Absolute Truths Part II

Charles turns to Jon Darrow, now an old man and a recluse, for help and advice, but in the months after Lyle's death, times are very hard for him. He worries about Neville's work on the Cathedral appeal. The dean is very reluctant to show his accounts to the other clergy who are involved. Neville and Dido invite him to dinner, and there he meets Loretta Staviski, the American lady he had romanced briefly many years ago. They talk and he tells her some of what has happened to him over the years, and he finds he still enjoys her company. She tells him that while she used to be an agnostic, she now goes to an Episcopalian church. He and Charley have a row because his son insists on repeating gossip about Michael to him. Charles has always tried to convince himself that his relationship with Charley is just the same as if Charley were his biological son. But he now realises that he and Charley have little or nothing in common, and he loses his temper and calls him a bastard. Then he feels guilty. In a desperate attempt to make up to his son, he goes to London with him. He finds himself in Pimlico, where Sheila Preston, the widow of his friend Derek, is now living. He calls on her, and finds her pleasant company. She is now living in a small flat in London and she and he talk about their lives. Charles feeling desperately lonely, winds up in bed with her. He realises that this was a dreadful mistake as she will now almost certain expect, as a respectable clerical widow, that he will marry her when his mourning period is over. He returns to Starbridge for advice. Jon is busy looking after his younger son, Nick, who has come home from Africa. Charles invites Martin, Jon's older son, who is gay and an actor, to come and stay with him, to keep him company. It will be at least a few days before Jon is able to help him again. He dines with Martin and Harriet March, a sculptor who has been doing a model of Aysgarth's hands and who is close friends with Neville. He finds himself flirting with her and worries about his weakness for women.