Who Was Angela Zendalic Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought. ‘Lovely. Really lovely.’
    â€˜You look happy.’
    â€˜I am.’
    â€˜Peg, can I ask you something?’
    â€˜â€™Course you can, Ted.’
    â€˜I’d like to ...to court you,’ he blurted out. ‘You know. Just careful like. One step at a time.’
    Still shimmering with the powerful infusion of passion, Peggy tried to feel Ted’s pain. She hesitated and sipped her drink, knowing that the time had come; to admit the basic facts but with compassionate words of rejection. ‘I like you, Ted. I like you a lot, but ...well ...keep this to yourself, but I’ve met a man through the Commonwealth Club. It’s early days but we hope to get married.’
    â€˜Oh.’ Ted’s head dropped. ‘Too late then?’ She nodded. He sniffed and swallowed.
    The next morning, while Peggy was at her desk in the Oxford City Library, a junior colleague came to find her. ‘Miss Edwards, there’s a coloured gentleman to see you in the foyer. He said it’s urgent.’ There was no sense of shock or interest in the young woman’s voice – everyone knew he’d only be one of the lame ducks that the sweet-natured Miss Edwards helped so generously.
    Joseph was wearing a formal dark suit; a sturdy brown leather suitcase in one hand, and a trilby hat in the other. ‘My dear, I have had a telegram. My father has had a heart attack and not expected to live. I have been ordered to return to Ankanda.’
    To her own surprise she burst into sudden tears like a child, but before her colleagues could notice she guided Joseph outside, down the stone steps of the library and into the narrow confines of Blue Boar Street. She couldn’t remember what she said but she lost control and sobbed loudly, her tears falling like rills and dropping off the end of her chin. ‘Peggy, I have to go. I have no choice, but I will be back here soon.’
    How could he go without them embracing and kissing each other? But there they were, in the open street, with people walking in and out of the library in front of them, doubtless wondering why on earth a small white woman was standing so close to a tall African man, and weeping loudly.
    There was an open set of double wooden gates on the other side of the street, and they walked into the privacy of a weed-filled yard to throw their arms around each other, he now shedding tears as well. ‘I must go now, my love, to find a taxi to take me to London Airport. Mr Anthony Eden has sent orders from the Foreign Office that I am to meet up with two diplomats who will accompany me on the plane.’
    â€˜There’s a taxi company at the back of The Old Tom,’ she gulped.
    â€˜Yes. I will go there.’
    One more intense kiss. ‘I love you, Peggy.’
    â€˜And I love you, Joseph. You will write to me, won’t you?’
    â€˜Of course. Of course, I will. I will write every day.’
    They walked without touching to the steps of the Town Hall where he crossed the road to stand at the entrance to the taxicab company. ‘I will be back soon,’ he called. He waved his hat and disappeared.

April 2014
Old Priory Manor, Monks Bottom
    S o who was this Angela person?’ I stared at my sisters as all three stood stunned and rigid, shiftily looking out of the sides of their eyes to gauge the reaction of the others. ‘Sarah, listen,’ said Carrie. ‘Obviously we did know something but not as much as you think. I was only seven when you were born, and Cally and Cass were five, so it’s all very vague. When you’re that young how much real memory do you have? It’s only short snatches, isn’t it? All I remember is that we’d been staying with Mummy at Grandma and Grandpa’s farm in Wales and Pa was working in Oxford. Then we were suddenly whisked up here to The Hall, to a new home we knew nothing about, and you were presented to us as our new baby