His Lady Mistress

222 His Lady Mistress‘Much rather,’ agreed Verity with alacrity. Not even Maxwould believe that Braybrook, or anyone else, was having anaffair with a woman minus her front teeth.‘Do stop rattling on, Ben, and fetch the lemonade,’ commandedGeorge. ‘And bring the lot over here. I’m starvinganyway so we may as well have our elevenses now.’By the time some excellent lemonade had washed downplum cake and apples, which the boys insisted on sharing outscrupulously, Verity knew that their father was a physicianwith a practice in Harley Street, that they had a little brotherand a baby sister and that their mother had chased them outof the house that morning with ‘...enough food for an army,do have some more cake...’ and instructions not to comeback until they were either hungry or tired enough to go tobed. ‘We kept on waking the baby, you see. Playing cricketin the corridor. And Mama gets very cross about that.’Charmed by their friendly exuberance, Verity found herselfvolunteering to field for them. They stared.George gulped. ‘Are you...are you sure? I mean, girlsdon’t usually play cricket...’‘Mama does,’ argued Ben. ‘Until Baby was coming. Thenshe said she didn’t want any more cricket balls in the tummy.Papa forbade it anyway.’ He turned to Verity. ‘You aren’thaving a baby, are you?’ His air of innocent concern robbedthe question of all possible offence.His elder brother blushed. ‘Stubble it, you little bagpipe!You don’t ask ladies questions like that!’ He turned to Verity.‘I’m awfully sorry. He’s only eight, you know. Er...youaren’t, are you?’Gravely, Verity denied it, pushing away the aching sadnessthat she would never know the joy and pride the unknownMrs Cranmore must feel.‘Oh, well. I dare say it’s all right then,’ said George. ‘Andyou can have a turn batting and bowling too, if you carefor it.’