Margiad sat bolt upright. ‘I am very well, Mr Blair, thank you.’
‘Good,’ he said, and settled himself to his Horlicks and his biscuits.
Should she ask him? Shouldn’t she? She watched the girl disappear behind the curtains.
‘D’you think the weather will improve, Miss Thomas?’
‘I hope so. Terrible its been lately.’
And cup at his lips, Mr Blair, replied, ‘Yes, first time I’ve seen you at the Blue Bird,’ he said.
She dropped her voice, stuttered, ‘Yes, I had to see Dr Hughes today.’
‘You’re not ill, I hope.’
The words gave her strength, a sudden way in, and she smiled, but said nothing, too surprised as she was, then got up and walked slowly to him. She bent across his table, and in a whisper, asked, ‘Could I speak to you for a moment, Mr Blair?’
He looked up. ‘Of course,’ and he motioned her to the opposite chair.
‘Thank you.’
She sat with her back to the blue curtains, again dropped her voice, and said, ‘If I could talk to you in confidence, Mr Blair, I would be most grateful.’
He sat back, studied her. ‘Is something wrong?’
And again the conspiratorial whisper. ‘I’m worried in my mind, Mr Blair.’
‘How is your brother?’
‘Not well at all,’ she said, and the reply leapt out.
‘Oh! Dear, dear! I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Thomas.’
‘Ever since a certain woman came to work in your office, my brother has become a changed man.’
‘Indeed!’
‘You have heard the rumours no doubt, Mr Blair. I will spare you my own feelings. You’ve met Mervyn, you know him, but you would not do so now,’ and her sudden sigh seemed to fill the room.
‘Sorry to hear that,’ he said, and then felt a sudden tug at his coat sleeve.
‘My brother is following that woman about, Mr Blair, people are watching, talking about it, and the rumours .…’
‘Rumours?’
She was astonished at the sharpness in his voice, ‘What rumours? What is it you are talking about, Miss Thomas? I hear no rumours. What is all this?’
Her voice seemed to come from a distance as she said very quietly, ‘He follows her about everywhere,’ and paused, as though awaiting a fresh wave of her own confidence. ‘He’s a changed man, and he’s hardly ever at home now.’
With some irritation Mr Blair pushed away his plate. ‘Who is this person, Miss Thomas?’
‘A Miss Vaughan, Rhiannon Vaughan, I understand.’
‘What about her?’
And tentatively Miss Thomas whispered close to his ear, ‘I wondered if you could tell me anything about her. If only you knew how sad this is for me, Mr Blair.’
He sat back in his chair, and she was startled by his sudden change of expression, and lowered her head.
‘A Miss Vaughan came to see me from a small village in Dynbych,’ he said, ‘I had advertised in a paper there. She is a typist in my office. She works well, and is very reliable, and that is all that I require from any employee of mine, Miss Thomas.’
‘Is she .…’
‘I never discuss the private life of my employees with anybody.’
‘They say she has no friends at all, and hides herself in her room all the time, and sometimes is seen walking by herself along the shore.’
‘Miss Vaughan’s life is Miss Vaughan’s business,’ Mr Blair said. ‘I cannot discuss her with you. What your brother does is your brother’s business, Miss Thomas, and what Miss Vaughan does is hers. I hope I have made myself clear?’ He paused for a moment, then leaned very close, and said abruptly, ‘And that is an end of the matter.’
And now she clutched at both coat sleeves, and said in a fierce whisper, ‘Mr Blair, my brother is a Minister of God.’ The silence was sudden, Mr Blair seemed relaxed, nibbled at his biscuits, sipped his Horlicks. He disliked this quite unexpected confrontation.
‘I’m ashamed,’ she said, and he felt her tone fierce, and close.
‘There is no morality today, Miss Thomas, it has ceased to exist. Didn’t you know that?’
‘I didn’t know that,’ she flung back at him, surprised by her own sudden anger, afraid of it. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
And had she glanced up at that moment she would have seen him smile. ‘Poor Miss Thomas,’ he thought, ‘she is upset.’
