Free A Proper Family Christmas by Jane Gordon - Cumming Page A

on the sofa, glaring at the glossy rubbish still littering the coffee-table. He had been very grateful for the interruption which had put an end to that tiresome conversation with his son and daughter-in-law, and now he hoped to finish his cup of tea and join his grandson in the Land of Nod while they all sorted themselves out at the other end of the house.
    Scratch, sensing something he wasn’t allowed to touch, jumped up onto the brochures and began to paw them about. The result was disappointing. They didn’t make the satisfactory rustling noise of a proper newspaper, they were hard to chew pieces off, and, worst of all, it didn’t seem to produce any reaction from William.
    When Lesley and Stephen came in, things were much better. Lesley shrieked and clapped her hands, and Stephen snatched the brochures up and tried to straighten them out.
    â€œWretched cat! Where were we?” he said, moving William’s cup out of reach and sitting down beside him.
    â€œâ€˜Green Banks’, I think,” said Lesley. “These rooms look comfortable, don’t they, Father? You can take some of your own furniture.”
    William had no desire to take his furniture to ‘Green Banks’ or anywhere else. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
    â€œâ€¦And this one’s really quite reasonably priced, considering all the facilities they offer. Look - it’s even got a swimming-pool.”
    â€œSo it has,” said William, who had never been near a swimming-pool in his life and didn’t intend to start now.
    â€œIt’s only at Henley, so it wouldn’t be far for us to visit.”
    â€œNor it would.” William had always had an aversion to Henley, since being taken to visit an elderly lunatic aunt there at a tender age.
    â€œWe could ring up and make an appointment for you to visit after the holiday.”
    â€œIsn’t it a good thing that Julia decided to bring the family for Christmas?” William remarked. “Young Posy will be such good company for your Tobias!”
    â€œYes,” said Lesley, a hint of doubt in her voice.
    â€œThey’ll be able to play some of the games she taught him last time,” William went on.
    â€œEr…yes. We weren’t entirely sure…” Stephen trailed off.
    â€œI seem to remember them having a high old time in the shrubbery! …Did Posy find his room, by the way? I’m sure she will. She seems a very determined child.”
    Lesley got up. “I think perhaps I ought to see what’s happening.”
    ,“Of course they may take some finding,” said William, as Stephen didn’t move. “…So many places for children to hide in a house like this!”
    â€œI’d better come with you,” said Stephen.
    â€œShut the door on your way out,” said William. “Oh - and I should put these things away somewhere. You wouldn’t want them to get spoiled.”
    â€œOh, but this is a sweet little room!” said Julia. “Do you know, it was where my nanny used to sleep when I was a little girl! Posy, come and look at…
    â€œWe ought to let Shelley and Frances have it then,” said Tony, throwing himself down on the narrow bed. “Christ, this is uncomfortable!”
    â€œWell, if you want to swap…” said Frances guiltily.
    â€œOh no, darling!” said Julia. “It’s lovely and peaceful up here. The nursery wing’s quite cut off from the rest of the house. Shove up a bit, Tony.”
    â€œWe’d never prise Shelley out of there now, anyway,” he said. They had left her en route, admiring the multi-mirrored dressing-table. “The room we give her in Wimbledon just isn’t going to seem the same. I’m afraid we’ll have to move in here with William, Julia. It’s so hard to keep a good nanny these days!”
    â€œGod forbid!” laughed Julia. “This is a ghastly house - don’t you think so, Frances?