A Proper Family Christmas (22 page)

She picked up her parcels and followed gratefully across to their room. Tony looked up with a smile and patted the bed beside him.

“We were so glad to find that you'd made it to Cirencester after all. Rotten of that pair to try and leave you behind.”

“I expect it was Daniel's doing, wasn't it?” Julia sat on the other side of her.“Well, his mother's really. She suggested I came in the car with them.”

“Ah, but who suggested it to her?” said Tony, tapping his nose.

“I'm not sure…” It would be nice to believe what they were implying, but she'd no actual reason to believe that Daniel had put it into her head.

“Oh come on, - he obviously likes you,” said Julia. “And anyone can see the two of you get on like a house on fire.”

Frances blushed, and bent to put her parcels on the floor. They didn't seem all that interested in looking at her shopping.

“We did get to talk a bit while the others were in the church,” she admitted. “It turns out we've got quite a lot in common.” Somehow she didn't want to go into detail about their fathers and his concern for Hilary, though. It seemed too private.

“Do you think he's told her all?” Tony glanced mischievously at Julia.

“Oh yes, he must have. - Come on, Frances, we've been dying to know the truth…” Julia gave a little bounce of anticipation, reminding her of Posy. Frances quailed, ready to prevaricate if necessary.

“Was that climbing expedition of his really cancelled?” It was Tony who asked the question. “Or was it just an excuse?”

“Oh no, I'm sure it wasn't.” Frances flushed with relief at not having to give anything important away. “He was really disappointed. …Anyway, why would he make it up?”

“We thought perhaps he'd heard about the get-together down here, and didn't want to miss out.”

“ - Daniel's very fond of his family,”explained Julia, when she still looked puzzled.

“Yes,” said Frances, remembering some of Daniel's dry comments about his cousins. She certainly hadn't got the impression that he was desperate to spend Christmas in their company.

“And of course we all adore him, - especially my father. I'm sure Daddy feels much closer to Daniel than his real grandchildren. …Oh don't worry, we don't mind,” she added, seeing Frances look uncomfortable. “After all, given a choice between him and Tobias…”

“…The only four-year-old qualified to lecture on Roman Britain,” Tony chuckled.

“God yes, fancy wanting to drag the poor little mite round a Museum!” exclaimed Julia. “Why can't those two just shop when they go to Cirencester, like normal people?”

“Oh, but they did go shopping,” said Frances. “At least, they bought one thing. - I saw them. Though I think it was supposed to be a secret.”

“Well?” said Tony, as she broke off. “Don't keep us in suspense! What was it?”

“A bit odd, really. It was one of those forms you can get to make your own will. Do think it was a present for somebody?”

William and Scratch had spent a mildly amusing morning terrorising Leo. First they led him to believe that he'd been left behind all on his own in the big empty house, - then worse, that he
wasn't
alone, but accompanied by some invisible ‘thing' that made strange little rustles and bumps, and mysteriously moved the curtains about and caused doors to creak open. Scratch blew that by pushing the kitchen door a little too far, to reveal William sitting at the table. He assured Leo that he'd been there all the time. They then had a pleasant little conversation about what lay in store for him this afternoon, the terrible behavioural problems suffered by poor Kath's boys, and how fortunate that Leo would be on hand, probably the only person with the ability to control such budding sociopaths. When William politely offered him lunch, Leo seemed to have lost his appetite, and kept making nervous dashes to the toilet.

In actual fact, William had assumed the children's parents would ensure that they spent long enough in Cirencester for Leo not to be put to the test, so he was surprised to hear them return so early.

“What did you want to skulk back here for, you silly old fart?” Margery dumped her parcels on the kitchen table and went to put the kettle on. “Missed a decent lunch at the old Woolpack, though their coffee's rubbish. …You must have been bored stiff.”

“Not at all. Leo stayed behind to keep me company,” said William, smiling sweetly at his nephew, who had just emerged from one of his trips to the W.C.

“Huh.” Margery clearly thought this beyond her son's capabilities. “Oh Christ, those brats of Kath Arncott's are due to invade this afternoon, aren't they?” she recalled suddenly, no doubt prompted by his pallid colour. “We'd better make ourselves scarce. Don't want to hang around with that lot screaming about the place.”

William, now that it looked like coming about, had been thinking much the same thing.

“What do you fancy, - a drive somewhere? Sudeley Castle's probably open…”

But William had a better idea. “I'd like to go to Cheltenham.”

“Oh! - Right oh. Some nice old buildings there. We could have tea…”

“It's the cinema I want,” explained William. “They've got the new Bond film on.”

Hilary would have agreed to a trip to the moon, if it meant escaping Haseley, and leapt at Margery's suggestion that she might like to join them.

“A James Bond film? Yes, lovely. How soon do we need to leave?”

“It starts at three.” William knew.

“We'll have to get someone to drive us, of course,” said Margery. “No, don't be silly, Leo! You're staying to look after the children. …Oh, I'll ask Oliver! He won't want to stick around here with the place in mayhem. If he doesn't like James Bond, he can always look at the architecture.”

“Does
nobody
have a number for that woman?” Lesley was frantic. “Yes, Stephen, I
have
tried Directory Enquiries, since your father doesn't seem to have a telephone book in the house, but of course she isn't listed. Presumably she only has one of those exorbitant mobile things, - even though she does purport to live on the bread-line! …Have you really no idea which her house is? You could go down and explain that it's not convenient…”

Tobias had woken from his nap, and, egged on by Posy, was eagerly clamouring for the delight of playing with the Big Boys. Lesley, desperate to avert this disaster, was helpless when the only person with any means of contacting Kath had gone off to the cinema in Cheltenham. “It's
so
inconsiderate!” she wailed, for the umpteenth time.

Stephen, with no more ideas to offer, vanished into the study with a briefcase full of books. Frances was next in the line of fire.

“If only you hadn't let Tobias get up so soon! I'm sure he could have slept a bit longer. …Where's that wretched girl of Posy's? Doesn't she have any control of her?” Posy had just run shrieking past them, with Tobias in her wake. “Oh dear, those awful boys will be here any minute, I suppose. What on earth are we going to do with them all?”

Frances couldn't help feeling a tiny bit sorry for Lesley, left to cope almost alone. Hilary and Oliver had gone to Cheltenham with William and Margery, and Tony had driven back to Cirencester, saying there was something important he'd forgotten to buy. Julia had shut herself away with the Christmas tree: “No one must look! - It's going to be a lovely surprise.” Leo had obviously hoped to have hidden, but hadn't chosen the best place, as most people had discovered him when they went to hang up their coats.

Frances wished she could be as certain of the location of the remaining two adults. Shelley had disappeared from their room, and there'd been no sign of Daniel since they got home.

She forced her mind back to the problem in hand. “We need to find something they can all join in that doesn't need too much brain power. What about a game of cards? Pontoon's quite simple, and they could use matches as chips…”

“I don't want Tobias learning to
gamble
, thank you!” Lesley automatically found a reason to veto any suggestion of Frances's. “We'd better put them in the dining-room, round the big table. …I think there's a box of old toys somewhere they can play with.”

“We'll use the front door, seeing as we're visitors today. …Leave that alone, Grime! It's somebody's house, - not a stately home where you can just destroy stuff.”

If Kath could have persuaded her boys to wear suits and ties this afternoon, she would. As it was, they were dressed in their best tracksuits and trainers. This was an important occasion, as she had been stressing to them all the way along the lane and up the hill.

“You got to take your chances, if you want to get on. Can't just sit on the settee with your Game Boy all your life, hoping it's going to fall in your lap. Who knows what it could lead to, getting to be friends with a girl like little Posy Britwell? - couple of years younger than you, Brine. …Anything could happen!”

Grime sniggered, and dug his brother in the ribs. They were at that age.

“Stop scuffing them new shoes, Brine! They'll do for school when you go back.”

It wasn't just her boys that Kath had dreams for. She hadn't put on the skirt that was too tight to clean in and her expensive blouse in order to impress the children's parents. Yes, take your chance, and anything could happen, was Kath's motto. And she reckoned she
was
in with a chance there.

“Mr. Watlington's going to be looking after you, remember. He's an expert on dealing with badly-behaved kids, so it's no good trying to mess him about. A man like him won't put up with the sort of rubbish your Dad does.”

“I still don't see why we couldn't bring the X Box,” complained Brine. “Old William likes that. He nearly beat me at Grand Prix.”

“They won't be doing that kind of stuff, I told you! Those kids'll play posh games.”

“What sort of games?” Grime asked dubiously.

“Oh, I don't know, - Scrabble or something.”

“…
Scrabble
?”

The children rushed into the hall when the bell rang. “I'll go! I'll go!”

“No, Mrs. Arncott doesn't use the front door… Oh!”

Apparently Mrs. Arncott did.

“Here we are, then!. …This is Grime, and that's Brine. Say hullo to Frances. You could shake hands, couldn't you, Grime, - meeting a lady? …. Bet you thought we were never coming, Mrs. Shirburn, - time these two take to get ready!”

Grime was a lanky boy, with sandy hair cut badly so that it stuck up in odd tufts randomly over his head, and rather goofy teeth. Brine was more like his mother, a little podgy, with a heavily freckled nose, and small, sly eyes. Neither would have been snapped up by an advertising agency for their angel faces or cute charm, but it didn't stop Posy from simpering coyly, or Tobias gazing up at them as if they were Greek gods come to visit.

“And where's Mr. Watlington gone to? He's the gentleman I told you about, - the one you'd better watch your step with, Grime. …Coo-ee, Mr. Watlington! Where are you?”

“He's in there,” said Posy, pointing to the cloakroom helpfully. “Come on, Brine, we'll play up in my room.”

“Oh no you won't!” Lesley grabbed her arm. “…And where do you and Daniel think you're going? Your job's here, young lady!”

Where had they come from? That was the question. Only the bedrooms lay up those stairs, and if Shelley hadn't been in hers…

Lesley shepherded people into the dining-room and fussed about with chairs. Mrs. Arncott and Daniel brought Leo in between them and sat him at the head of the table.

“Now, settle down everyone, and I'll show you the nice game I've found for you!”“That's right, Brine, move up a bit closer to Posy,” ordered his mother. “ - Nothing to snigger at Grime! You sit on her other side. …I'll come next to you, shall I, Mr. Watlington?”

“Oh, there isn't room for all of us to play, I'm afraid,” said Lesley, producing a box and laying it on the table. “No, Shelley, you stay and look after Posy. We'll be in the kitchen, if you need us.”

She dragged a reluctant Mrs. Arncott away, leaving Grime to sum up their feelings.

“What the bleedin' helldo you think's in there?”

So much for avoiding Oliver! But having heard that he was driving, it really would have looked pointed if Hilary had announced that she'd changed her mind about going to Cheltenham. …And after all, she'd got to face him some time. Even if she followed her first instinct and ran back home to London, there would be no escaping from Haseley till at least Boxing Day.

Anyway, it wasn't exactly a problem at the moment. Margery had been given the front seat, and was holding Oliver in a lively discussion about mutual friends that didn't include the passengers behind them. William remained silent, but Hilary could tell from the eager, upright way he sat that he was enjoying the ride and looking forward to his trip to the pictures. They should make sure he went out more often.

What a beautiful cultured voice Oliver had! - Too cultured, of course, she now realised, - but deep-toned and sexy. Just the kind she found particularly attractive. It was probably Oliver's voice that had been her downfall, out in the darkness where they'd first met, even before she encountered the half shy, half mischievous smile that had so tugged at her heart. - And long before she'd discovered how entertaining he could be, and the way his enthusiasm for everything made one feel that the world was an interesting place, and life worth living after all. …Oh God, how was she going to manage?

Suddenly, for one ghastly moment, Hilary thought she was going to burst into tears.

“What is it?” said Posy, staring, like the rest of them, at the battered old box.

“A board game, I think,” said Daniel. …Something to do with space travel, as far as Frances could tell from the picture on the lid.