‘How?’ she asked.
‘I’ll show you. It might hurt to begin with, but it won’t always be that way.’
‘Mummy, why are you crying?’
Her son’s question, as he burst into the room out of breath, took her by surprise. Wiping away her tears, she forced her lips to smile. ‘I was remembering something from a long time ago,’ she said.
Closing the door behind him, he came towards her. ‘Was it a horrid Christmas like the one we’re having today?’
‘No,’ she said sadly. She held out her arms and he came into her embrace. Just as he always did. Her precious child. ‘I’m sorry you’re not having a good time,’ she murmured into hisbaby-soft hair.
‘It’s not your fault,’ he said, leaning back to look up at her. ‘It’s father. Why does he have to be so mean and nasty?’
‘He’s not always mean. I just think he’s unhappy. People who are unhappy behave strangely.’
‘Do you know what he’s doing right now, this very minute?’
‘He’s not having another row with Ralph, is he?’
‘No. He’s drunk and smashing up the presents under the Christmas tree, including the one I put there for you. I call that pretty mean, don’t you? He said I had to watch him do it, but I refused and ran off.’
‘Oh darling, I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t keep apologising for something that isn’t your fault. It’s him. It’s always him. I hate him. I hate him so much I never want to see him again.Not ever!’
‘But he’s your father.’
‘I don’t care. He’s a fat pig of a man who I hate!’
Behind him the door opened again and fearing it was Arthur, Julia jumped up from where she was sitting, ready to shield Charles from his father’s drunken fury. But it was Ralph.
‘What have you been doing all this time?’ she asked. ‘I’ve been waiting here for ages.’
‘Sorry about that, it took me longer than I thought to organise things properly. Now, are you both ready?’
Her nerve going again and frightened of the consequences of what Ralph wanted her to do, Julia looked at him anxiously. ‘Are you sure running away is the answer? Won’t he just come after us?’
Standing in front of her, Ralph looked at her sternly. ‘Julia, listen to me. The man has been hitting the whisky decanter and right now he’s downstairs going berserk with a hammer.’
‘See, Mummy, I told you he was drunk and smashing the Christmas presents.’
‘But—’
‘No buts,’ said Ralph. ‘The mood he’s in, there’s no knowing what he might do next. And do you think for one minute he’ll get more than a few yards on foot?’
‘What about the car? He’ll use that, won’t he?’
Ralph smiled. ‘No he won’t. I have the keys.’
‘Oh, Ralph, I’m not sure we’re doing the right thing. If only you hadn’t made him so angry, he wouldn’t be in the state he is. Why don’t we just apologise to him and—’
He interrupted her once more. ‘That man was born angry. Now fetch your coat and come with me.Charlie-Boy, do you have your bag ready as I asked?’
‘Yes. It’s in my room.’
‘Go and get it now and meet us on the landing. We’re then going to use the servants’ staircase and go down to the boot room.’
‘What about Miss Casey?’ asked Charles.
