In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (120) – St Andrews Day Dinner Party

November

 

Popular Children’s Writer, Chania Campbell, had made her home in the village of Pepperstock Green and on St Andrews Day she was hosting a dinner party, and among the guests were Louise Sexton and Jade Edwards, a pair of visiting thespians.

The hostess had first met Louise after they both took part in the World Book Day events at Pipershaven Library, and they became friends, but that evening was the first time Jade and Chania had met.

 

There was a period of reacquaintance with the guest that she knew and formal introductions to those she didn’t but then after a brief chat with her guests Chania had to excuse herself to check on the food, so it was up to the guests to amuse themselves.

In addition to the hostess Chania, were a skinny young woman of a similar age, Fiona Phippen, an illustrator, who was an old school friend, who also assisted in the kitchen, then there was Chania’s brother Aiden, an artist, Derren Mcphail, the new curate of St Agatha’s, Kevin Southey, Church Warden of same, Literary agents, Harry and Tracey Smedley, and Tim Weston who was a Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch.

 

Louise and Jade got to know each other when they both worked on a very popular TV soap and during their time on the show they became very good friends, and over the years, in addition to the soap they had also worked in the theatre and even in pantomime, which was why they were both in the area, as they were appearing at the Heartstone Theatre, doing panto, playing the ugly sisters in Cinderella, which was intended to be ironic given the way they looked.

At 30 years old, Louise was stunningly attractive, slim with shoulder length brunette hair and hazel eyes but even Jade, who was three years older, put her friend in the shade with her looks.

Jade was slightly taller and a little curvier than Louise with a shock of flame red hair, so it wasn’t their looks that kept them single.

Their problem was that in their profession it was difficult to meet men, well the right kind of men at any rate, and they had over the years grown weary of being hit on by all the usual suspects.

Men who wanted to either be seen with a famous actress on their arm or wanted the glamour lifestyle they imagined went along with being a successful actor or on the baser level just wanted to have sex with a celebrity.

There was another obvious alternative to those types of men, and that was to date someone from their own world, someone on a par with them, but in their experience most actors tended to have huge egos and small personalities.

So, despite their professional success they were no different to any other human being, looking for love or companionship or a family.

What they needed was someone who would like them or love them for who they were rather than thinking of them as a backstage pass to a celebrity life.

But neither of them was actively looking for anyone so it came as a complete surprise to meet a serious candidate at dinner party in a quaint country village.

But not only had Jade met someone, she was instantly smitten, and that was even before she knew who he was.

The man in question was Aiden Campbell, older brother of the hostess, and a renowned artist, and from the first minute she saw him she was besotted, and she hung on his every word, not that there were a lot of them, as he was rather shy, unlike his sister, who was outgoing and bubbly, he was reflective and guarded.

But Jade wasn’t going to let that derail her, after all she could talk enough for the two of them, and when the time came for them to take their seats she found that she was seated opposite him, and she gave him her full and undivided attention.

 

“I went to your exhibition in Abbottsford last year” she said “at the Beumont Gallery”

“Really?” he said doubtfully

“Yes I was in a play at the Empire, and I passed the gallery every day on my way to the theatre, so I went in every day” she confessed

“Everyday?” he said with a smile “Even I wasn’t there every day”

“I must confess that the first time was more about having time to kill, than art, but it was art that took me back again and again”

“Well thank you for that”

“I would have gone more often but it wasn’t on long enough” she said “I was horrified one Monday morning to find you had been replaced by some ill-conceived art installation”

“You are clearly a woman of taste” he said and raised his glass to her, and she returned his toast

“So, what was your favorite piece” he asked, expecting her to say something glib in return such as

“I liked them all”

He hoped he was wrong because he liked her.

“That’s really difficult” she replied “you’ve put me on the spot now”

“Oh dear” he thought

“There are actually three”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t pin it down to one, so I have three pieces that I particularly liked” she said

“Tell me more” he instructed her desperate now to hear

“Two of them are paintings, “Umbrella Girl” and “The Defiant Harlot” she said “and the other was a sculpture “Spirit of Ecstacy Aflame”.

“Wow, I’m impressed that you remembered the names” he said “Most people say, “I liked the fairy with flames instead of wings” he said in a Monty Python voice and she laughed and then he went thoughtful and said

“Wait a minute, you were at the Empire Theatre while the exhibition was on”

“Yes” she admitted

“In Blue Blooded Murder?” he asked, impressed that he knew the name of the rather indifferent play

“Yes that’s right” she replied and then he studied her closely and put his hands up the frame her face, the way a film director would do

“Aha” he exclaimed “You were the murderer”

“Yes I was” she giggled

“You didn’t have your lovely red mane on show though” he said and she blushed at the compliment

“No, it was under a black wig” she admitted, and then she whispered “it wasn’t a very good play”

“Well, I liked it” he said “I actually went twice”

 

The remainder of the evening passed in the same easy manner until it was time to leave, and they were suddenly thanking Chania, who was at the front door saying goodbye to her guests in turn, and then they were outside.

Jade was in a bit of a quandary because she was getting on so well with Aiden that she didn’t really want the evening to end, and she would really have rather gone somewhere for a quiet drink than go back to the hotel.

But she was also mindful of the fact that she had gone there with Louise, and she didn’t want to ditch her.

So, she and Aiden, just hung around and waited to see what Louise was going to do, he had noticed that she was getting on really well with Harry, and just when she was about to accept the inevitable and get an Uber back to the hotel with her friend, she heard Harry ask

“Are you staying at the Ocean View Hotel?”

“Yes, we both are” Louise replied.

“Well, I’m already dropping Aiden home in Pipershaven so why don’t I drop you both off” he suggested. 

“Good idea” Aiden said, and Jade nodded vigorously.

 

“Are you in a hurry to get back?” Aiden asked as they got out of the car

“No, not really, why?”

“Well, there’s a club round the corner called Spangles” he said, “We could have a nightcap.”

“Oh, that would be nice” she said, “I’m in your hands.”

“I like the sound of that” he said and put his arm through hers.

 

The other two declined the invite so they walked alone to the club which was located in a side street very close to the Hotel and when she first saw it her first impression was that the façade certainly didn’t hint at any seediness and Jade was also pleasantly surprised with the interior, which was quite classy with its plush seating and moody lighting.

It was ostensibly a jazz club as hinted at by the artwork on the walls and in one corner was a small stage, which suggested there was live music at times, though not then, but there were jazz tunes emanating from the speakers. 

After getting their drinks from the bar they chose a quiet corner table from where they could see everything that was going on.

“This is nice” she said.

“I like it” he agreed.

“The music is good too” she said.

“You like listening to Jazz?” Aiden asked.

“I do” she replied, “But I like to play it as well.”

“You do not!” he said incredulously “You’re a musician? What do you play?”

“Clarinet,” she replied and smiled broadly “All the best Jazz is played on the Clarinet.”

“That’s a bold statement, what about the Trumpet, Armstrong is sublime” he protested.

“Yes, I know, and Kenny Baker’s Sax, Bix Beiderbecke’s Cornet and Oscar Petersen’s on Piano” she said passionately “But I will just say this, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Acker Bilk, and then I will rest my case.”

“Wow” he said, “you’re irrepressible.”

“I know it’s the red hair” she retorted and laughed.

“So, when do you play?”

“As and when” she replied, “There is a bunch of fellow Thesps who play wherever and whenever we can, Louise plays piano.”

“You should play here while you’re in Pipershaven” he suggested “The owner would be thrilled.”

“You know the owner then?”

“Kind off” he replied, “I am the owner.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, I also own the Jazz Shack in Abbeyvale, the Tainted Angel in Sharpington, and I co-own Beiderbecke’s in Finchbottom” he said as he got up “Another drink?”

“Please”

 

The drinks kept coming as they sat and talked and they covered a lot of ground but as the time wore on what Jade really wanted to talk about was him, the personal stuff, she knew he was an Artist who liked Jazz and the Theatre, but there was one vital area they hadn’t covered, so as the hour reached 2am and the drink had taken effect on her she asked.

“What about you?”

“What?” he replied.

“What about you?” she repeated this time with more than a hint of a slur “are you spoken for?”

And she then reran the question in her head and was alarmed by the realization of what she had actually said.

“What I meant to say is… um… err… are you… erm…”

And he smiled as he watched her struggle and get more and more flustered but decided to put her out of her misery.

“I’m single”

“Oh” she responded trying to appear indifferent “still not met the right girl?”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly” he replied but didn’t elaborate.

“What about you?” he asked.

“Oh, still footloose and fancy free” Jade replied.

“That’s good to know” he said and then checked his watch and added “I’d better get you home Cinders.”

“I’m not Cinders” she corrected him “I’m an ugly sister; can you believe that? bloody cheek.”

 

It was only a short walk from the Club to the Hotel, and she held on to him very tightly, not so much out of necessity, but out of lust. 

“I hope you didn’t mind me asking if you were… you know” she said, “But I know what you Bohemian Arty types are like.”

“Oh, and what are we like?” he asked.

“A muse in every Garret” she retorted and dissolved into laughter, and she laughed so much that she had tears in her eyes, but when she looked up at him through tear filled eyes he kissed her, and what a kiss, it was the sort of kiss lovers longed for, and dreamt of

“So, what does this mean?” she asked when their lips parted.

“What would you like it to mean?” he asked.

“That you’re my bohemian and I’m you muse” she replied.

“That’s precisely what it means” he said, and they kissed again.