Roses For Katie (27 page)

Katie brought her up to date on all the happenings and developments, including Margie’s engagement to Dylan.

‘Tell me, is romance is in the air for you too, with your professor or your colonel?’

‘I don’t know about that,’ Katie replied. ‘But let’s say life is more interesting than it’s been for a long time, and leave it at that.’ She smiled lovingly at her friend, remembering with fondness the days when they shared schoolgirl confidences. ‘Tell you what; you’ll be the first to know if anything wonderful happens to me too. To date, I only have little problems to report, but I daresay they’ll get sorted out one of these days.’

They went on talking well into the night, until Katie reminded Elspeth that she had better get some beauty sleep if she was to look her best for Cuthbert the next day. They climbed the stairs laughing, and of course, as usual, Thunder was first to the top. Katie slept heavily, and the next morning she was awoken by her new pet nuzzling her hand.

‘Hello, my first love,’ Katie said, putting her arms around the huge creature’s neck. ‘You really are adorable.’ In no time at all, she had showered and dressed, and went down stairs. She called Elspeth to come down for her breakfast, and after a short chat, she waved her friend off, and then went inside to clear up so that she would be free for the rest of the day. She had only just sorted everything out, and sat down with the morning paper, when the phone rang.

‘Tom here,’ said a somewhat subdued voice. ‘I’ve been thinking how nice it would be if you could bring Margie here for a couple of hours on Saturday. I bought the two geldings I told you about, and they’ve arrived; I’d like her to see them as well, so how about it?’

‘Well, as you know, Margie and Dylan are engaged, and they have little time for anything but each other on their free time. You know what young love is, but I’ll ask.’

‘Dylan is welcome too, of course,’ said Tom. ‘I have met him, I believe. Wasn’t he the young doctor with Margie at the dinner party, where I first met you?’

‘You’re right about that. Okay, we’ll come sometime this weekend if it’s possible. I’ll ring you to let you know.’ Katie eased back into her chair and continued to read her newspaper. Then she closed her eyes and thought of Elspeth, and of how happy the woman had looked. She sighed, wishing she could reach out for the same. But that sublime feeling had died with Greg. She feared she would be denied that pleasure for the rest of her life, but at least she was enjoying herself so much these days, albeit superficially, that right now, she saw no reason to change anything.

Chapter Thirteen

She opened her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was still early enough to get in touch with Margie before she went to work. ‘Hi Margie, Tom phoned to say he’d like you and Dylan to go and see two horses he’s bought.’ Katie went on to explain all about it, and waited for Margie’s response.

‘Why not? Dylan has the weekend off, and it would be a nice change for us both,’ Margie said. ‘We could take you, and leave you there for the day while we go to see Dylan’s parents, and maybe Tom would bring you home later. We’ll probably stay overnight at his father’s place.’

The arrangement seemed all right to Katie, so she returned Tom’s call to tell him what had been planned, and he seemed quite happy about it.

They set off soon after breakfast the next day, and surprised Tom while he was still mucking out the horses. Dylan had done a fair amount of riding, so he jumped at the chance of trying out the geldings. ‘Come on, Tom,’ Dylan said, ‘I’m dressed and rearing to go. Which one is mine?’ Minutes later they set off at a canter across the fields, and the two women went into the farmhouse to make preparations for a simple lunch.

‘Right, everything’s ready,’ Katie said, twenty minutes later. ‘I’ll show you around the farm now, and when the men come back, we’ll give you a tour of the house. Until then, we can sit out here. Just listen to that gorgeous birdsong. It’s coming from those hedges.’ She pointed to the thick barrier of box hedging around the lawn as the morning sun peeped out on it through fast moving cotton-ball clouds. The air was pure, and smelling of sweet fresh cut grass as Katie walked towards the edge of the garden and peered into the field the other side. She called to Margie to come and watch the tranquil sight over the hedge, and they stood together as four hens and a cock pheasant casually pecked at choice finds on the ground. She had expected them to fly off, but they barely noticed her and continued to work their way along the perimeter of the field, quite unafraid.

Suddenly, Margie spoke up. ‘I know it’s none of my business, but I’m curious to know what you feel for this Tom. He takes up quite a lot of your time, Mum, and I’m concerned enough about you to want to know. That’s the true reason I’ve come here today — to see if I can size him up. I need to feel sure he’s a genuine sort.’

‘Yes, by all means judge for yourself. He’s a really nice man. A bit austere maybe, a bit authoritative, but that’s been his way of life. Blame the army. He’s basically well meaning… and he’s lonely. And I know what that’s like,’ Katie answered.

Margie shrugged and looked around. ‘Honestly, Mum, this place is wonderful, but I can’t picture you fitting in out here. At least, at Priory Farm, you’re on the edge of a village, not bounded by thick woods on one side and wilderness on the other three.’ She tucked her arm under her mother’s. ‘I think you’d go bonkers after a month here. Don’t make any rash promises, just because you might feel sorry for the man. Put yourself first, and be careful. Don’t let him pressurize you,’ she warned.

There were a few moments of silence while Katie thought about the concern her daughter had voiced. She stopped walking and turned to her, and was about to say something when Margie continued.

‘You could so easily make the mistake of marrying this man, just so that you can settle down to a comfortable country life with someone.’ She smiled wickedly. ‘I’d much sooner see you continue to flirt. At least, then you can opt out of a relationship at the drop of a hat, but with a marriage, well… it’s not that easy. Don’t I know.’ She linked her arm under Katie’s. ‘Divorce can be quite nasty when there’s money and property involved, like it is with you. It was different for me. I was only nineteen, and we had nothing to argue over.’

‘Do you think for one minute that I haven’t considered all that?’ Katie patted her daughter’s hand. ‘Of course I have, and thoroughly, too. I take it as a compliment that Tom is this serious. Have no worries, my pet… I don’t love him.’ She gazed around with a sad look in her eyes. ‘I keep comparing every man I meet with your father.’ She shook her head slowly. ‘I won’t allow Tom to pressurize me, so have no fear on that score; he won’t succeed in dictating orders to me. He’s delightfully charming, and handsome, but he’s not the man for me. In fact, I haven’t met one who is… since your father.’

Margie gave a big sigh of relief. ‘Good,’ she said, with a finality in her tone. Then she opened her eyes wide, and laid her hand on her mother’s arm again. ‘Does that go for Rex too?’

‘Rex?’ Katie said, with a note of humour in her voice. ‘Rex is brash, good fun, a good companion, but quite bossy, and exceedingly irritable at times when things don’t exactly go his way. Although he claims his feeling for me are deep, I have a strong suspicion that he would be more than happy to install me as his permanent live-in-lover. You see, without the restraining hand of marriage, he would feel free to wander off the moment he saw someone else he fancied. I know him.’ She shook her head, and laid her hand on Margie’s arm. ‘I wouldn’t put up with that. Rex is interesting and good company. But no, Margie, he doesn’t stand a chance either.’

They had walked almost the length of two fields when they spotted the two riders in the distance. Katie turned to her daughter and hugged her. ‘Thank you, for your concern, but right now I’m having a whale of a time, and I have no intention of tying myself down to any one man.’

By the time the two geldings had been rubbed down, Katie and Margie had the lunch ready. The two men washed up, and sat down, hungry after their long ride in the fresh, morning air. As they came to the end of it, Tom turned to Margie, who was seated next to him.

‘Your mother has suggested you might like to see the rest of the house, so let’s go.’ He led the way through the short corridor, explaining on the way: ‘Katie’s touch is all over the place, and you’ll find some of your family heirlooms dotted around as well.’ He took her by the arm and led her into each room one by one. ‘This pretty pink bedroom is set aside specially for your mother for occasions when she might decide to stay overnight to do some riding.’

Margie had to agree it was a delightfully quaint old house, and full of character, but when she looked out through the bedroom windows, she could see how right she was about the place being well and truly isolated. When they got back downstairs, Dylan eyed the clock anxiously. ‘Time we went, darling,’ he said, taking Margie by the arm.

Tom and Katie saw them to the car, and once their visitors had gone, they relaxed outside in the warm afternoon sunshine.

‘Isn’t this idyllic?’ Tom murmured.

‘It is, if you’re looking for isolation,’ Katie said, ‘because that’s what you’ve got here.’

‘Not more than your own place, surely,’ he responded, quickly.

‘Can’t compare them,’ Katie said, brusquely. ‘I could walk to my village if needs be. This is truly out in the wilds. What if something goes wrong? What if you’re taken ill and you’re all by yourself?’

‘Ah,’ he said, tapping the garden seat. ‘I don’t intend to live entirely on my own here.’

Katie’s eyes opened wide. ‘Someone’s coming to join you?’ she asked, cautiously.

Tom moved closer to her on the garden seat, and took her hand in his. ‘You, I hope, Katie?’

‘Oh, Tom, now hold on a minute,’ she said, quite taken aback and pulling her hand away. ‘I said that maybe I’d stay overnight when I go on those horse riding jaunts with you, but I never even hinted that it would be often. The horses and my riding was all your idea, remember?’ Then she suddenly thought about her dog. ‘Anyway, what about Thunder?’

Tom made no comment, and continued to voice his thoughts, but she had quickly noticed his momentary crestfallen expression, which had disappeared by the time he spoke again. His voice now bore an authority Katie was not altogether taken with. ‘Now look here, my dear Katie, I’ve given you some indication of how I feel about you, so I’ll say straight away what’s in my mind. I want you to marry me, and live with me here, at Springwood Farm.’

Katie’s heart began to thump. This was it… and in such a perfunctory manner, too. But, it was something she had been dreading. ‘Thank you Tom. That’s a wonderful compliment, and I’m flattered….’ She stopped, and took a lungful of air as she wondered just how to say it kindly. ‘I’m genuinely fond of you, and I love your company, but Tom, I’m so sorry, I honestly don’t have the right feelings for you… not for marriage. I couldn’t marry you, or anyone I didn’t genuinely love. Please don’t be upset.’

Tom seemed to freeze in position, his face stiff and set, and showing disbelief. He stared straight ahead as he digested her words and then he suddenly got up and put his hands behind his back and turned on her. ‘For heaven’s sake, Katie, you’re hardly Margie’s age—you’re not expecting to fall madly in love at your time of life, are you? Isn’t what you feel for me enough to make a go of it? A good, healthy friendship? Surely that’s a rock hard foundation for a marriage?’

His look of amazement at the very idea that she might have anticipated true love again almost made Katie want to laugh, but she controlled herself and replied in a level voice. ‘No, in my book, that’s not enough, Tom, sorry.’ She began to walk around the lawn to put some distance between them. ‘And why shouldn’t I fall in love again… with the right man? I think that kind of feeling can happen at any time in life, and to anybody. It’s just that it’s not there right now… for you.’ she said. ‘You see, it’s only the physical appearance that changes; the mind stays the same until it’s incapable of any more thoughts or feelings.’

She stood up and took his hand in hers. ‘Look, feelings can be as intense in later years as during youth, but thankfully tempered with the experience and common sense of maturity, and so avoiding mistakes. Haven’t you heard elderly people remark that they ‘think’ they must be getting old? I have. What they mean is that they don’t feel old, up here,’ she said, tapping her forehead, ‘even though they’re fully aware that they’re getting on in years and unable to get about like they once did.’

Looking piqued, Tom drew his hand away sharply from hers, took a deep breath through his nostrils, and tightened his lips into a straight line. It was several moments before he spoke. ‘Then I’m asking the impossible?’

For a couple of seconds, Katie remained silent. ‘We don’t know each other really well, Tom,’ she said. ‘Friendship is a good foundation, admittedly, but ours is fairly new. What friendship we have is not enough on which to base a marriage.’ She slid him a sideways glance. By now, his stern look had melted, and his eyes were focused middle distance, seeing nothing.

Did he really think I’d fall into his arms? Doesn’t he realise he should have considered how I felt, not blindly follow his own desires, and assume that I’d automatically fall in with his plans? When she glanced at him again, his absolute look of despair made her feel sorry for him, and more than a little guilty. But the sorrow was pity for a friend, not for someone she loved. Then she remembered her conversation with Margie. This was the time when she had to be strong, and not allow any compassion for the man to override her common sense—and the truth.

She touched his arm lightly, and he jerked his eyes back to her face. ‘I do hope that you didn’t buy this place with me in mind, because, for one thing, I would never leave Priory Farm for it, whatever the circumstances.

‘Yes, I admit I did have you in mind. That was why I wanted you involved in setting it up. I thought that if it was exactly as you wanted, you’d be willing to share it with me. As my wife.’ He turned to her and shrugged. ‘I probably would have bought it anyway, because it was exactly what I was looking for.’ Then he heaved a deep sigh, and gave a grunt. ‘You seemed as excited as I was at the time. You said it was a place you’d choose for yourself, didn’t you? So I thought I’d done the right thing.’ His voice was almost reproachful.