The Lily-White Boys Read Online Free

Pulling-Out-All-Stops occasions. These were usually designed to impress either customers or suppliers of Justin’s wine business, or fellow members of the Arts Appreciation Society which she and the Marlows supported so ardently.
    And the trouble was, Monica thought, giving her hair a final pat, one was never advised in advance what type of company to expect. She’d tried asking, but as Eloise was deliberately vague, she no longer bothered. In any event, the food was always excellent; even for the smaller occasions a firm of caterers was employed, who took over the kitchen for the evening and left everything spotlessly tidy afterwards.
    Picking up her handbag, Monica went downstairs to collect her mother.
    â€˜You’re not going out again, George?’ Ethel Latimer looked peevishly up at her son as he bent to kiss her cheek.
    â€˜Mother dear, I’ve not been out for weeks!’
    â€˜Just all day and every day,’ she said with a sniff.
    â€˜Well, of course I go to work, but I spend the evenings with you. And Betsy will be here to keep you company.’ Long-suffering Betsy, who had become almost one of the family.
    â€˜Betsy doesn’t read to me like you do.’
    â€˜But she plays cards and does the crossword, doesn’t she? Anyway, Tuesday’s your favourite television evening.’
    â€˜I suppose you’re going to see that woman,’ Ethel said, unmollified.
    George held on to his patience. ‘If you mean Monica, yes, she’ll be there.’
    â€˜I know you’re both waiting for me to die, so you can marry. I’m surprised you haven’t put something in my tea before this.’
    â€˜Mother, please don’t be ridiculous. Nobody wants you to die. Now, have a pleasant evening. I’ll look in to say good night when I get back.’
    And before she could make any more complaints, he walked quickly from the room. Was he a good son, he wondered, to consider her as much as he did, or simply a weak-willed fool for allowing her to ruin his life? He was forty-eight, damn it, surely he was entitled to some life of his own? But he’d promised Father to take care of her – he couldn’t just abandon her.
    In the early days, any girl he’d been fond enough of to bring home had wilted under his mother’s relentless disapproval and disappeared from the scene. Once, when he’d dared to become engaged, she had had a heart attack. Even now, he wondered how she’d engineered it. Still, it had the desired effect and the engagement was called off.
    After that, George admitted defeat and buried himself in his work, rising steadily through the bank to a position of considerable authority. In his work environment at least he was highly thought of, his decisions respected and his opinions sought. It was a Jekyll and Hyde existence, but his career afforded some compensation for what his personal life lacked, and the years had passed reasonably contentedly. Then, four years ago, he’d met Monica.
    How did the old song go? But it’s when he thinks he’s past love, Oh it’s then he meets his last love, And he loves her as he’s never loved before. Well, that was how it had been – still was. And Monica, unlike her young predecessors, was not in the least intimidated by his mother. Though unfailingly polite, she played the old lady at her own game, and he discerned in his mother a grudging though well-disguised respect.
    At the time they met, Mrs Latimer had been going through one of her actual rather than imagined bouts of ill health, and the doctor was doubtful of her chances of recovery. It had not seemed unreasonable to ask Monica to postpone their wedding plans, which would be sure to upset the old lady.
    But with what George couldn’t help regarding as typical perversity, Ethel Latimer made a complete recovery and resumed her tyrannical control over her son’s home life.
    Monica had been incredibly understanding.