Village Matters (8 page)

‘You know, Muriel, my dear, I’ve been thinking, you have a very good eye for things beautiful haven’t you? Would it be an imposition if I asked you to co-operate with the architects and feed them some of your ideas?’

‘What I thought was you could make sure they designed the outside of the houses, certainly the ones nearest Shepherd’s Hill and Stocks Row, so that they would blend in with the old cottages already here. We don’t want redbrick three-bedroom semis going up, do we? That would be appalling, and not at all what I have in mind.’

‘If you hadn’t thought of the idea in the first place, you wouldn’t be appalled because there’d be nothing to be appalled about. I’m afraid the renowned Templeton charm is not going to work. My mind is quite set.’

Ralph sighed. Timid people could be so damned stubborn when they put their minds to it.

‘If I called it Hipkin Close, would that help?’

‘When Jimbo made Harriet so cross by starting the tearoom without consulting her first, he tried calling it “Harriet’s Tearoom” to persuade her not to oppose it. It’s a pity it had to close, isn’t it? I did like it in there. Well, it didn’t work with her and it won’t work with me. Oh dear. I’m sorry, Ralph. You need my support and I should be giving it to you, not opposing you at every turn. I’m very sorry.’

‘That’s all right, my dear, you do have a right to your own opinions. What do you think to Neville Neal?’ She paused for a moment before she answered. He waited, intrigued by the conflicting emotions in her face.

‘As Church Treasurer he does an excellent job, but he’s not quite
gentleman
, is he?’

‘I’ll make you some coffee, you can drink it while you talk. The business side is best left to you.’

Ralph was put through to Neville in his office and he began a long and fruitful conversation about planning permission. He became so involved in his discussion that he didn’t realise that Muriel had been standing in the doorway listening. When he replaced the receiver he glanced up to find her glaring at him, her face scarlet and stormy and her eyes sparking angrily.

‘Hipkin Gardens.’

‘Hipkin Gardens?’

‘Yes, Hipkin Gardens is
not
going to be built by a den of thieves. I won’t have it.’ She stamped her foot. Ralph stood up.

‘Muriel, I assure you . . .’

‘No, Ralph. I heard what you said. Oh yes I did! I don’t want to hear any more about paying councillors and scratching people’s backs for them to get you what you want. If it’s to bear my name and my father’s, it’s to be done right.’

Ralph went to draw her into the room. He took her arm and said, ‘Sit here my dear, I don’t like you to be upset and angry, you’re quite mistaken.’

Ralph shook his head. Muriel was in tears.

‘Muriel! Please!’

‘All I came in for was to bring your coffee.’ Tears trickled down her cheeks. Rather petulantly she cried, ‘And I’m glad I did. I won’t have it Ralph, I simply won’t. I want it all to be lovely and great fun, and all it’s going to be is nasty and horrid and small minded, and then there won’t be any pleasure in doing good for the village at all. And no one will like us, and we shall have to leave, and that dreadful Mr Fitch will be in your place.’ She dried her tears and said accusingly, ‘Why
are
you talking about a hundred houses?’

‘It was him talking about a hundred houses, and I went along with it to see how much I could learn about what to do.’

Muriel signalled her disbelief by lifting her chin and turning away her head. ‘I can see which way the land lies, you’re getting carried away with this idea.’

Ralph pulled a chair across the carpet and placed it in front of Muriel’s. Taking her hand in his he said, ‘I won’t have this whole lovely idea spoiled for you, not on any account. I’d rather not go through with it than have you upset like this. I was only trying out ideas with Neville, about agreeing to one thing in order to get one’s own way about another. You’ve quite misunderstood my conversation. You’re right to be indignant. We’re going to go about it the honourable way, I promise you that.’ He smiled reassuringly at her.

‘I know, dear. People like Neville need someone like you to remind them of the honourable way to do things. I promise you faithfully I shall do things the way you want them done, otherwise I couldn’t live with myself. I love you, you see.’

Muriel kissed Ralph and said, ‘Thank you for coming back to Turnham Malpas. The years ahead would have been very bleak without you.’

‘Thank you for saying “yes”. It makes everything I do so much more worthwhile. Let’s go have lunch in The Royal Oak? They tell me Bryn has got a new home-brewed ale in, and I should like to try it.’ He smiled pleadingly at her, trying to make amends.

Muriel took his hand and held it to her cheek. ‘I always thought this Templeton charm business was a lot of tosh, but it isn’t, is it? You’ve won me round. Yes, I’ll come, but only on condition that you don’t bring up the subject of the houses, I can’t bear it. Please?’

‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

But they had no alternative. Three people came up to him in the dining room, promising their support when he decided to start a petition or demonstration or whatever it was he thought would be the best move. ‘After all you helped us win the battle with that old Fitch, if we all stand together we’ll stop the council too, won’t we?’

Muriel blushed furiously and made a show of eating her lasagne so as to dissociate herself from the conversation. When they’d said their piece and left the dining room she muttered to Ralph, ‘We shouldn’t have come. I knew it, we shouldn’t have. We’ll have to leave the village. They won’t let you build. They won’t. Oh dear.’

‘Oh yes, they will, won’t they? I shall pull myself together.’

‘I shan’t let bad blood occur. Believe me. I won’t let it happen. You can rely on me.’

‘Of course I can. Yes, of course.’

‘Anyway it’s not official yet, so everyone is jumping the gun.’

Muriel took a sip of her wine and said, ‘When we’ve finished here I’ve to go to the Store for one or two things, and you’re needing stamps, aren’t you? You go on home, I shan’t be long.’

‘Another drink?’

‘No, thank you. How is the ale?’

‘Excellent. Bryn’s a much better landlord than Mac and Betty ever were. Much more style and much more knowledgeable.’

Ralph went home and Muriel continued round the green to the Store. It was very quiet in there; besides someone at the post office counter she was the only customer. She wandered around the shelves choosing what she fancied. That was one of the lovely things about being married to Ralph; she didn’t need to worry about every penny she spent. Though she wasn’t foolish, of course, that wouldn’t be right but . . . She was standing between the two racks of cards and stationery when she overheard the customer talking to Linda at the post office counter.

‘Tell me.’

The speaker leant her elbow on the edge of the counter and said, ‘I’ve heard it on good authority that it’s Sir Ralph yer know, building the houses on that land when they pull the chapel down, and not the council at all. There’s everyone thinking, no, certain, he’s getting up a petition against it and all the time it’s ’im ’imself. Greedy, that’s what. ‘As all that money and still he has to make more. These rich people are never satisfied. Yer’ve a bad cough Linda, and it’s affected yer eyes as well, yer keep winking. Are you sure you should be at work?’

Muriel heard Linda whispering and then the speaker said loudly. ‘Eavesdroppers never ’ear good of themselves.’

Muriel emerged from between the shelves and, keeping as calm as she could in the circumstances, said in a sharp tone, ‘My husband isn’t greedy. He may not be Lord of the Manor now, but he still has the interests of the village at heart. He wouldn’t dream of doing anything to the detriment of the village, he loves it. He’s not interested in making money. Please remember that.’ She drew herself up, feeling not unlike a bantam squaring up for a fight.

‘Beg yer pardon, I’m sure. But from where I’m standing that’s what it looks like.’

‘Well, it just isn’t so.’

‘Certainly made a change to you, Muriel Hipkin, being married to money. Wouldn’t say boo to a goose before. Oh, no! Very shy and retiring yer were then. Different story now, I see. Well, you’re not throwing your weight about with me. Anyway, time will tell who’s right. But if he’s making money out of it, I shall be at the front with a placard protesting!’

‘There won’t be any need for a protest. I shall see to that.’

Muriel nearly decided to run home, but she’d promised Ralph the stamps so she would look silly if she left now. Linda looked very embarrassed when Muriel appeared at the grille.

‘Ten first-class stamps please, Linda. Don’t worry yourself, dear, I’m not going to bite your head off too. Some people can’t stand change, that’s what it is.’

‘But Lady Templeton, is he really going to build these houses? Someone said they would be red brick with them nasty patio windows and that, and cost a fortune so village people couldn’t buy them. They say it’s all because he wants to make a lot of money. But Sir Ralph’s not like that, is he?’

‘Linda, not even my husband knows if it is going to be possible, so it’s all speculation. But take it from me if they do get built they won’t be for sale, they’ll be to rent.’

‘Oh, that would be lovely. My sister, the one who’s just got married, had to move to the grotty end of Culworth ’cos she couldn’t afford to buy. What a good idea.’

‘Thank you, Linda, I’m glad you agree it’s a good idea. How much do I owe? Can I pay for these cards here too?’

‘Oh yes, I’ll take for stationery but everything else at the other till please. Three pounds seventy-five, please. Oh, that’s correct, good. I’m short of change.’

On her way home Muriel went into the church and knelt to pray. She prayed mostly for understanding about Ralph’s plans. She prayed to be a good wife. She prayed that the village would understand what he was trying to do. There was no doubt about it, she’d have to support this idea of his. It was all to the good. She was sure now. When she’d finished she sat in the pew contemplating life and how lucky she was. She went home to tell him so.

‘I shall be glad of a break. Come in and sit down.’

‘Ralph, I have realised today how lucky I am. I’ve been in church having a word, and then I sat thinking about you and what you plan to do. I’d found myself saying in the Store that some people can’t stand change. That used to be me, you know. I couldn’t stand change. I’ve had to speak out in defence of you, I was so angry about what someone in the Store was saying. So I spoke up. It’s not like me at all, is it?’ Ralph shook his head. ‘Then Linda said her sister had had to move away because she couldn’t afford to buy a house in the village like she wanted to. So that’s a possible family of children for the school and the church which we have now lost. We’ve got to stem the exodus, haven’t we?’

‘Yes.’

‘So, I’ve been thinking, there isn’t any suitable land anywhere else, is there? They certainly wouldn’t allow building on farm land, would they?’

‘No.’

‘So, houses to rent within the village would be an excellent idea, and it’s the only piece of land available so close. I know we shall cause a lot of trouble doing it, but in the end it will all be to the good. There!’

Ralph stood up and went to take hold of her hand.

‘Muriel, my dear, you are wonderful. I’m delighted you see it my way. You can keep your eagle eye on the planning. I’m not sure how it will work out, we’ll have to see what the council think.’

‘I don’t want horrid council houses on it, Ralph!’