T A Williams - What Happens In Tuscany...

‘What’s the occasion?’

‘It doesn’t say.’

‘Do you often hear from them, from him?’

‘My father used to shoot with Colonel Drake, Tommie’s father, but I’m pretty sure he died a couple of years ago, at least as far as I can remember he did.’

‘Well, are you going to go?’ Katie realised that this was a good opportunity for Victoria to start flapping those butterfly wings of hers. ‘Why don’t you?’ She could see that Victoria was unnerved at the prospect of a social event after so many years of seclusion. It took a while before she made her mind up. She looked up at Katie.

‘All right, I’ll go. I know I’ve got to start getting out. It’s just that it’s contrary to everything I’ve got used to for so long. I’ll go as long as you come with me. It says Miss Victoria Chalker-Pyne and friend. We’ll go together.’

Katie nodded enthusiastically. ‘Good girl, of course I’ll come with you. When is it?’

‘Next weekend. Saturday at 3.00pm.’

Katie cursed inwardly as she remembered that this was the day she was supposed to be meeting Jenny. Still, she wouldn’t be seeing her until the evening and it was only an hour by car to Exeter, so she could make it work. She looked across at Victoria with a grin. ‘Right, so what are you going to wear?’

A look of horror swept across Victoria’s face. ‘Oh, lord, I hadn’t thought of that. What would you suggest?’

Katie knew exactly what to suggest. ‘Another shopping trip should be able to provide the answer. That promises to be fun.’

Chapter Six

Katie pulled up outside the old Georgian farmhouse and pressed the button to close the car roof. She watched in fascination as the metal top slid up and over them, before clicking into place. They had only had the new car for three days and she still hadn’t tired of all the gismos and gadgets with which it was equipped. Beside her, Victoria was looking nervous, but they had been through it all before, several times. All she had to do was smile, chat about the weather and, if she got into difficulty, let Katie know and they could be out of there in a flash.

The sun was still shining out from a gap in the clouds, but the forecast was not good. Wet weather was predicted later that afternoon which didn’t bode well for the success of a garden party. They climbed out of the car, something Vicky was still learning to do without revealing too much of her legs. The BMW was very low and the seats felt as if they were only just above the tarmac.

‘Tell me again, Thomas is the name of your friend from pony club, isn’t it? And what about other members of his family?’

Victoria shook her head in frustration. ‘I really can’t remember, it was all so long ago. I’m pretty sure his mother’s still alive, but I have no idea really. We’ll just have to see how it goes.’ She turned towards Katie as she straightened up. Both of them had opted for slim-fitting summer dresses showing a modest amount of leg – apart from when climbing out of the car. Both tugged the hems of their skirts down as they walked to the door. For Victoria, in particular, it was a new experience to have her knees on display. Bravely, she stuck out her hand and rang the doorbell. It was opened almost immediately by a child of six or seven.

‘Hello.’ The little girl was all dressed up and had real flowers in her hair. ‘Who are you?’

Just at that moment, an adult arrived. She was a friendly-looking woman who appeared to be a few years older than Katie, maybe in her mid or late thirties. She gave Victoria a big smile.

‘Oh, hi, hello. It’s Victoria, isn’t it? I remember you from pony club. I’m Beatrice. I’m Tom’s big sister.’ Victoria’s face cleared.

‘Hello, Beatrice, I do remember you. This is my friend Katie. I was just telling her I was afraid I wouldn’t remember any of you. It’s been so very long since I saw you.’ She paused awkwardly. ‘Since I saw anybody, really.’

Katie and Victoria shook hands with Beatrice and then, very formally, repeated the process with the little girl, who was introduced as Emma, Beatrice’s daughter. They followed her through the house and out through the French windows into the garden. There were already several dozen people out there, clutching glasses and chatting volubly. Katie noticed that a number of the women were wearing hats and she caught Victoria’s eye. Neither of them had thought of a hat.

‘It’s all right,’ Katie hissed to her out of the corner of her mouth. ‘It’s mostly just the old ones who’ve got hats.’

‘Victoria. It is you, Victoria, isn’t it? I’d know you anywhere.’ The voice came from the other side of the garden. A tall, dark-haired man was making his way through the people towards them. He was smiling broadly. Katie glanced at Victoria. She was smiling too.

‘Tommie? Little Tommie Drake?’ Victoria couldn’t believe her eyes. Her erstwhile playmate was now a grown man, wearing the uniform of an army officer. She held out her hand and he grasped it with both of his, shaking it enthusiastically up and down. ‘Not so little now, are you, Tommie?’

‘Wow! I was hoping I’d recognise you, but, wow!’ Tommie Drake sounded genuinely amazed. Remembering his manners, he turned to Katie and gave her a formal bow of the head. ‘Hello, my name is Thomas Drake. Nowadays everybody calls me Tom. Welcome and thanks for coming.’

Katie took the proffered hand, noting the strength of his grip. He was a handsome man and she found herself making comparisons with Martin. Same sort of height, slightly less muscular build, but clearly very fit. His hair was thick and strong, his face suntanned, his expression cheerful. She cleared her throat. ‘Thank you for letting me come along. You have a lovely house.’

‘Tommie… Tom, is your mother around? I’d like to say hello.’ Victoria was staring at him and Katie began to get the feeling that she maybe rather liked the look of what she could see.

‘Of course, come along and I’ll get you both a drink and then I’ll take you over to mother.’

‘Is there a special reason for the party?’ Victoria asked the question they had both been wondering about. He gave them a broad smile.

‘It was mother’s idea. I’ve just come home from my last tour of duty in Afghanistan and she thought it was something that should be celebrated.’ He handed Victoria a glass of chilled champagne and offered one to Katie.

‘Maybe something non-alcoholic, if that’s possible. I’m afraid I’m driving.’

‘Freshly made lemonade? The lemons are from our own trees.’

‘Wonderful.’ Katie found herself wondering how they could have lemon trees in Devonshire.

They stood and chatted for a while, or at least, Victoria and Tom chatted about events and people from their past. It was clear to Katie, listening in, that Tom was well aware that Victoria had disappeared from public view for many long years. He was doing his best, very diplomatically, not to mention this absence when they were joined by his mother. She had no such scruples.

‘Victoria, Victoria, how very good to see you after all these years.’ She was a large lady half-submerged beneath a hat apparently made from discarded fruit. Katie’s eyes widened and she took a surreptitious step backwards in case the weight of the thing caused it to collapse on them. ‘You look absolutely marvellous. You have no idea how happy I am to see you out and about after all this time.’

She grabbed Victoria’s shoulders, kissed her on both cheeks and they started chatting, or at least she carried on talking while Victoria supplied occasional monosyllabic responses. The subject of her enforced isolation from the world was soon brought up by Mrs Drake.

‘Every time I saw your father I used to bully him about you, you know. I told him it wasn’t natural to keep a little girl shut up like that, but it was no good. He had got it into his head that something awful would happen to you if you stepped off his land and nothing would shake him out of it.’ She took Victoria by the arm. ‘Now come along with me. I’ve got so many people you simply have to meet.’