Sons and Daughters Read Online Free PDF Page B

her body slim, her dress a classical achievement from the gifted hands of brother-in-law Sammy’s designer. Sammy wasn’t keen on any of his close female relatives appearing in the austerity fashions of these post-war years, especially Polly, whom he regarded as a high-class aristocratic advertisement for his best designs.
    ‘How are the cricket lessons coming on?’ asked Mr Finch.
    ‘Chaotically,’ said Polly, accepting a kiss on her cheek from her father-in-law. ‘But you know, of course, that our ungovernable pair live on the closest terms with chaos.’
    The twins arrived in a rush then, determined to bring a little chaos into the life of their grandfather by trying, apparently, to knock him down in the energetic enthusiasm of their greeting.
    ‘Steady, monkeys,’ said Boots, coming up.
    Mr Finch, staying on his feet, knew there was one certain way of disentangling himself. He gave the twins sixpence each for their money boxes, and away they went, dashing into the house to safely bank the silver coins. Flossie, fearless in the face of their rush, took charge of them.
    ‘Can you spare ten minutes for a chat?’ asked Mr Finch of Boots and Polly.
    ‘I suspected from your phone call that there was something on your mind,’ said Boots, and they all sat down at the garden table in the sunshine of the afternoon. Boots, in a white cricket shirt and camel-coloured slacks, looked untroubled by his years, his features firmly masculine, his dark brown hair still thick. No more than Polly did he wear the mantle of middle age, although Polly was fighting faint crow’s feet that were trying to establish themselves at the corners of her eyes.
    ‘Is this going to be serious?’ she asked,
    ‘Only in one respect,’ said Mr Finch.
    ‘Which is?’ said Boots.
    ‘That off and on since early this afternoon, your inimitable mother has been in need of her smelling salts,’ said Mr Finch.
    ‘Her smelling salts?’ said Polly. ‘I’m to believe that?’
    ‘You can believe the bottle is the one she’s hadfor many years,’ said Mr Finch, ‘and it’s still effective.’
    ‘But why is she in need?’ asked Boots. ‘Is she having fainting fits?’
    ‘No, she’s simply in shock,’ said Mr Finch.
    Boots, noting that his stepfather was showing neither worry nor alarm, said, ‘Out with it, Edwin, what’s the reason?’
    ‘The reason, Boots,’ said Mr Finch, ‘is that an ex-colleague of mine called to notify me well in advance that my name is going forward for inclusion in the New Year’s honours list. I’m to be offered a knighthood for services rendered.’
    Boots said warmly, ‘My sincere congratulations, Edwin, and I’m not surprised.’
    Polly looked tickled. She knew by now that her father-in-law had served with British Intelligence for many years. She had suspected so, and Boots had at last confirmed her suspicions, while asking her to keep the information to herself. Other facts relating to the life of his stepfather he still held close to his chest.
    ‘Edwin, old thing,’ said Polly, ‘I’m delighted for you, I really am.’
    ‘Thank you, Polly,’ said Mr Finch. ‘But it means, of course, that by this time next year your mother, Boots, will be known to her family and friends as Lady Finch. The prospect is alarming her. She’s in shock. Hence her recourse to her smelling salts.’
    ‘What can one say?’ said Polly, rolling her eyes, while Boots expressed his own reaction by throwinghis head back and roaring with laughter.
    ‘I’m glad you’re amused, Boots,’ said Mr Finch, a smile showing.
    ‘He’s a philistine,’ said Polly.
    ‘Lady Finch?’ said Boots, and laughed again. ‘My dear old mother? Lady Finch? No wonder she’s in shock. I imagine she’s been telling you she wasn’t brought up to be a lady, that a title would be an embarrassment to her.’
    ‘And make people talk about her?’ murmured Polly, who knew that to Boots’s old-fashioned mother being talked about meant one’s