A Regimental Affair (41 page)

‘It’s Mummy.’

‘It’s lovely, my sweet. And Mummy is going to love it.’

Ginny took the still-damp painting off him and carefully rolled it up to protect it for the journey home. Then, taking Jack’s hand, they strolled out of the playground and headed along the road that led to the farm. For the first few hundred yards he skipped along happily but, as the road got steeper and his legs began to tire, his steps got smaller and slower. Ginny, deciding that if she wanted to be home for lunch she would have to do something, bent down and got Jack to clamber on to her back.

It was one thing offering a piggyback first thing in the morning and on a downhill slope, but it was a different matter entirely now she was tired after a morning’s work and the gradient was distinctly upwards. By the time she got to the farmyard, Ginny was hot and bothered. She let Jack slide to the ground and she leant against the wall of the house while she recovered. Without a backward glance and with no word of thanks to Ginny, Jack grabbed his precious painting and rushed indoors to see his mother. After a couple of minutes, Ginny wearily followed.

‘Hi,’ said Netta. ‘You look bushed.’

‘Utterly pooped,’ confirmed Ginny, flopping down on the sofa by her sister. ‘Your son weighs a bloody ton. I gave him a piggyback from the crossroads.’

‘More fool you,’ said Netta. ‘I wouldn’t have done. How was work?’

‘OK.’ She didn’t sound very enthusiastic.

‘I thought you liked doing admin.’

‘The filing was fine. It’s just Chris.’

Netta raised her eyebrows. ‘Chris? But he’s a pussycat.’

Ginny shot her sister a sour look. ‘Huh,’ was all she said. ‘And,’ she added after a second or two. ‘And, the bastard that is coming to interview me is staying in his hotel.’

‘You can hardly blame Chris for that, now can you?’

‘I’m not blaming him,’ snapped Ginny.

‘Sounds like it to me.’

‘Don’t be stupid.’

Netta got up off the sofa, put the baby in its bouncing chair and moved to the other side of the kitchen where she began to cut slices off a large loaf. She wasn’t going to dignify Ginny’s last nasty comment by replying. She was obviously in a foul mood.

Ginny looked at Netta’s huffy back view and wondered why everyone seemed to be against her.

The next day, Chris seemed to have caught Ginny’s bad temper. He thumped around the foyer of the hotel. He found fault with all the staff. He criticised the standard of cleanliness and then he stomped out again.

‘What was all that about?’ Ginny asked Vicki when she came into the office to replenish the coffee supply.

‘Carole’s gone over to the mainland for a few days. He’s always like that when she goes away.’

‘Does she do this often?’

Vicki leaned across the desk and lowered her voice. ‘I know I shouldn’t say anything, but I think she’s got a man that she goes to see.’

Ginny was stunned. No wonder Chris was in a rage. If the hotel staff realised what was going on, he must know too.
Poor man
. It explained everything. And yet they’d seemed so comfortable with each other.
Well
, she thought,
it just goes to show
…

Ginny didn’t like to ask any further questions. It sounded as though all was not well in the Tregaskis family. But at least feeling sorry for Chris and his troubles took her mind off her own.

By the time Major Griggs was due to arrive on the island, everyone spent their time tiptoeing around Ginny. Even the children were wary of her. Her bad temper and moodiness had become a fixture. Netta finally lost patience with her sister altogether after Ginny had snapped at poor little Jack and reduced him to tears when he accidentally knocked her arm and caused Ginny to slop tea on her jeans.

‘He didn’t deserve that,’ shouted Netta as Jack fled sobbing from the kitchen, followed by Petroc, who threw a baleful glance at Ginny as he went.

‘He should be more careful,’ yelled back Ginny. ‘I could have been scalded.’

‘But you weren’t.’

‘No thanks to him.’

Netta glared at her sister. ‘I shall be thankful when Major Griggs has seen you. Perhaps once that is over we can start getting back to normal again.’

‘Meaning you can’t wait for me to go, to get out of your hair.’ Ginny wasn’t questioning, she was stating a fact.

‘I did not say that.’

‘It’s what you meant.’

Netta sighed angrily. ‘No, I didn’t.’

‘Huh.’

Ginny got up and went to the sink where she grabbed the dishcloth and mopped at her jeans. ‘You don’t know what it’s been like for me,’ she said.

‘No, I don’t,’ conceded Netta. ‘But if you read about half of what’s going on in the rest of the world, I have to say that your personal story, lousy though it is for you, isn’t that important in the great scheme of things.’

Netta was right, of course, although Ginny was too wound-up to allow herself to admit it. She turned around so she faced the room. ‘I just wish none of this had ever happened.’

‘Well, we’ve only got your say-so that it did.’

Ginny could hardly believe she had heard right. After a second while she digested her sister’s words, she took a couple of strides forward. ‘Do you think I’m going through all this on some kind of ego trip? Do you think I’m a liar?’ she shouted, thrusting her head forward belligerently.

‘No,’ said Netta. ‘No, but you could be.’

‘I didn’t lie.’

‘I don’t mean that.’

‘Sounds like it to me.’

‘What I mean is, you could lie.’ Ginny frowned, not understanding. ‘Suppose you said that you made everything up?’

‘But I didn’t.’

‘I know, I know. But supposing you did. Suppose you said that you made up the whole story just to get even with Colonel Bob because he rejected your advances. That nothing had ever happened in Kosovo. You know, “hell hath no fury” and all that.’

‘But he came on to me.’

‘I know all that, but the details don’t matter. The fact is that if you say the affair didn’t happen …’

‘But Colonel Bob has already admitted what went on to his wife. He’s been to see the brigadier.’

‘And did he
admit
it to the brigadier? Do you know that? If the man is as career-minded as you have told me, if he is so set on promotion, then, if he had any sense, he would have said it was a pack of lies. After all, what has he got to lose?’

Ginny shook her head. ‘I don’t think he’d do that to me.’

‘You don’t know that, though, do you?’

‘No. His interview was after I’d set out to come here.’

‘Well, there you go then. And if he did admit it he can always deny everything if it comes to a court martial. Say he was confused or some such. Tortured into making a confession.’

Ginny snorted at the stupidity of Netta’s last remark. ‘But why would I have lied?’

‘Say it was a nasty act of revenge on your part.’

‘But that would make me look awful,’ said Ginny, shaking her head.

‘And, of course, you look so wonderful now. The woman who is breaking up a family and wrecking a man’s career because she got drunk and blabbed to the press is going to be the new “Queen of Hearts” as far as the British public are concerned? I don’t think so.’

Ginny’s face crumpled and a tear of self-pity ran down her cheek. What Netta was saying was true; her reputation was shot to pieces anyway, and by talking to the press, even unknowingly, she had put herself completely beyond the pale – her row with Debbie had proved that much to her. If, by making herself look only slightly worse, she could salvage things for Bob, well …What did the Americans call it? Damage limitation?

‘But everyone in the regiment would hate me,’ she said quietly.

‘Yeah – like you’re Little Miss Popular at the moment?’

‘That’s true. Even Debbie is barely talking to me.’

‘Exactly.’

‘But why should I? I mean, he wanted the affair, then he ditched me. It’s all
his
fault really. All I did was confide in someone I thought was a friend.’

‘I’ll tell you why you should. Because you loved him, I think you still do, and you don’t destroy the things you love.’

Ginny thought about Netta’s idea and realised she was right. She
was
destroying Bob, and his family. There were more people involved in this awful business than just her and Bob, and the others, the innocent bystanders, didn’t deserve to be caught up in the fallout. Could she – should she – fall on her sword, so to speak, for the sake of Bob’s marriage and his career? The repercussions would probably be dreadful and she’d have to face them alone. If she did this, Bob would cease to be involved. And the
Mercury
would crucify her. If she thought the story before had been bad, she dreaded to think what they would do with this. God, whoever had said that there was no such thing as bad publicity had been so wrong.

‘It would finish me in the army. ‘I’d have to resign.’ She sat down on a chair at the kitchen table and began fiddling with the pepper grinder.

‘You could get another job. Chris has been telling me how fantastic you’ve been sorting out the hotel office.’

‘Has he?’ Ginny brightened momentarily then sank back into gloom. ‘Yeah, but who would want to employ me after this fiasco?’

‘It’ll die down. In a couple of weeks no one will remember your name, let alone what you look like. And anyway, what you did only matters to people in the army and the press. I bet Joe Public couldn’t give a stuff.’

‘I suppose.’

‘And if you did this, there would be no court martial, would there?’

Ginny shook her head. ‘No. There wouldn’t be any evidence. As far as I know it’s only my word against his.’

‘So whatever publicity there was would probably be over quicker.’

‘I suppose.’ She thought for a moment. ‘And I’m not sure about there being no court martial. The army might try me instead of Colonel Bob. They might do me for lying.’

Netta shrugged. ‘It’s a bit unlikely, isn’t it? What would they have to gain? Especially if you resign.’

Ginny nodded. ‘Perhaps.’ She had a thought. ‘Suppose the army doesn’t buy it? Suppose they don’t believe me? I mean, I will be lying, won’t I?’

‘That’s a point.’ Netta thought about the problem for a second or two. ‘But don’t you think they’ll want to believe you? I mean, if you convince them that you were just being spiteful, they will be able to keep a senior officer who has to be more of an asset than a lowly captain. Plus they’ll be able to avoid court-martialling him and so there’ll be less publicity. Come on, they’re bound to go for it.’

‘But if they’ve already interviewed Colonel Bob and he’s admitted to seducing me …made a statement …’

Netta sighed. ‘Can we find out if they’ve seen him?’

‘I’d have to get hold of him before I see Major Griggs.’

‘Do you know where Bob is?’

‘I haven’t a clue.’

‘Someone back at the barracks must know.’

‘I could ring the regiment,’ she said hesitantly. Frankly, the last thing she wanted to do was to speak to Richard or Alisdair – or anyone else, for that matter.

‘Go on then.’

Ginny nodded. ‘OK.’

Netta got up and gave her sister a big hug. ‘If you do this, I think you’re the bravest person alive,’ she said.

‘At least one person will think well of me,’ said Ginny. She walked across the kitchen and picked up the phone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Alisdair had been aware of the rising tone of Richard’s voice above the bustle of regimental headquarters, and through the partially closed door that separated their offices. Finally he heard the receiver crash down on to its rests.

‘Bloody woman!’ roared Richard.

Curious, Alisdair got up from his chair and wandered into his subordinate’s workplace. ‘Who is?’ he asked mildly.

Richard breathed out slowly to calm himself and to regain his composure. ‘Ginny Turner,’ he replied.

‘What on earth has she done now?’

‘She wants to get in touch with Colonel Bob.’

‘Good God. Has she no shame?’

‘She says she needs to talk to him urgently.’

Alisdair looked utterly sceptical. ‘Huh. More likely she thinks that as he’s been away from Alice for a bit he might be in need of some female company.’

‘Exactly what I thought,’ agreed Richard.

‘Did you say that to her?’

‘Not in so many words, but I think she got my drift.’

‘And she said?’

‘She denied it of course. She repeated her story about it being absolutely imperative that she got in touch with him, that it was almost a matter of life and death. Cobblers, of course.’

‘Still,’ Alisdair paused. ‘I know she had a loose tongue …’

‘And loose morals,’ interrupted Richard.

‘But she wasn’t a liar.’

‘No,’ said Richard, with a hint of reluctance in his voice. ‘You mean, you think she really might need to speak to him?’

‘Dunno. But put it this way, if she wanted to start up an illicit liaison again, she’s hardly likely to broadcast the fact by trying to contact him through RHQ.’

‘Good point.’ Richard fiddled with some papers on his desk. ‘So you think I’m being too hard on her?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Why don’t you get hold of Colonel Bob and ask him if he’ll contact her? Put the ball in his court.’

‘OK.’ But it was plain from Richard’s mien that he wasn’t happy.

‘Do you want me to do it?’ offered Alisdair.

Richard nodded and Alisdair returned to his office to ring his predecessor.

When Alisdair got home that evening he recounted the news of Ginny’s phone call to Sarah. ‘But don’t go telling Alice,’ he warned. ‘There’s no need to upset her. And if Bob wants nothing to do with Ginny, he won’t phone her anyway.’

‘And if he does?’

‘Well, if he does then that’s his problem.’

‘Do you believe that Ginny’s telling the truth; that she needs to talk to him about something important; that she isn’t just trying to start things between them again?’

‘I don’t know, but I just don’t think it’s wise, that’s all. I mean, why on earth would she need to contact him?’ said Alisdair.

Sarah changed the subject slightly. ‘So did you get hold of Bob?’

‘Yes.’

‘How is he?’

‘Pretty unhappy. Not much of a surprise about that.’