that you should go home beforehand – especially since dear Edgar has to be abroad. I know he would never forgive me if I allowed you to tire yourself just for that. Please don’t argue. I know that we try to please each other. This is why I speak bluntly. No nonsense now! All my love and thoughts go out to you at this exciting moment in your young life. Your devoted mother-in-law. Lettice.’
Victoria forwarded Lettice’s letter to Archie. Then she wrote to Lettice saying that she would not dream of deserting her or Roland on this important occasion and that they could count on her presence at the Ritz.
Before he left for his business trip, she spoke to Edgar of her meeting with Archie in Piccadilly.
‘You are lucky to have known him all your life. I wish he wasmy uncle or godfather or something with a label. I will never expect to be anything as exalted as his friend.’
‘Why not? We could ask him here any time. I suppose my mother might be disconcerted.’
Lettice was certainly disconcerted when Victoria’s letter arrived. She now thoroughly mistrusted her. Sweeping through the dusty drawing room to a corner where the daffodil telephone lived surrounded by chaotic papers on her desk, she dialled Belinda’s number.
‘I long to know if you’ve heard how the Grants and the Woolies have taken it. I dread hurting their feelings and I’m counting on you and Jack to smooth it all over for me.’
Belinda’s vexation had festered and, encouraged by her husband , she had done all in her power to incite the fury of the other slighted neighbours.
‘Another thing, Belinda, and I wouldn’t say this to anyone but you, but I am in the most awful dilemma about Victoria. Being family, she assumes that she is included in the little dinner after the opening. I wrote to tell her that she must on no account come. I am worried that she might tire herself. Now she replies that she wouldn’t dream of missing it. What am I to do next?’
‘I’m sorry. I’m being silly but I don’t understand the problem.’
‘I can’t have explained it properly. Everything is so frantic with such a short time to go. The problem is simple. What can I do about preventing Victoria from coming to the dinner?’
‘Why do you want to prevent her?’
‘Apart from her health – which is, of course, the main reason , I have to admit (but again to no one but you) that perhaps I am just a tiny bit protective about her in other ways. She is such a pet and I think it would be cruel to throw her in at the deep end quite so soon. I couldn’t bear to see her humiliated beside so many intellectuals – for Edgar’s sake as much as for her own.’
Belinda offered no advice and her voice faded on a less humble note than was usual.
Chapter 7
L ettice wrote to Victoria again.
‘Darling. I cannot tell you how touched I was by your adorable letter. Families are such wonderful things. Nothing will ever replace them and Roland and I are so grateful to learn how strongly you want to become one of ours. I was determined from the start that you should not be overstrained by the exhibition and I made up my mind – long before your darling letter came. In fact, so determined was I that I had already made up a party of ten. You know the hatefulness of our financial position . Ten is the very maximum we can afford so there must be no more of your sweet selflessness. All my love and gratitude. I can’t wait for this dreadful business to be over so that I can concentrate on your darling babe.’
In his college lodgings, Archie Thorne perused his mail. He put two letters to one side after reading those from the larger pile, sent for his secretary and asked her to deal with them.
Victoria’s letter said, ‘It is now certain that I won’t be sittingnext to you at the Ritz. Lettice is convinced that it would be bad for my health. It seems that it will do me no harm, however , to go to the crowded cocktail party beforehand so perhaps I’ll see you there?
Victoria forwarded Lettice’s letter to Archie. Then she wrote to Lettice saying that she would not dream of deserting her or Roland on this important occasion and that they could count on her presence at the Ritz.
Before he left for his business trip, she spoke to Edgar of her meeting with Archie in Piccadilly.
‘You are lucky to have known him all your life. I wish he wasmy uncle or godfather or something with a label. I will never expect to be anything as exalted as his friend.’
‘Why not? We could ask him here any time. I suppose my mother might be disconcerted.’
Lettice was certainly disconcerted when Victoria’s letter arrived. She now thoroughly mistrusted her. Sweeping through the dusty drawing room to a corner where the daffodil telephone lived surrounded by chaotic papers on her desk, she dialled Belinda’s number.
‘I long to know if you’ve heard how the Grants and the Woolies have taken it. I dread hurting their feelings and I’m counting on you and Jack to smooth it all over for me.’
Belinda’s vexation had festered and, encouraged by her husband , she had done all in her power to incite the fury of the other slighted neighbours.
‘Another thing, Belinda, and I wouldn’t say this to anyone but you, but I am in the most awful dilemma about Victoria. Being family, she assumes that she is included in the little dinner after the opening. I wrote to tell her that she must on no account come. I am worried that she might tire herself. Now she replies that she wouldn’t dream of missing it. What am I to do next?’
‘I’m sorry. I’m being silly but I don’t understand the problem.’
‘I can’t have explained it properly. Everything is so frantic with such a short time to go. The problem is simple. What can I do about preventing Victoria from coming to the dinner?’
‘Why do you want to prevent her?’
‘Apart from her health – which is, of course, the main reason , I have to admit (but again to no one but you) that perhaps I am just a tiny bit protective about her in other ways. She is such a pet and I think it would be cruel to throw her in at the deep end quite so soon. I couldn’t bear to see her humiliated beside so many intellectuals – for Edgar’s sake as much as for her own.’
Belinda offered no advice and her voice faded on a less humble note than was usual.
Chapter 7
L ettice wrote to Victoria again.
‘Darling. I cannot tell you how touched I was by your adorable letter. Families are such wonderful things. Nothing will ever replace them and Roland and I are so grateful to learn how strongly you want to become one of ours. I was determined from the start that you should not be overstrained by the exhibition and I made up my mind – long before your darling letter came. In fact, so determined was I that I had already made up a party of ten. You know the hatefulness of our financial position . Ten is the very maximum we can afford so there must be no more of your sweet selflessness. All my love and gratitude. I can’t wait for this dreadful business to be over so that I can concentrate on your darling babe.’
In his college lodgings, Archie Thorne perused his mail. He put two letters to one side after reading those from the larger pile, sent for his secretary and asked her to deal with them.
Victoria’s letter said, ‘It is now certain that I won’t be sittingnext to you at the Ritz. Lettice is convinced that it would be bad for my health. It seems that it will do me no harm, however , to go to the crowded cocktail party beforehand so perhaps I’ll see you there?
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