Chapter Thirty Eight
Dickie sighed as he sat back in the cab. "I'm sorry for disrupting your escape" He looked out of the window at the passing city as he spoke.
"Oh! Don't worry, don't worry" Hugh seemed a little distracted "It was most enlightening, in various ways".
"How so?" Dickie turned back to look at his friend.
Hugh tapped his chin "I had an idea that Martlesham had had some recent bad luck, but I had no idea he was in that deep." He sighed "I'm starting to get a picture of who was really involved with Larry's schemes and I'm just wondering…"
He lapsed into silence, and Dickie let him for as long as he could. "Just wondering?"
"Oh, yes! Just wondering." Hugh looked directly at Dickie "How much do your police chaps want to know about Larry and his associates, do you think?"
"I'm sure they would say 'everything'" Dickie replied morosely. "Honestly Hugh, I feel I never knew him at all" He sighed deeply.
"Cheer up old chap!" Hugh was suddenly his usual cheerful self "You'll get to meet the coffee set and we'll win lots of House points for being home early!" He grinned brightly.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
Isobel was involved in an interesting discussion about women's access to education when Hugh entered the room in typically extravagant style.
"Well thank heavens I haven't missed you all!" He declared with his arms spread wide "I was worried my meeting had run on too long to be able to say hello" He beamed as 3 or 4 matrons made their way over.
Isobel stole a glance at Margaret, saw her shaking her head and smiled, before realising that Dickie hadn't entered the room with Hugh. She frowned.
"Mr Barrington-Smythe is such a character" sighed one of the younger women she was talking to "Margaret is so lucky! Every day must be such fun!"
"Oh, I don't know." Said another "That eternal optimism and enthusiasm must grate sometimes"
"My, my! Who's the dish?!"
Isobel turned to see who had followed Hugh into the room, and smiled to herself as Dickie entered. She saw Celia heading her way with purpose, and excused herself to meet her.
"Is that your man?" Celia whispered as they met "Margaret wasn't kidding was she?!"
Isobel chuckled, and was about to respond when she noticed Lady Elizabeth approach Dickie. Her smile froze in place as she watched the woman take hold of his arm, reach up and pull his face down to plant a very familiar kiss in his cheek. She then proceeded to stroke the lapels of his jacket and speak to him in what looked like a very intimate manner.
"Good grief! That woman has no decorum at all!" Exclaimed Celia beside her.
Isobel startled, and was about to cross the room when she saw Dickie take both Elizabeth's hands, and forcibly remove her from his person. He took a small step backwards to place a more acceptable distance between them, and she could see how uncomfortable he was with the whole display. Margaret arrived just then to steer him away and make some other introductions, and Isobel watched as Elizabeth's eyes narrowed and followed his progress across the room.
"That woman is bad news" said a new voice beside them.
"Oh, hello Madeline" Celia smiled "Have you met my friend Isobel Merton?"
"Pleasure" Madeline nodded "How do you know Margaret?"
"We were in Paris together during the war" Isobel replied "And yourself?"
"Oh, originally a war orphans committee. But one thing leads to another" Madeline said enigmatically. "I wonder who that chap is? Seems Elizabeth may have set her sights at him".
Isobel sighed "That's my husband."
"Oh, my dear! I do apologise." Madeline took a sip of her coffee "And commiserate. Elizabeth has a reputation for always getting her man, if you know what I mean?"
"I don't think that's entirely helpful!" Celia interjected.
"Oh, I don't know" Madeline retorted "Forewarned is forearmed! I hear she likes to collect sets. You know, like that card game children play. What's it called? Mr Bun the Baker, Master Bun the Baker's son?"
"Happy families" said Isobel hoarsely, feeling very cold.
-TW- -TW- -TW-
"Well, thank heavens they've gone!" exclaimed Hugh as he collapsed on the settee.
"You seemed to be in your element Hugh!" laughed Dickie "You were egging them on! What with your sore knee and your bunion! I thought at one stage that Lady Alice was going to take off your shoe and massage your poor foot!"
"They need something to focus on, poor dears!" Hugh grinned "Call it community service!"
"What brought you boys home early anyway?" Asked Margaret as she sat beside Hugh "I wasn't expecting you back until after lunch"
"I missed you darling!" Hugh moved so his head was in his wife's lap "Is that so hard to believe?" He looked up at her like an adoring puppy.
"Oh Hugh! Do be serious for once!" She pulled his tie and laughed at him. Looking across the room she noticed that Isobel was very quiet and serious. "Lunch will be at 1, if you'd like a rest beforehand? You were planning to shop this afternoon, weren't you?"
Dickie turned to look at Isobel, and when she didn't respond said "Yes, I believe that's the plan".
Isobel looked up and smiled tightly "I will have a rest, thank you Margaret. I feel quite done in"
"I'll be up in a moment" Dickie mentioned. She smiled a little more warmly at him and left the room. He turned to Margaret "Did something happen this morning?"
Margaret sighed "Elizabeth Albright was here. I'd forgotten that she and Isobel mix like oil and water. There was a small spat, but I didn't think it was that serious?" She looked up hopefully at Dickie.
"I'm sure it's nothing" he looked worriedly at the door "I'd better see if she's alright though. Excuse me"
After he left the room, Margaret turned back to Hugh. Stroking his hair in her lap she asked "What really happened?"
"A chap at the club took a swing at Dickie." Margaret gasped "No harm done! But there were a few unhappy investors who wanted to know where Larry is." Hugh sat up and ran his own hand through his hair "It calmed down soon enough, and we stayed for a while but it wasn't the relaxing morning I had planned." He looked at his wife "Have you seen Sarah Martlesham recently? I think she may need a friend right now".