A Fallen Woman. Nancy Carson

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ have been clandestinely meeting Aurelia on match days, while he, Benjamin, was doing his extramarital duty with Maude?

      ‘The only time I’ve not played was when work was pressing,’ Clarence responded. ‘You’ve obviously no idea how much time and effort a chap has to put in to pass his final examinations.’

      ‘And that’ll continue, even now you’re married?’

      ‘I shall try not to let work interfere with married life, you can be sure. Nevertheless, with a wife to keep…’

      ‘Your house is ready now, isn’t it?’ Aurelia suggested.

      ‘House?’ Benjamin queried, looking from one to the other and wondering how and why his wife would know about a house…unless she’d visited it…

      ‘Yes, we’re renting a house…for the time being, at any rate. You have to start somewhere, Benjamin.’

      ‘Yes, course you do. I’m just curious as to how my wife knows about it.’

      Clarence shrugged. ‘Well, it’s hardly been shrouded in secrecy. Just part of the parish gossip, I expect. To tell you the truth, I’ve been renting it for quite a while.’

      ‘It amazes me how Aurelia gets to hear all these things. She gets to hear about everything. I get to hear nothing.’

      ‘Maybe it’s the company you keep,’ Aurelia replied pointedly.

      ‘I get to hear gossip, and I pass it on to Aurelia,’ Marigold declared, determined to protect Aurelia. ‘Mostly from Algie, though.’

      ‘From Algie, eh? But of course, Algie and Harriet were close once upon a time,’ Benjamin added with deliberate crassness. ‘Whereas you, Clarence, were formerly close to Algie’s famous sister, I understand.’

      ‘We were friendly for a while, yes,’ Clarence replied dismissively.

      While Benjamin persisted with his clumsy enquiries, Algie turned to Aurelia in an aside and they shifted a step away from the rest of the group. ‘Why is Benjamin being so damned thoughtless? He’s got a bee in his bonnet about something. Has he been drinking?’

      ‘Only what he’s had here, as far as I know.’

      ‘Obnoxious twit. I couldn’t care less about his being aggressive to Clarence, but poor Harriet deserves more consideration. It’s her wedding day, for God’s sake. What’s she done to offend him?’

      ‘Nothing, I imagine, Algie. But you know Benjamin. Do you think I ought to try and get him to leave before he upsets somebody?’

      ‘That’d mean you leaving as well. Why should you have to go?’

      Her eyes twinkled into his and her lips curled into a lovely smile. Algie’s stomach turned somersaults.

      ‘No, I don’t want to go,’ she whispered, still looking tellingly into his eyes. ‘I’m enjoying myself. But if Benjamin is going to be objectionable…’

      At that moment, Benjamin turned and saw an unmistakably warm look for Algie in his wife’s eyes once more. He wasn’t sure that it meant anything other than misguided admiration, but he’d seen that look before – for himself – in the days before they were married, when she was smitten. But the way Algie was standing…so close to her…too close.

      ‘Aurelia, it’s time we left,’ he spouted decisively. ‘I’ve got things to do.’

      ‘Then go,’ she said, embracing the sudden alluring possibility of him departing without her. ‘I’m not leaving.’

      ‘Blowed if you’re not. You’re coming with me. I’ll drop you off at home. Otherwise, how will you get back? I certainly won’t allow you to walk home alone at night from here.’

      ‘Such gallantry doesn’t become you, dear.’

      ‘We can take Aurelia home,’ Algie suggested. ‘We’ve ordered a cab for eleven o’clock. It’s hardly out of our way, and there’ll be plenty room for Aurelia.’

      Aurelia beamed. ‘Thank you, Algie. I accept your very kind offer.’ She turned to her husband. ‘So you see, Benjamin, you don’t have to worry about me. Algie and Marigold will look after me and deliver me home safely. So you can go about your business with a perfectly clear conscience.’

      Benjamin eyed Algie with a measure of suspicion. Before today, he’d never considered that Aurelia could feel anything for a man as mundane as Algie Stokes, a man who used to be one of his own lowly employees. Yet the prospect of cavorting with Maude Atkins right then was growing in appeal, becoming an increasingly powerful influence. ‘Right-ho…But what if I come and collect you myself afterwards?’

      ‘What’s the point?’ Aurelia queried impatiently. ‘Why trouble yourself when Algie and Marigold have so kindly offered to take me home?’

      He shrugged. ‘Then I’ll see you at home. Cheerio, everybody…’ He made to leave, then turned and put on one of his charming smiles. ‘Oh…thank you for a lovely day, Harriet. You too, Clarence. I wish you both every happiness.’

      ‘Thank you,’ they said in unison, and took their leave of the threesome that remained.

      At that, Robert Sankey appeared, thrusting himself amiably into the trio.

      ‘Aurelia!’ he greeted, beaming, focusing only on her. ‘At last I get the chance to say hello. How are you? You look absolutely ravishing.’

      ‘Thank you, Robert, and so do you. It’s been such a long time.’ She smiled radiantly. ‘Let me introduce Marigold, my very best friend, and her husband, Algie Stokes.’

      Robert looked directly into Marigold’s eyes with a broad smile, and took her hand. ‘Delighted to meet you, Mrs Stokes.’ He looked from one woman to the other. ‘It’s been a long time since I was in the company of two such beautiful girls at the same time.’

      Marigold smiled back, delighted at receiving such a compliment from this attractive and distinguished-looking young man. It gave a definite boost to her confidence. ‘It’s nice of you to say so,’ she replied, and felt herself blushing.

      He turned to Algie. ‘Mr Stokes,’ he said, offering his hand, and they shook. ‘Happy to make your acquaintance.’

      ‘Likewise,’ responded Algie. ‘You’re obviously a friend of Clarence.’

      ‘I know Clarence – and Harriet – from the Amateur Dramatics Society. I was more of a stagehand, helping out behind the scenes during performances – for a while at any rate. Long before it all collapsed, of course.’

      ‘Robert is the son of Elijah Sankey, owner of Sankey’s Glassworks in Audnam,’ Aurelia informed them.

      ‘For my sins,’ he admitted modestly. ‘By the way, did you know the folk from the Amateur Dramatics Society are frantically getting the thing restarted?’

      ‘Well, they’ll have to do it without the dubious auspices of my late father,’ Aurelia remarked.

      ‘Oh, indeed. We shall use a different СКАЧАТЬ