A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

Author:Tracy Chevalier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-06-06T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

AFTER THE BELLRINGING, VIOLET visited the Cathedral often, but she did not run into Arthur, and so had no way of contacting him, unless she planted herself by the door of the stairs to the ringing chamber when she knew he would be going up for a service ring or to practise. This seemed both desperate and potentially awkward, for the other ringers would wonder. She could picture William Carver’s dark stare and frown. But it was hard to imagine the ringers talking about her. Did bellringers gossip? Did men generally? Her father and Tom never did, though perhaps they were different away from the company of women. When she overheard men at restaurants or hotels or on the train, they were talking about football or cricket, or the economic depression or the political tensions on the Continent – not about each other. The broderers, on the other hand, discussed other broderers – their work, their children, their clothes. Violet did not join in much, but listened, and wondered sometimes what they said about her behind her back. It was easy to talk to others and think you were somehow immune – but the spotlight fell on everyone at some time or another.

One Sunday after attending an early morning service, she was passing down the central aisle of the nave when she saw the group of ringers by the little door below the Great West Window. Her heart pounded. Silly girl, she chided herself.

But Arthur was not amongst them. She recognised William Carver and a few of the others, and Keith Bain. Before she could duck behind a pillar, he saw her, waved, and strode over.

“You coming to watch another service ring?” he said, smiling.

“No, no, I’ve just come from the early service. I’m going down to my mother’s for lunch.”

To her dismay, Keith Bain seemed disappointed. “Och, well, it’s not so different from what you saw the other week.”

“How is … Mr Knight?”

“Arthur? He’s had to take some time off. His wife’s not well.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you know what’s the matter?”

Keith Bain shrugged. “Not sure. She’s taken to her bed, is all I’ve heard.” He lowered his voice. “Carver has had to bring in another ringer to take his place. Makes you appreciate a good ringer once you’ve lost him.”

So bellringers did gossip.

“Erm, you don’t fancy a walk sometime, do you?” Keith Bain continued. “To St Catherine’s Hill, or even out to Farley Mount? Before it gets too cold?”

Here it was. Violet had had a few moments with eligible men like this over the years. She had always said yes, even when she didn’t want to. There was nothing wrong with Keith Bain. He was a year or two younger than she, he had a Scottish tartness that made her smile, and he was uncomplicated. He was perhaps the most eligible possibility she’d had since Laurence.

And yet, she was feeling something, even if it wasn’t the right thing or for the right person. And she did not want to ruin that feeling with an awkward encounter.

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