and Matthew reticent in claiming Philip’s time, and though he found himself getting on increasingly well with both of them, still it was something of a strain to be so continually sociable.
He felt, at times, he might take the whole of the following year to recover from this Christmas.
It worried at him, that he hadn’t been able to reassure Danny on the subject of their having been seen in flagrante delicto . But then again, Danny really hadn’t seemed half as bothered as Philip himself had been. Most likely he had dismissed the possibility from his mind already.
And Philip suspected he might be doing Danny no favors by telling him Matthew had seen them. With the shoot planned for later in the visit, there would inescapably be contact between them. Danny might be considerably embarrassed at being forced into dealings with a man who’d watched him engaging in such an activity. Particularly as Matthew was his social better. And Danny didn’t know Matthew like Philip did.
No, it was better not to say anything. It might even make it easier to persuade Matthew not to behave toward Danny in a manner likely to cause comment. Matthew might be irresponsible, but he wasn’t cruel. If Philip asked him not to betray to Danny that he’d seen them, Philip was sure he would not.
Lucy invited him to take a stroll in the gardens with her early one afternoon, while the day was at its brightest. It was Christmas Eve, and she seemed curiously excited, as if she truly expected a visit from Saint Nicholas that night. They talked of this and that, and she linked her arm in his almost shyly.
Philip was beginning to wonder if he should ask outright what was troubling her, when she came out with it.
“I don’t suppose I could persuade you to take me seriously on the marriage thing, could I?” Her gaze was intent, and her cheeks a little flushed.
Philip could only stare at her. “I… ah….”
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Thought not. You won’t reconsider?”
“I’m afraid I don’t really see myself as the marrying kind. I’m sorry.”
“Pity. I think you’d make a jolly good husband, you know. You wouldn’t be a stick-in-the-mud and try to stop me doing what I wanted, would you? And I wouldn’t want children. Lord, no. You needn’t worry about that.” She flicked her cigarette to the ground, and trod it out carefully. “You see, Millie’s very sweet, letting me live with them, but Frederick—well, you’ve seen what Frederick’s like. He’s almost as bad as Father. I’d live alone, but what on earth would I do for money? Get a job?” She barked out a laugh. “All I’ve been trained to do is make polite conversation, arrange flowers, and look decorative at dinner, and I’m an abject failure at two of those.” Lucy managed a crooked smile. “I’m a dab hand with a posy, though; you should see me on Mothering Sunday.”
“I’m sorry,” Philip said again, meaning it. “I wish I could help, but I just don’t think I could do it—marry, that is—if I didn’t really mean it. It doesn’t seem right.”
She nodded gloomily. “I was afraid you’d say that. Wretched things,principles, aren’t they?”
Philip had an urge to pat her hand, but felt it might not be well received. “They can be, yes. But perhaps one day you’ll meet someone….”
“I rather think that ship’s sailed. The only people I ever meet these days are Frederick’s dull friends and their even duller wives. But how about you?” she asked, with an effort at brightness that was painfully obvious, even as her words struck a chill into Philip’s heart. “Have you met someone?”
“I….” For the life of him, Philip couldn’t think what to say.
“Oh Lord, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Of course you’d rather not say. It’s quite all right. And you needn’t worry about me being indiscreet. I’m only indiscreet about unimportant matters….” Her hands flew to her mouth. “Lord, it’s not
He felt, at times, he might take the whole of the following year to recover from this Christmas.
It worried at him, that he hadn’t been able to reassure Danny on the subject of their having been seen in flagrante delicto . But then again, Danny really hadn’t seemed half as bothered as Philip himself had been. Most likely he had dismissed the possibility from his mind already.
And Philip suspected he might be doing Danny no favors by telling him Matthew had seen them. With the shoot planned for later in the visit, there would inescapably be contact between them. Danny might be considerably embarrassed at being forced into dealings with a man who’d watched him engaging in such an activity. Particularly as Matthew was his social better. And Danny didn’t know Matthew like Philip did.
No, it was better not to say anything. It might even make it easier to persuade Matthew not to behave toward Danny in a manner likely to cause comment. Matthew might be irresponsible, but he wasn’t cruel. If Philip asked him not to betray to Danny that he’d seen them, Philip was sure he would not.
Lucy invited him to take a stroll in the gardens with her early one afternoon, while the day was at its brightest. It was Christmas Eve, and she seemed curiously excited, as if she truly expected a visit from Saint Nicholas that night. They talked of this and that, and she linked her arm in his almost shyly.
Philip was beginning to wonder if he should ask outright what was troubling her, when she came out with it.
“I don’t suppose I could persuade you to take me seriously on the marriage thing, could I?” Her gaze was intent, and her cheeks a little flushed.
Philip could only stare at her. “I… ah….”
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Thought not. You won’t reconsider?”
“I’m afraid I don’t really see myself as the marrying kind. I’m sorry.”
“Pity. I think you’d make a jolly good husband, you know. You wouldn’t be a stick-in-the-mud and try to stop me doing what I wanted, would you? And I wouldn’t want children. Lord, no. You needn’t worry about that.” She flicked her cigarette to the ground, and trod it out carefully. “You see, Millie’s very sweet, letting me live with them, but Frederick—well, you’ve seen what Frederick’s like. He’s almost as bad as Father. I’d live alone, but what on earth would I do for money? Get a job?” She barked out a laugh. “All I’ve been trained to do is make polite conversation, arrange flowers, and look decorative at dinner, and I’m an abject failure at two of those.” Lucy managed a crooked smile. “I’m a dab hand with a posy, though; you should see me on Mothering Sunday.”
“I’m sorry,” Philip said again, meaning it. “I wish I could help, but I just don’t think I could do it—marry, that is—if I didn’t really mean it. It doesn’t seem right.”
She nodded gloomily. “I was afraid you’d say that. Wretched things,principles, aren’t they?”
Philip had an urge to pat her hand, but felt it might not be well received. “They can be, yes. But perhaps one day you’ll meet someone….”
“I rather think that ship’s sailed. The only people I ever meet these days are Frederick’s dull friends and their even duller wives. But how about you?” she asked, with an effort at brightness that was painfully obvious, even as her words struck a chill into Philip’s heart. “Have you met someone?”
“I….” For the life of him, Philip couldn’t think what to say.
“Oh Lord, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Of course you’d rather not say. It’s quite all right. And you needn’t worry about me being indiscreet. I’m only indiscreet about unimportant matters….” Her hands flew to her mouth. “Lord, it’s not
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