Charlie stared dazedly at the money before picking up the stack of postal orders. ‘What about these?’
‘There’s a story attached to each one.’ Bobby drew out one of the five-shilling postal orders. ‘This one, for example. Do you remember last month when we were listening toITMA– how you laughed at that joke of Funf’s about careless talk?’
‘Vaguely,’ Charlie said, blinking. ‘What does that have to do with anything?’
Bobby beamed. ‘Now guess who wrote it.’
He stared at her. ‘No!’
‘Honestly. I must have sold over a dozen jokes to radio comics since Christmas. You don’t know how hard it was not to tell you.’
‘But why didn’t you tell me?’
Bobby sat down by him.
‘I’m sorry, darling,’ she said softly. ‘I was desperate to have some writing to do when I left work, and I did hope I could bring in money by it while you were unemployed. But I knew it got you down, the way you weren’t able to support your family. Then when you got your job at the bank, and felt so humiliated doing a woman’s job… I was worried it might upset you.’
‘Upset me?’ Charlie looked again at their riches, and started to laugh. ‘You daft apeth. I’m as proud as anything.’
Bobby kissed his cheek. ‘I hoped you would be.’
Charlie became sober. ‘This doesn’t really change things though, Bob. I mean it does, in a lot of ways. We won’t need to worry about buying things for the baby, and any extra you can earn at home will help. But this is still some way short of what I’d need to go into business with Roger. Even if it was enough, the postal orders you’ve been getting would be a pretty unpredictable source of income if I couldn’t bring in a regular wage. You don’t have any sort of contract with these radio comics, I suppose.’
Bobby grinned at him. ‘No. Not with them. The money in the tin is actually only half my news. The other half came this morning, and I’ve been bursting to share it with someone all day.’
‘What is it?’
Bobby went to fetch the envelope she had received from theGirl’s Owneditress. She extracted her story and handed it to Charlie.
‘Here,’ she said. ‘Read this first. Ignore the bits in blue for now.’
Bewildered, Charlie took it from her and read it through. Bobby watched him keenly, alert for every change in his expression.
‘Well?’ she demanded when he was done. ‘What do you think?’
‘It’s very good,’ he said. ‘The sort of thing Florrie likes. Funny too. Is it yours?’
‘It is. It came in the post today with those editorial notes, and a letter and contract. Not to mention a cheque for four pounds – half of what I’ll be paid for it in total.’
Charlie blinked. ‘Four pounds? You earnt four pounds for this? That’s more than I make in a week.’
‘It’ll be eight pounds when they send the other half. Plus they’ve sent a contract for five more stories, and the editress says she’d be interested in a serial if the readers like them.’ She satby him, smiling. ‘That ought to get you enough for your practice, don’t you think? And with a contract in place, it makes for a more secure income than selling gags. We can afford to keep Jenny on as home help, so I can make a little time for writing each day. I hope it might turn into something I can make a proper career out of – something that won’t interfere with my duties at home.’
Charlie was silent for a long time, his head in his hands. He was staring at her contract as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. Bobby had started to worry he was upset, until eventually the dazed look faded and he started to laugh.
‘Oh my God,’ he said. ‘I’ll tell you what, it’s a wonderful thing to have a clever wife. I’ll be recommending it to all the young bachelors.’
‘You’ll do it, then? You’ll telephone Roger and tell him you want to take the partnership? If we cash the cheque and postal orders and add the six pounds left in the baby pot, that’s thirty-eight pounds. If Roger’s willing to take your instruments in lieu of another ten, I’m sure Reg would loan us two to make it up. I can pay him back when I get the four pounds I’m owed.’
‘I think…’ Charlie stared at the contract. ‘I think… yes. If you honestly don’t mind funding me, darling, then I’d really like to do it. I know it’s a risk, but I’ve always been a vet first and foremost. I don’t think I can be happy doing anything other than tending beasts, the same way you need your writing.’
‘I know.’ Bobby gave him a hug. ‘I’m so pleased, Charlie. I’ve hated to see you unhappy in your work. I just know you’ll make a success of it. You can make a success of anything you turn your hand to.’
Charlie smiled. ‘Says Agatha Christie over here.’ He kissed her. ‘Thank you,’ he said softly. ‘I’ll do everything I can to make sure you never regret it.’
Chapter 34
It was five days later when Bobby looked out of her window to see Florence Parry moving furtively around the graveyard opposite.
