Page 87 of The Christmas Invitation
‘Apart from the unedifying light it casts on my brother, I’m sure we’re alldelightedto welcome Meg into the family,’ said Henry, and he and Clara smiled warmly at me.
Then Clara gave me a pat as if I was a nervous dog. ‘Henry and I have always known about Nessa and George’s affair and the baby, so once Meg arrived here it all quickly fell into place for us.’
Sybil said, ‘Then I suppose it must be true … and I expect Daddywasa bit wild and thoughtless when he was young, but of course he was a wonderful husband to Mummy.’
There was a short and respectful, if incredulous, silence after this remark.
It was broken by Tottie saying, ‘He treated her well enough when he was at home, but then, he didn’t spend a lot of time at Underhill until the last few years, did he? And evenIheard the rumours about what he and that Piers Marten got up to abroad!’
‘Piers!’ suddenly exclaimed Sybil, sitting bolt upright with her eyes widening. ‘What on earth will he think when he knows about this?’
‘Why should it matter what he thinks?’ Clara asked. ‘He may even know already. After all, he was George’s oldest friend and they were practically inseparable for most of their lives.’
‘Oh, no, if Daddy didn’t know about the baby, then Piers certainly wouldn’t have.’
‘That’s true,’ said Tottie. ‘I suppose Piers might have known about the affair, though.’
Mark’s scowl had returned in force. ‘Meg, I hope your mother won’t think she has some kind of claim on the estate when she finds out she’s related to us.’
I stared at him, astounded. ‘I haven’t seen her for a few years, but unless she’s had a character transplant in that time, it would never even cross her mind! She’s never been interested in who her natural parents were and she’s the least materialistic person I know.’
I met his angry and suspicious eyes straight on. ‘I can guarantee that she won’t make any claim on the estate, even if she’s entitled to – and nor will I.’
‘Of course you wouldn’t, dear,’ said Clara, and Lass, apparently feeling some tension in the room directed at me, came and shoved her wet nose into my hand.
‘I’m pleased to find I’ve got so many relatives, but I don’tneedanything from you, because I already have a family at the Farmanda profession.’
The black cloud slowly lifted from Mark’s brow and he got up from his chair, came over and kissed me on both cheeks.
‘Sorry, silly of me,’ he said. ‘I should have known you well enough by now to realize that.’
Sybil, rallying, gave me a slightly watery smile. ‘I suppose we must welcome you into the family,’ she said, though I noted she was still looking a bit rabbit-in-the-headlights. She must have closed her eyes and ears to what dear Daddy was really like for her entire life.
‘That’s the spirit!’ encouraged Tottie.
I’d forgotten Lex was in the room, since he was sitting slightly back in the shadows behind me, until Clara said, ‘What doyouthink of it all, Lex? You’re very quiet.’
‘It was a surprise, of course,’ he said in his deep voice, ‘but really, it’s nothing to do with me, is it? Meg’s no relation of mine.’
‘She is by marriage, and she’s now definitely part of the family,’ Henry said.
‘She’s my sort-of cousin,’ Teddy put in, from his perch on the camel saddle stool. ‘I’m glad! Uncle Henry, can Meg live with us here for ever?’
‘Of course, if she wanted to, but she has her own life to live, you know. But I hope she’ll always treat the Red House as her second home and come here whenever she wishes.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, deeply touched.
‘I’d better welcome you to the tribe, then, since clearly there’ll be no getting rid of you now,’ Lex said drily, though I’m sure everyone thought he was joking.
Den rattled in with the trolley, loaded with coffee and hot cheese scones. He was whistling ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ between his teeth.
‘All settled? The bleeding ewe lamb welcomed back ter the fold?’
‘Very biblical, Den,’ said Clara.
‘I was saved once, wasn’t I? But it didn’t take.’
The conversation began to ease slowly into more everyday subjects and I let it ebb and flow around me as I sipped my coffee.
