East Fortune by James Runcie Page B

kept putting the stress of the verse in the wrong places. Every year Emma wanted to take over and tell them all how to speak it properly.
    Douglas put in his case for the defence.
    â€˜There are a lot of lines, Father. And we’ve been very busy. Any chance of a drink?’
    â€˜It’s only just gone midday.’
    â€˜Well, that’s all right then.’ Douglas walked off towards the kitchen.
    â€˜It’s amazing you lot get any work done at all.’
    â€˜It’s the artistic temperament,’ said Emma. ‘At least that’s what my husband calls it…’
    Ian had once had such high expectations of his boys. He knew that it was wrong to show disappointment but there were times when he could not help it. Angus had given up his rugby and done well enough as a fund manager, but Jack could have been a professor if he’d put his mind to it; and for Douglas to abandon law and fritter away his intelligence by working in television was a complete waste of his ability: everyone thought so.
    â€˜You’re here,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Home at last.’
    â€˜We’re not late,’ Douglas replied. He leaned over the kitchen table to kiss his mother on both cheeks. He knew that both of his brothers kissed her on the lips but he had never thought it appropriate.
    â€˜Mind your cardigan in the sauce,’ she said.
    â€˜Bugger…’
    Emma handed him a piece of kitchen towel and then kissed her mother-in-law.
    Douglas dabbed at his clothes.
    â€˜The colour almost matches,’ he said. ‘Perhaps they should market it. Apple, jade, grass, and now pesto…’
    â€˜Your mother’s playing Fabian,’ Ian announced.
    â€˜I’m going to play him as a very elderly retainer who could have a heart attack at any moment; someone who’s been kept on but is absolutely useless. Would you like a drink?’
    Douglas was already fetching glasses down from the kitchen cupboard.
    â€˜That’s why we’re here, Mother.’
    â€˜Oh dear. I rather hoped that you were here to see me.’
    â€˜Where is everyone?’ Emma asked. There weren’t enough of the family in evidence for a performance.
    â€˜Angus isjust seeing to the stage and Tessa’s getting afew last-minute props. Imogen and Sarah are coming but Gavin has cried off. He is in London, I suppose, but I wish he’d been able to come. You know how important it is for Ian and he had him down to play Sebastian. Jack’s girls are both away. At least the Macleans are coming with
their
children but it’s been quite a struggle to make up the numbers.’
    Ian opened some sparkling wine.
    â€˜Jack may not be bringing the girls but he’s coming with a new girlfriend instead. At least I think she’s a girlfriend.’
    â€˜Isn’t that intriguing?’ said Elizabeth.
    Douglas was not so sure.
    â€˜It doesn’t sound very likely.’
    â€˜You never know,’ said Emma. ‘Your brother can be quite charming when he wants to be.’
    â€˜Do you think so?’
    â€˜You know, the hermit academic … mysteriously wise…’
    â€˜We mustn’t say anything,’ Elizabeth said. ‘You remember how he used to hate people making any assumptions about his love life.’
    â€˜He’s lucky to have a love life at all,’ said Ian.
    â€˜Most of the time he only meets students,’ Douglas said. ‘Perhaps it’s one of them.’
    â€˜I just hope everyone is polite to her,’ said Elizabeth. ‘We don’t want a scene.’
    â€˜Oh you’ve no need to worry on that score, my darling,’ said Ian. ‘We’re hardly going to say anything tactless…’
    â€˜But it would be good to tease him, don’t you think?’ Douglas asked. ‘Just for a bit?’
    â€˜Don’t,’ said Emma. ‘Don’t even start.’
    At the railway station Elizabeth Henderson was