Out of the Ashes by Maisie Mosco

Author:Maisie Mosco [Mosco, Maisie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Classica Libris
Published: 2019-02-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Arnold’s calling her was a rare occurrence for Marianne. When on a blustery spring morning he did so, her reaction was as always somewhat wary.

Listening to his lengthy reasons for not having been in touch, doodling on her notepad and wishing Arnold would get to the point of his call, regret that such was their relationship had its depressing effect upon her. Once,, she’d felt close to both her brothers, and still did to Harry despite the change in him.

The change in Arnold, though, was as if he had erected a wall of pomp between himself and the family. “Cut the excuses, will you!” Marianne interrupted him. “I haven’t been in touch with you, either.”

“Just so long as you understand I haven’t stopped caring about you, Marianne.”

“Nor I about you.”

But Arnold’s caring had its limits. In some respects he and Jake Bornstein were two of a kind. Except that Jake’s narrowness seemed only to apply to his nearest and dearest. Jake would have a fit if his son were gay, thought Marianne, but his attitude to Matthew and Pete was that their private lives were their own. Arnold, on the other hand, applied his personal standards across the board and would, were it in his power, turn back the clock so far as homosexual freedom was concerned.

Matthew remains the skeleton in Sir Arnold Klein’s cupboard, Marianne was reflecting when he said, “So will you do it for me?”

Her wariness returned. “Will I do what?”

“You’re no different now from when you were a kid!” he exclaimed. “Thinking your own thoughts instead of listening to what I’m saying to you. It used to drive me mad.”

“Would you like to hear some of the things about you that drove me mad? I could also put that into the present tense.”

“Let’s not get into a row, Marianne. Blood remains thicker than water. And I want a favour from you.”

“Oh yes?”

“Why must you sound so hostile?”

“Get on with it, Arnold!”

“Repeat myself, you mean, because you didn’t hear a word I said. Were you working when I rang?”

“On the synopsis for my next book.”

“And no doubt you went on doing so in your head. All right, I’ll forgive you.”

He wouldn’t, though, if he knew what Marianne’s thoughts had been, since he took himself and his views so seriously discussion with him was impossible.

“I’m giving a dinner-party at the Inn On The Park,” he informed her, “and I need you to hostess it for me. Lyn has refused point blank. But her lack of co-operation is nothing new, I regret to say. My rise from small beginnings to where I now am owes nothing to my wife.”

“I’m surprised that you actually remember whence you came,” Marianne replied. “And has it never occurred to you that your wife also has a point of view? No, Arnold. I will not play hostess at your bloody dinner-party! Ask your secretary to do it.”

“That wouldn’t be suitable. And you might find it an enjoyable evening.”

“I doubt it.”

“Look – I don’t recall ever before asking you to do anything for me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.