Watching. Jeff Edwards

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СКАЧАТЬ had the potential to affect the lives of not only herself, but also the people around her. Spending the money for her own pleasure was all well and good, but it had its downside as well, if not done properly.

      She was determined to leave her money with Groom and Son, until she had a clearer picture of what she wished to do with her funds.

      Walter smiled, as he placed the empty glass on the table before him. Today had been a truly rewarding experience. Jade’s lesson had shown him a facet of the human character that he intended to exploit to its fullest in the future.

      Walter’s measurement of people’s worth had, until today, relied not on their character, colour, or abilities, but purely on how wealthy they were. Now he had seen that not everyone saw people the way he did. Now he could see how much bigotry played a part in people’s lives, and how much it could affect their judgement. Jade had shown him how a person’s bigotry could be used as a tool against them.

      He smiled, as he realised just how many ways there were to use this information.

      This would not be the last time that Walter would use bigotry to his profit.

      

      Jade always considered her adult life began the day she, and Dr Rani Smith, moved into their new house.

      It was her first truly adult purchase. The one thing that now defined her as an independent, adult, woman of means. Therefore, Jade decided that a suitable celebration was necessary, to mark the auspicious occasion.

      Rani and Jade’s friends from university, plus some of their more reputable friends from the Golden Stag were invited. Drinks were supplied courtesy of the landlord of the Golden Stag, who, for an additional sum, also organised for one of Jade’s favourite jazz bands to play.

      Jade also invited her new tenants the Rafters, who looked dubious, but promised to look in, saying they could not stay long, because of their children.

      As with most parties, it began slowly, with the hosts standing around, looking at one another politely, hoping that there would be guests to entertain.

      Fashionably late, the first guests began to arrive. These were the dedicated drinkers, present more so for the free alcohol than for the entertainment, and they set to their tasks with a grim determination. At the rate they were going, no doubt there would be a great many sore heads in the morning.

      The sound of the jazz band wafted from the backyard, through the house and out the front door, attracting the invited guests, as well as a few people who were strangers to both hostesses.

      Walter Groom finally arrived, giving Jade a warm kiss of welcome.

      ‘I didn’t think you were coming.’

      ‘I’m sorry, I was delayed. My father organised a perfectly boring dinner with one of our clients, and I’ve only just been able to drag myself away. You don’t seem to have needed me anyway. It looks as though everyone is enjoying themselves.’

      Jade took his arm, and led him around the room, introducing him to many of her friends from university; people whom he had never previously met.

      Rani and her friend, tended to discuss matters medical, in such obscure terminology, that none but a doctor could understand. The rest of the partygoers tended to avoid them, settling instead for discussions of politics, sport, and the opposite sex; the topics argued with great verve, especially when the arguments were lubricated with plenty of drink.

      Having made the necessary introductions, Jade was distracted by the arrival of the Rafters, who looked extremely embarrassed, and out of place.

      Jade kissed Walter’s cheek, and released him to mingle, while she made her way to her new guests.

      ‘Wonderful! I’m glad you could come,’ Jade said, shaking his hand and kissing his wife on the cheek.

      ‘We’ve just gotten the children down to sleep,’ apologised the father. ‘I’m sorry we can’t stay too long; we’ll have to get back to them.’

      ‘It’s probably my fault they can’t sleep. The noise of the party, and all.’

      ‘Oh no! They’re quite used to noise. Especially when you consider where we lived before; it was on a main road, with traffic all night. I wanted to thank you, Miss Green, and your grandfather, for doing what you did for us. There’s no way we could have possibly been able to afford to live in such a beautiful house.’

      ‘Oh no! You were the ones to do us a favour. In fact, without you, I probably wouldn’t have such a nice house to live in as well. Now, Mr Rafter, with your permission I will now call you and Mrs Rafter by your given names, and I insist that you call me Jade.’

      ‘Thank you, Miss Jade,’ said Mrs Rafter.

      ‘Just Jade,’ insisted Jade, ‘and I’ll call you Lucy and Samson.’

      ‘If that’s what you want, Miss Jade,’ agreed Samson Rafter.

      Realising that she would probably never be able to overcome her tenants’ reluctance to fully consider themselves her equal, she did not insist that they drop the ‘Miss’, and satisfied herself that at least they had come to visit.

      Jade made small talk with them, while leading them to the bar, and getting them each a drink. Lucy insisting on something non-alcoholic, while Samson accepted a beer. Greeting more arriving couples, Jade left them to sip at their drinks, and listen to the music.

      Later in the evening, she returned, and insisted on having a dance with Samson, which he agreed to reluctantly, even though she found him to be a more than capable dancer. Walter had taken Jade’s lead, and had appeared from among a group of men by the bar, to lead Lucy Rafter onto the dance floor.

      Two songs later, the pairs swapped partners, and, as Walter danced her around the floor, Jade was delighted to see how happy the Rafters were, dancing together.

      ‘Who is Millicent Lloyd-Jones?’ asked Walter.

      ‘What?’ asked Jade, distracted from her reverie. ‘Millicent? Rani and I were in the room next to her at Staunton College, and I shared a few classes with her at university. Why do you ask?’

      ‘I’ve just been talking to her. It seems she would like someone to look after a trust account for her. I’m just interested to see if she’s all talk or not.’

      ‘Well I don’t know how big she told you the trust account is, but I don’t think she would lie to you. I don’t think she has a sneaky bone in her whole body. At school, she loved horses, and field hockey, and didn’t seem to have any trouble finding money. I believe she is an only child, and her parents are quite elderly. She’d be quite a catch if she didn’t resemble her equine friends.’

      ‘Yes. She is quite plain,’ conceded Walter as the music came to a halt.

      They separated again, and the Rafters approached.

      ‘Thank you very much for inviting us.’

      ‘It was wonderful. I loved the music,’ added Lucy Rafter, ‘but we have to get back and make sure the children СКАЧАТЬ