The Christmas Menagerie Page 5

  She followed him into a small room which looked out on to a walled garden. Besides a couple of comfy, well-used armchairs, there was a large glass cage standing on a box. Dickon went over to it saying, ‘Hi, Luna, this is my new friend Amelia. Come say hello.’

  Amelia peered in and saw a small brown and cream mottled reptile in the corner of the cage. It was so still it was almost like a statue. Dickon opened the cage and picked him up almost thrusting him into her hand, but she took a step back, her hand up as if to shield herself from it leaping at her. She said cautiously, ‘He looks quite sleepy, better leave him for now.’

  To her relief she heard Jules calling for Dickon, then praising the women in the kitchen for the magnificent turkey. He came into the room. ‘Don’t kidnap Amelia, Dickon,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I want her to meet some of the people here. I expect she’s had enough animals for now. Her house is full of them.’

  Seeing the disappointment in Dickon’s face, Amelia said, ‘I’ve never seen a gecko before. He’s fascinating and so pretty. His name is interesting, Dickon, why did you choose that?’

  ‘I thought he might live on the moon,’ Dickon explained.

  ‘Ah, yes, I see what you mean,’ Amelia agreed.

  ‘Put him back in his house, Dickon, we are about to have lunch.’ Jules turned to her. ‘I’ll introduce you to some people in the living room and then Dickon and I will help take the lunch in.’

  Almost before he’d finished his sentence, Cynthia joined them. ‘Oh, there you are, Jules,’ she said, standing close to him, as if she was guarding him.

  ‘Yes, we’re about to serve up lunch,’ Jules said cheerfully. ‘Give us a few minutes but take Amelia with you and introduce her to people.’ He told Dickon, again, to put Luna back in his cage, wash his hands and come and help him take in the lunch to the dining room.

  Cynthia walked quickly down the passage, not waiting for Amelia to follow. They reached the living room together.

  ‘Don’t you know anyone here?’ Cynthia asked her pityingly.

  ‘I haven’t really looked to see. Dickon took me to see Luna before I had much time to meet many people.’ Amelia wished she could have stayed in the kitchen with Dickon and Jules and those cheerful ladies. She followed Cynthia into the room with its throng of people.

  To her relief Giles saw her and came over. ‘Now come and meet everyone,’ he said, taking her arm and leading her round the room. People smiled and welcomed her in a sea of names and faces she hoped she would remember.

  Dickon appeared, sent to tell everyone that lunch was ready, and they streamed into the dining room. He found Amelia her place and she sat down at the huge oval table with its pristine white cloth with blue and gold crackers arranged in the middle round an arrangement of holly and orange satsumas. The silver knives and forks glinted under the light of two sparkling chandeliers wreathed in gold streamers. She felt she was in a room of another age, which was probably true, as it belonged to Giles, who must at least be in his eighties.

  She was sitting next to a cheerful, blond-haired man called David Wheeler, and on her other side was Leonora, Giles’s present lady friend.

  Leonora wanted to know everything about her, almost as if she was interviewing her for a job or was possibly testing to see if she might have designs on Giles, even though he was old enough to be her father, or even her grandfather.

  ‘Not much to know, really,’ Amelia said. ‘I have two daughters, Grania and Sophie. One staying with her fiancé’s family in Cornwall, the other travelling in India. I’m a widow. My husband died three years ago.’

  ‘That’s sad, I’m sorry. I’m a widow too, but you won’t catch me marrying again. Been there, done that, as they say. I found being a wife far too constricting,’ Leonora added with a wink. ‘I like men, don’t think I don’t, but I’m not keen on being bossed about, which husbands are apt to do. Once they’ve got you, they seem to think they own you. Lovers are far more exciting. If you get bored of one, there’s always another one coming around the corner, like buses.’ She laughed. ‘I see you are shocked, but there is safety in numbers.’

  Amelia would have given anything to have Esmond back with her again and Leonora seemed to guess this. She put her hand over hers. ‘You might have been very lucky with your husband, Amelia, but I am not keen on being treated like “the little woman”,’ her voice went sneery, ‘whose only point seems to be bed and kitchen.’

  ‘My marriage wasn’t at all like that. I miss him dreadfully.’ Amelia suddenly wished she was back at home with all the animals.

  9

  David, the man on her other side at lunch, was, to Amelia’s relief, charming. Leonora seemed now to be bossing the man on her left, so she was relieved that she had not left her sitting alone in silence.

  He congratulated her on taking in the animals. ‘You must be bored to tears talking about them, and I hope people won’t think you are the new pet carer for whenever they need you, if the kennels are permanently shut down.’

  ‘Oh, so do I,’ Amelia said fervently. ‘I only offered to take in one friend’s terrier, then before I knew it, other people were turning up on the doorstep with their pets too.’

  ‘Well, I think you are very kind.’ He smiled, which lifted his face, making it more animated. ‘So, tell me which is your other half,’ he glanced round the table, ‘and how do you know Jules and his uncle?’

  ‘I’m a widow and—’

  ‘I’m so sorry. So are you here alone?’ He broke in, with the look of sympathy she’d gotten used to on his face.

  ‘Yes. My husband was much older than me and he died almost four years ago. I moved here, over a year ago, but this is my first Christmas here, as well as my first without my daughters.’

  ‘It’s a difficult time to be alone.’ David sighed. ‘My long-time girlfriend and I have recently broken up.’

  ‘Christmas is a difficult time to do that.’ She wondered if they’d been placed next to each other as they were both without partners.

  ‘We seemed to be drifting apart and she then decided to spend Christmas on one of those chalet holidays with a group of people, most of whom don’t know each other. I don’t ski, so wasn’t too bothered.’ He shrugged. ‘I think it’s for the best, relationships usually have a sell-by date, don’t you think? I feel quite sanguine about it.’ He flashed her a smile. ‘Anyway, enough about me. Tell me about you and your family, and where you lived before you moved here.’

  Lunch drifted on through the afternoon. The Queen’s speech was beamed in before two large Christmas puddings were brought in, flaming blue and gold flames encouraged by a large amount of brandy poured round them. The puddings were rushed round the table, the idea being that everyone would have a spoonful before the flames burnt out. There was great excitement as it went around, people jabbing at it, and it was just managed before the flames died.

  Amelia felt sleepy and content. She’d enjoyed herself, with such good food and drink and interesting people. Apart from a few moments at the beginning, when she’d wished she was at home, she realised she hadn’t missed her family at all. Although it was obviously Christmas, with the food and the decorations, and the tree with a scattering of presents beneath it, it somehow felt instead, like a gathering of like-minded people enjoying themselves.

  Just before the puddings were brought in, everyone changed places, moving up two, and she found herself next to Giles and Rosalind, whom she realised she’d met before.

  ‘Yes, I own the sewing shop where you had your curtains made and some upholstery done,’ she said. ‘Not sewn by me, I may say, I’m hopeless with a needle, but I have two marvellous women who do that for me.’

  ‘Of course, I remember now. There was so much I had to do then, with the move. You were so kind helping me choose the curtains for the house.’ Amelia was relieved to find someone she vaguely knew, apart from Jules and Dickon. Jules now seemed to be commandeered by Cynthia.

  ‘I heard how you came to the rescue and took in some
pets. It’s tragic that the kennels closed. I used them often when my little pug was alive,’ Rosalind went on. ‘You must surely be revered as the patron saint of pet owners,’ she laughed, ‘taking them in at the last moment so their owners could go away.’

  As everyone at the table seemed in a happy haze of a delicious feast and good wine and occupied with talking and joking with the people around them, Amelia felt she could ask Rosalind if she knew more about why the kennels closed so suddenly, without being overheard.

  ‘Can you tell me exactly what’s happened there? I haven’t lived here long or have any pets, so I didn’t know anything about the kennels, until people brought their animals to me.’ She said. ‘Some people seem to think that Jules was wrong to close them down, especially at Christmas.’

  Rosalind glanced round the table to see if they were being overheard. She said quietly, ‘Once it was a very good place run by a couple, Jim and Dodi. They took in all sorts of pets and looked after them well. Les, the vet was also an excellent vet, some time ago, but then Jim began to get – well, I don’t know if it is actually dementia, but very forgetful, when before, he used to be so on the ball. Dodi found it difficult to cope and Les seemed to have lost the plot too and the standards dropped. Then along comes Jules, young and eager, and with more up-to-date ideas, and he said it had to go.’ She took a sip of wine, before going on, Amelia was fascinated.

  ‘It was filthy apparently. Some cages needed replacing, they’d been cobbled together with bits of wire and stuff. There was masses to do to bring it up to scratch, and it would cost a lot to do it properly.’ Rosalind shrugged. ‘Jules had to close it for the sake of the animals, but lots of people, probably people who hadn’t seen it for a while, are up in arms about it.’

  ‘I heard a young woman at church sounding off about Jules. Was he allowed to do it just like that?’ Amelia said.

  ‘I think he saved them from getting into serious trouble over it, being in the state it was. It must be difficult for people to accept that they can no longer do the work they have done all their lives.’ Rosalind sighed. ‘They were all such good people and looked after Angel, my pug, for years when I went away, but I suppose they just got too old to cope, and perhaps couldn’t afford to do it up. Angel died three years ago, and I haven’t replaced her, and so I’ve not gone back,’ she explained, adding, ‘We used to see Jim and Dodi around the place, but now I think of it, I haven’t seen either of them for ages.’

  ‘But didn’t anyone else notice the place was in trouble? When people dropped their pets there?’ Amelia asked.

  ‘I don’t know, but though I don’t know Jules well, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have done it if it didn’t need to be done. Les, the old vet, had a bad fall last month, so he’s gone to live with his daughter in Sussex. I think Giles happened to mention that Jules, his nephew, was a vet and coming to stay with him while he sorted his life out and could take on some of the work.’

  ‘I see. I understand he used to live in France,’ Amelia remembered.

  ‘That’s right and then,’ she dropped her voice further, ‘his wife died and after a while he decided to come back and live in the UK so Dickon could go to school here.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, how tragic.’ Amelia was hit with the familiar pain at losing Esmond. At least their daughters were grown up when they lost him, unlike poor Dickon.

  ‘Yes, hell for him. Dickon hardly remembers her.’

  ‘Can the kennels be rebuilt?’ Amelia asked.

  ‘I think only from scratch, though I heard that the old couple have a nephew who has been studying in Europe and is keen to help out, so we’ll see.’

  ‘So perhaps they will be reopened then,’ Amelia said, feeling relieved.

  ‘Perhaps. Just now, Jules is the only fully qualified vet around here, until he moves on. Rumour has it that a newly qualified woman is on her way,’ Rosalind finished.

  Uncle Giles got up and hit the side of his glass and there was a sudden silence.

  ‘Another Christmas enjoyed and as always a wonderful feast. Let’s drink to Janey and Sara.’

  Everyone lifted their glass to the two women who had produced the delicious lunch.

  Soon after, people began to get up from the table and drift through to another room. Rosalind said, ‘I’m so glad to see you again, Amelia. You have two daughters, I remember, and have lost your husband?’

  ‘Yes, getting on to four years ago, now,’ Amelia said.

  Rosalind squeezed her arm in sympathy. ‘Times like Christmas are hard without them,’ she said, ‘but let’s keep in touch. I have a daughter too, Melanie, I’d say she’s about the same age as your girls. She’s working in a chalet this year, but we could all get together when she’s back.’ She hugged her. ‘So happy we’ve met up again.’ She glanced at her watch.’ Heavens, I’ve got to rush, must go and visit my grandmother, who is in a home nearby, before she falls asleep. See you very soon.’ And she was gone, making her goodbyes and rushing out through the door.

  Quite a few others were leaving, and Amelia decided to go too, get back to the pets. She hoped they hadn’t all escaped from their various places and savaged each other while she’d been away. The lunch party had been fun but now she felt sleepy, replete with good food. She fetched her coat and the plate she’d brought with the salmon on, now washed up and put on the side for her.

  Giles kissed her, saying he was so glad to have met her. ‘You must come again. You’ll be a great asset to the community and not just as a pet keeper.’ He laughed.

  Leonora gave her a hug and told her to keep in touch. David held her hand in both of his. ‘I so enjoyed meeting you and perhaps we could go out together one evening.’ He smiled at her.

  ‘I’ve enjoyed my day very much, perhaps we’ll meet up again somewhere else.’ She was relieved when someone else came up to him so she could slip away before he could pin her down for a date.

  Since Esmond had died, she’d been wary about ‘dating’. Having not done it for so long she was unsure what was expected. Two adults, well past their teenage years, could behave as promiscuously as they chose, only she wanted to have love in the mix of seduction, not just a cheap thrill. Was that asking too much?

  Jules said goodbye with his hand on her shoulder, no kisses. ‘So glad you came. Be sure to contact me if you’re worried about any of the animals. I feel you have been left with too many to be responsible for,’ he said, his expression serious, making her think he would be keeping tabs on her to be sure she did not neglect any of them.

  Cynthia, seeing them close together, came over, hanging around Jules like an annoying wasp. ‘If you’re unsure how to deal with any of the pets I suggest you make a trip to the bookshop and buy a book on animals or look up any queries you have online,’ she said. ‘Jules is rushed off his feet being the only decent vet around, he’s no time for extra call-outs.’

  ‘They are fine, thank you. My daughter will be coming soon, and she’ll be a great help.’ Amelia hadn’t taken to this woman at all.

  ‘There’s so much for Jules to take on that the old vet, who was virtually senile, left undone. He hasn’t time to waste seeing to healthy animals.’ She threw the words at her, sharp as flint.

  10

  When all the lunch guests had departed, Jules had just settled down on the sofa to look at a couple of books he’d been given, when he had a call from a local farmer.

  ‘So sorry to bother you on Christmas Day, Jules, but I’ve got a calf stuck, looks like I’m going to lose the mother. Can you come out?’

  ‘Of course, remind me of your address.’ He was instantly alert and when Cynthia came towards him suggesting they meet up tomorrow, he said he couldn’t think now, he had to get to Strawberry Farm.

  ‘Surely not on Christmas Day, really some people are so inconsiderate,’ she grumbled.

  ‘Tell that to the cow,’ he said briskly, steering past her and going to fetch his coat, calling out to Dickon that he was needed for a medical emergency.


  ‘Oh, I’m sorry it’s happened today,’ Leonora said, coming into the room carrying the Christmas cake she’d made.

  ‘Can I come, Dad?’ Dickon asked, following behind her carrying some plates. ‘What animal is ill?’

  ‘No, you stay here in the warmth. Have a slice of that delicious-looking cake Leonora has made,’ he said, ruffling his hair as he passed him.

  ‘What’s wrong with the animal, has it had an accident?’ Dickon, still carrying the plates for anyone who wanted some of Leonora’s cake, followed him into the hall. He always showed interest in such matters; perhaps he was a budding vet himself.

  ‘A calf has got stuck trying to be born,’ Jules said, pulling on his boots.

  ‘Damn shame it’s happened today.’ Giles appeared. ‘But of course, you must go. Dickon you can open the presents your grandparents sent you, now the lunch party is over.’ He smiled as Dickon thrust the plates at him and whooped with joy, running to fetch them from under the tree.

  Jules was relieved fate or rather a cow in labour, had saved him from watching him opening them. It seemed so unfair that Marina’s parents were still alive while she was dead. Her father often said, when he took Dickon to see them in their home in Wales, that it should have been them, instead of her. They had lived a long, productive life and were ready to go, while she had so much to live for.

  Both his own parents were dead, had been for some time, but since he was a child, he’d always been close to Giles, his uncle. He’d never stop missing Marina; it had got easier as time passed, though it was as if there was a space beside him, where she should be. She’d been so ill, and there was no chance of her getting better, and it had been a mercy for her when she had gone.

  It was pitch-dark as he started the car and turned on to the road. The farm was about fifteen minutes away on the country roads, which were thankfully empty as there were times where you had to stop to let through a car coming from the other way, the road being too narrow for two cars to pass each other at the same time.