In Which the Montverres have Dinner, Conversation Occurs, and William Returns Triumphant.



"Why do we never dine with the Beresfords?" Anne asked Sir Horace. The admiral looked up at Anne, who was staring out the window.

"Because they're the Beresfords?"

"They're so close, just over at No. 42, and they entertain an awful lot."

"Anne, Charles Beresford opposes everything we stand for at the Admiralty! He hates Jackie Fisher, he hates me, and it's damn well mutual," he snarled, crumpling his newspaper. "The King has shunned them, too." Sir Horace declined to explain precisely why Edward VII was so opposed to Lord and Lady Beresford. Instead, he said "Besides, do you want to spend time with Ethel Field Tree Beatty?"

"The department store heiress? Is she that horrible, nasty American with that horrible, screeching accent?"

"Yes, that's she."

"That parvenu! I'd sooner dine with Alice Keppel."

"Mrs. Beatty is a frequent visitor to the Beresfords."

"I suppose that makes sense," she allowed, regretfully. "It would be nice to have a party, and maybe to dance."

"Jackie Fisher loves dancing," Sir Horace commented, his ire relenting as he returned to his paper. There was a respectful tap on the door.

"Excuse me, Sir, Madam." Hughes bowed. "Dinner is served."


Dinner proved to be an Irish potato soup to start, removed with steamed halibut and egg sauce. Anne mashed the fish with her fork and smeared the sauce around her plate.

"I did not expect you to be here for dinner tonight. You've been absent so often lately," Anne said, giving her spouse a penetrating look. "I had planned to invite your brother."

"Well, I've had a lot of work to do, what with the French, and there's some design committee plans to review," he explained, before her last comment caught up with him. "Is Randolph coming to dinner?"

"No, he sent his regrets. I did speak to him briefly. He said a friend of his was going to come over and they'd read the newspaper together. Randolph also said his friend's rented rooms were very drafty, so the friend might stay the night too. I said I was sorry to hear his friend had such poor quality rooms and couldn't find a good newspaper dealer nearby."

The admiral stared at Anne in disbelief and tried to refrain from laughing.

"Is there roast beef for the second course?" he asked instead. Anne carefully put down her fork and stared at Sir Horace.

"Yes, there is roast beef for you tonight. Just as there was last night, when you weren't here, and just as there will be tomorrow. There is roast beef every night, even though you frequently choose not to dine at home and don't know what we have for dinner."

Sir Horace was spared the need to reply when Willie bounced into the room.

"Sorry I'm late, Mater." Willie gave Anne a kiss on the cheek. "I had a late meeting with the head of my department." He noticed the tension in the room but wisely decided to avoid comment. "I have some paperwork for you, Father." He pulled the recovered plans from the inside pocket of his jacket and handed them to the admiral. Sir Horace took the documents, unfolded them enough to see what they were, and sat bolt upright.

"Quite right, my boy! I should put these in my safe straightaway," he said, pushing back his chair to rise.

"Sit down and finish your dinner," Anne ordered. Willie and the admiral both sat down as commanded. "If all you are doing is putting some boring paperwork away, it can wait until after we eat." Willie and his father exchanged looks.

"Would you like some Brussels sprouts, Father?" he asked brightly. The admiral handed over his plate for a serving. "When did you get a safe, Father? I'm fairly sure you didn't have one not too long ago."

"Well, I felt I needed to keep some papers secure,"

"Your father made Hughes arrange it. The poor man's positively overworked. Do you realize we still have only one maid? And our butler has to supervise some hired workmen. We had a perfectly good safe for jewelry and other valuables, but your Father had to have one for his paperwork," she added testily.

"It was very important. It would be very bad if any of my documents were stolen, or lost." He coughed.

"Well, if ever I take up safecracking, I'm going for the diamonds, not the government papers," Anne commented.

"I can't see you taking up safecracking, Mater," Willie replied blandly, filling the void. "Have you ever been to a Lyons tea shop?"

"No, I have not," Anne replied with surprise.

"Perhaps I could take you tomorrow afternoon, if you would like?" he offered.

"That sounds nice, dear, but I have a meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society."

As the dinner concluded the admiral laid his napkin by his plate.

"My boy, a word before you disappear for the evening."