There was a murmur of assent from the body of the hall.
Upon which, the Archdeacon appeared to gather himself. 'I can see no useful purpose in prolonging this meeting,' he announced, picking up the envelope. 'I shall give this to the Bishop. I imagine he will wish to arrange a meeting with you, Mr-er-Marsh, to ensure among other things that you can guarantee this money.'
Jago smiled politely. 'I shall look forward to it.'
Oh, God, thought Tavy, when he turns, he'll see me. And I can't face him-not after all this.
She shot to her feet and, head bent, scurried up the aisle to the door and out into the small foyer. Where a voice halted her. 'Tavy.'
She turned reluctantly and found herself facing Patrick.
He came to her. His eyes looked heavy and raw as if he hadn't slept for weeks.
He said, 'You won't want to hear this, but I'm sorry. Sorry for everything that's happened.' He shook his head. 'You probably can't understand, but I loved Fiona so much I'd have done anything. Anything...'
Yes, thought Tavy. I can understand, only too well.
'And now she's gone-for good.' His voice shook. 'She sent me a bloody text to say so. I always knew that she didn't want to stay here and run the school like our parents planned. But I thought we'd be together-somewhere.'
He added with difficulty, 'I hated hearing them talk about you just now. I'll be leaving too, as soon as I find another job.'
He paused. 'But, Tavy, what I said about Jago and Pete Hilton's wife was true. He did go off with her. And maybe he was in love with her when it happened, but she's out of his life now. Forgotten.
'And the same could happen to you.'
She said quietly, 'I'll take great care not to allow that. Goodbye, Patrick,' and walked away into the evening sunlight, without looking back.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TAVY WAS SITTING at the kitchen table, an untouched cup of coffee in front of her, when her father returned.
She said, 'You didn't tell me.'
'About the offer?' The Vicar reached for the coffee pot and poured some for himself. 'My dear, each time I've mentioned Jago's name lately, you've changed the subject. Besides, it only became a certainty earlier this evening.'
'I see.' She took a breath. 'And did you know who Barbie really was?'
'Of course.' He added gently, 'He would have told you too, had you asked him. Why didn't you?'
She lifted her chin. 'Because it wasn't my business.'
He said calmly, 'In that case, you can hardly complain if you were kept in the dark.'
She gasped. 'You think it's all right for him to make a fool of me?'
'I think, darling, you've been making a fool of yourself.' He paused. 'I notice you didn't stay to thank him for what he's doing for the church.'
'I'm sure there were plenty who did. I wouldn't be missed.'
There was a silence, then he said almost harshly, 'It's at moments like this that I feel so totally inadequate without your mother.' He picked up his coffee. 'I'll be in my study.'
Tavy stared after him, her thoughts whirling. He had never spoken like that before. As if she had disappointed him.
She waited for five minutes, then followed him. He was sitting at his desk, his chess board in front of him, working out a problem.
'Dad, I'm in such a muddle.'
'Are you, my dear? Well, you're probably not alone in that.'
'For one thing, how can Jago possibly afford the repairs to the church, especially after buying Ladysmere, with all the cost of renovations and furnishings?'
'I gather Descent are getting together again to stage a farewell concert. He is donating his share of the takings.'
She gasped. 'But that can't be. He said that part of his life was over.'
'Clearly, he's changed his mind.'
'But the band won't be the same without Pete Hilton,' she protested. 'People may not go.'
'Jago tells me the original line-up will all be present.'
She said passionately, 'That's just not possible. Not after Jago destroyed his friend's marriage.'
The Vicar sent her a shrewd glance. 'I think the young man did that himself, my dear. But if you want a fuller explanation, you will have to ask Jago.' He moved a knight. 'I think you'll find him at the house.'
She didn't need the jacket she'd brought with her, she thought as she walked up the drive to Ladysmere. It was still very hot. She was about to ring the bell when she heard the faint sound of music on the still air, and instead walked round the side of the house to the rear terrace.
The French windows leading into the drawing room were standing open, and as Tavy approached, she recognised the music as Mozart's Requiem.
She stepped hesitantly inside, and stopped dead because the room was no longer just an empty space.
Two enormous, deeply cushioned sofas in sapphire blue corded velvet now flanked the wide fireplace and a thick cream fur rug lay between them in front of the hearth.
Jago was lounging on the furthest sofa, his shirt unfastened to the waist, a cut glass tumbler containing some deep golden liquid in one hand, his face brooding, almost bitter.
She was sorely tempted to retreat, but made herself take another step forward. At that, he glanced up, his eyes narrowing in total astonishment as he stared at her, his body no longer relaxed but tense as a coiled spring.
She tried to smile. 'I seem to have startled you.'
'You have,' he said. 'I thought you'd be somewhere else entirely, enjoying the first stages of reconciliation. Or have you decided to make him wait?'
'What are you talking about?'
He said wearily, 'I'm not blind, Octavia. I saw Patrick Wilding follow you out of the hall, and when I came out, you'd both gone. I did say if you were patient, he'd realise what a fool he'd been. It seems I was right.'
'No.' She shook her head. 'You're utterly wrong. He came after me to offer an apology-of sorts. It's definitely over with Fiona, and he's planning to go away.'
'Well, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be back.'
'I sincerely hope not.' She hesitated. 'I've come here to ask you something.'
'Then you'd better sit down,' he said. 'I'm drinking single malt. Will you join me?'
'Yes,' she said. 'Please.'
His mouth twisted sardonically. 'It must be a hell of a question,' he observed as he switched off the music and left the room.
Tavy sat down on the opposite sofa. It was like sinking into a wonderful soft cloud, she thought, trying to marshal her thoughts.
'Delivered yesterday and about as far from dark brown leather as it's possible to get,' Jago said, as he returned carrying a bottle and another tumbler.
'They're lovely,' she said, running a hand over the luxurious blue fabric. She shook her head. 'You don't waste time, do you?'
'Not when I find what I want,' he agreed, resuming his seat. He raised his glass. 'Cheers.'
She murmured a response, then sipped the whisky, cautiously savouring its smoky taste.
There was a silence, then he said, 'I'm listening.'
'My father tells me your band is getting together again. That's how you're raising the money for Holy Trinity.'
He nodded. 'If the Bishop will accept my tainted money. It's the farewell concert we planned a long time ago. And we're issuing a final album too. Pete and I have been working on it since I came back to Britain.'
She swallowed. 'Then he's forgiven you.'
'For what?' he asked wryly. He shook his head. 'It's myself I have to forgive.'
'I don't understand.'
He said tiredly, 'Why should you? It's all a world away from any experience of yours-or I hope it is.'
He paused. 'Descent's success was instant and meteoric. Everything-booze, drugs, girls-there for the taking. A time of total excess.' He gave a twisted smile. 'And we were-excessive.
'Then one day, you wake up and wonder what you're doing to yourself. You realise that nothing gives you a high like standing in some arena listening to the crowd go mad. And you take back your self-control and your self-respect.
'Only by then it was too late for Pete. My best mate had become an alcoholic and coke addict and I hadn't seen it happening. His marriage to Alison had already broken up. She was a lovely girl but she couldn't handle what he'd become. She came to me for help, and I took her to her parents' home in Malaga, which probably started the rumours.
'Even after Pete agreed to go into rehab, his parents refused to believe that their quiet sensitive son was addicted to anything. And to them I was the bastard who'd led him into bad ways.'
He added wearily, 'And, in retrospect, perhaps they weren't so far from the truth. I should have seen he was more vulnerable than the rest of us-looked out for him.'
He was silent for a moment. 'Anyway, he's back with us now, still an alcoholic, of course, taking one day at a time, but totally off drugs. And planning to become a potter once Descent's swansong is finally over.'
'And Alison?' Tavy asked. 'What happened to her?'
He looked faintly surprised. 'Apart from the fact she divorced him, I haven't the slightest idea. She could hardly be expected to keep in touch. But why ask about her now and not the other day?'