Chapter 6 : Cricket Club

The Midhurst Cricket Club, by virtue of its distance from a town of any size, drew its members from the area’s rural community. They were a cocktail of farm workers, farm owners and others who had wealth by other means and lived in oversized homes.

In cricket the season the club was a microcosm; staffed by the needy and patronised by the Country Club set. These were the people Iris and I were amongst as we watched Ralph’s brief innings. He’d been last batsman; and so, the other side would soon come in to bat.

Iris had left our table to join her son Ralph as he made his way to the pavilion, to share the team’s general get-together, leaving me to take in the scenic setting of the club’s grounds.

Within a while I was suddenly joined by an attractive female acquaintance of Iris, “Hello, you’re staying at the Carlton-Hawes manor aren’t you? I’m Caroline Spencer!” The slim, fair-haired, smartly dressed woman sat where Iris had been.

“Oh, Yes I am; I’m Margot Chiverton.”

“What did you make of that first innings?”

“Oh! Well, I know little about the game really, but I believe they got off to a good start; then kind of wilted towards the end, didn’t they?”

“Yes, your right; young Ralph was probably hoping to rather impress the captain, but I don’t think he did somehow!” She chuckled, “I gather your son is a pal of Ralph’s?”

“Yes! Guy met Ralph at school; they’ve become real chums!”

“Yes, they were in the pavilion together before the game began; I spoke to them briefly; such an attractive age they’re at; and quite wasted on silly schoolgirls.”

The glance she gave set off my pulse! “Oh, do you think so?”

“Well, I’d rather one of them in my bed than some of the men in these parts!” she laughed.

I forced a smile while my mind raced at the prospect of what she was privy to, but I was distracted by the general applause generated by the appearance of the players starting the second innings.

Iris reappeared, “Oh, hello Caroline! Glad you’ve got acquainted with Margot; I just realised I’d abandoned her to chat with the lads! So ... what have you two been gossiping about?”

“Oh, ... you know, just boys Iris!” Caroline chuckled.

“Yes, I know. With them being on the summer break, it’s a job trying to find things to occupy them with something sometimes!” said Iris, then turned and wink at me!

There was a pause in things, when suddenly Caroline piped up with,

“Well here’s a suggestion for a start, how about us having a quiet little pool party with them at my place one sunny day ... soon!”

“You mean you have a swimming pool in your garden?” I said.

“Why yes Margot; we have a pool? It’s a nice pool; heated; do say you’ll come with Guy?”

I looked over to Iris?

She looked back at me with a smile and shrugged.