Anything Goes by Jill Churchill

Horatio.“
     

Chapter 10
     
    Sissy’s father showed up a moment later. He was a tall, stiff, sandy-colored, military-looking man who walked with a cane. He didn’t seem to have a limp, and the cane was quite grand, ebony wood with a gold handle in the shape of a flying goose, so Lily assumed it must be an affectation. Or perhaps he sustained some minor injury in the Great War and had once used it out of necessity and now merely kept it out of habit.
    “You have company?“ Major Jonathan Winslow said in a tone that implied that he didn’t quite approve.
    Sissy leaped to her feet to make introductions. “Daddy, you’ve met Lily and Robert Brewster before. But it’s been ages and ages. Back when Lily and I were in boarding school.“
    “Nice to see you again,“ Major Winslow said, apparently approving the credentials. “Taking a look at the countryside, are you?“
    “Yes and no,“ Lily said. “We live next door to you now. We inherited Honeysuckle Cottage from our Uncle Horatio.“
    “Imagine that,“ Winslow said. “I never heard Horatio talk about his family. I asked Mr. Prinney about the distribution of his assets, of course, thinking I might buy the place and fix it up, but I suppose you know what he’s like. Won’t give away any information. Just told me it had been left to relatives and it would be up to them. You’re not interested in selling it, are you?”
    That’s blunt enough, Lily thought. “No, not in the least. We’re gaga about the place.“
    “Probably really belongs to your parents anyway,“ Major Winslow said. “I’ll drop by one of these days and ask them about it.“
    “Our parents are dead, Major Winslow,“ Robert said.
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Didn’t know. Well, I wish you the best with it. And I hope you don’t mind a bit of advice...”
    Robert was smiling his best fake smile. He wasn’t any more taken with Major Winslow than Lily was. “What might that be, sir?“ Robert asked with exaggerated respect.
    “Take it easy with the money. Don’t make too many improvements too fast. Don’t hire more staff than you need. These are bad times and the wealthy are resented by the locals. If you mean to spend much time here, it’ll be better for you to get along well with the local merchants and working people and not let them think you’re lording it over them. I imagine Sissy’s told you, we’ve cut back. Everybody who can manage to, should do so. This worldwide financial situation could lead to revolution and anarchy. I’ve actually heard that there’s a club of Reds right here in Voorburg.”
    Robert smiled and asked, with apparent innocence, “But don’t you wonder, sir, if the staff you laid off might be among the revolutionaries?”
    Jonathan Winslow got red in the face and started to sputter.
    “It’s been nice to see you again, Sissy,“ Lily said, standing up before Major Winslow could say anything coherent. “But we really must be getting along.“ If she could get Robert out of here fast enough, he might not become so ultra-polite that it would be obvious how offended he was at being talked down to this way. She plucked at his sleeve.
    “Robert, come along.“ She hurried him out of the room, tossing goodbyes over her shoulder, grabbed her purse from the table in the hall and had opened the door before Winslow father and daughter could even catch up with them. Lily hopped into the Duesenberg and gaily waved goodbye to Sissy as Robert put the car in gear and sped away.
    “What a patronizing bastard,“ he said when he’d turned onto the main road.
    “Slow down, Robert.”
    He let up on the gas. “Lily, times are hard. People are out of work. So Major Winslow fires his staff so he’ll look good to the locals? Bet the staff wasn’t much impressed with being flung out on their ears. They were probably locals, too. No wonder Sissy’s so stupid, being raised by a person like that.“
    “I warned you that he was naturally stingy. He’s using