Deadlight-Hall(25)

‘Two huge bedrooms and bathroom up here,’ said Godfrey, starting up a spiral staircase. ‘From the main bedroom you can see across to All Saints Church.’

For a wild moment Nell saw herself waking in this room – Michael would be there on some mornings – and seeing the misty silhouette of All Saints against the dawn with him next to her. This was such an alluring prospect that she thought she had better slow down before she got carried away.

‘And a couple of storerooms at the top of these steps,’ said Godfrey, going across a small landing and up four more stairs. ‘I’ve never really used them – except for storing old stock. This one’s directly under the roof, as you can see. But I should think you could make two more bedrooms up here, or a study, if you wanted.’

‘Yes,’ said Nell, looking about her. ‘Yes, you could.’

But as they went downstairs, she said, ‘Godfrey, we have to be very straight with each other about this. I’m attracted to this, but I’ve only got a certain amount of money, and it really is all there is. I’m not going to start borrowing from banks or building societies.’

Godfrey beamed, and pattered into the little office to put the kettle on. When he came back, he was wearing the rimless spectacles which he always donned for serious work, and which made him look like a pleased owl.

‘Let’s work out some figures over a cup of coffee,’ he said.

The figures worked out surprisingly well.

‘We’re making a few assumptions,’ said Godfrey. ‘And we don’t know how much it would cost to knock the two shops into one. But I don’t think we’re very far out.’

Nell hoped they were not, because it was looking as if this really would be affordable. It would be a bit of a risk, because it would take most of the squirrelled-away investments, but it would not take all of them. The money earmarked for Beth would not need to be touched. She promised Godfrey that she would give him her decision within the next two days after she had talked to the bank and perhaps to a builder as well, then she went back to her own shop. Awaiting her was a message from some Japanese customers who wanted to buy a pair of Regency sofas which Nell had been trying to sell for six months. This was so encouraging, and would replenish the coffers so well, that Godfrey’s project looked even more promising.

After supper, when Beth embarked on her music practice, Nell caught herself thinking that if she took on Godfrey’s shop, Beth could have a bedroom in one of those unused upper rooms, and one of the present bedrooms could be turned into a music room. She was immensely proud of Beth’s progress and pleased with Beth’s continuing interest in the lessons, but it had to be acknowledged that the annexe was a bit small when it came to the practising of scales.

‘Would you like a proper music room, Beth?’

Beth’s small face, so heartbreakingly like her father’s at times, lit up. ‘I’d utterly love it. Where could I have it? Here somewhere?’

‘No, not here. But if we were to move to a bigger shop you might. It’s only an idea at the moment.’

‘We wouldn’t move away from Oxford, though? We couldn’t move away from Oxford, and leave Michael.’

Beth sounded anxious, and Nell said, ‘No, not away from Oxford.’ Certainly not away from Michael, she thought. ‘But perhaps to a bigger shop here in the Court.’

‘That’d be lavishly good,’ said Beth, and by way of expressing her approval, started in on a lively Mozart piece which her teacher had transposed and simplified for her.

‘It hasn’t happened yet and it might not happen at all. So don’t say anything to anyone,’ said Nell. ‘Understood?’

‘Um, yes, OK. Not even to Michael?’

‘No, I’ll tell Michael myself. And isn’t it your bedtime? In fact, isn’t it past it?’

‘One more Mozart. You like Mozart,’ said Beth, hopefully.

‘Yes, but if you play any more tonight you’ll never sleep – your mind will be too active.’

‘I bet Mozart wasn’t made to go to bed when he didn’t want to.’

‘Mozart didn’t have double geography and an arithmetic test in the morning. Yes, you do have,’ said Nell, as Beth opened her mouth to protest.

‘I hate geography.’

‘Well, how about if we just do a few capitals of countries. And afterwards you can play one short Mozart.’

‘Um, OK.’