Page 71 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
Thankfully, by the time Nora and Archie got to the Court later on, Betsy and her family had not arrived. Constance was sitting in the drawing room perched on the edge of a sofa but craning her neck so that she could see the driveway.
‘Archie, Nora. I’m so relieved you’ve arrived ahead of Betsy,’ she said.
‘I think we’re all a little on edge,’ said Archie, bending down to kiss her on the cheek.
‘Is there anything I can do?’ Nora asked.
‘Ursula has it all in hand, but thank you for offering. How are you feeling? Archie said you’ve been under the weather.’
‘Much better today, thanks,’ Nora said, not sure it was true now that she’d had to go to the effort to get ready and leave the house. ‘It was only a twenty-four-hour thing.’
‘They’re here, your Lordship,’ Ursula said, popping her head around the door.
‘Best foot forward, Mama,’ Archie said, offering Constance his arm.
Nora followed them, finding it intriguing that they were both dreading the visit.
A huge black Range Rover had pulled up outside the front door. The passenger door opened and Betsy climbed out. Nora’s first impression was that she was glossy. She looked expensive in the way that only certain people who had been privileged their whole lives could.
‘Mama!’ She headed for Constance, who did a good job of looking pleased to see her daughter. They kissed on both cheeks, and then Betsy turned to Nora, ignoring Archie entirely.
‘You must be Nora. It’s wonderful to meet you,’ she gushed, enveloping Nora in a cloud of expensive perfume as she leant in and air-kissed her.
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Betsy,’ said Nora. Archie had started helping Caspar to unload the boot. There was already an enormous pile of luggage and baby paraphernalia stacked beside them.
‘Have you over-packed, darling?’ Constance said.
‘It’s mostly Florence’s. Caspar! Can you get Florence out of the car?’ she snapped at her husband. Then, when he didn’t put down the bag he was unloading in the two seconds since she’d asked, she sighed and flounced back to the car. ‘Florence, we’re at Granny’s house,’ she said, taking the child out of her car seat and carrying her over to Constance. ‘Say hello to Granny.’
Florence hid her face in her mother’s shoulder, then peeked out shyly.
‘I can see you,’ Nora said in a sing-song voice, remembering Val doing something similar when one of the women at the pottery had bought their grandchild in to visit. That child had thought it was a brilliant game, and Florence thought the same. She hid her face, then looked at Nora again, smiling, waiting for the game to start again.
‘I can see you,’ said Nora, then ducked behind Betsy to trick Florence into thinking she’d disappeared. Florence looked for her and then Nora said ‘Boo!’ from behind her and she started chuckling in the marvellous way that babies do.
‘Oh, Nora, she loves that game, don’t you Florence?’ said Constance.
‘Please don’t get her overexcited. She needs to go down for a nap,’ said Betsy, striding into the house. ‘Caspar! Bring the cot in first!’
Constance rolled her eyes at Nora. ‘And so it begins,’ she said.
Nora followed them back into the house, trying not to cringe when Betsy started interrogating Ursula about what sheets had been put on the bed they’d be sleeping in.
‘Can you help bring the luggage in, Ursula?’ Betsy said.
‘No need, Ursula,’ said Constance, out of earshot of Betsy. ‘If you could make a pot of tea, though I’d be grateful.’
Ursula, equally grateful, escaped downstairs while Constance headed back into the drawing room. Nora went outside to help ferry everything in.
‘Caspar, this is my partner, Nora,’ said Archie.
‘Lovely to meet you, Nora,’ said Caspar, beaming at her despite the weariness emanating from him. ‘Sorry for descending on you.’
‘Not at all,’ said Archie, clapping him on the back. ‘It’s always nice to see you.’
26
‘IF YOU WANT to make your excuses for dinner, I’d quite understand,’ said Archie when they were both lying on his bed before they had to get ready for the evening meal.
