CHAPTER X
JOHN'S PLAN
In the cottage after Nancy and Captain Flint had left they made more tea, ate some squares of chocolate and talked about the events of the day.
"Daisy, you better come and see the sleeping arrangements," and Peggy took Daisy up the stairs to the communal bedroom to stow her belongings, it gave her a chance to talk to her without interruption from her sister and the others.
"I am pleased Daisy, really pleased, it was just a shock, Nancy and I have never talked about such things, not seriously, she's not one for emotional stuff. Well, not to us, until today!" Daisy arranged her bedding alongside where Nancy had hers.
"Underneath she is really like that."
"Maybe to you, but all we've ever seen is Captain Nancy; she even lets you call her Ruth! I never have!"
"I know, but she's your captain, still, but not mine, not ever." Peggy pondered this and admitted to herself this was so.
"Mother used to ask me if Nancy had any boyfriends, I didn't know, but I did wonder why she asked. I didn't have many at all, but mother knew I'd fallen for John." Daisy's response was not what Peggy expected.
"He's a good man; I can see why you did!"
Daisy had finished arranging her things when they heard the Land Rover draw up outside followed by the opening of the cottage door. Going downstairs to the main room Nancy was just standing by the table, silent, the others looking at her. Daisy could tell something was amiss.
"What is it Ruth?"
"Nothing, nothing." Daisy did not believe her. They all sat around the table, Daisy ensuring she was next to Nancy and immediately took her hand in her own.
"Tell us now, is Captain Flint alright?"
"Oh yes, it's…" She paused, "he told me something, I'm not supposed to say, but it's difficult." For the second time that day she was almost reduced to tears." Sniffing loudly she forced herself to carry on. "John, Titty. Uncle Jim wants to marry your mother."
John stood up.
"What!" He sat down again, clearly agitated. "Titty, did you know about this?" He was clearly angry.
"No, not at all, I know they see each other quite often, but I didn't know it was anything like that, he's helped her a lot now that daddy's not there." She thought to herself what a day this had turned out to be.
"He can't!" John sounded defiant. Titty touched his arm in a way that she hoped would be reassuring.
"Why not?" John was now upset.
"Father."
"I know, but she can't be alone forever."
"Uncle Jim has." Peggy spoke as if this was enough to end the matter.
"Dot will think it's romantic." Titty intended this in some ways to irritate her brother, too often he had made light of her emotions though she knew he did care for her. John snorted with derision. Stood up and went over to the supplies cupboard, took out a bottle of rum, found a glass, poured himself a tot, a large one, and drank it back in one go.
"John, enough, sit down!" Titty, to the shock of the others, was giving Captain John orders; he obeyed sitting back down and nursing his empty glass. "If it will make mother happy then it has nothing to do with us, Uncle Jim is a good man, you know he is, a generous man. He's Peggy, and Nancy's, uncle, the nearest they have now to a father. Mother is lonely, her life now is mostly looking after Bridget, and she is about to leave school and go up to university. Uncle Jim is already a father figure to her, what could any of us do to make life better for mother?" John was silent but clearly struck by what Titty had to say.
Peggy and Nancy were both astounded and impressed by Titty's outburst, she had always seemed the most compliant of the Swallows; in the shadow of Susan and in awe of John. Daisy was pleased, she wanted to applaud Titty, but thought it wise to do or say nothing.
"Yes, of course." John looked almost ashamed and chastised by Titty's outburst. "I think a good night's sleep will help us all." Nancy intervened.
"Before then what of tomorrow? I'm fetching Uncle Jim at nine and he will be away from here by half-past. So let's plan something now, or this whole trip will have been a waste."
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