Read Online The Dower House by Malcolm Macdonald - Free Book Online Page B

were you born, old chap?’
    â€˜Nineteen twelve,’ Felix told him.
    â€˜Well, he’s probably a couple of years younger. May is more our sort of age – mid-twenties. They’ve got two brats under the age of three. He obviously got home quite often in the war.’
    â€˜It would be good to have the patter of tiny feet about the place,’ Adam said. Then – as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb – he added, ‘Actually, we have a bit of a surprise for you two . . .’
    She stiffened. ‘If you mean Fräulein von Ritter – the Nazi . . .’ She turned on her husband. ‘I still can’t believe you let me fraternize with that . . . that . . .’ A new thought struck her. ‘And now you do the same with poor Monsieur Breit!’
    â€˜ Mais pas du tout, Madame! ’ he said. ‘I know all about Mrs Johnson’s past. I also know my own past.’
    She gave an expressive, Gallic shrug. ‘ Alors? ’
    â€˜And I say if the past will not set the present free, then we are still at war. You still seem to be at war with the Nazis. So you cannot yet claim victory. You keep the Nazis alive so you can go on fighting them.’ He tapped his skull. ‘And so you deny yourself this wonderful present – doux present du présent! It is just one handshake away!’
    Nicole tossed her head but felt she could offer no rebuttal to this – especially to the one who made it. ‘Another reason I’m angry is that I liked her. I thought we can have European nights here at the Dower House . . . Swedish cuisine, French cuisine, and . . .’ She gazed uncertainly at Felix. ‘Hungarian, of course. Goulash – c’est au poile !’
    â€˜The French never quite got the hang of rationing,’ Tony said apologetically.
    They crossed the hall, which was almost filled with the semi-spiral volute of the main staircase, a light, elegant structure that seemed too delicate to support even itself, much less the schoolboys who must lately have charged up and down it.
    Nicole turned to Felix. ‘Why are you looking at me so . . . so . . .’
    â€˜Intensely?’ he offered.
    â€˜Par example!’
    He laughed. ‘I was wondering if you would allow your husband to pose for me?’
    â€˜Good God!’ Tony snorted.
    â€˜The pose you were in beside the lawn just now . .’ Felix mimed his tapping his pipe on his heel. ‘When I saw that I suddenly remembered you coming into Mauthausen. You did exactly the same thing then. I remember thinking at the time that if an Englishman can march into the camp and do that – so easily, so casually – then we really must be liberated. I think such a moment in my life should be immortalized, no?’
    â€˜I say, are you serious?’ Tony asked.
    â€˜Not really,’ Felix laughed again.
    â€˜The memory is true, though,’ Adam said. ‘He reminded me of it the minute he saw you.’ He glanced at Felix as if expecting him to confirm it.
    â€˜Well,’ Felix said. ‘It’s as true as anything can be these days.’
    They started up the final stair, which led to the old servants’ quarters, soon to be the Johnsons’ flat.
    Steps . These of pitch pine.
    â€˜Devil!’ Marianne exclaimed.
    It sounded like a whole delegation coming up.
    â€˜Well, we’ve finished,’ Willard said complacently as he unlocked the door.
    â€˜ You have. Look at my hair! Go and meet them – distract them!’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜ Mm nnm mnh! ’ Her mouth was stopped with two hairpins and a kirby grip.
    â€˜What about the dry rot?’ Willard asked, meeting them halfway along the corridor. ‘Hi, Tony . . . Nicole! Great to see you again.’
    â€˜Same here, old bean. You don’t look a day older.’
    â€˜What dry rot?’ Adam