Deadly Receptions by Veronica Cline Barton

Author:Veronica Cline Barton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2018-12-31T16:56:08+00:00

11

Turmoil in the City

We arrived at the Manor House just in time to change for dinner and meet in Ma-ma’s suite for cocktails. I was a little apprehensive to see my father again, but knew it was time to at least call a truce, for the rest of the tour. I changed into a black turtleneck and skinny jeans, tucked into some black leather boots. I wore the gold necklace Kyle’s mother Honey had made. A red leather moto jacket finished my look.

“You look beautiful, darling,” Kyle said, kissing me. “Don’t stress about tonight, I know your father wants to resolve things with you.”

I tried to smile, but I did feel uneasy. “Well here goes,” I said, taking Kyle’s hand walking to Ma-ma’s suite.

We heard laughing coming from her room. Daddy answered her door to let us in. Ma-ma and Aunt Margaret were giggling profusely in the background.

“Hello daughter,” Daddy said, reaching over to give me a hug.

We stayed in an embrace for some time, tears welling in my eyes. I pulled away and tried to smile as I walked over to greet Ma-ma and Aunt Margaret.

“Hello, Kyle, please come in. May I fix you a drink?” Daddy asked him.

“That would be great, David. I’ll have a bourbon please, neat.”

Daddy went to the bar to fix Kyle’s drink, turning to ask if I wanted something too.

“Same, Daddy, a bourbon, neat,” I said, giving him a smile. He was trying, that I could see. I turned back to Ma-ma and Aunt Margaret, who had launched off in a new wave of giggles. “What’s so funny, you two?”

Ma-ma wiped a tear from her eye and shook her head. “Oh, darling, your father has been telling us stories about his latest research, some of which involves the Lancaster’s. It turns out that one of your great-great uncles was quite the kidder, especially after a few pints, and once famously hid the king’s crown in a loo, almost causing a parliamentary crisis when it disappeared.”

“Can you just imagine? It’s a wonder the king didn’t strip us of our land,” Aunt Margaret said, laughing once again.

“The search went on for days, including searches underneath the skirts of the ladies in court, which was quite a scandal in itself. It turns out your errant uncle’s wife saw him deposit the king’s crown in the loo and retrieved it. She and the queen decided to teach their kidder husbands a lesson, hiding the crown from them as frantic searches went on everywhere. They returned the crown to the king a few days later at dinner, much to the astonishment of the king and your uncle,” Daddy said, smiling and handing Kyle and me our bourbons.

“I think it’s marvelous, the Lancaster ladies have been very close to the queens for many generations. I can’t wait to tell Queen Annelyce this story. She’ll love it,” Aunt Margaret said, smiling. “Everyone thinks the royals are prim and proper, which they are of course when appropriate, but they do enjoy a good laugh.

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