Beth was up at the crack of dawn. She wanted to look perfect and went through her entire wardrobe carelessly flinging clothes on the floor in her search for something that she considered suitable. Why don’t I have some glamorous walking gear? she fumed while putting in her diamond stud earrings.
Hyacinth wouldn’t have cared if Beth had worn a black bin bag. Soon she would be expected to introduce Beth into her inner circle, but she didn’t want to share this one, not yet. She was still kicking herself for getting carried away with the situation in the theatre staff room. She could have blown it, yet her gut instinct had been right. Today, she told herself firmly as she drove into town, she would be on her best behaviour. Absolutely no touching. She smiled as the memory of Beth’s body caused her to place her hand between her legs.
Beth heard the sound of a car horn, looked out of the window and saw Hyacinth waving her down. Better not go in, thought Hyacinth, or we’ll never get going. She switched on the CD player so that when Beth stepped into the car her favourite music would be playing. It had been easy to discover Beth’s musical preferences from the theatre staff and load the CD player accordingly. Let the seduction begin.
‘Good morning, Hyacinth.’ Beth said as she slid into the passenger seat.
Hyacinth looked sideways at Beth.
‘Whoops. Sorry.’ Beth apologized. ‘I mean good morning, H.’
‘That’s better, darling.’ H shot her a killer smile. ‘And good morning to you too.’
‘Aren’t we lucky? The sun’s shining and the weather forecast is good. Unseasonably warm. It looks like we’re set for a good day. What lovely music.’ You’re jabbering, Beth.
‘One of my favourite artists, darling. I heard the weather forecast too. It must have been my sunshine spell that did it, but I‘ve brought a jacket, just in case. Did you think to put one in your bag?’
‘Yes.’ Beth rubbed her clammy hands against her bare legs in an effort to cover her flesh from Hyacinth’s penetrating gaze. Then she searched in her bumbag for her sunglasses.
Aware of Beth’s uneasiness Hyacinth said, ‘Have you settled in okay at St. Gregory’s?’
‘I think so. Thanks for asking. I discovered an old friend working there too. So that was nice.’
‘Really, darling? And who is that?’
‘One of the sisters. Val Taylor.’
‘Oh yes. I know Val. She came to our fundraiser last year. Jolly soul. Game for a laugh if I remember correctly.’
‘Oh yes. That’s Val.’
‘And just what is your connection darling?’
‘We met on the first day of my medical training. She’s been like a guardian angel to me.’
‘Has she now?’ said H, making a mental note to check Val out.
‘She works night duty mostly, and always has some student nurse under her wing these days. She likes to have a joke with them. Jolly them along. She told me about one student,’ Beth started to laugh.
‘Come on then. Spit it out.’
‘Well. Val sent this particular student to theatre for a set of fallopian tubes. When she returned she was carrying two lengths of plastic drain pipes that the theatre porter had obligingly given her.’
They both burst out laughing.
‘She’s not like some of the sisters who treat their staff appallingly, and seem to relish bullying the students. It’s awful.’
‘That’s dreadful. But rest assured — they will reap what they sow.’ H said, as she drove with speed through the rugged northern landscape.
The sun had started to climb into the blue sky. It cast pretty shadows through the high broken clouds enhancing the deep yellow of the hundreds of daffodils heralding their approach to Wordsworth country.
Hyacinth mesmerized Beth; who thought H looked about twenty years old today with her hair up in a ponytail. Beth didn’t know today was H’s fortieth birthday. The more they talked the more Beth fell under her spell. Davinia and Julie became a topic of conversation. Beth discovered Davinia’s daughter Felicity ran an outrageously expensive livery yard on the family estate, and was a successful event rider.
Hyacinth smirked when she said the Macfarlines had staff to attend to their every need, especially Petra, the Swedish housekeeper. ‘Housekeeper my eye.’ H laughed. ‘Petra is so sexy. She has the most beautiful blonde wavy hair I’ve ever seen. She is a natural blonde too.’
Beth gasped. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Believe me, darling. I know,’ H said playfully. ‘And, she has the sexiest pale blue eyes.’ She glanced at Beth to check the effect her words were having, pleased at the jealous sparkle in Beth’s eyes. She continued innocently, ‘Did I mention her amazingly long legs?’
