Lettice & Victoria by Susanna Johnston

idea of giving in to her whims. It would be easier if you could accept her absurdities.’
    ‘Does Archie Thorne really like her? How can he go there if he doesn’t have to? Do you think it’s to please Harold? Harold is too susceptible to wounds himself to censure others. I daresay he doesn’t know many people to compare her with.’
    ‘Archie started coming years ago. Somebody once told me that it was because of us when we were young. Archie’s imagination has always been aroused by children – particularlyboys. Not much interested in my sisters, if I remember right. When my brother and I were small he used to worry Papa by grunting and following us about on all fours. We didn’t much mind but Papa once accused him of slavering and ordered him to stand up. Created a bit of an atmosphere at the time. Mama always insisted that it filled her with delight to see the generations interact. He’s a bit of a rascal. Not quite a rogue. A rascal. He weighs in heavily on all the wrong sides. My parents have never known if he does it for effect or from conviction. I find it very tedious.’ Edgar told her all this, clearing his throat, as though unmoved and uninterested.
    ‘Do you think I might be having a baby?’ Victoria asked.
    ‘Of course you could be. Please, though, don’t hope for it to be a boy in order to captivate Archie Thorne.

Chapter 4
    A rchie Thorne was in Piccadilly carrying a bowler hat and a trim umbrella when he saw Victoria. Wary in traffic, he looked about him before stepping across the road.
    ‘Have you finished the poncho-cum-trouser suit?’
    His trousers were short, stopping an inch above his laced shoes.
    ‘I did finish it but it wasn’t a huge success. It didn’t fit properly . When I’d finished it I knitted a jumper for Edgar.’
    ‘And he wears it all the time?’
    ‘Not really. I think it’s disappeared.’
    ‘How perfectly frightful. Should we go into the Ritz and take a drink?’
    On a curved sofa on the elevated area of the hall of the Ritz Hotel, they drank champagne. Archie asked her if she had recovered her strength.
    ‘Both Harold and I were disappointed to have seen so little of you. I shall insist that we are all invited together another time.’
    ‘Do you go there often?’
    ‘Do we go there often? The answer is yes. I think I can say that we go regularly. Harold loves it. Lettice has been very kind to him.’
    ‘I don’t imagine that it would be difficult to be kind to Harold.’
    ‘How about you? I can imagine that it might be difficult to marry a member of such a large and united family. Perhaps overpowering to start with?’
    Again his spectacles were lowered and he looked at her with amusement. The lowering of spectacles reminded her of Laurence and she realised that it was time she wrote to him.
    Victoria said, ‘Lettice finds it more challenging to be nice to me than she does to Harold. It’s difficult to fit into her picture. My clothes are no good. Perhaps it will come right.’
    She touched his hand. ‘I’m going to have a baby. Not for months and months, of course. I hope you don’t mind my mentioning it.’
    ‘Mind! There are a great many things that I do mind and this is not one of them. My dearest child. If we were not at the Ritz, which we are, I would put my arms round you and hug you. I should hug you.’
    ‘I haven’t told Lettice yet.’
    ‘You must. You must let her know at once. Shall we send her a joint postcard?’

Chapter 5
    T he exhibition was only two weeks away. Roland never returned to the subject of postponing it and spent nearly all his time in the garden. The guest list was taking shape. The problems had become more complicated since Lettice had decided to give a small dinner party for intimate friends at the Ritz Hotel after the show.
    She was not sure what to say to Victoria about this.
    She rehearsed. ‘Darling, I refuse to let you tire yourself just for a silly dinner. It would be different if Edgar could have been there