Country Wives Page 21

  “Not at all. I’ll leave you to it and go and see how Tad is.” She heaved the tartan blanket more closely about her neck before she left the shelter of the shed and disappeared into the night.

  In an old set of parturition clothes belonging to Dan, Kate knelt down in the straw. Dan squeezed some lubrication cream into the ewe and left Kate to get on with her examination. She hadn’t the first idea of what sensations she would experience but she was eager to have a try. It was tight getting her hand in through the ridge of the pelvic bone, but once through that there was more room and inside felt warm and wettish. Kate felt a head, and a jumble of legs, bony and angular, but as for making sense of what she felt, that was beyond her.

  She withdrew her hand and turned to see what progress Dan had made. He had one lamb out on the straw and was struggling with the second one. It popped out with ease. “How do you do it? I can’t make any sense of what I could feel. There could be three or four in there for all I know.”

  “Let me look. Check these two for me.”

  Dan had the two lambs out on the straw almost quicker than it takes to say “The first one needed turning round; he was coming back end first.”

  When they left the barn and set off to wash up in the outside lavvy, as Connie called it, there were four spanking lambs and two proud mothers in the pen. Connie gave them both a hot toddy before they left. “Thanks for all you’ve done. Just couldn’t manage it myself. You’re blinking good at your job, Dan, there’s no doubt about that. I hear his lordship will be taking you back on.”

  “Really? I hadn’t heard.”

  “So they were all saying in the market on Wednesday. Horses and farm they were saying. I’m surprised you don’t know. They all knew in the market; that’s the place to be if you want to hear the latest. Here, I’ve just had a thought. Come in the dairy and choose some cheese for yourselves. I’ve had some good reports about this batch.”

  Kate and Dan put down their empty glasses and followed her out. The tartan blanket hitched up round her shoulders against the biting wind, Connie led them into the dairy, which was better equipped than the house, as though all Connie’s creativity were centered in there rather than her home. Well-scrubbed stone shelves, immaculate, gleaming, stainless-steel pans and bowls, huge shining spoons and ladles, and best of all, shelves holding a small selection of cheeses waiting to mature.

  “These are ready, these at this end, up to there. Choose one. Go on.”

  “It’s very kind of you,” said Dan, “but please let me pay you for it. I can’t expect you just to give me it.”

  Connie stood tall and answered sharply, “I shall be offended if you offer me money.”

  Kate, anxious not to give any more offense, said, “Dan lives on his own and there’s only two of us at home; how about if we share a cheese? Otherwise it’ll take us months to eat it up.” She smiled her sweetest smile at Connie, who gave in with only a slight demur.

  “I see your point. I’ll cut the one you choose into two halves and wrap them for you.” She busied about getting paper and a huge shining knife down from her knife rack and stood waiting.

  Dan nudged Kate. “Go on, you choose.”

  They all appeared the same to Kate, but she took her time choosing, knowing it would please Connie.

  As they left Porter’s Fold, Kate said, “I feel very embarrassed about this cheese. She can’t really afford to give it away, can she?”

  “No, but like she said, she’d be offended if we’d insisted. Very proud the two of them.”

  “I see that. A lot of veterinary work is with the people, isn’t it, as much the animals. I wish I were good at that.”

  “I’ve always thought you were.”

  “No, Dan, I’m not, not where it counts. I’ve made such a hash of taking my mother out this evening, you wouldn’t believe.” She explained how angry she’d been and how disappointed. “You see, Mia would have fallen in with my plans without a murmur because she understands. But my mother? Oh no! An Italian restaurant in the mall wasn’t good enough. Even the clothes she wore were all wrong for Barleybridge. She was all set for the Askew Arms no less, you see. I can’t afford to afford that, if you see what I mean. I need to keep a hold on any money I have because of college.” Kate gave a great sigh and continued looking out of the side window, deep in thought.

  Dan patted her knee. “Come on, Kate, it’ll take time, you know.”

  “Still, we made a good job of those lambs, and that’s more important. Well, to me it is.” She beamed a great smile at him, and he smiled back at her, glad to see her spirits had lifted.

  “So, seeing as I keep using you as my life counselor, what do you advise me to do? Keep on seeing her?”

  “Of course. You must. Forget the dreams of childhood and your disappointment at her not matching up to them, and meet her as an adult on an equal footing.”

  “Mm.”

  “She can’t replace Mia, can she?” He got no reply. “Can she?”

  Kate snapped out. “Of course not.”

  “There you are, then. Tessa happens to have given birth to you, but Mia is your mother. You might find Tessa’s very lonely, and your father dying has given her a window, as you might say. Here we are, then.”

  “Yes.” Kate stared out at the fountain thrusting water fifteen or more feet into the air as though she hadn’t seen it before. “Oh! Yes, here we are. Right, I’ll be off. Thanks Dan, for thinking of me; it’s been a wonderful experience and gives me a real impetus to succeed. Thanks for the lift.” She hunted in her bag for her car keys.

  “Don’t forget your cheese.”

  “Oh, right. You know they’ve caught the people who tortured poor Copperfield? Dickie Bird came in this morning to tell us; not only that, but they are also the same ones who are stealing the cars from the parking garage, so he’s killed two birds with one stone, as you might say. He’s got some daft idea about their being part of an international gang stealing cars to order. I ask you, honestly, in sleepy old Barleybridge! He’s been watching too many American gangster films.”

  “There are people with pots of money around here. He could be right.”

  “I suppose. Good night. Thanks again. See you tomorrow.”

  Chapter

  • 13 •

  The letter asking Mungo if the practice would take on Lord Askew’s equine work and also take back the farm animal work was on Mungo’s desk the following morning. Joy opened it and sprang to her feet, shouting, “Eureka!” before she’d finished reading the first paragraph.

  … in consequence of this a meeting next week to discuss the … suggest Thursday at twelve noon at the practice or at Askew Hall whichever you prefer…

  Joy raced up the stairs to the flat and burst in to find Miriam and Mungo still eating breakfast. “He’s done it!”

  “Who’s done what, Joy?” Miriam asked.

  “Sorry! It’s this.” She thrust the letter under Mungo’s nose. “See?”

  Mungo, sensing the importance of the moment, slowly picked up his reading glasses, placed them on his nose, and solemnly read the letter all the way through before he spoke, his face showing no reaction whatever. Then he leaped to his feet, put his hands round Joy’s waist, kissed her heartily twice and swung her round.

  Miriam picked up the letter from where Mungo had dropped it on the table and read the magical words. “What did I tell you. All due to Dan.”

  “Exactly!”

  With a wry grin on her face, Miriam asked Mungo, “He can stay, then?”

  “Of course. What else? I never thought the beggar would do it, but he has. So we’re equine too now. Champagne all round tonight before they leave?” Mungo raised a questioning eyebrow at Miriam.

  “Shall we keep mum until it’s all agreed? Knowing Dan, he could drive a hard bargain, or perhaps more likely, knowing Lord Askew, he could drive a hard bargain and us not agree.”

  “Perhaps you’re right, yes, of course. But what a climbdown on his part.”

 
; Miriam corrected him. “No, Mungo, what a wise man he is. He knows how clever Dan is and wants him for himself.”

  Joy declared she rather thought it might be Lady Mary who’d swung things in their direction. “I know for a fact that Dan has had dinner with her twice in the last few weeks.”

  Miriam looked up from reading the letter again and asked, “Has he? I didn’t know. You don’t think …”

  “I’ve work to do even if you two haven’t, so stop your matchmaking the pair of you and start the day.” Mungo went off to the bathroom to clean his teeth and left Joy and Miriam speculating.

  Joy said, “He’d lead a hell of a life if anything ever came of it.”

  “Lord Askew as a father-in-law! God help him.”

  “Apparently Dan thinks he has a soft side to him.”

  “He must be the only person ever to think that. No one has a good word for his lordship.” Miriam put the letter back in its envelope and placed it by Mungo’s glasses. “And you, Joy, what about you? What if Dan wanted to be a partner. Would you agree?”

  Rather primly and with tight lips, Joy answered, “As Zoe so rightly told me not long ago, I’m not a partner so I have no say in the matter.”

  “For heaven’s sake, of course you have. You’ve the rest of the staff to carry with you about this. Well?” Miriam folded her arms and looked as though she had all morning to wait for Joy’s reply.

  “Well, at one time I would have opposed it, but I’ve got used to him now and there’s no doubt about it, he brings nothing but credit to the practice and that can’t be bad. Now he’s apparently won back Lord Askew … So, yes. It’s fine by me.”

  Miriam kissed her cheek. “Excellent! You see I was right. I’ve always said he would be good for us. I may not work in the practice, but I do have a nose for knowing what’s going on.”

  Joy looked away, wondering just how much Miriam had guessed about her own love for Mungo. God, she hoped Miriam never found out. She couldn’t bear it if she did. Fast on the heels of that thought she was hit as though by a sledgehammer with the realization that her reaction to Mungo swinging her round by her waist and kissing her had not brought the adrenaline rush it would have done at one time. As she pondered this astounding thought, he came back to pick up his glasses and the letter from the kitchen table, and she found that her heart scarcely stirred at the smile he gave her, and there was only the slightest tingling of jealousy at the sight of him kissing Miriam au revoir. So what had happened to her? Nonplussed by the void which had apparently opened up in her life, Joy thought she’d better go before her face gave anything away. “I’ll come down with you.”

  She followed Mungo down the stairs, noticing that his hair grew as vigorously as ever. For twenty years she’d fiercely resisted the temptation to lay a loving hand on his neck where his hairline began, or more tempting still, caress his temples where his dark hair sprang so strongly. Somehow the urge to do so had almost bled away. But he was still a very desirable man. As Mungo walked down the stairs, he glanced back to look at her and winked. “We’re forging ahead again, aren’t we, Joy? Aren’t you thrilled?”

  “Oh, yes! We’re moving on.” But Joy wasn’t sure whether she referred to the practice or to her passion for him.

  When Mungo handed Dan the letter to read later that day, Dan was beside himself with delight. “This is marvelous! Just what we wanted, isn’t it?” He looked up at Mungo and asked, “Isn’t it?”

  “Of course. We’re all thrilled. It’s a whole new world opening up for us, a new chapter. We’ll get him here on home ground, you and me, and have it all out in the open. Get things clear right from the start.”

  “Absolutely. While I wouldn’t mind building up the equine side, I don’t want to be exclusively equine, remember. In any case, there wouldn’t be enough work to begin with until we got more clients.” Dan handed back the letter to Mungo and added, “That business of capital and wanting to be a partner, I’d like that.”

  “Let’s get the meeting over with first. I’m in favor, but there’s the others to consider before we can make concrete plans. Talking of plans, what’s this about Lady Mary?”

  “What about her?”

  “Having dinner, I understand. The two of you.”

  “That’s all. Nothing more.”

  Mungo held up his hands in surrender. “Right. Sorry. None of my business.”

  “No. Would you want me at this meeting?”

  “Of course. You and I, but before the meeting I’ll consult Colin and Zoe.”

  “Certainly. Must be off. I take it I’m staying, then?” Dan smiled. “I’d like it more than anything. But I’d buy a house and then the flat could be available for another vet should you decide to employ an additional one.”

  “Right. Thanks.” Mungo held out his hand. “Let’s shake hands on it.”

  WHAT really amazed Mungo that night was Letty’s surprising response to his news. They’d agreed for Zoe and him to meet at Colin’s house, and when they were seated, all with drinks in their hands, Mungo outlined what his proposals were. “I know there was a lot of opposition to Dan when he first came, but I’m rather hoping that you’ve all had a change of heart. There’s no doubt about it that he’s made changes which we didn’t care for, but which have proved excellent once they were up and running. His knickknack idea has proved a winner from day one, and the changes he suggested to the small animal clinic hours are making that side of the practice pick up rapidly. Now we’re faced with another big change. A fourth partner joining us, with capital, and transforming us into an equine practice. We musn’t stand still … we’ve got to keep on going upward.”

  Zoe held out her glass for a refill and while Colin obliged, she commented, “We don’t want change just for the sake of it, though.”

  “Absolutely not. But our premises cost thousands to maintain, and we’re not out of the woods yet financially with the capital cost of the building. Dan’s money would be a real boost. Plus the added income from Lord Askew, plus any more equine we might pick up …”

  Colin interrupted with, “Don’t be asking me to step in if he’s away. I haven’t done horses since I qualified. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

  Letty patted his knee. “Colin, don’t underrate yourself.”

  Zoe was struck dumb with astonishment, and Mungo thought he hadn’t heard correctly and had to ask her what she’d said.

  “I said he musn’t underrate himself.”

  “Oh no, certainly not, quite right, though I do see his point. I’d be alarmed myself, I have to confess.” Then Mungo noticed what Miriam had told him, that Letty did look different: younger, less acidic, more friendly somehow. And it wasn’t just her clothes and her makeup, though they were a vast improvement. It was something about her, a kind of melting, a sort of surrender. He shook off his analytical mode, thinking he was getting as bad as Miriam, and found that Zoe was being difficult.

  “He’s arrogant, that’s his trouble; that’s what gets my back up. He’s always so right.”

  “But he is.” This from Letty, which almost made the others’ jaws drop in amazement.

  “He is?” Mungo asked.

  “Oh yes. Diagnostically he can’t be bettered; let’s face it.”

  Colin smiled a secret smile. “She’s right.”

  “She is?” Mungo felt there was something going on he didn’t understand.

  “Oh, I am. I know I didn’t like him to begin with, and he was very rude doing that Nazi salute when he saw me, but I deserved it. I was rude and very aggravating too.”

  Mungo now felt he was swimming in thick soup. “You were?”

  “Oh yes. When really he’s a very hardworking man putting in all the hours while we’ve been shorthanded. And to get Lord Askew back … and his horses to boot, is nothing short of miraculous.” She downed the remains of her whiskey and held out her glass to Colin for a refill.

  Colin continued to smile his secret smile, and Zoe and Mungo were still nonplussed while Letty, co
mpletely unaware of the surprise the others were experiencing, sat dreamily gazing into the gas fire. Out of nowhere she said, “We’re thinking of having this fire taken out and fitting a wood-burning stove instead. Much more homely and welcoming, don’t you think.”

  “Good idea,” said Zoe. “But it’s not for me. I don’t like the work.”

  “But think of the pleasure.”

  Mungo decided he’d better get the discussion back online before he finally lost the plot. “So if I go ahead with this meeting, you’d be in agreement to have Dan as a partner I take it?”

  Letty nodded vigorously. “Absolutely. Well, it’s for Colin to say really, of course, he’s the partner. But he does agree, don’t you, Colin?”

  “I most certainly do.”

  “Zoe, what about you?”

  “Well, all things considered, I suppose I shall say yes. Let’s hope he’s sound financially, otherwise …” She gave a thumbs-down to indicate it was impossible without his money to back him up. “I’ve got a bit remote from practice politics since I’ve been at home with Oscar, but I’m back next week and I expect I’ll be glad to have his support.”

  Mungo agreed with her by nodding his head. “He’ll be buying a house, so the assistant’s flat will be free. Shall we sell it, or keep it for an additional member of staff.”

  “With the poor state of farming at the moment, to be quite blunt, I can’t honestly see us wanting to take on another vet for large animals. But I think hanging on to the flat would be prudent. Perhaps a member of the lay staff could use it for a while till we see some improvement.” This from Colin, who for once in his life had made a decision without first getting it approved by Letty.

  “So if Lord Askew and Dan and I make music at this meeting, I shall formally ask Dan to be a partner.”