Chapter 11

The cottage in Ifley was good, it offered a pleasant walk along the river to Oxford or a rather more urgent cycle ride on the road. At first few people were aware of the housekeeper in the cottage. Simon kept his rooms in college and visited at weekends with friends. His fellow students welcomed the opportunity to get away from the colleges, and if some assumed the housekeeper was more than that, they were too polite to say and never took advantage. Except for Tobias, of course.

Tobias Betram Whittam-Tangier was an exotic character both from his ancestry and in his own right. His parents had died too early, leaving him the inheritor of a considerable fortune. He might have turned into a drunken rowdy hooligan. Instead, at sixteen he took on the responsibilities of an estate owner and brought up his ten year old sister; his guardian was a somewhat pointless fellow who was best left out of any decisions.

Tobias (never Toby), grew in stature and when he was old enough he enrolled at Oxford to read for a degree. If he had been doing this for longer than was normal, well people made allowances; and he paid his way. His sister reached sixteen and became the object of some attention. At seventeen she was found to be with child, causing some considerable scandal, especially since she would not say which suitor was the father. She was brought to bed producing a delightful baby boy whom Tobias promptly named as his heir. That was when the rumours began.

Nothing was ever proven of course, but Sarah Whittam-Tangier (and baby and Nanny) were often to be found in Oxford. The cottage at Iffley was often their hidey hole where Tobias would find them. Susan was content and never objected to their long games in the young lady’s room. She said that all the while the baby was also present then surely nothing could be disapproved of – several thought her too innocent, which she certainly was not. Simon was sure he should condemn what appeared to be incest, but they were careful never to provide proof (or perhaps there never was any).

After a year, Simon reciprocated and made the engagement official (with Susan’s approval). They still did not marry as both of them burned to; Simon had been told that was not acceptable, but the engagement was, just. The Master was not sure he approved, his wife did as their daughter was become more enamoured of the young man – Jane had noticed Tobias and Sarah were very close, but decided it was not her business when she visited, and thought the baby just a darling little poppet. “I should love one myself too.” Sarah informed her quietly that although the baby was a delight, the birthing of him was horrendous in the extreme and she should not wish it too soon. Jane was a good observer and was put out that ‘that older woman’ had entrapped her one true love. Not long later she was telling Simon and Susan how she was head over heels in love with Dr Krakken; a brilliant if somewhat erratic scientist.

Simon’s studies ran to their conclusion, and he found himself the Reverend Simon Peters. His parents were proud of course, but also still irritated that his legacy and Susan’s made him richer than they were.

“Now then, Reverend, where should we send you? You have talent and skills I have heard.” The bishop was saying. Simon had expressed an interest in the North of England and had been put in touch with the Assistant Suffragen Associate Bishop of Whitsen. The Church of England did like its layers of management; Simon opted not to say anything about it, but he did rather feel that perhaps more could be funnelled into real work than committees deciding whether Whitsen should be a cathedral or not. “Yes. I hear you have a house in Newborough? Would you live there? That would mean we could sell the curate’s house. The Church of The Holy Redeemer needs a curate. It would in time need a new vicar no doubt. It is quite high church, would that be a problem?”

“I am not generally high church in my approach, I attended that church a few times when I visited my aunt, but I could cope, I am sure. Perhaps we might introduce easier services to attract more, a wider, congregation. Yes, the house is currently loaned to a group for holidays for unmarried mothers. I suppose some allowance would be made for rent?”

“That would be good, we are thinking that St Ma ... I forget the name, the one that poor people go to. It would be well to mix things a little. Hmmm, perhaps mothers should think more before becoming unmarried. Well, well, no doubt you could share. Rent? Well it is your house, why would you pay yourself rent?” ‘You skinflint’ Simon thought.

“It isn’t only my house, it is jointly owned.” Simon was starting to learn the art of not saying everything, that it was jointly owned with his fiance would result in the bishop arguing against rent again.

“Oh? Oh well, I suppose we could arrange something. You should, I think, consider marrying. Congregations like a married priest I believe. Is there anybody you can think of?”

So he left with an appointment to become curate at The Church of The Holy Redeemer and a promise to marry soon – though as he pointed out, that would depend on the young lady agreeing. “What? Oh I suppose so. In my young day women were told who they would marry and were grateful.” With attitudes like that, Simon was fairly sure he understood why the gaitered old fart (‘shame on you’ his conscience said) had not made it further up the tree. Again, he did not admit that the lady concerned was all but champing at the bit to be married to him

They married whilst he was still at Oxford, they just went ahead and told very few people, the honeymoon would have to wait. “But the wedding night won’t.” Susan said. “You have no idea how I’m looking forward to it.”

“But ... well ... I might not be ... well...”

“Oh? You saying you might be no good in bed? Look, I will tell you if you aren’t. And I will insist you improve. If I can take a group of girls through ... oh you didn’t know about that did you?”

“What? When? What?”

“When I we were swimming, and you touched her and I sent you out and -”

“I didn’t touch her!”

“You silly boy! You did! You didn’t realise! You touched her in a very personal place and she nearly went through the roof! I had to explain to them all; quite amazing that girls can be so ignorant these days, but then listen to me, I was innocent at her age.”

“What? I didn’t mean to, I mean what did I do? I don’t understand. What did you do?”

“This is secret, but a husband and wife should have no secrets should they? None! Promise!”

“I do, I do. But there may be other people’s secrets that I can’t share.”

“Hmm – sounds like an excuse. Anyway. I had to show them my ... my bits, in detail. And then how to caress them properly. It was quite quite bizarre, but they did appreciate it.”

“You ... is the term masturbated? You did that for them? That was kind of you. But also I would like to watch as well. Will you teach me properly too, will you show me too? Show me what?”

“Inside, hidden a little, there is a clitoris. It is really sensitve and done right it is delightful.”

“Will you show me?”

“Yes, but perhaps after the wedding reception?” Susan was laughing at him, she had a fantasy of not being able to wait. Actually he felt he could barely wait.

The Master was one witness, their daughter was a flower girl. She still thought she might have been a better wife; at one time she actually whispered to him that she would do anything to keep him happy, with a smile that said exactly what she meant. Still, he had made his choice.

He wrote to his parents to tell them. He had little communication with them after his father had suggested that Susan Withers-Ainable was a gold-digger in a letter to warn him. Since Mr Peters had never met Susan, it was uncalled for.