Fergus Lamont by Robin Jenkins

Author:Robin Jenkins [Robin Jenkins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847675903
Publisher: Canongate Books
Published: 2009-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

I must add in fairness that the older Torquil grew the less he looked like Mutt-Simpson and the more like my grandfather, Donald McGilvray. He had the same grave pious air. Only it wasn’t a retributive God that Torquil worshipped: it was the beauty of artistic creation. At five his favourite painter was Botticelli. All my attempts to interest him in girrs and quoits failed. In his favour, however, it has to be said that he never looked down on me in the way his sister did.

NINE

A bizarre situation developed in Pennvalla. Mutt-Simpson was often a guest, if the term could be applied to one who at bed-time always went upstairs with his hostess after bidding his host a cordial goodnight. As for Betty, she gave me either a waggle of her fingers or a feather-light kiss on the brow. Any stranger present would have been a little surprised, but it would probably never have occurred to him that once upstairs and out of sight they would slip into the same bedroom. It did not occur to me until it had been going on for months.

On the night of discovery I felt a desire as I passed Betty’s door to go in and talk to her. She and I had been sleeping in different rooms for some time, but now and then before I was safely asleep she would appear in mine and, as she put it with a chuckle, claim her connubial rights. Rather less frequently I would go into hers, not for amorous reasons, but out of a fear that if I did not show willing once in a while I might lose suzerainty.

That night my wish was just to talk. I felt lonely. So, after the least lustful of taps on the door, I opened it and whispered into the darkness: ‘Betty, my dear, are you asleep? I would like to talk for a few minutes.’

After a pause her voice came from the bed, drowsily indignant. ‘Go away, Fergus. Observe the rules, please.’

‘What rules?’ I asked, puzzled.

‘The rules of civilised behaviour. Once a gentleman has accepted an arrangement he does not interfere with it.’

‘I don’t understand, my dear. What arrangement?’

Another pause. Then a snort; definitely hers. Then a sigh; not hers at all, being too gentle.

The bedside lamp was switched on.

Before I saw Mutt-Simpson in the bed beside her I noticed his trousers on the carpet.

He was using her left breast as a pillow. Never had his hair looked so infantile. His uppermost eye was open. It reminded me of a listening horse’s.

I could not help admiring the calm way in which he was gathering his resources. Breeding told.

‘Surely you knew, my dear?’ said Betty, still on her back.

‘Knew what?’

‘That James and I are lovers.’

Of course I must have known. Had I not suspected him of being Torquil’s father? But there was a big jump from furtive adulteries behind my back to this sleeping with her in relaxed husbandly fashion.

She whispered in his ear. Then they both sat up.

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