Page 70 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
He looked at her with a resigned expression. ‘You’ll see. She wants to meet you and Mama says she’s keen to talk about the vase.’
‘What about the vase?’
‘I think she wants some of the money.’
‘It’s as good as spent, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, but I don’t think Betsy will take that very well.’
Nora put her knife and fork down. ‘I’m looking forward to meeting your sister. But I’m going to find it very difficult not to stick up for you if she starts demanding things like that. It’s none of my business, I know that, but selling that vase hasn’t added to the personal wealth of you or Constance and so Betsy shouldn’t be expecting that for herself. You’re using the money to enhance the assets that she may one day inherit.’
‘I suppose she will feel that the vase belongs to the family,’ Archie said weakly.
‘It belongs to you. It’s kind of you to consider the wishes of Constance and your sister, but at the end of the day, you’re the one who inherited. And you are the one carrying the burden of the estate on your shoulders, not Betsy. So don’t let her waltz in for the weekend and call the shots.’ She’d gone too far. She was sure of it. It wasn’t her place to tell Archie how to manage his family. She would never truly understand the position he was in, and she acknowledged that. But at the same time, it filled her with rage that his sister was so intent on material gain that she’d put that ahead of Archie’s priorities, which in the main were preserving her family’s legacy. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘It’s not my place to tell you how to deal with your sister, or anything else for that matter.’
Nora slipped onto Archie’s lap for a cuddle.
‘You’re right, though. Everything you’ve said is absolutely right. And I want to tell her that, but it’s so hard. I regress into being a pushover, unable to stand up for myself whenever I’m around her.’
‘It’s important to make her understand,’ Nora said, trying to take the aggression out of her tone. ‘It’s too much for her to expect any more than she already has. You could threaten to start charging her a nominal rent for the London flat.’
Archie buried his head in Nora’s shoulder and laughed. ‘God. Are you trying to start a war?’
‘No. As I said, nothing to do with me.’ What was wrong with her? She couldn’t let it go. ‘I don’t want to see you being railroaded into things by someone who’s supposed to love you.’
‘If you’re there, perhaps she won’t.’
‘Are you planning to use me as a human shield against your sister?’
‘Yes. Is that alright?’
‘I’ll do whatever I can to help. But it’s probably best if I leave the talking to you.’
‘Perhaps.’ He kissed her nose again.
‘Or maybe we’ll get on like a house on fire and be best friends forever.’
The following day, Nora was still too under the weather to feel like swimming. Archie had stayed over and unusually, they had actually slept rather than talk late into the night or make love.
‘Morning, my love. How are you today?’ Archie said, setting a cup of tea down on the bedside table. ‘I popped a teaspoon of sugar in there to give you a bit of a boost.’
‘Thank you. It’s ridiculous, but I still feel quite tired,’ she said, yawning.
‘Why don’t you have your tea and then go back to sleep? I must go and see how the roofers are getting on. Oh, I forgot to tell you. The chimney pots fitted a treat. Simon the roofer was incredibly impressed. Look.’
He pulled his phone out and showed her a photo of the chimney pots in situ.
‘Your chimneys are so beautiful. I’d love to go up and have a closer look sometime.’
‘I can arrange that. Let’s wait until the roofers have finished, though. You’ll be feeling better by then.’
‘I hope so.’ She was desperate to get back to the pottery so she could concentrate on fulfilling her latest order.
‘Look, there’s no need for you to meet Betsy this time. I can make your apologies. Perhaps we’ll go to London for a weekend instead.’
‘No, I’ll be fine later,’ Nora said. She had been yesterday, and at least she wasn’t feeling so sick anymore. ‘I think I must have had a bug, and it’s wiped me out. I want to come and hang out with you this weekend. And your sister.’
‘Liar. But thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
