Scandal in the Village Read Free

modestly.’
    ‘Far more handsome than you’ve any right to be.’
    ‘Thanks again he said, even more modestly.’
    Caroline laughed. ‘Well?’
    ‘Well, what?’
    ‘What are you going to say about me?’
    ‘That you’re beautiful in body, mind and spirit and suit me to the enth degree. I wouldn’t swop you, not for anything.’
    ‘That’s not very romantic!’
    ‘I didn’t think you were in a romantic mood and you haven’t been for several weeks. I have begun to wonder why.’
    Caroline turned away from him, drew the duvet up around her neck and said, ‘I’m going to sleep now, so I’ll say goodnight.’
    ‘Good night, then, my darling girl.’ He paused and then continued with, ‘If you’ve gone off me I’d like to know.’
    ‘Not really, just tired like I said.’
    Thoughtfully, Peter leant over her and kissed her cheek. ‘God bless you.’
    ‘And you.’
    Peter turned away from her and they lay back to back quite quietly for a while, so he never saw the tears which welled around her eyes and then slid silently onto her pillow. She brushed them angrily away but they wouldn’t stop coming. Finally when there were no more tears left to cry she said, ‘I love you, you know that don’t you? For always and for ever no matter what. You love me, don’t you? Really love me?’
    ‘Absolutely. I tell you that every day of my life and mean it. Good night, my love.’
    ‘Good night, darling. I’ll go see Sheila straight after taking the children to school. I expect she’ll be feeling very sorry for herself.’
    ‘Indeed. Poor thing. It’s no joke breaking a leg at her age.’
    ‘You’re right. It isn’t.’
    By some kind of intuitive telegraph most of the mothers at the school gate knew about Sheila’s fall, and asked Caroline how she was.
    ‘She was in an awful lot of pain last night, but I haven’t heard anything this morning. I’m going right now to find out.’
    ‘Give her our love. She might be an old bat, and bossy with it, but you can’t help but feel sorry for her can you?’
    Caroline laughed and agreed. ‘She won’t be a lot of use for the Harvest, so we’ll all have to pull our weight on her behalf.’
    ‘We all will, just give us the word.’
    ‘Lovely, thanks.’
    With Pompom in tow Caroline knocked on Sheila’s door.
    Ron opened it and invited her in, Pompom completely forgetting how Caroline had lavished loving care upon him in his hour of need, leapt about filled with excitement at his return and rushed to find Sheila.
    She was sitting in an armchair still in her negligee and matching nightgown, with the broken leg, now in plaster, sticking straight out in front of her resting on a tapestry footstool. Pompom bounded about leaping up to reach Sheila’s face to give it a welcoming lick.
    ‘Down, Pompom, down, I say. Oh Ron, I can’t bear him, take him away. Don’t let him touch my le-e-g-g-g. Ohhhh!’
    When Ron had safely shut Pompom in the kitchen Caroline asked how she had got on at the hospital.
    ‘It was horrendous, they did their best though, we got home about one and I haven’t had much sleep, however, I must say, I am feeling a little better this morning, thank you.’
    ‘I thought you’d be in bed.’
    ‘I can’t stand lying in bed. So boring. No television, nothing to see. I thought I’d be more cheerful downstairs.’
    ‘Of course you will. I told you last night you were brave and you are, you see.’
    ‘I could soon cry. The slightest little thing.’
    ‘Naturally.’
    ‘I got the VIP treatment with you phoning up. Thank you ever so much.’
    ‘Not at all. The least I could do. You’re not to worry about a thing. Give me any messages and I’ll attend to them and then Sir Ronald can spend his time looking after you.’
    ‘That’s most kind. We’ve been talking about the Harvest Festival decorations. I just don’t know what to say. I don’t see how I can help.’ Tears began to fill Sheila’s eyes. ‘It’s not fair it happening right now,