Page 31 of An Invitation to the Kennedys
She looked fresher – Molly must have done her hair as well, Honor thought; what were the bets Elizabeth hadn’t tipped her – and also familiar.‘I say, is that my dress?’
‘Yes, I knew you wouldn’t mind.You can’t expect me to wear last night’s.Red silk.So simply perfect for a nightclub.Not at all the thing for daytime.You must see that, Honor?I told your maid – darling creature, you are lucky!– that you wouldn’t mind a bit.I hoped you would have trousers, but of course you don’t have the figure for it.’
Beside Honor, Maureen was laughing openly.‘I’d forgotten you could be amusing, sometimes.You should come with us,’ she said lightly.
‘Now that’s a jolly idea.’Elizabeth beamed.‘I think I shall.It’s much too hot in London anyway.’She had reached the hall and stood close enough, fanning herself in exaggerated fashion with a limp hand, so that Honor could smell her own geranium soap, a gift from Chips.
‘Don’t be absurd, Maureen,’ she said crossly.‘Elizabeth must have a million things to do.Besides, there simply isn’t time for her to gather her things.The motors have been brought round and we mustn’t keep Michaels waiting.’
‘I’ll just borrow some of yours,’ Elizabeth said.‘I know we aren’t at all the same size,’ she smiled kindly at Honor, ‘but you do have so many heaps of clothes, I’m sure that clever maid of yours can find a few things.I don’t need much.I don’t imagine there will be any real fun in Essex.’She said it almost reassuringly.At that, Duff looked up and grinned.
‘Excellent plan!’Maureen said with a snigger, so that Honor felt she could have cheerfully murdered her.
‘Well, if you must come, at least let us stop and let you pick up some things.It really won’t do …’
‘The truth is,’ Elizabeth said with dignity, ‘my effects are scattered.I have been staying rather here and there this last while.My own flat has … too many people in it.’She opened her eyes very wide, as if daring them to ask more.
So Chips was right, Honor thought.‘But there isn’t room in the motorcars,’ she tried one last time.
‘Oh, little me can squeeze in anywhere.’Then, ‘Duff, darling, why don’t you fix us a drink before we go, and Honor can send for her adorable maid to do the packing?’Duff stood up and tuckedThe Timesunder one arm, holding the other out politely for Elizabeth.
‘Damn you, Maureen,’ Honor said when they had moved away.‘What was that?’
‘A joke that may have got rather out of hand,’ Maureen said, watching her husband and Elizabeth disappear into the library.
Chapter Sixteen
Kelvedon, Essex
Honor
Bringing Elizabeth meant that Duff had to travel with Chips and Bundi.Which clearly annoyed Maureen because she sat in silence, staring out the window, Pugsy on her lap, ignoring Elizabeth’s chatter until eventually Elizabeth fell asleep, head tilted back against the upholstered seat of the car, mouth slightly open.Honor plucked the smoking cigarette from her fingers and flicked it out the window.
‘Who is she?’Brigid asked in a fascinated whisper as Elizabeth started to snore.
‘Whowasshe, more like,’ Maureen said.
‘Don’t be cruel.’
‘When we were all as young as you are now, and doing the season, Elizabeth was the girl of the moment,’ Maureen said.‘She knew all the best parties, and planned many of them.She was outrageous and wild and the despair of parents everywhere, not just her own.She was up to everything, neck deep in everything, invited everywhere.’She watched Elizabeth draw a ragged breath in and exhale on a snore.‘And then everything changed, and everyone changed, but Elizabeth stayed exactly the same so that now, she is like finding a faded dance card and seeing the name of a young man you once danced with.You may not remember him at all clearly, but you might feel a moment’s sadness because, back then, it was probably terribly important that he danced with you …’
Maureen sounded almost wistful, Honor thought.Which was so unlike her that she looked over, a question in her eyes.But Maureen turned her face to the window.
‘She seems rather fun,’ Brigid said thoughtfully.‘Though not at all like a grown-up.’
‘She is like those poems by Mr Hilaire Belloc, so cleverly illustrated by Duff’s father:A Cautionary Tale,’ Honor said.
Brigid began: ‘There was a girl, her name was Lizzie,
Who always seemed so terribly busy
She plotted here, she planted there,
But all she produced was empty air.’
‘More like a limerick, but jolly good,’ Maureen said.
‘I’m sure it is very unsuitable that she should be coming with us,’ Honor said.‘Please do not tell Mamma.I am certain she wouldn’t like it.’
