handkerchief and tucked it away for future tears.
After her guests left Victoria waited for Lettice to ring.
‘Darling. Have they gone? A relief for one and all, I should imagine. I thought Archie was very difficult. Not at all his old self.’
‘It’s hard for me to say.’
‘Of course. Impossible. To us, knowing him as we do, the change was very noticeable. All that flattery is quite new.’
‘I think he was unwell.’
‘I can’t say that I suspected any such thing. Did he mention it?’
‘No. Not at all.’
‘There you are. He would have been sure to tell me if anything had been the matter.’
Back in Cambridge, Archie rang Victoria.
‘Just to let you know that we arrived safely. It was wonderful being with you. Harold is almost embarrassing in his praise of you. Quite rightly. You must visit us here after the New Year which, as you know, we are to spend at The Old Keep. We will certainly meet then. I will ring you again in a day or two.’
His voice was tired and the pitch high. She asked him if he was unwell.
‘You are very perceptive. I am not well. I sleep badly at night and can’t concentrate fully during the day. I realise that I’m getting old. My body feels old and the mechanical parts of my brain. I do forget everything. However, I won’t forget you or Maudie.’
Four days later, a letter arrived for Victoria from Harold. After thanking her for the nights he had spent at the stables, he went on to say, ‘Archie is rather unwell. I doubt if there is any cause for anxiety. He spent the day in bed yesterday but refused to send for the doctor or to take his temperature. I will let you know of any developments – good or bad.’
Harold was assiduous in providing Victoria with bulletins and rang her the day after his letter had arrived.
‘I regret having given you any cause for alarm about Archie. He is not really ill but very tired. There seem to be a large number of administrative jobs to do with the running of the college which are proving complicated and unpleasant.’
‘I’d love to see him. Would you let me know if he would like a visit?’
‘Yes. Of course. Most certainly. I will ring you again, if I may.’
‘Thank you. You are kind.’
‘No. No. Not at all. Not in the least.’
Chapter 9
V ictoria took Maudie to lunch at The Old Keep on Christmas Day. She would have liked to stay at home but Belinda advised her to go ‘particularly this year’.
Maudie was wrapped in a thick red shawl ready for the expedition when Harold rang. Planting her on the floor, Victoria answered the telephone.
‘I want to tell you that Archie is now rather ill. The doctor, being cautious, has sent him to hospital. He says that it may be pneumonia. I don’t think there is any reason to worry and he is in extremely good hands.’
Harold gave her the name and address of the hospital that lay outside the city and where Archie had been sent the evening before.
‘I think a letter would be welcome. He is very depressed.’
Victoria wrote, quickly, before setting off.
‘Dearest Archie. I can’t bear you being ill. Please get better soon and remember how much we love you. What a horribleChristmas. I hope you don’t get bothered by balloons and communion wine. I wish I could see you. I’m knitting you a scarf.’
Pulling a tartan cape trimmed with velvet ribbons over her shoulder, Lettice descended the tower steps. Forcing her arms through each gap, she stretched them towards the baby. ‘Let me take the precious bundle.’
They stood for a moment in the hall under a bunch of silver holly – removing coats and shawls. Lettice wore a shimmering Christmas frock. It came down from its hanger once a year and was worn throughout the special day. Roland looked at his life partner and thought she had bags of spirit. No one can deny that.
Lettice gave Victoria a lute in trust for Maudie. ‘It was my lute. Especially designed for me by a famous lute-maker. I used to play and sing to
After her guests left Victoria waited for Lettice to ring.
‘Darling. Have they gone? A relief for one and all, I should imagine. I thought Archie was very difficult. Not at all his old self.’
‘It’s hard for me to say.’
‘Of course. Impossible. To us, knowing him as we do, the change was very noticeable. All that flattery is quite new.’
‘I think he was unwell.’
‘I can’t say that I suspected any such thing. Did he mention it?’
‘No. Not at all.’
‘There you are. He would have been sure to tell me if anything had been the matter.’
Back in Cambridge, Archie rang Victoria.
‘Just to let you know that we arrived safely. It was wonderful being with you. Harold is almost embarrassing in his praise of you. Quite rightly. You must visit us here after the New Year which, as you know, we are to spend at The Old Keep. We will certainly meet then. I will ring you again in a day or two.’
His voice was tired and the pitch high. She asked him if he was unwell.
‘You are very perceptive. I am not well. I sleep badly at night and can’t concentrate fully during the day. I realise that I’m getting old. My body feels old and the mechanical parts of my brain. I do forget everything. However, I won’t forget you or Maudie.’
Four days later, a letter arrived for Victoria from Harold. After thanking her for the nights he had spent at the stables, he went on to say, ‘Archie is rather unwell. I doubt if there is any cause for anxiety. He spent the day in bed yesterday but refused to send for the doctor or to take his temperature. I will let you know of any developments – good or bad.’
Harold was assiduous in providing Victoria with bulletins and rang her the day after his letter had arrived.
‘I regret having given you any cause for alarm about Archie. He is not really ill but very tired. There seem to be a large number of administrative jobs to do with the running of the college which are proving complicated and unpleasant.’
‘I’d love to see him. Would you let me know if he would like a visit?’
‘Yes. Of course. Most certainly. I will ring you again, if I may.’
‘Thank you. You are kind.’
‘No. No. Not at all. Not in the least.’
Chapter 9
V ictoria took Maudie to lunch at The Old Keep on Christmas Day. She would have liked to stay at home but Belinda advised her to go ‘particularly this year’.
Maudie was wrapped in a thick red shawl ready for the expedition when Harold rang. Planting her on the floor, Victoria answered the telephone.
‘I want to tell you that Archie is now rather ill. The doctor, being cautious, has sent him to hospital. He says that it may be pneumonia. I don’t think there is any reason to worry and he is in extremely good hands.’
Harold gave her the name and address of the hospital that lay outside the city and where Archie had been sent the evening before.
‘I think a letter would be welcome. He is very depressed.’
Victoria wrote, quickly, before setting off.
‘Dearest Archie. I can’t bear you being ill. Please get better soon and remember how much we love you. What a horribleChristmas. I hope you don’t get bothered by balloons and communion wine. I wish I could see you. I’m knitting you a scarf.’
Pulling a tartan cape trimmed with velvet ribbons over her shoulder, Lettice descended the tower steps. Forcing her arms through each gap, she stretched them towards the baby. ‘Let me take the precious bundle.’
They stood for a moment in the hall under a bunch of silver holly – removing coats and shawls. Lettice wore a shimmering Christmas frock. It came down from its hanger once a year and was worn throughout the special day. Roland looked at his life partner and thought she had bags of spirit. No one can deny that.
Lettice gave Victoria a lute in trust for Maudie. ‘It was my lute. Especially designed for me by a famous lute-maker. I used to play and sing to
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