Page 94 of An Invitation to the Kennedys

‘Not want little me?The idea.’

‘Well, they didn’t,’ he insisted.‘And really, you shouldn’t be skulking around the village like that.’

‘I never skulk.And I wasn’t the only Kelvedoner there.’

‘You’re not going to try and tell me anyone went with you?’

‘No, but I saw Albert.That fellow who goes about with Fritzi.If it’s skulking you want, he was definitely doing it.’

‘You must be mistaken.Why would he be in the village?There’s only one shop, and nothing at all Fritzi might need.’Chips sat forward, animated by the idea that Fritzi might require something, and that he might be the one to provide it.‘Perhaps he’s out of pomade,’ he mused.‘I shall offer him mine …’

‘I don’t knowwhy,’ Elizabeth said.‘I didn’t talk to him.Only saw him.’

‘You do talk nonsense, Elizabeth.And now I must go and reassure Andrews about the maid’s bicycle.I shall have to have the wheel straightened.It really is too bad.’

‘It was buckled when I got it,’ Elizabeth said.

‘That’s not the point, though, is it?Now that you’ve used it, I shall have to make good, no matter what condition it was in when you took it.’

‘How seriously you take everything,’ Elizabeth said idly.‘Who cares about a buckled bicycle wheel?’

‘The maid will care, very much,’ Chips snapped.‘And really, so should you.You arecareless.’

He left, and Elizabeth stretched a hand out towards Pugsy, who lay curled up on the other side of the sofa.She touched the dog’s ears and Pugsy leapt up and yelped in alarm.He bared his teeth, tiny and white, and Elizabeth laughed.‘His mistress’ dog alright.’

‘Did you really see Albert?’Honor asked.

‘Oh yes.Talking to a chap in a small navy car.I know it was him because when he saw me, he looked shocked and pretended he hadn’t.I can always tell.’Yes, Honor thought, probably that was true.‘And then he shuffled around so his back was to me and his head almost inside the window of the car, so no one could have known it was him.’

‘Did you speak to him?’

‘No.Too busy trying to stop that maddening bicycle from wobbling me off.It was like being on a jolly naughty pony.’

‘Well, maybe don’t say you saw him to anyone else?Fritzi mightn’t like it.’

‘You have my word,’ Elizabeth said.‘And now, if we are finished, I’m going to change.I don’t suppose you have any more clothes I can borrow.’She looked beadily at Honor.‘I’ve worn everything I brought.’

‘Everything of mine you brought,’ Honor corrected her mechanically.

‘Yes,’ Elizabeth said impatiently.‘Obviously.’

Honor sat for a while, mulling over what Elizabeth had said, then went looking for Doris.She found her at last in the stables, scratching the nose of the heavy piebald.‘Isn’t he a darling?’she said, putting her arms around the horse’s neck and leaning her face into its cheek.

‘You’ll be covered in hair,’ Honor said.

‘Who cares for that.’Doris closed her eyes and breathed deeply.‘Don’t horses smell heavenly?’

‘They do,’ Honor agreed.‘They smell … I don’t know,kind?’

‘That’s it exactly,’ Doris said, standing up straight.‘Clever you, Honor.’

‘Can we go somewhere else?I need to talk to you.’Honor looked around the empty stable yard.‘Poor fellow, must be very lonely here.’

‘Who, the horse, or Albert?’Doris asked.

‘Sshh!He’ll hear you,’ Honor said.She tugged at Doris’ sleeve.When they were a distance from the stables, deep in the laurel bushes that had their own smell, clean and medicinal, she twitched at Doris’ sleeve and made her stand even closer.

‘Are you going to kiss me?’Doris asked with a laugh.