Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

'I intend to write to him and say just that.' She toyed with the food on her plate, her appetite gone. 'Lewis, I'm worried about Ma. Seriously worried."

'Your Mother is one of the most sensible and redoubt able women I've ever met, Margaret. She saw them off smartish and I doubt they'll be back! She'll cope.'

'But what if things get worse?' 'I don't think they will. I believe there is talk of some sort

of treaty and a Boundary Commission or something, that will let the counties of the North stay within the Empire. That should pacify everyone. And the Government of the Free State seems to be rounding up and successfully stamping out these Irregulars. Was there any other post?'

Lewis had dismissed the subject, she thought. She had been going to ask him if Sarah could come and stay until things did get better. There was a note from Nancy and

two tickets for her opening night." 'She wants us to go to London?'

'Yes. She's starring in a new musical play called "Steam boat"." He pushed his empty plate away and tucked his thumbs

into the pockets of his waistcoat. At our expense, I

presume?' 'Yes, but the tickets are expensive ones. She's taken a box. She's invited Lisa, too. She doesn't say if she's asked Ma to come over."

'When?'

"The fifteenth.'

'It's out of the question. It would mean at least two days in London, an hotel and they don't come cheap - and I would have to leave Johnson in charge and I just can't afford to do that. I'm expecting the answer on a contract, a large contract, and I can't leave things to Johnson. I'm sorry.'

'It doesn't matter, Lewis.' She had known what his

answer would be all along.

'Are you quite sure you are not ill? You've hardly

touched your meal.' 'I'm fine, Lewis!'

'Ellen hasn't been in any trouble has she?" 'Ellen? No, why?'

'I've noticed that she's getting very boisterous lately.' 'She's growing up. She's at that stage when she's all arms and legs, like a young colt.' Margaret paused a moment. 'Lewis, would you object if I took Ellen to London? It would be such a treat for her and I would like to see Nancy.'

He frowned. 'She could have come to our wedding if she'd wanted to!'

'You know why she didn't come.' Margaret had been

hurt when Nancy had finally written with her explanation, but Nancy had said that 'show business', as she called it, was such a cut-throat world that if you wanted to succeed you had to snatch every opportunity and that she knew Margaret would understand. Oh, she'd understood, but she'd still felt hurt.

Lewis studied her closely. She looked different; thinner and paler and her face appeared to have a pinched look around the nose. In his way he did care for her. He was grateful to her for the ease with which his life now ran. He hadn't expected her to be a smouldering siren in bed, and he wouldn't have wanted that, but it was patently obvious that she disliked their love-making, although she did try to hide the fact. But he hadn't married her for that reason. He'd married her to stop the gossip, to run his home, to keep Ellen in check, but most of all to give him the son he desperately wanted. But as yet she showed no sign of becoming pregnant and it annoyed him. Perhaps if she were to have a short break it might help.

'All right, my dear, take Ellen with you. Go and see Nancy's triumphant debut; it will do you good!'

'Oh, Lewis! Thank you!"

'But I don't want Ellen getting any foolish ideas about following in her aunt's footsteps.

Margaret rose and kissed him lightly on the cheek as she removed the empty dishes. 'She won't. And thank you again, Lewis. I'll write to Nancy this evening."

Ellen was speechless with delight, but only for a few min

utes. Then a torrent of questions poured from her lips. Margaret put her hands over her ears in mock dismay. you don't stop this minute, Ellen, you shan't go!' 'If

Ellen pulled a face and clamped a hand over her mouth in a comic gesture. "There, I'm quiet now,' she muttered through her fingers.

Margaret laughed. 'I want you to go and thank your

Pa, properly.'

'He'll be cross if I interrupt him.'

'No, he won't, not if you do it the right way.'

'Which way?' 'Don't just walk in and say, "Thank you, Pa, for letting me go to London." Sometimes I think you're two people, Ellen, you behave so differently towards him and me.'

'He's not like you. He always makes me feel as though I've done something wrong when I haven't.' "That's a terrible thing to say! Now, go and say thank

you and give him a kiss."

Ellen looked startled. 'Kiss Pa?'

'Why not? I used to kiss my Pa if he went away, before I went to bed, or if he gave me a present.'

'I don't think Pa likes being kissed.'

'How do you know if you've never tried? Now go on!" She watched Ellen cross the hall and knock on the dining room door and she made a shooing gesture with her hand to encourage the child to go in. She sighed, wondering if things had always been like this. There was no show of affection between any of the Vannins in public, and not much in private either, although Ellen was an affectionate child.

The doorbell rang and she called to Vi that she would answer it. It was Elizabeth. 'How nice to see you, Elizabeth! We haven't seen you

for some weeks, is everything all right? How is Ernest?'

'We are fine, thank you. Is my father in?' Yes, he's in the dining room with Ellen. I'll tell them you're here.'

'Now what's she been up to? Has she been sent home from school again?"

Margaret's expression hardened. 'It's half term and she hasn't been up to anything, quite the opposite!' She knocked on the dining room door and opened it. The sight that met her eyes was just what she had hoped for. Lewis had pushed his chair back and Ellen stood at his knee. Both heads were bent in mutual interest over something in the newspaper. Lewis's arm was around the child's shoulder.

Margaret smiled. Elizabeth's timing was perfect and by the look on her face Margaret could see that she was decidedly put out. She wondered if Elizabeth's manner towards her sister was prompted by jealousy.

'Ma, look, there's something about Aunt Nancy in the paper!' Then Ellen saw Elizabeth and her smile faded. If your Pa has finished with the paper, why don't you

take it and read it in the kitchen. I'm sure Vi will be

interested. Elizabeth's come to visit and you won't be

interested in "grown up" talk, as you call it.' 'Off you go, Ellen, and take the paper with you. But don't get it muddled up.' Lewis smiled, giving the child a gentle push.

When she reached Margaret, Ellen stopped. 'Aunt Nancy's

going to be famous. Will that make us famous, too, Ma?' Margaret laughed. 'No it won't.'

Ellen turned to her sister. 'Aunt Nancy's going to be in a musical play called "Steamboat" in London and she's going to be famous and Ma and I are going to see her and we're going to stay in an hotel and we're having a box at the Royal Theatre!'

"The Theatre Royal,' Margaret corrected. 'Now off you go, Miss Giddy-Gaddy!"

Elizabeth said nothing but Margaret noticed the set of her chin. So that was it. She'd come for money!

'If you don't mind, I would like to speak to my

Father alone.' 'I do mind, as it happens.'

They both looked at her. Lewis with speculation and Elizabeth with amazement.

'What I have to say is private!'

'Your father is my husband!'

Lewis rose. So, the confrontation had come at last. 'Whatever you have to say can be said in front of Margaret, Elizabeth.'

'Really, Father! You don't honestly expect me to...

to ...

To ask for pin money in front of me? Oh, come, Elizabeth, do you take me for a complete fool? I know the only reason you visit is for money to buy something that Ernest either can't or won't buy for you. What is it for this time?'

Elizabeth's cheeks flamed. 'How dare you!'

'No! How dare you, Elizabeth! You have a good hus band who provides for you as well as he can, it's about time you learned to curb your extravagances. Your father works too hard to have his money wasted!'

'Pa! Are you going to stand there and let her insult like that!'

'Is it insulting to hear the truth?" he said quietly. Despite her words, Margaret's voice had remained calm and, unintentionally, he took his cue from her.

'Oh, this is intolerable! Insufferable! You are quite prepared to spend a small fortune on a jaunt to London for her and that precocious little wretch, just so she can see some second-rate show that her sister has probably got a 'bit' part in, and yet I can't even have a few pounds for ...