A Veil Removed by Michelle Cox

Author:Michelle Cox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 2019-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

At long last, the Cunninghams arrived, Billings taking their coats and wraps in the foyer, while Christmas greetings and hugs were excitedly exchanged, at least on Julia’s part. Randolph crisply kissed the air beside Antonia’s cheek and stiffly shook Clive’s hand, but when he came to Henrietta, his lips actually touched her cheek and remained there longer than she would have wished. She had the desperate urge to wipe any trace of it away, but she refrained and turned her attention instead to Howard and Randolph, Jr., who were dressed elegantly in navy blue velvet sailor suits and stood shyly behind Julia. It seemed odd to see them without their nanny hovering near.

“Merry Christmas, boys!” Henrietta said to them, bending near. “Did Santa come?” she asked. Both of them managed a nod, but only Howard gave a tiny smile. “What did he bring you?” she encouraged.

Neither of them seemed to know what to say, so Henrietta was about to suggest something when Randolph barked, “Answer!”

“Yes, Aunt Henrietta,” Randolph, Jr. said bravely.

“This is exactly what I was talking about, Julia,” Randolph growled.

Before his comment could escalate, Antonia interrupted. “Come along, let’s go into the drawing room before dinner. I believe Santa Claus left a stocking for each of you here as well.”

Henrietta expected them to race ahead, but instead they walked staidly beside the adults and sat stiffly in two chairs, farthest from the fire, only their dangling, twitching stockinged legs revealing any excitement they may have been feeling. Clive stood to pour out drinks from the sideboard while Henrietta and Julia sat next to each other on the settee. Henrietta happily clasped Julia’s hand, and Julia reciprocated, though she looked upset.

With a strained smile, Antonia distributed the stockings to each of her grandsons, who politely thanked her and then carefully began to inspect them. They contained mostly sweets—chocolates and gumdrops and licorice pipes—as well as some little metal cars, a miniature top, a bag of marbles and a small India rubber ball. Henrietta expected them to pop some of the sweets into their mouths, or to sneak a few, anyway, and to play with their new toys, but instead they sat stiffly, watching their father.

“I’ve hidden a surprise for you somewhere in the room as well,” Henrietta ventured. “See if you can find it,” she said.

Both boys looked from her to their father, who gave them a brief nod, and they slid off the chairs and looked around the room from where they stood, unsure of what to do next.

“Go on, look about,” Henrietta encouraged.

Hesitantly, they looked at Julia, who gave them a nod, which prompted them to walk toward the piano at the back of the room for apparently a lack of any other ideas.

“This is what comes from that incompetent nanny,” Randolph scoffed as Clive handed him a cognac. “She hovers too much, and now they’re as timid as mice. And she’s not much better,” he said nodding at Julia. He seemed in a foul mood, and Henrietta was already beginning to regret wanting them to come.

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