Elizabeth walked home in silence with Benjy. Her exaltation evaporated in the night air like the fumes of wine, leaving behind an irritated depression.
‘Well, there’s no help for it,’ she said bitterly, as he fumbled with the latch-key of the Vicarage. ‘But I dare say before long – Do be quick.’
Half an hour later at Mallards, Lucia, having seen Poppy well on the way to bed, tapped discreetly at Georgie’s door. That gave him a terrible fright, till he remembered he had locked it.
‘No, you can’t come in,’ he said. ‘Good night, Poppy. Sleep well.’
‘It’s me, Georgie,’ said Lucia in a low voice. ‘Open the door: only a chink. She isn’t here.’
Georgie unlocked it.
‘Perfect!’ she whispered. ‘Such a treat for them all! They will remember this evening. Perfect.’
THE BEGINNING
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Mapp and Lucia first published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1935
Lucia’s Progress first published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1935
Trouble for Lucia first published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1939
This collection published under the title Lucia Victrix by Penguin Books 1991
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-141-92635-3
E. F. Benson, Lucia Victrix
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