Page 95 of A Good Heart is Hard to Find
‘He says you’ve brainwashed her into your evil ways, and are hiding her away so she can seeher lover, or some such, and he must snatch away the burning brand from the flames, and – oh, you know, the usual stuff.’
‘Well yes, but she really isn’t here, Francis, and she isn’t with a lover, she’s simply in London minding Phily while George is away. I’ve only just found out about the shoplifting. Sorry, thekleptomania.’
‘We don’t mention that to Ma and Pa,’ he warned. ‘It sets Pa off,even though she can’t help it, apparently. Orla says your fella’s a widower now, but you aren’t going to marry him anyway, he’s blotted his copybook.’
‘No, I’m going to stay single. And get a dog,’ I added for good measure.
‘Well, just as long as there are no strange males hanging around your cottage when the parents visit.’
‘Visit? What do you mean,visit?’ I exclaimed, aghast.
‘To searchfor Jane. They’re determined not to go home until they’ve seen her.’
‘Francis, all they have to do is phone Phily in London! I said in my letter.’
‘They tried right after they read it, and Phily said Jane was otherwise engaged and started giggling like a lunatic, so they didn’t believe her. I think Pa makes her nervous.’
‘That woman’s a half-wit, and that may be rating her intelligence toohigh. Jane and Gerald were probably just making up – he’s gone down there for the big reconciliation “forgive me for I know not what you did” scene.’
‘Oh? I’lltellthem,’ he said doubtfully, ‘but they probably won’t believe me, either. Here they come … I’ll be round later if I can head them off tonight.’
‘Tell them I’m out, Francis, and then try and meet me in the King’s Arms in the villagearound seven.’
‘I’ll try,’ he said, and put the phone down.
I was packed and out of that house at the speed of light, even allowing for a quick call to Rosetta to ask if it was all right if I went up to the Hall early. I mean, I was far from wanting to appear keen, but any port in a storm.
It wasn’t that I was frightened of Pa, either: I was petrified.
I couldn’t do anything about Jane’s carstill parked outside since I didn’t have the keys, but I loaded mine up with everything I thought I might need (including the whisky) and drove by a circuitous route up to the Hall, thus avoiding the middle of the village and any possible parental confrontation.
