talk over a few things. Like, do we want a lift to London with Henry or would we rather go by train?’
‘I’ll get my coat.’
The dogs, still keen for a walk, galloped ahead as Jenny and Violet went into the paddock.
‘The thing is, Vi,’ said Jenny, before Violet could speak. ‘I may not be going home tomorrow. I might stay on for a bit. If that’s all right.’
‘Of course it’s all right! Why wouldn’t it be?’
Jenny put her hands deep in her pockets. ‘I’m a bit worried about how you feel with – well – me and your father …’
‘You’re worried about how I feel about you two getting together?’
‘Yes. Do you hate me?’
‘No! Of course not. I love my father, and he’s been alone far too long. Although I might find it weird if my best friend ends up becoming my stepmother! But I’d cope. I’d be delighted for both of you.’ She paused. ‘He’s got to get rid of Kiki though, and kindly. Her motives may be suspect – I’m sure she just wants to be Lady Marchfont – but she’s put a lot of time into trying to make him happy and she’s awfully good at cooking …’
‘I think I may need to go to domestic science college—’
‘You dare! Daddy won’t care a jot if you can’t cook. But he will be a lot happier with someone who lets the dogs on the sofas.’ She paused. ‘Although maybe wait until Kiki’s got Daddy to install central heating?’
Jenny laughed. ‘I can’t tell you how relieved I am. I know how you felt about Kiki—’
‘It was because she is wrong for him, and he for her! She didn’t want the bumbling academic, she wanted a proper lord.’
Jenny sighed. ‘To be honest, I’ve always had a crush on your father and as I got a bit older it developed into something else. When he became a lord, I ran away to France. All these women like Kiki were after him. It was all too much!’
‘So that was why you left in such a hurry? I always wondered.’
‘I felt I was abandoning you but I didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t bear to watch women wearing too much lipstick bringing him casseroles and generally trying to snare him, just because of his title and new-found wealth, not for who he is and always has been.’
‘I must admit I did feel a bit abandoned but I’m thirty! More than a grown woman. I should be able to sort my own life out.’
Jenny laughed. ‘And you have! You’ve adapted to London life, you’ve got a snazzy haircut, you’re holding down your weird job in a bookshop and you have a good friend in Felicity. Talking of whom,’ Jenny went on. ‘Did I thank you properly for sending David to rescue me? I don’t suppose you literally saved my life but I was wasting away rather.’ She laughed, obviously to make light of what must have been a horrible time.
‘Oh, love! You couldn’t be more welcome. I was so worried about you. It was such a relief when you called to say you were safe.’ She paused. ‘Where will you stay down here now?’
‘While there are guests and Kiki, I’ll carry on in your old bedroom – if you don’t mind. But as soon as I feel I need to, I’ll move into the gamekeeper’s cottage.’
‘It seems a bit unnecessary …’
‘If the locals are going to accept the change from good old Jenny who sold vegetables to the Manor we have to be very careful.’
‘You’ve thought it all through then.’
‘To be honest, I’ve been running different scenarios through my head for years. I think I even mentioned to your father, before I left, how charming that cottage in the woods could be.’
‘Which was obviously why he started the work on it,’ said Violet. ‘All has become clear! But will you be all right living on your own in the woods?’
‘It’s on the edge of a very small wood, and your father and I – well, we feel we’ve wasted enough time and so will get married as soon as we decently can. And we might visit each other …’
‘And you’ve sorted all this out since we arrived?’ While she had been cooking and washing up, her best friend and her father had been making wonderful plans! She shook away her moment of indignation. It wasn’t important.
Jenny nodded and sighed ecstatically. ‘Once we’d admitted how we felt about each other, the rest seemed simple. Oh, Violet! I never thought I could be so happy!’
Violet could see it was as if a light had been turned on inside her friend. Her happiness was making her glow. She just hoped Kiki would be all right. But then she realised this was for Kiki and her father to sort out. It wasn’t any of her business.
‘So, what should I do? Should I accept a lift? I don’t really know Henry very well.’
‘He’s a friend of your father’s and your godmother’s: I think we know he’s safe in taxis.’
Violet laughed. ‘Well, that’s true.’
‘Then what? What’s troubling you? But tell me quickly because it’s getting cold.’
‘I think I fancy him, Jenny. I think it might be awkward because – and I haven’t told you this – it turns out he’s my boss! The one I haven’t met! So I’ll be working with him.’
‘Goodness me, Violet! I’d accuse you of being a dark horse but I realise I have been one myself.’
‘You think the train would be safer?’
Jenny shook her head. ‘We’ve established we don’t think he’ll pounce on you inappropriately and his car would be much more comfortable and convenient than the train. What is worrying you?’
‘What will we find to talk about?’
Jenny laughed. ‘If you can’t find anything, pretend to go to sleep. You’ll be genuinely exhausted by the time you leave in any case.’