Next of Kin by John Boyne Read Free Book Online Page A

her father’s burial. The dress was the same shade of black as her hair and she had smeared on a little mascara beneath her eyes too, which had stayed intact as she hadn’t shed any tears throughout the interment.
    â€˜It was a very nice service too, all things considered,’ she continued. ‘Everything he would have wanted. Beautiful hymns, lovely flowers…’
    â€˜Hymns,’ said Montignac irritably. ‘What use are hymns to anybody? And when was the last time you saw your father taking any interest in flowers?’
    He looked down at the piece of paper on the desk in front of him and reread it quickly before signing it and putting it in an envelope. When Stella had come in a few minutes earlier he had been engaged in writing a letter to Nicholas Delfy, the owner of a small casino in the East End of London, to whom he owed a considerable sum of money. The amount had been outstanding and accruing interest for quite some time and hints, rather than outright threats, had started to come his way. He had been trying to find the right blend of words to employ in the letter, something between offhand humour which might imply what a trivial matter this was to a Montignac and bland sincerity, which might convince Delfy that he meant to pay him what he owed him, and soon. Within the next few days, in fact.
    â€˜Actually, when I was a little girl he used to enjoy hymns and he took an interest in the gardens,’ insisted Stella. ‘But I suppose you’re right. They weren’t exactly his passions in life.’
    â€˜Perhaps it was before I knew him then,’ said Montignac.
    â€˜Perhaps,’ she acknowledged. ‘You are all right, Owen, aren’t you? You’re not too upset?’
    He put his fountain pen down with a sigh and placed the letter in the top drawer of the bureau, which he promptly locked, placing the key in the pocket of his waistcoat. He turned around and looked at his cousin and found himself able to identify the sadness beneath her tough exterior. He began to feel something perilously close to affection for her. Whatever unexpected emotion it was, however, he quickly dismissed it.
    â€˜They’re all still down there I expect,’ he said.
    â€˜Quite a few. We really should go down. It’s very bad form for the pair of us to be sitting up here on our own like this.’
    â€˜You go.’
    â€˜They’ll expect to see you too. If it’s too upsetting—’
    â€˜Oh, Stella, stop being such a martyr, would you please?’ he asked, growing irritable now and brushing a hand across his eyes. ‘He was your father, not mine. If anyone has a right to be upset it should be you, not me. And I think I have the strength of character to be able to sweep around a few nosy houseguests without breaking down in tears.’
    â€˜He was as much your father as mine, you know that,’ insisted Stella.
    â€˜He was my uncle.’
    â€˜But he thought of you like a son. Don’t deny that, not today.’
    Montignac nodded and remained silent for a moment. ‘I know,’ he muttered finally. ‘I know what he thought of me.’
    â€˜Then we’re in it together and we’ll go down together,’ she continued. ‘Anyway, we should support each other at a time like this. That’s what families are for after all. You know some of the men are playing billiards down there,’ she added after a moment.
    â€˜Billiards?’ he asked.
    â€˜Yes. Or so Margaret told me anyway. She doesn’t think it’s right.’
    â€˜It’s not,’ replied Montignac, considering the etiquette of the matter. ‘I’ll go down and set them straight.’
    â€˜But not with a scene.’
    â€˜No. Perhaps not.’
    â€˜And another thing,’ she said. ‘Denis Tandy came to speak to me earlier. About the will. He wants to set up the reading for as soon as possible.’
    â€˜You’re not