She struck him before she realized she'd done it. He stood there for a moment, his features a mixture of frank astonishment, surprise at what he'd done and outright anger. Without another word or backward glance he spun on his heel and was out the door. She watched the car pull out of the drive from behind the drapes but couldn't get a look at his face.
'Except for the slap at the end, that was all very nice.'
It was Ellie, who was making her way towards the kitchen. She had remarked in such a way as though what she had witnessed was no more remarkable than the weather. Behind her stood Mrs. Pascoe, who managed despite herself to look a little worried.
'Oh, dear, I'm afraid you'll have to be on your best behaviour for a while. It's not often that young Mr. Theo gets his face slapped.' With alacrity she followed Ellie into the kitchen.
Pamela wasn't sure, but she thought the two women were actually laughing. She, however, was in mortal agony. Why had she done that? He was only trying to be nice to her. Wasn't he? She was tempted to go to her room and pack her things. Theo would no doubt want to send her packing after this! Instead, feeling awkward, she made her way to the kitchen to lend Ellie and Mrs. Pascoe a hand. Both women looked a little red-faced and red-eyed.
'Oh, my dear,' said Ellie, her laughter threatening to bubble over once more, 'it's a good thing you didn't take the nearest blunt object and nut him.'
'Yes,' agreed Mrs. Pascoe. 'When in doubt, do use some discretion. Did you see the look on his face?'
At once, both women collapsed into helpless fits of laughter.
'It isn't funny!' Pamela protested weakly, unable not to smile. 'You two are going to get me into more trouble than I'm already in.'
'We could do with a bit more of that sort of trouble around here,' said Ellie. 'Ah, me, that's enough of that! I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time . . . Pamela, do be a dear and roll out those pie crusts.'
When Theo and Mrs. Dewhurst arrived home later that afternoon, to Pamela's lasting surprise nothing was mentioned about the incident. She surmised that Mrs. Dewhurst knew nothing about it but Theo acted as if nothing had happened between them, though come suppertime he regarded her once or twice with what appeared to be anger or amusement, though about either she couldn't be sure.
That evening, however, something happened that drove all thought of her misadventure with Theo from her mind. A man from a nearby farm came to the back door and asked for Mrs. Dewhurst.