Page 42 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
‘He’s besotted with you, and I must admit, that wasn’t my intention when I suggested the match. But here we are.’
‘Look, Constance,’ Nora began, immediately wondering whether she’d made a huge mistake by not addressing her as your ladyship. ‘Archie and I don’t know what the future holds for us. To be honest, we haven’t discussed it much. We’re enjoying getting to know each other, that’s all. But I can assure you that I am not after anything.’
Constance gave a small laugh. ‘Forgive me if I find that hard to believe. I know you’re not after his money. You’re probably bright enough to realise that there isn’t any, but a title is something money can’t buy.’
Nora almost laughed at the idea that being Lady Harrington might be something she’d covet. But what she couldn’t understand was why Constance had suggested she go out with Archie at the book club if she was worried about her intentions.
‘I thought you wanted him to find a partner?’
‘Well, yes, but not someone like you. You’re the type of woman who can turn his head. He’s already so taken with you, his attention isn’t on the estate in the way it should be.’
‘Someone like me?’
‘Someone who will turn him against me.’
‘Here you are,’ Archie said, arriving with Nora’s gift.
‘It’s just a little something to say thank you for inviting me,’ Nora said, wishing that she could have had a moment longer with Constance to get to the bottom of what she was worried about. At least to reassure her she’d never be so manipulative as to interfere in the relationship between mother and son.
Constance handed her sherry to Archie and unwrapped the parcel.
‘Oh, goodness! How wonderful!’ She exclaimed as she turned the candlesticks around in her hand. ‘What a pity we chose lunch rather than dinner. We could have lit them now.’
‘Why don’t we?’ Nora said.
Constance clapped her hands together. ‘Yes! Why ever not.’
Archie beamed at Nora and she felt pleased he thought things had started off on the right footing, even if she was confused about what Constance thought.
‘Lunch is served, your Lordship,’ Ursula said, popping her head around the door.
Nora almost giggled again. It was funny to hear Archie called that. Since Ursula had referred to him as Archie earlier, she assumed the formality was for Constance’s benefit. She probably liked to do things properly.
‘Thank you Ursula.’ He held out his arm for his mother to take and Nora followed them into the dining room, slightly taken aback by the sudden display of etiquette. But then, she herself had particularly appreciated Archie’s manners when they’d been out for dinner.
After Archie had pulled out the chair for his mother and seated her at the table, he pulled out the chair opposite for Nora then took his own seat at the head of the table.
Ursula produced a bottle of wine and proceeded to fill their glasses, checking with Archie first with a simple, ‘Sir?’ as she offered the bottle, to which he nodded. After Ursula had poured the wine, she went over to a hatch in the corner of the room and lifted it, revealing a dumb waiter from where she carried a tray laden with a silver soup terrine, bowls and a basket of bread rolls over to the table.
‘Tomato soup?’ she asked Nora.
‘Yes, lovely, thank you.’
Ursula served Archie and Constance without asking if they wanted it, but Nora supposed they usually ate everything since the cook probably knew what their likes and dislikes were.
Nora sat with her hands in her lap. She had some distant recollection of the etiquette being that Archie should start first, and Constance seemed to be waiting too. Once he’d started eating, the conversation resumed.
‘Have you been to choose your book, Nora? I asked Archie to find out but he never did say.’
‘Yes. I’ve chosen the romance this time. I didn’t think I could read another thriller just yet and I wasn’t interested in that footballer’s biography.’
‘I’m surprised at Lois for allowing that,’ said Constance.
‘It’s bound to appeal to some people,’ Nora said. There were a fair number of men in the group and Lois had said they tried to appeal to as many readers as possible.
‘It’s not that long since we had a sports biography. What I’d enjoy is Cher’s new autobiography,’ Constance said.
Archie’s eyes widened, and he looked at Nora, apparently as surprised as she was about that.
