She decides she must ring her best friend Debra for some moral support. "Deb', I need to speak to you. Are you free right now".
"Sure Pen. Lucky it's my day off work. I'll put the kettle on".
Penelope goes to the garage, starts her car, and fifteen minutes later, she is sat inside Debra's quaint Fig Tree cottage, sipping tea from the finest china cup. Penelope frowns, and screws her face up. "I'm starting to have doubts Deb".
"Have doubts. Doubts about what"? Debra's eyebrows raise; a frown creases her brow.
"About getting married" replies Penelope.
"Why" says Debra?
"I don't know why", says Penelope, the frown on her screwed up face blending in perfectly with the crease in her brow.
Debra can see the distressed look on Penelope's face, and she is worried for her best friend's welfare. "What has changed Pen' since we last spoke'? Has something awful happened"?
"No. Nothing has happened, other than".
"Other than what"? Debra waits patiently for her best friend to tell her what it is that is obviously causing her some considerable concern.
"It's since. It's since I've heard that Troy is coming to the wedding. It's stirred up my feelings, wondering why".
"Do you still have feelings for Troy"?
"I don't know how I feel about Troy. Right now, I am more worried how Rodney will react when I tell him Troy is coming to the wedding".
"You mean you haven't told Rodney yet that Troy is coming to the wedding". Debra's face looks pained. She drums her fingers against her cup, and rubs the back of her neck.
"No. I haven't told him yet. But I will. Soon" says Penelope.
"You've got to tell him today, Pen', without delay. That's probably why you are feeling anxious, and uncertain. Once you feel anxious, it's difficult to think straight. Tell Rodney about Troy today, and then everything will be fine".
Penelope looks at Debra and smiles. "You're right. You are always right. I will do it right away".
"Just one more thing Pen" says Debra. She can see she has Penelope's full attention now. "Time is running out, and you still haven't said who you are having for your bridesmaid".
"Oh, I'm so sorry Deb". Penelope's cheeks flush bright red. "I meant to ask you earlier. I've just been so worried about, well; you know what I've been worrying about. I would like you to be my main bridesmaid, and I thought little cousin Jennifer could do it too. I must dash now, and Deb".
"What", asks Debra?
"Thanks for listening". Penelope gives Debra a hug, says "goodbye", and leaves Fig Tree cottage.
When Penelope meets Rodney in his workers cottage an hour later, he has a confident smile on his face, and Penelope knows instantly, she can't tell him about Troy, certainly, not today.
Later that night as Penelope curls up in bed she has just two things on her mind. How am I going to tell Rodney that Troy is coming to the wedding? And, will he understand when I tell him I was married to Troy?
CHAPTER 6
By this point in time, Lord Montgomery has observed Rodney to the point of obsession. He's even spoken about him to his old pal from the local police station, Inspector Marshall, a tall, gangly, pipe smoking man in his late fifties, who has run all the normal checks on Rodney Johnson. But that line of inquiry has revealed nothing. So with no luck from the police, Lord Montgomery decides to search the local newspaper archives looking for anything concerning a Rodney Johnson. This revealed some leads, but they were all related to another Rodney Johnson. He's checked Rodney out on the Internet, which showed many sites connected to a Rodney Johnson, but not the Rodney Johnson he is interested in. He's even gone to the local pub, and discreetly tried to find out any gossip on Rodney. But it appears Rodney is a very private person. Sure, everyone knows him, but nobody knows much about him. Not even Jack, his gamekeeper knows much about him, but he did promise to do his best to see if he could find out anything suspicious.
Lord Montgomery has become restless, and frustrated at not finding anything out about Rodney, and everyone who comes in contact with Lord Montgomery knows something is wrong with him. It is obvious by his mood swings. But what they don't know is what is wrong.
Lady Montgomery has noticed her husband's moods have changed, and says "go and see Doc' White".
"I will", he says. But over the coming days, he doesn't go and see Doc' White, but instead, he does his utmost to keep out of Lady Montgomery's way.
Penelope has noticed that her father seems even more grumpy than he normally does, but every time she tries to speak to him about it, all he says is "it's nothing to concern yourself about", when in reality, it is.
Cook has noticed he's short tempered with her, and seems restless and fidgety on the rare occasions he dares to venture into her kitchen.
Lord Montague the family cat is nowhere to be found. The sound of banging doors, and Lord Montgomery's mutterings are enough to send him scampering for cover to his favourite hiding place outside, under the shrubbery.
Jack the gamekeeper has noticed Lord Montgomery's mood swings, and he is concerned for his health and state of mind, but as yet, he hasn't plucked up the courage to talk to him about it.
The only person who hasn't seen Lord Montgomery's mood swings is Rodney, as this is the only time when Lord Montgomery is deliberately in control of his feelings and actions.
Rumours that Lord Montgomery is acting very strange have reached some of the guests attending the wedding, and they are beginning to worry.
Those same rumours have circulated at meetings in the village hall, and at church services, and it's not too long before Richard Finley the vicar hears about them.
Debra meets Penelope for coffee, and she sees the distressed look on her best friend's face. She hears the tension in her voice. She watches her tapping her finger on the table, and fiddling with her ring, and she is worried for her best friend's welfare.
Meanwhile, Lord Montgomery's quest to find out about Rodney is gathering pace, but the only thing that is driving him forward, which was honed during his distinguished military career, is his gut feeling. But it's his gut feeling that is enough to convince him, he can't take a chance where Rodney is concerned, because he is sure, that once Rodney has married Penelope, it won't be too long before he makes a play for the family fortune.
CHAPTER 7
Penelope continues to feel perplexed and unsure what to do next. She is even thinking of disappearing, but she knows that wouldn't solve anything. She asks herself. Does Rodney need to know about Troy? I don't know about Rodney's past. The thought that she knows precious little about Rodney suddenly registers, and raises further doubts in her mind about him. She scoffs and quickly dismisses her thoughts as silly and pointless.
The thought of Rodney stealing half of Penelope's inheritance fuels Lord Montgomery's loathing of Rodney and escalates his obsession to find out about him. But he has noticed how pale Penelope is looking lately and he decides to talk to her. "Is everything okay Pen" asks Lord Montgomery? "Only, it looks like there is something bothering you".
Penelope puts the notebook down that she was writing in and looks vacantly at her father. "Of course everything is fine father. I am fine, really, I am. Perfectly fine". My father would be the last person I would tell if I weren't okay, she thinks.
Lord Montgomery smiles and his lively eyes sparkle. "You're not having doubts about marrying Rodney, are you Pen? We could delay the wedding, if you are. Why don't you take a breather, and reassess how you feel in a couple of weeks, months even, if you want. I used to find that taking a break was a useful tactic when I was in the army".
"This is not one of your army manoeuvres father. No, I don't want to delay the wedding. I love Rodney, and he loves me". Her face is red. She snaps the pencil she is holding.
Lord Montgomery decides not to push the topic any further, at least, not for the time being. He has seen the determined look in his daughter's eyes, and noticed her pinched-mouth. He's seen her like this before and he knows
she has planted her feet firmly on this topic. "Okay, but if you want to talk about anything, anything at all, come and see me". He skulks away to his study to ponder the matter further, and hopefully, devise a different plan of action. After all, he thinks, nothing should phase a high-ranking officer of Her Majesty's British Army.
Later that night, Rodney visits Penelope, and they are sat talking in the sitting room of Montgomery Hall, when the telephone rings and disturbs them.
Penelope walks over to where the telephone is and lifts the handset to her ear. "Hello".
"Hello. Is that you Penelope? It's Mary from the vicarage. The vicar's wife".
"Oh, hello Mrs Finley. How are you"?
"I'm fine thanks Penelope. But I haven't phoned to talk about me. Richard has asked me to call you. He needs to know your names for the church register: your Christian name and your Surname. That's your's and Rodney's".
"My husband to be is called Rodney Johnson".
Just then Rodney speaks. "Who is it Pen"? Rodney seems annoyed. His face is red. He is fidgety.
Penelope places her left hand over the mouthpiece, and raises a finger of her right hand to her lips, smiles softly and whispers. "It's Mary, the vicar's wife from the vicarage". Penelope returns her thoughts to Mary's question and continues. "My name is". She suddenly freezes, realising she hasn't told Rodney her married name, which she still goes by. "Er". She turns her head away from Rodney. "My name is Penelope Montgomery", she lies, her voice shaky, underneath her armpits beginning to sweat, not sure whether Rodney heard, or not.
CHAPTER 8
Penelope's wedding day is approaching fast. Sat in his study, Lord Montgomery is busy devising the first stage of his plan of attack, in which he aims to stop Rodney from marrying his daughter Penelope. He has opted for a simple strategy initially, which merely requires him to delay booking the reception venue to be held in the village hall. He believes, the longer he can delay booking the hall, the greater the chance that someone else might book the hall for the day of the wedding, and then the wedding date will have to be delayed.
Rodney knows Stanley, the manager of the village hall, a rotund, life and soul of the party type, and Rodney is stood at the bar in the local village pub listening to Stanley. "Have you thought of where you are having your wedding reception, Rodney"?
"We are supposed to be having it in the village hall" replies Rodney.
"No-one's booked the hall for that day yet" says Stanley.
"What? Sorry Stanley, I've got to go, I must talk to someone". Rodney walks quickly to the foyer where there is a public telephone. He lifts the handset and rings Penelope.
"Hello" Penelope answers.
"It's Rodney. Do you know your father hasn't booked the village hall yet"?
"No, I didn't know that. Leave it with me". Penelope replaces the telephone on its cradle and walks to the sewing room. She pops her head around the open door. "Do you know father hasn't booked the village hall yet mother"?
"He hasn't done what. Leave this to me. I will take care of your father".
From inside his study, Lord Montgomery feels the vibrations as Lady Montgomery slams the sewing room door and strides down the passage, and he is outside and hidden behind the shrubbery before she can get anywhere near the study.
Lady Montgomery charges into the study. "Empty. Just as I thought. Hiding again". She writes him a note, 'book the village hall today, or else' and then she smears some red ink on the note in the shape of a dagger, leaves the note on his study desk, and departs the room in a huff.
When Lord Montgomery thinks it's safe to come out of hiding, about an hour later, he returns to his study and sees the note Lady Montgomery had left. He reads the note, and smiles. I think booking the village hall can wait for the morning, he reckons. He puts the note in the top pocket of his shirt and whistles a happy tune.
The next morning, Lord Montgomery waits a couple of hours before he lifts the telephone-handset and reluctantly rings Stanley's number at the village hall.
"Village hall. Stanley speaking".
"Hello Stanley. It's Monty. Can we have the village hall for Penelope's wedding"?
"Of course you can. I've already pencilled it in".
"I haven't told you the date of the wedding, or the time it's being held yet", says Lord Montgomery, in a curt manner.
"Everyone who lives in Sunny Dale village knows what day and time it is", says Stanley chirpily. "Is that all your Lordship"?
"Yes. That will be all Stanley", says Lord Montgomery, somewhat perplexed as to how well informed Stanley is, and it also appears, so is the rest of the village. Lord Montgomery frowns, replaces the telephone handset onto its cradle, and slumps in his study chair. He rests his elbows on his study desk, cups his chin in his hands and stares at the wall, his brain already busily thinking about what his next strategy to stop Rodney from marrying his daughter Penelope, might be.
CHAPTER 9
For the rest of the day, Lord Montgomery remains in his study thinking about his next plan of attack. He's wondering if he can insult Stanley, then maybe he'll tell him to clear off and find somewhere else for the wedding reception. But he's pondering over just what he can say. Perhaps I can insult him, he thinks. No, he's got a hide as thick as a Rhino'. It's got to be something he feels passionate about. That's a laugh. He doesn't have an ounce of passion in his body. No, perhaps it should be something, or someone he's very protective about. Got it. Lord Montgomery retires to bed and sleeps like a log.
Early the next morning, Lord Montgomery is up and briskly walking around his estate, whistling and smiling. After his walk, he returns to his study and checks the estate's business accounts. He has lunch. Four hours later, he eats dinner.
From the other end of a huge dinner table Lady Montgomery looks at him. "Can you pass the salt, oh and have you booked the village hall yet"?
"The village hall is booked. How was your day, dear"? Lord Montgomery looks at her and smiles a false smile.
"Fine, but busy", says Lady Montgomery, slightly annoyed.
A little later, Lord Montgomery moves his chair and stands. "If you will excuse me. I have some business I need to attend to". Lord Montgomery leaves the dining room and goes to his study, where he phones Stanley at the village hall.
"Hello. Village hall, Stanley speaking".
"Hello Stanley. There has been a change of plan. I have decided the wedding reception is going to be held somewhere else".
"Where. Why" asks Stanley.
"Well, to answer your first question, 'where'. I haven't made that decision yet. Perhaps it could be held here at Montgomery Hall. To answer your second question, 'why', it's down to the food, really. The food your wife made last time we used the village hall was absolutely awful. Really Stanley, the food wasn't fit to give to my pigs". Lord Montgomery is struggling to stop himself from laughing.
"Well, you can clear off and find somewhere else", fumes Stanley slamming the phone down hard.
Mission accomplished thinks Lord Montgomery thumping one fist into the other.
As Lord Montgomery basks in his success, Stanley goes to the pub, where Rodney is drinking at the bar. "What do reckon. Mad Monty has said he doesn't want to hold the wedding reception in the village hall. He reckons the food last time was awful. The nerve of the man, thinking he can insult my wife and get away with it. I told him to clear off and find somewhere else".
Rodney just laughs. "Take no notice Stanley. Lord Montgomery is obviously not handling the stress of organising the wedding very well. Just hold the reception there just to spite him".
Stanley's face lights up, and a big smile appears. "Yea. I'll do it to spite him. That will show him", says Stanley, his face deadly serious now, as if he is the brightest brain in the village, when in actual fact, he's a few runs short of an innings. Stanley walks to the foyer, lifts the phone handset and dials Lord Montgomery's number at Montgomery Hall.
"Hello, Lord Harold Benjamin Montgomery the Third speaking".
&nb
sp; "It's Stanley, Lord Montgomery. Look, I've been thinking. You are right. The food does need improving. So, I've decided to use outside caterers, and that means you can use the hall after all. Talk again Monty. Bye". Stanley replaces the phone on its cradle before Lord Montgomery can respond. He smiles, knowing he won't be getting outside caterers, and Monty won't be any the wiser. He returns to the bar, and gives Rodney the thumbs up.
Rodney quietly smiles, takes another sup of his beer, and then continues talking as if nothing had happened.
CHAPTER 10
After talking to Stanley, Lord Montgomery paces his study kicking his feet. His face is pointed down at the floor and is a picture of concentration. Time is marching on. His daughter's wedding day is approaching fast. He sits down in his chair swivelling back and forth. He purses his lips and looks up at the ceiling. It's just a small hiccup, but what next, he asks himself. He suddenly relaxes his lips and smiles, and his eyes open wide. He waits a couple of hours before calling Penelope.
"What is it father"?
"Can you come to my study Pen".
Penelope trots down the passage and enters her father's study. "What do you want this time father"?
"Do you remember your favourite Aunt Ada who lives in Australia? Well, she's called to say she's coming to the wedding".
"Really, all the way from Australia. That will be nice", replies Penelope, with a touch of sarcasm.
"The only trouble is, she can't make it here on time. So we will have to delay the wedding until she arrives", says Lord Montgomery.
"Oh," is all Penelope can think of saying, her lips pursed, but trying hard not to show her true feelings of frustration and disappointment.
Penelope leaves her father's study and phones Rodney from the privacy of her bedroom. "Father says the wedding will have to be delayed, as he's heard from Aunt Ada who lives in Australia. It appears she's coming to the wedding".
"Can you give me her number Pen' and I'll ring her and see if there's anything I can do to help".
Penelope looks in a drawer, finds her address book, finds Aunt Ada's phone number, and lifts the handset to her ear. "It's a long number. Have you got a pen and some paper"?