Lettice & Victoria by Susanna Johnston Read Free Book Online

certainly had no idea of how to dress. It seemed that she was not even interested in trying to look elegant, which was a shame – for Edgar’s sake.
    A middle-aged scholar, an old friend of the family, and a shy young professor were due to arrive on Saturday on their way to a reading party further west. The two were almost inseparable but Lettice believed there to be nothing improper in their relationship. She claimed them both to be ‘brains of Britain – united by the majesty of their thoughts’.
    Edgar and Victoria would be there on Friday evening so there was time to drop a tactful hint to Victoria, since Edgar was too dazzled by his bride to think there was need for advice.
    Lettice selected books to place at her side of the bed.
    ‘Darling. Do read that charming book. It’s just down your street and dear Archie Thorne wrote the introduction so it will be fun for you to discuss it with him tomorrow.’
    ‘Didn’t you love it?’ Victoria was asked in the morning.
    ‘I don’t think I understood it.’
    ‘Isn’t she modest, Edgar? Long may she remain so.’
    Victoria knitted, lit a cigarette and wriggled as near to the fire as she dared. She had been cold since arriving.
    ‘I love to see a young girl use her hands. Have you ever thought of embroidery? I think you’d find it more rewarding than knitting.’
    ‘No. I never have.’
    ‘Let’s go together to the Women’s Home Industries. I love a trip to London. So many friends to see. We could get those wonderful ladies to draw up an interesting design and I’d lend you the Regency stool from my bedroom to cover.’
    Victoria wanted to ask Edgar to get her a drink. It was only eleven o’clock but the day was cold and wet. She made a signbut Edgar ignored it and wished that he’d been more robust when speaking to Victoria of his mother.
    By Saturday afternoon, the flower basket was piled high with sodden roses. Loaves rose and swelled as Lettice decanted home-brewed wine.
    Victoria felt sick and, hoping it might be an omen, went to bed before the scholar and his friend arrived.
    Dinner was prepared by the time that an old but well- cared-for Daimler stopped in front of a mauve clematis that all but covered the entrance to the tower.
    Once indoors, both visitors sighed in relief. Archibald Thorne acknowledged, silently and for the thousandth time, that Lettice for all her foolishness was more tolerable to be with than to think about – or, indeed, to correspond with. She flattered and fussed and turned her face up to show reverence.
    Harold, the young professor, went to The Old Keep because he liked to be there and was uncritical of his hostess. From the start Archie had insisted on taking him along. She was kind to him, made him welcome and always introduced him, breathlessly , as Archie’s ‘colleague’.
    It was good to be in a warm room after a quarrelsome journey.
    ‘Now,’ said Archibald, ‘we want to meet Victoria.’
    He was short and stocky.
    ‘It’s too disappointing. Poor darling isn’t well. She’s gone to bed. She was so hoping to talk to you about something of yours that she had just read.’
    Archibald peered over his spectacles – an emphasised act.
    ‘Some other time. Some other time. Nothing to worry about, I hope.’
    ‘No. We’re sure not. Overtired poor pet. Young marrieds have such a lot to cope with these days.’
    Harold, unnerved by the mention of anything as intimate as female indisposition, stared at the fire and wondered how to speak. Later, next week, he would write to Lettice and tell her how wonderful it had been and how sorry he was not to have met Victoria.
    Edgar went upstairs and Lettice said, ‘I can’t tell you how thrilled we both are with Victoria. She’s unsophisticated but highly intelligent. That job she had in Italy says a lot. You would have loved talking to her but I fear we shall have to keep her in bed tomorrow.’
    Archie Thorne relaxed. He had not particularly wanted to discuss his own works