Chapter 19

On the streets of London

Already four days had passed since his feet walked again the streets of London after all those years. It didn't take him too long to start feeling he was at home. He took a deep breath. The constant and slightly sweet and acrid smell in the air from all the wood and coal burning, was mixed with the smells from the trees and the grass of its glorious parks, and the river dampness from Thames. He could be blindfolded and could still know he was in the city he grew up. Memories of his childhood were awakening inside him that had been asleep for a very long time.

The city was alive with traffic, people going about their everyday lives. They were looking more relaxed compared to New Yorkers. There the streets felt like rivers of never ending energy coming from all the immigrants who kept coming from the four corners of the earth to make a life of their own in the biggest metropolis of the world. Londoners on the other hand, took their time to tip their hats off, and break a polite smile as they passed by him. Ever the typical English, they followed the etiquettes of their society to the last letter. He used to hate this blind insistence to tradition and social rules, but ten and more years after, he realised he found his compatriots amusing. At least he knew they kept to themselves and that was one of the English personality traits he liked very much considering his idiosyncrasies.

On the Saturday, two days ago, he had decided to visit St. Paul's college, his old school. Under other circumstances, he would have thought of this decision of his as stupid sentimentality, specifically because this place had come to symbolise everything he despised in the high aristocratic society his father belonged.

But again, time had proved to be the biggest illusionist in life and what seemed so unbearable all that long ago, now it merely merited a lift of his eyebrow coupled with mocking seriousness as he introduced himself to the nun who had come to the entrance to check who was that person who had kept hitting the bell of the imposing wrought iron gates. So yes, he was curious to wander about the college's grounds, and in comparing his feelings of the present with those of the past, to finally get a sense of how far he'd come from that teenager who used to be full of angst and hate, the one who couldn't wait to break free from that rich obnoxious prison. He knew however, that the passage of time will weigh heavy in his mind in regards to one person, and that was Candy. But he kept all those thoughts for the now in check while he dusted off the Grandchester name.

He never had thought he would use it again, but to say he was a Grandchester to Sister Beatrice at the gates of St. Paul's was like being given a free pass to all areas of the college. Of course he had to meet with the Headmistress of the college.

Sister Grey had left her position, around the same time he had left. Her departure was a bit of a hush hush situation. Happened abruptly and without too much explanation. It was amazing what one man could find by a nun overeager to chat and by doing that, exposing minor scandals to someone who looked earnest enough and was up for some banter till they reached the heavy arched oak doors that led to the college interiors.

Was Terrence Grandchester a relative?, she had asked. By the looks of her, Sister Beatrice seemed young, too young for her to having been at the college while Terry and Candy were there. He coughed and admitted that yes, Terrence Grandchester was a distant cousin. But he knew St. Paul's stellar reputation and wanted to check the school for his future children. He was to marry you see quite soon to his sweetheart. The nun exclaimed to his confession with an excited voice and congratulated him with a wide smile.

"Forgive me if I say this, but your cousin didn't carry the fine reputation the Grandchester name has", Sister Beatrice continued in a low voice, sharing with Terry secrets of the school which had been weaved into the history it carried within its walls.

Terry stopped in his tracks. It was indeed bittersweet nostalgia which pushed him to actually head for the college but now he thought it could be quite fun too. To think of posing as a cousin of this rebellious rascal who terrorised the college, was ingenious. He really fought to not burst into laughing, while mischief flashed inside his turquoise eyes. So what did that menace of a cousin did? He also had heard of his reputation faintly but he only had met him a handful of times in family occasions and didn't have much in common, Terry admitted to the nun.

"Dear sir, although I never met Terrence Grandchester myself, by what I have heard, the stories from the older nuns, I would have found it surprising if you had told me you had things in common with that young man"

The nun was almost at a point to cross herself. Surprised beyond belief and also satisfied to his marrow of having left such infamous reputation, the air filled proud his lungs while they continued walking the grounds.

Sister Grey of course, although it was never confirmed, left because Terrence dropped out of college and then the young lady he was involved with took off almost immediately after he did. I think her name was Candice White. She was an adopted child by the Ardleys? A tycoon family in the States she recalled. Had he ever heard of her? He shook his head in response.

"No, the name doesn't ring a bell", he said with a passive voice while his face looked more interested to hear about that girl Candy. "So she took off, you said?", he asked.

They were just about to enter the main college corridor. Sister Beatrice turned to face their visitor. His stare was firm on her so much so, she got a chill up her spine. Those Grandchesters looked like an intense family...

"Well, all that could very well be hearsay, but the gossip at the time was that she left without any warning, as if she had turned mad. She jumped into a coach and ordered the driver to take her to Southampton. Cannot say whether there were witnesses for this and all I know I know from stories that were told at our kitchen over tea time.

"As you can imagine, a lot of parents were unsettled by this scandal let's say at the time. The son of a Duke leaving and then an adopted common girl going after him..."

"After him...?"

"They did say that Candice girl was after your cousin for his money and title", she said and moved closer to Terry, prompting him to bow his head to hear her almost whispering voice, "But between you and me, I think it was love...like Romeo and Juliet more like", she said with wide eyes that dreamt the scenario she had made up in her mind. Sister Beatrice was a romantic soul from what it seemed.

He turned his head back up. His eyes were laughing. Candy still had the power to surprise him. Even then, after a decade had passed by. So she had followed...that voice shouting his name hadn't been in his head. He remembered the scene like it was yesterday.

"There were a few students that left after that...thus Sister Grey resigned from her position"

Of course, Terry had no interest to find out who was the Headmistress at present, nor to get into polite conversation with her.

"Sister Beatrice...", he said to her just as she opened the door. "Because my time is limited, may I have a look around at the college grounds before meeting with the Headmistress?"

He looked at her thoughtful face.

"It'll help me better to imagine my children running and playing around here by strolling around the grounds, rather than having tea with Sister...",

"Sister Morris"

"Sister Morris", Terry repeated her reply. "If I'm satisfied then I can make a repeat visit to meet with the Headmistress"

They kept looking at each other.

"You could show me around if you have some time",

A faint smile started dawning on her plum rosy face.

"Ok, then! Yes you are right Mr. Grandchester", she said.

For the next half hour or so, Terry walked about the park surrounding the college. As if he had entered a time travelling machine, the more he walked, the younger he felt. He stopped at a particular tree and looked up. His younger self lay hidden on that big sturdy branch, looking down at where he stood now, where Candy had stood while changing into her Romeo and Juliet costume. He remembered her face glowing red with embarrassment. He took a breath and smiled. It was a long time since he felt so light.

He kept feigning interest to the words spoken by Sister Beatrice but his ears weren't really listening. They were more in tune to Candy's out of tune song, echoing around those trees. Thanking him for saving her skin from that creep, Neil. He remembered their bickering.

The moment they reached the Pretend Pony's hill he stopped like he was under a spell. Kept looking into the distance. London spreading in front of their eyes.

"Beautiful view"

Mist spread inside his eyes. So many secret meetings...his heart fluttering every time he heard the dry leaves crushing under her feet as she was approaching. He remembered one time looking at her profile, while she had her eyes turned towards that view which lay in front of them right at that moment. The sun was setting. Before dipping below the horizon, everything was bathed in a golden haze. He had to remember to breath. Not only because she always took that breath of his away but he had to keep pretending that everything was normal between them. If only he knew her effect on him, she would had run a mile away.

He heard a gentle cough beside him. He turned and cleared his throat.

"You are crying...", sister Beatrice sounded surprised.

Terry quickly brushed the wetness off his eyes.

"Oh that...I'm afraid is nothing more than hay fever...I'm terribly allergic you see"

They smiled to each other.

"I think I've seen enough Sister Beatrice..."

They both walked towards the main gates.

"Thank you for the tour. It was very kind of you...next time I'll come by to visit Sister..."

"Sister Morris", she repeated to Terry once more.

"Of course!", he exclaimed with a smile.

"The pleasure was all mine Mr. Grandchester...and everything I've told you about your cousin's past..."

"It'll stay between us...", Terry reassured her, "Scouts honour"

He bowed his head, said his goodbyes and left St. Paul's with mixed feelings. He expected to feel emotional. But he hadn't expected to hear about himself and Candy. And it was as if some flashlight had fallen into a dark spot, illuminating it for the first time. He realised that he liked the fact that they had remained in the stories of the college as this infamous couple. The thought of meeting with Candy became even more real.

For today, he had decided to take it easy. Not that he had much time free. There was this painting exhibition opening he needed to attend in Whitechapel gallery. For the theatre troupe, it was free publicity. His boss, Robert Hathaway, the legendary John Barrymore, who was going to play Hamlet and himself were to attend together with a couple more fellow actors from their company. Given his last minute drop from Hamlet's role, and all the trouble his mother had gone to persuade John to take the role - after all they used to have a "thing" in the past - being roped into showing up to some painting gala to act like the eye candy for the young ladies who were to be there was the least he could do for Robert. Apparently, the painter, Christian Blake in name, was a interesting artist, quite the debonair himself and this was supposed to be his big break. So what the heck...one more night engaged in otherwise boring obligations and then...

As he walked, his hand patted the place where his breast pocket was hidden. Since he had arrived in London, Pony's letter with Candy's address had been kept permanently there. He had memorised her address by now and the temptation to just stroll by her place was growing even stronger.