Loving - Green Henry - Страница 17

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'Why whatever…?' she began.

'There 'e was,' Edith broke out between gasps, 'I seen the hair of 'is 'ead, large as life, you could 'a' knocked me down with. a leaf,' she said.

The what?' cried Kate arrested.

'A man,' Edith said.

'A I. R. A. man?' Kate asked, voice rising.

'The Captain,' Edith replied calmer, put a hand to her throat and swallowed. With obviously a great leap of her mind Kate got there.

Tn your young lady's bed. Oh goody,' she shouted, at which both began to giggle helpless. 'Large as life,' one said, the other repeated, then the two of them giggled again. Tn her bed,' one said, the other echoed, and both shouted with laughter. 'All night?' shrieked Kate, and it seemed she forgot she had been at odds with Edith about Charley Raunce. 'All night,' Edith screamed back. Holding their sides they crowed with laughter.

'And 've you told old Mother Burch?' Kate asked when both were quieter.

'She seen him too,' Edith answered, as she dabbed the heel of her right hand at her eyes where these had been running.

'She did?' Kate echoed.

'She went in,' Edith called out with a high yell then fell back on the eiderdown and howled she laughed so much, faintly kicking with her legs.

Kate began to gasp as if she could not get enough air to speak.

'She went in?' she asked.

'And d'you know – what she said?' Edith said choking.

'What's that?'

'When she come out,' Edith went on by fits and starts, 'oh you'll never guess – no love you couid never – oh I shall die – Katie it hurts my side – d'you know what she said?' – and by this time Kate as she stood in front of her was doubled up hands on knees in such shrieks that she was dribbling – 'she said' – and Edith fought to get the words out – 'oh she said why 'e's puttin'

'is shirt on.' At this Kate collapsed, fell back. Both girls howled. Between screeches Kate managed to get out, 'Take care I'll wet myself.' Edith calmed at once.

'Hush dear someone'll hear.'

'Just puttin'

'is shirt on,' Kate quoted sobering.

'That's what she said,' Edith answered.

'Well Edie I'd've given a week's wages to be there I would really. What did you do?' And at this Edith went into a long description of each thought she had and every step she took after so gently knocking on that bedroom.

'But then who was it dear?' Kate asked at last.

'Oh I never saw his face only the top of his head like I told you where he was going thin. It was the Captain make no mistake.'

They giggled a bit more at this then Kate wanted to know if she had not asked old Aggie Burch.

'Hush Kate she'll hear,' Edith said, 'but if you'd seen her face you could never've questioned her.'

'Look I'll just sluice some cold water over me and then I'll get down to the 'all,' Kate answered. 'I wouldn't miss the look she'll be wearin' for nothing in the world, not for a 'ug from an old ugly bastard of a tinker even,' she said.

'An old ugly what? Why Kate Armstrong whatever are you saying?'

'Forget it dearie. There,' she said throwing her towel down, 'I'm off.' And Edith had to rush so as not to be left out below. But where Kate made straight to the servants' hall Edith struck right-handed for the pantry. She was in luck, Raunce was there yet. The moment she saw him she seemed overjoyed. With for her an altogether extraordinary animation she fairly danced up. He stood as though embarrassed, fumbling his nose, squinting.

'Why Charley,' she laughed, 'what d'you know?'

'Yes,' he said solemn.

'Well then isn't this a knock out?' she asked. 'An' it happened to me,' she added. 'After all these years.'

'Now steady on lass there's my lad Bert to consider.'

'Bert?' she asked. 'Why 'e's getting our breakfast or should be at this hour. Why what about him?'

'That lad ain't of an age yet,' Mr Raunce replied but he spoke as though in apology. She quietened down, stopped rocking backwards and forwards and ceased almost pushing her flushed face into his.

'Well aren't you glad?' she went on after a minute, 'for me I mean,' she mocked.

'I can't make you out at all,' he answered.

'Why there's all those stories you've had, openin' this door and seeing that when you were in a place in Dorset and lookin' through the bathroom window down in Wales an' suchlike oh I've heard you or Kate has and now it's come to me. Right a'bed they was next to one another. Stuff that in your old smelly pipe and smoke it.' She began once more to force her body on his notice, getting right up to him then away again, as though pretending to dance. Then she turned herself completely round in front of his very eyes. He seemed ill at ease.

'But how would you know it was me?' she asked suddenly stopping.

'Miss Burch,' he replied. 'It come as a big surprise. I didn't guess she'd have the sense of right and wrong to acquaint me. But I shouldn't pay attention to this mess up if I was you.'

'What d'you mean pay no attention?' she asked and she spoke angry.

'What they see fit to do is no concern of our own,' he said still watching her as if ashamed and surprisingly he yawned.

'You mean you're going to make nothing of it just because I found 'em? The Captain in Mrs Jack's bed?' She blushed, with anger perhaps. 'You're going to try and take that from me?' Take it from you how's that?' he asked.

'Take it away from me,' she repeated and her eyes filled beautifully with tears.

'Honey,' he said calling her this for the first time, 'you don't want to go and talk, see, or you'll likely lose your place?'

'Lose my place?' she echoed, 'I should worry in this lousy hole.'

'Without a reference,' he added, 'you mark what I say.'

'I should worry,' she repeated and for the moment looked as if she might burst out crying. He put on a grin. He looked appealing and upset.

'What they do is no concern of us,' he said again. 'And there's the National bloody Service Officer waitin' for you over on the other side.'

'Don't you swear at me of all people,' she answered. Turning on her heel she actually ran out in the direction of the servants' hall.

Breakfast that morning took place at first in utter silence. Even Kate looked down her nose. Raunce fidgeted and often glanced quickly at Edith who was hurried in everything she did. But as for Miss Burch she could not eat anything at all hardly. Her hand shook so she spilled the tea from out her cup. Only Paddy behaved as usual, concentrated on his food.

Before this meal was done Miss Burch hastened out by the scullery door. She passed through to the kitchen. But Mrs Welch sat adamant with little Albert and barely looked round to return Agatha's dark good morning. So Miss Burch went off to her room to be alone. Meantime Charley spoke up in the hall. There's someone got to take the breakfast tray,' he said.

'Oh I couldn't,' Edith said at once, 'I'd spill it on that bed.' It was for her to answer because it was her duty each morning.

There'll need be two trays,' Kate put in sly.

There will not,' Raunce replied his eyes on Bert, 'the other party left the Castle first thing by pedal bicycle,' he said.

The Captain?' Bert asked, 'I seen 'im as I was doin' the brass.' It was probably instinct made the lad continue as he did. 'What room did he occupy then?' he enquired.

'Ah you may well ask boy,' Raunce answered solemn. At that Edith broke out with, 'I'm surprised at you Mr Raunce I am really, that you should make a mystery out of nothing.' She seemed furious and Kate watched avidly. 'Listen Bert,' Edith went on, 'the Captain 'e spent the night in my lady's bed next 'er, an' she was nude I saw, only they overslept the two of them as I know from when I went to open the room in the morning. And don't you let anyone tell you different because it was me found it and called Aggie Burch so there.'

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