The Land of the Leal by James Barke

Author:James Barke [James Barke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847675194
Publisher: Canongate Books
Published: 1987-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWO FATHERS

As he walked up the drive to Caddom House, David Ramsay speculated on the nature of his urgent summons. Sir Charles must want something done in a hurry when he had sent the boots for him. He was not long to remain in ignorance. Sir Charles spoke calmly but with deep emotion.

‘Ramsay: I have a very unpleasant duty to perform this morning. I’m not blaming you, Ramsay. It was possibly a mistake sending your daughter to Gala Academy. If so, it is a mistake you and I will have to pay for.’

‘Is it something about Barbara, sir?’

‘It is. Ramsay: you’ve got to send your daughter away from here immediately – right out of the district.’

‘In God’s name, what’s the matter?’

‘Ramsay – I – I know this is going to be a bitter pill to you. God knows it’s been as bitter to me. Your daughter has misconducted herself with my son.’

David Ramsay’s face drained slowly of all its blood. He felt sick and faint. His heart seemed to have stopped beating. His world was blotted out in a cloud of shame. Barbara, his firstborn, his pride and his joy – the shame, the agonising heart-burning shame of it. He heard the voice of Sir Charles Laidlaw-Scott as from across an abyss.

‘… yes: we are both fathers, Ramsay. I know your daughter means as much to you as my son means to me. It is but natural that it should be so. I have nothing against you or Mrs. Ramsay – I hold no feelings of bitterness towards either of you. But you will appreciate that I cannot have her about my house – nor about Caddomlea – I cannot even have her in the district. You must send her some place – back to Galloway – I don’t know. But she must go and she must go immediately. I don’t expect her to be here in the morning. Of course I will make no difference to you or Mrs. Ramsay provided you obey my instructions and, above all, see that nothing – not even a whisper – of this gets abroad. If I hear as much as a whisper, Ramsay, we will have to part company—’

‘Has Barbara admitted this?’

‘Yes – of course I couldn’t say much to her. I didn’t go into any painful details, Ramsay – it’s not an easy matter to discuss. She admitted my son was in her room—’

‘But Sir Charles – does that mean—’

‘I’m afraid it does, Ramsay. As you are no doubt aware, Professor Montgormency was here yesterday – and the horrible thing about it – and I’m afraid this is going to be an added shock to you, Ramsay – is that your daughter has infected my son with a particularly loathsome disease – I don’t think I need say more.’

Again that red blotched mist of shame and horror. David knew nothing of venereal diseases other than by the most vague and corrupt references. Could it be that Sir Charles was referring to

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