Sara Craven - Past All Forgetting

Colin came to her rescue as she searched for words.

‘Janna isn’t totally sold on Carrisbeck House,’ he said, sounding deliberately casual.

‘And why not, may I ask?’ Sir Robert glared at the pair of them, his pleasure in the meal and his cigar destroyed by this strange obduracy. ‘It’s a fine property, and the fishing rights go with it. What’s the matter with it, I’d like to know?’

‘Nothing,’ Janna answered desperately. She moistened her lips. ‘You see, I knew the Tempests, and the thought of living in their old home—and the size of the place—rather overwhelms me, that’s all.’

‘Oh.’ Sir Robert digested this for a moment. ‘Well, you’re going to be a Travers, my girl, so you’ll have to learn not to be overwhelmed.’

‘Janna knows that, Dad,’ Colin broke in soothingly. ‘But I don’t want to rush her into anything she’s not happy about, so I’ve given her a few days to come round in her own way.’

‘Fair enough, I suppose.’ Sir Robert sounded slightly mollified. ‘But don’t take weeks over it, lass, or some fly character will be in ahead of you.’

For one moment Janna was tempted to ask Sir Robert if he had known Rian, or if he was aware he was back in the locality, but she remained silent. Any such reference on her part could lead to precisely the sort of cross-examination she most wanted to avoid, she thought.

She spent the evening watching television in a desultory manner while Colin allowed his father to beat him at chess.

Later, as Colin drove her home, she sat quietly beside him, hoping against hope that he would not raise the subject of the house again. But she was disappointed. As the car slid to a halt before her gate, Colin said almost too casually, ‘I shall have to let Barry know about the Tempest place by Monday, Janna. You’d better let me have your decision one way or another tomorrow.’

‘Your father seems to think there’s only one decision to be made,’ she said, trying to smile.

‘Oh, you know Dad.’ He was silent for a minute. ‘Besides, he has rather a vested interest in the place, I’m afraid.’

‘I don’t really see why.’

‘No.’ Colin paused again and then said ruefully, ‘I’ll have to tell you, darling. He’s already had an architect to look at the place and draw up some plans to convert the old stables and garage block into a luxury flat for himself. Says his house is too big now that he’s on his own. Wants to be near us—and his grandchildren.’

Janna’s mouth was suddenly dry. ‘I see.’

‘Do you, darling?’ He drew her into his arms and kissed her, but for the first time in their relationship, she was incapable of more than a token response. ‘I was hoping you would. He’s not getting any younger, after all, and he wouldn’t actually be living with us. Mrs Masham would come with him, to cook for him and look after him generally.’

Janna shook her head. ‘I can see he has it all worked out,’ she said more calmly than she felt.

Inwardly, she was seething with anger. This—this was moral blackmail, she told herself. If she turned Carrisbeck House down now, it would seem as if she was doing it because she did not want her future father-in-law living on the premises. She bit her lip. She had been surprised by the uncharacteristic generosity of his offer to furnish the house. Sir Robert had never believed in throwing what he termed ‘good brass’ about on anything which did not directly concern himself or his own comfort. Now she understood the motive behind the offer, she would rather live with bare boards and orange boxes than accept, she thought, her temper mounting.

‘Janna?’ Colin’s voice was questioning, his mouth persuasive against her ear. ‘You wouldn’t really mind, would you, darling? An old man’s whim? He may not even go through with it. And he’s very fond of you, you know.’

She gave an edged smile, disengaging herself from his arms. ‘I’ll take your word for it,’ she answered quietly. ‘I won’t pretend that this hasn’t been a shock, Colin. I had no idea your father was thinking along these lines … However, you’d better go along with the purchase, as it’s what you both want.’

‘But you have to want it too.’ He turned her face to his, his eyes searching hers worriedly.

‘I’ve agreed, haven’t I?’ she said steadily. ‘I won’t go back on it.’

‘I know you won’t.’ He took her hand and carried it to his lips. ‘That’s one of the wonderful things about you, Janna. You’re so dependable.’

‘Or so predictable?’ she questioned dryly. ‘I didn’t used to be like that Colin. Beware, I might revert to type.’

He laughed, relieved at the apparent lightening of the atmosphere between them. ‘I don’t think there’s much chance of that,’ he said carelessly. He kissed her again. ‘Goodnight, my love, and dream of me.’

Mrs Prentiss was alone in the sitting room watching a horror film on television as Janna let herself in.

‘Hallo, dear, had a nice evening?’ she queried automatically as her daughter entered the room, and without a pause, ‘I can’t understand these people at all, Janna. The villagers have warned them to stay away from the castle, and yet they’re all going to spend the night there. It beats me why they’re so daft.’

‘Why do you watch it then, if that’s what you feel?’ Janna sat down beside her mother and cast a tolerant eye at the cobwebbed horrors being depicted on the screen.

‘I love Christopher Lee,’ Mrs Prentiss confessed, reaching for another peppermint cream.

Janna had to smile in spite of herself. She forced herself to sit and watch as the heroine’s friend succumbed to the vampire’s lure, then, trying to sound casual, she said, ‘Mum, when you were engaged, did you have—doubts?’

Mrs Prentiss wrenched her attention away from the bloodstained goings-on in front of her with an obvious effort. ‘About your dad?’ she exclaimed. ‘I don’t think so. Why do you ask?’

‘No reason,’ Janna said uncomfortably. ‘I’m just—interested, that’s all.’

Her mother surveyed her. ‘Are you having second thoughts about marrying Colin?’ she demanded. ‘Because, if so, you want your head seeing to. The trouble with young people today is that you want everything perfect all the time. You’re not prepared to work at a relationship. Have you quarrelled?’

‘Oh, no!’ Janna was aghast. ‘Please, Mum, let’s drop the subject.’

‘Well, you raised it in the first place,’ Mrs Prentiss pointed out reasonably. She leaned forward and switched off the television set. ‘Now, let’s have this out. Are you having second thoughts about Colin, and if you are, why?’

Janna bit her lip. ‘It’s nothing as definite as that,’ she said miserably. Swiftly she told her mother about Colin’s wish to buy Carrisbeck House, and Sir Robert’s plan to live in the stable block.

Her mother seemed unimpressed, however. ‘It’s a modern thing, this wanting to live away from your family,’ she remarked. ‘When I was a girl, people had their parents to live with them and thought nothing about it. And he won’t actually be in the house. I don’t see what you’re making all the fuss about. Colin is all he’s got, after all, and for all his money, he’s a lonely man, I daresay.’

‘You think I’m being selfish,’ Janna said forlornly.

‘Not altogether, but I think you’re crossing your bridges before you come to them,’ Mrs Prentiss said bracingly. ‘As Colin said, he may change his mind. And it’s a lovely house. There was a time when we couldn’t keep you away from there. Not many young people have a chance to start their married life in those circumstances, you know. Look at it from Colin’s point of view. And what have you got against the place, anyway?’