Reforming Bill

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Lila soon grew tired of being stared at, sitting all alone as she was, so she paid the bill and asked the waitress to tell Bill that she was taking a stroll around the green. She crossed the bridge that spanned the pond (more decorative than practical) and paused in the middle to look down on the water. There was a slight breeze coming off the water which she enjoyed.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” Lila turned to the speaker, a young woman with a blonde bob and far too much makeup. From the description in the newspapers she realised that this woman was Madeleine Cranmere, lately Madeleine Bourne.

“Yes,” Lila said with a polite smile.

“You're the rich American heiress who's dating Bill Chatford, aren't you?” Madeleine asked.

“Yes, and you're the brassy, gold-digger who made her husband so miserable that he drank himself into poor health.”

“Is that what people are saying about me?” Madeleine asked sounding completely unperturbed.

“Actually that's what the newspapers implied.”

“Did they?”

“Yes.” Lila turned away from the railing and faced Madeleine. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Actually yes. I was wondering if you and Bill wanted to come over for tea one afternoon.”

“Thank you but we don't get a lot of time together, I'd rather make the most of it.”

“Oh well, perhaps after you and Bill are married,” she smiled.

“Yes, perhaps.”

“It was lovely to meet you.” Madeleine walked off the bridge and over the green without looking back.

Lila wondered what that had been about but was distracted when she saw Bill heading over to her. She went to meet him half way.

“What the devil did Madeleine want?” he asked after he had kissed her cheek.

“To see if we wanted to come to tea, apparently.”

“I hope you told her no.”

“Of course, though I get the feeling that's not what she really wanted at all.”

“Then what did she want.”

“I haven't the faintest clue.”

“I'm sure she's just trying to stir up trouble,” he said. “It's practically a pastime for her.”

“Well let's forget about her,” Lila said with a wicked smile. “I'm feeling a little tired and in need an afternoon nap.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh, it is. Isn't all this sun making you sleepy.”

“Far from it,” Bill said with a smile, “but I can certainly see the appeal of having a lie down.”

III

Bill and Lila continued to see each other every weekend taking it in turns to visit one another. When Bill stayed with Lila they didn't go very far. Sometimes they ate out in the evening or grabbed a bite to eat in the bar but generally they stayed holed up in her rooms above the pub.

When they were in Wyverns Cross however, they always had invitations and they could only turn down so many before they appeared rude.

Lila didn't mind too much. Although there were elements of 'society' that she disliked, she had been raised in this world of false platitudes and polite conversation and it was almost second nature to her now. It perhaps wouldn't be how she might have chosen to spend her time but there was a certain entertainment factor when you watched people trying to present their best face to the world. Indeed she and Bill spent many hours laughing at and giggling over the antics they witnessed.