“Are you threatening me?” he hissed. “If you are, I’ll deny it. They’ll never believe your word over mine.”
“Don’t count on it, Brigadier,” I said. “The days of you toffs being in charge are long gone.”
“I’ll get you strung up for something, you mark my words.”
“Ten and I’ll do it,” I said resolutely. “Provided I get the money regardless if it works out or not.”
“You’ll do exactly what I tell you, Miss Paltry, or you’ll never work here again. Do you hear me?” He came up close. “You’ll get your money when I get my boy.”
“You give me the money beforehand, and if no boys are born, there ain’t a jot I can do about it. But if there is a boy”—I smiled with enticement—“I will make him yours.”
He clenched his fists. He hadn’t been bargaining for this. Since arriving here five years ago I have been careful to build a reputation of even dealings, especially following my miscalculations in that village in Somerset. (You’ll remember how they hounded me out after I gave wart patients the wrong ointment that resulted in purple-colored nether regions. It caused three marriage breakups, a major punch-up, the disappearance of a young woman, and at least two angry men trying to hunt me down.) No, Clara. I’ve played my game carefully in Chilbury, hushed up my past, played by their rules.
Now it’s time to reap the rewards.
“All right, you’ll get ten thousand. But it’ll be half before and half after,” he roared. “And if Mrs. Winthrop gives birth to a boy, you’ll settle with half.” He looked me over, scowling. “How am I to trust a woman capable of doing such a business?”
“Women are capable of many things, Brigadier. You just haven’t noticed it until now.” I gave a quick smile. “I will need the first half of the money, in cash, two weeks from today.”
He blustered around the scrub, and I suddenly realized how much this deal meant to him. I should have taken him for fifty. He would have done it. He would have done virtually anything.
“You’ll get your money,” he growled under his breath. “Come back here on that date at ten, and it’ll be ready.” He came toward me, his eyes scrunched up like Ebenezer Scrooge. “And mind you keep your mouth closed, or the deal’s off. Not a word to my wife either. She is not to know. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you, Brigadier.” I spoke quietly. “Loud and clear.”
With that I turned and strode out into the wood, leaving him pacing around, cursing under his breath.
Taking a deep breath of newly fresh air, I danced out of the bracken and onto the path. This will work, Clara. As a precaution, I have decided to get chummy with the nuisance Tilling woman. Keep my ear to the ground. This is big money, and my attention to detail is merciless. I’ll write closer with details, just as you said you wanted in your letter. I know you think I’ll mess it up like usual, but I won’t let you down this time. You’ll be rich before the spring is out, I swear.
Edwina
Wednesday, 17th April, 1940
Prim’s notice in the church hall announcing a new “Ladies’?” choir has caused uproar in our tiny community. Last night before the Women’s Voluntary Service meeting (or the WVS as we say these days), Mrs. B. told me she’d gone straight to the Vicar to find out the truth.
“?‘Have you allowed this woman—this newcomer—to take over the choir and debase it beyond recognition?’ I demanded of him, and do you know what he said? The Vicar, who is supposed to be a Man of God, told me, ‘Well, she was awfully forceful and I really couldn’t object.’ I didn’t know what to say!”
“Gosh,” I said. I was rather excited about the whole adventure. At least we’d be singing again. I’d missed it. “I know it’s unusual, but why don’t we go along and see what Prim has to say. There’s no harm in it, after all.”
“No harm in it?” she bellowed back at me. “No harm in ruining the reputation of our village? I can’t imagine what Lady Worthing will have to say to me about it. She’s such a stickler for doing things the way they’ve always been done.”