Page 72 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘Given that Betsy has barely even said hello to you yet, I wonder what she might unleash over dinner. Do you think she’ll bring up the vase with me there?’
‘Probably. If she’s already told Mama that she wants to talk about it, she won’t be able to keep it in. That’s probably why she’s been avoiding me. It’ll be the first thing she says.’
Nora snuggled into his side, her cheek resting on his shoulder. She loved being with him. She’d never felt so safe with anyone. And she needed Archie to know that he could rely on her in the same way. And that was why, even though she was already exhausted by the whirlwind of an afternoon, she was going to show up for everything all weekend.
‘We’ll get through it. Your sister intimidates people to get what she wants. Don’t let her do that to you. Remember how you’ve turned things around in the last few months by having the Christmas market and then starting the lake project. You’re lord of the manor, Archie, and you’re doing a great job. And it’s not your job to support your sister when she has a capable partner in Caspar.’
‘You like him?’
‘I do. I think he’s henpecked to death and needs to stand up for himself a bit more, but perhaps he does when he’s not here with us,’ said Nora. She knew Betsy had told Archie and Constance that Caspar wasn’t able to provide the standard of living she required, but having met both of them now, and with an outsider’s perspective, she thought it was more to do with Betsy’s unrealistic expectations than anything Caspar was lacking.
‘I’ve never had the chance to get to know him,’ said Archie. ‘It’s always like today has been. A bloody circus, even before they had Florence.’
‘Why don’t you take him out for a drink tonight?’
‘I can’t leave you with Betsy and Mama,’ he said. ‘It’s not fair.’
‘Yes, you can. And it might be good for you to hear Caspar’s side of things. Get a feel for whether they really are struggling financially. Because if they’re not, you can stop feeling guilty about not being able to help her out.’
‘You’re so wise,’ Archie sighed. ‘It’s so obvious when you say things like that, yet I never think of it myself.’
‘It’s only because I’m not as close to it as you. And my view isn’t coloured by knowing anything about what’s gone on before.’
‘Do you think everyone has things like this going on in their families?’
‘Yes. Look at Seb, he’s had all kinds of issues with his dad, hasn’t he?’
‘But you don’t.’
‘I think it helps that I’m an only child from a very ordinary family. My mum and dad went straight from steady jobs they’d had all their lives to living a very full life between their retirement village and several holidays a year. They’re no trouble, just hard to keep track of.’
‘We should invite them up to stay,’ Archie said.
‘One family at a time,’ Nora said, closing her eyes for five minutes.
Dinner started out as a relatively civilised affair. Florence was in bed and the baby monitor sat on the dining table next to Caspar. Betsy had still barely said a word to Archie and was now sitting on his left opposite Constance.
‘I thought we might venture out for a drink later,’ Archie said to Caspar.
‘He doesn’t want to do that,’ Betsy said at the same time that Caspar said ‘That sounds great.’
‘Oh, come on, darling,’ Constance said, ‘let the men have some fun. Us girls can open a bottle of bubbly or something. It’ll give you and Nora the chance to get to know each other. How does that sound?’
Betsy harrumphed but said nothing else.
‘Where’s your local?’ Caspar asked.
‘If you don’t mind walking, we can take a shortcut through the woods to the Cricketers Arms. It’ll take about twenty minutes.’
‘Looks like a lovely evening for a stroll,’ Caspar said. ‘It’s nice to get some country air, isn’t it, Bets?’
‘Perhaps tomorrow we could take Florence for a romp around the garden,’ said Constance. ‘You two loved running on the lawns when you were toddling. It’s nice and soft if she falls over.’
‘Lovely idea, Constance,’ said Caspar.
‘Is anyone going to address the elephant in the room?’ Betsy said.
‘Not tonight,’ said Caspar, in a warning tone, that made Nora think he had balls after all.
