CHAPTER 20
It had been a good day, Henry thought to himself as he walked along the river bank back home. Two fine fish caught, both of which were big enough to be edible. It made a change to have fish once in a while. He stopped in surprise as he turned the corner and saw a familiar figure sitting on his doorstep, looking tired and somewhat depressed.
‘Lynn,’ he exclaimed. ‘This is a pleasure. But what are you doing here? I thought you were staying at home for the holidays.’
‘Hello Henry,’ she said. ‘So did I, but something has happened to change my plans. May I come in, please?’
‘Of course. I’ll just find my key. Tea or coffee?’
She smiled weakly at him. ‘I think it may need something a bit stronger, but I know you don’t keep it in the house. Coffee will be fine.’
Once inside, Henry busied himself in the kitchen, putting his fish temporarily in the fridge, boiling up water and finding some of Lynn’s favourite cake.
‘Now,’ he said, sitting beside her on the sofa. ‘Tell me all.’
‘Oh, Henry, I’ve done something rather foolish. I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry? For what?’
‘Before I tell you, may I ask you a question?’
‘Go ahead.’
‘May I stay with you? I mean, move in to my room now? I don’t think I can live at home any more.’
Henry frowned. ‘It sounds serious. Yes, of course, move in any time you wish. Come on, then. Something is bothering you. Tell me about it and I’ll see if I can help.’
To his astonishment, Lynn burst into tears, and buried her head in his shoulder. His arms went around her automatically to comfort. One hand stroked her long hair and gradually the sobbing eased and the tears ceased.
‘I’m sorry, Henry,’ she said, drawing away to sit upright again. ‘I needed that. Thank you.’
‘My pleasure,’ he said, thinking that it had been rather pleasant at that. Pleasant for him, at any rate. ‘Well?’
‘I went home at the weekend’ she said. ‘Well, you know that. What you don’t know is that gran was waiting for me. It was the usual thing, of course. Give up university and go to work like any honest person. She as good as told me that I was a drain of family finances, that I was sponging from my mother, and that if I insisted on this tomfoolery, I should support myself, instead of coming to others to do it.’
Henry made to speak but she lifted a hand. ‘Wait. There’s more. I told her that I would do that, support myself, that is. When she wanted to know just how I would do it, I told her about you, and your offer of free accommodation.’
‘Which worried her, I suppose,’ said Henry.
Lynn smiled through her tears. ‘Not half as much as when I told her you were giving me a grant, though I didn’t tell her how much it is. She got furious, accused me of selling myself like any common woman on the streets and goodness knows what else besides. I got furious in return and I have the feeling I used language I shouldn’t have. I can’t really remember everything we said to each other, which is probably just as well, since it prevents me from feeling ashamed, and I don’t want to do that. Gran used language to me that wasn’t exactly ladylike and I find that hard to forgive. My mother was as weak as always, and took gran’s part, not because she really wanted to, but because it was easier to agree with that vicious old woman than to support me.’
‘Steady on,’ murmured Henry. ‘I’m the same age, remember, to within a few weeks at that.’
Lynn looked up at him sadly and shook her head. ‘She was born that way. You’ll never be that old, Henry.’
‘So what happened next?’
‘I stuck it as long as I could, thinking the storm would blow over, but gran got into her head that she would stay with us until I saw sense, so I came away. I only stayed the two nights, and believe me, that was two nights too many. She never stopped talking at me all the time I was awake.’
‘You have a place to stay here, Lynn. A home, if you like to think of it in that way. Your room’s not actually ready yet, but that won’t take long. A few minutes only. Probably quicker if you do it yourself the way you want it.’
Lynn smiled gratefully through her tears. ‘Thank you, Henry. But there’s more.’
‘More?’
‘Yes. When I said I was returning here, gran said she intended to pay a visit. She wants to check things out. Or so she says. What she really wants to do is to frighten you into sending me away. I’m sorry, Henry. I wouldn’t have given her your address, but I happened to mention it in a letter to my mother once, and she said she could find it. It seemed easier to give it anyway, and have the unpleasant business over and done with. I thought it might save trouble in the long run, as she’s quite capable of running riot through the university until she gets what she wants, and I can do without that sort of bother. I don’t suppose the university would like it too much either.’
‘When is she coming?’ asked Henry.
‘I don’t know, but she won’t leave it long.’
‘Well, I rather look forward to the visit,’ said Henry.
‘You don’t mind?’ said Lynn in a tremulous tone of voice.
‘Not at all. It’s not every day a man gets to renew acquaintance with an old girl friend. It should be interesting. And don’t worry. She isn’t going to frighten me into anything. I don’t frighten easily. It’s a long time ago, but she may remember that. She has cause to do so.’
‘That’s another thing you should know,’ said Lynn miserably. ‘She doesn’t actually know who you are. I only gave your first name, and it clearly meant nothing to her. At least, it didn’t seem to register.’
‘No?’ said Henry thoughtfully. ‘No, perhaps it wouldn’t. I was always known as Harry in my younger days, when I wasn’t called something much ruder. She never actually called me anything else. Harry, that is, not the rude versions, at least as far as I know. Well, she’s welcome to come.’
‘You mustn’t let her bully you into anything,’ said Lynn.
‘I think you may have my firm promise on that,’ said Henry. ‘In fact, you’ve just had it. It’s a long time since I was bullied, and I’ve learned a thing or two about how to deal with it. Besides, nobody bullies a man with a Bentley. He has too much money. Well known fact. Now, dry your eyes, and I’ll show you to your room.’
She gave him a look of gratitude and allowed herself to be led upstairs, where Henry found sheets, pillows and towels for his new guest, all in a highly impersonal style that reminded Lynn of the first time they had met, and which she appreciated as much now as she had done then.
‘I’ll let you sort your own things out,’ said Henry. ‘When you’ve finished, come downstairs and I’ll have a meal ready for you. You must be hungry.’
‘Yes I am. I’ve been too upset to think of eating properly, but now I’m here, I feel safe. Yes, I’m hungry all right.’