Sirs Clay and Dicky…at your service

A/N This little story had become scattered throughout my fic. I finally decided to collect them and put them in order. Enjoy.

"Hello?" Betty answered the phone.

"Hey up, Love!' Stephen greeted, "The date for the company Christmas party has been set- December 13. That should give us enough time to hire a sitter. What say you?"

"Oh, I do like your firm's Christmas parties! Not like those tacky do's at Grace Brothers. Yes, R.S.V.P. that we'll be there. I'll ring Ethel and ask if she'll watch the girls for us."

"How are you?" he asked softly, flirting, changing the subject.

"Let me think…I'm waiting for seven when this sexy man I live with comes home," she crooned.

He blushed, "What are you wearing?" he purred.

"My figure-hiding seductive house dress…you know, the one with the safety pins on the pocket and the baby food stains…"

"Ooohh…be sure to wear that when I get home!" he cooed teasingly in his Royal Signals voice, "Put on those black stilettos and seamed stockings and the frilly suspenders..."

"…and nothing else! Now get back to work, Stephen, er'else I might think this is one of those calls! I've got work to do."

"You're not hanging wash outside in that outfit, are you?" he asked heatedly.

"I'm in a house dress and house shoes! Really, Stephen!"

He laughed boyishly, "I'll see you tonight, Love! G'bye."


December 13.

Mr. Humphries and Mr. Lucas agreed to baby-sit their nieces. Mrs. Axelby was nursing a bout of Marine's Disease she contracted at her company's canteen eating the prawn and mussels salad. Mrs. Humphries wanted to watch her little granddaughters, but was called in to the roller skating rink at the last minute to cover for an ill co-worker. So it was Uncles Clay and Dickie at the helm.

"I must warn you," Mr. Humphries told Mr. Lucas as they walked to Betty and Stephen's flat, "it will take them about 20 minutes to get out the door for the myriad of instructions! They don't leave the girls very often and Captain peacock has to issue them a full op-order!"

Mr. Lucas laughed, "Captain Peacock, the quintessential Army officer! Even his

children have to fall in dress-right-dress!"

"He's really a very doting father," Mr. Humphries stated proudly, "Having Steffie and Kathy has really changed him."

It was a chilly evening and the aroma of wood fires hung in the air. Mr. Lucas hugged himself to get warm.

"I should have worn a coat. It's right parky out," he shivered.

They arrived at the Peacock home; Mr. Humphries rapped on the door. Stephen's shadow appeared in the window and he opened the door.

"Come in, gentlemen," he welcomed them.

Mr. Humphries looked around.

"Betty'll be down in a minute. Kathy! Steffie! Your uncles are here!" Stephen called upstairs.

They heard a raucous squeal as both girls scrambled down the stairs boisterously.

They ran full speed into their uncles' awaiting arms.

"Hello, girls!" Mr. Lucas greeted.

"Hello, Uncle Dickie!" Stephanie gushed, hugging him.

"Uncle Clay, hello!" Katherine bubbled, wrapping her arms round him.

"Here it comes…" Mr. Humphries muttered to Mr. Lucas.

"Girls, listen up!" Stephen bellowed, "You are to use your manners: yes, sir; no, sir; please; thank you; no, thank you. Uncle Claybourne and Uncle James are in charge. When it's time for bed, there is to be no argument, you go straight in. Am I clear?."

"Yes, Daddy." Stephanie obediently responded, nodding.

"Daddy, you say this every time!" Katherine reprimanded him, her little head bobbing and rolling her eyes.

"Well, then, you know what's expected of you, right?"

"Yes, sir," she answered, her lips pursed tightly.

"And you will not take that tone with me, young lady, do you understand?" his face was stern, with a hint of a smile lurking under the surface.

"Yes, sir," her eyebrows raised and her blue eyes dancing.

"Good."

Betty descended the stairs and Stephen's face lit up. She wore a deep violet chic party dress in gauzy silk chiffon, form-fitting at bust; relaxed empire waist, short puffed sleeves with banded cuffs, V-neckline; V-backline, full skirt. In a word, she looked gorgeous.

Stephen heart leapt and he stood a little taller, puffed his chest out, and reached his hand to her. Taking her hand, he looped his arm around hers.

"Hello, Mr. Humphries! Hello, Mr. Lucas! How are you this evening?"

"Fine, Betty dear!" Mr. Humphries replied, "Lovely dress, you must let me borrow it sometime!"

"Might I say, Lady Peacock, you look wonderful!" Mr. Lucas jested.

"Mummy, you look like a movie star!" Katherine chimed.

"You look very, very, very pretty, Mummy!" Stephanie echoed her sister's sentiment.

"Thank you, Sweethearts!"

Betty tittered and Stephen reached into the cupboard to retrieve their coats.

He pressed his lips to her ear as he slipped her coat on, "You look beautiful, Darling."

Stephen pressed a few kisses behind her ear and wrapped his arms around her.

She whispered in his ear, "You keep this up and we won't make it to the party!"

"Right."

He cleared his throat, straightened, and slipped his own coat on over his dinner jacket.

"You two have a smashing time! Don't worry, we'll be fine," Mr. Humphries assured them.

"Bedtime is at 8, do you understand?" Stephen affirmed.

"Yes, sir!" Mr. Lucas gave him a mock salute, snapping to attention.

"Don't be facetious, Mr. Lucas!"

"We shouldn't be too late," Betty stated.

Betty and Stephen hugged their daughters and left.

"What a bloody palaver!" Mr. Lucas cringed, "Is it always like that?"

"I've only babysat one other time. Yes, it is always like that! He adores these girls."

"I thought he was going to conduct a white-glove inspection any minute!" Mr. Lucas cracked.

"OK, girls, what are we going to do tonight?" Mr. Humphries directed his question to them.

"Make stones!" Katherine blurted.

"Stones?" Mr. Humphries shot her a confused look.

"Stones…to eat with our tea."

"Scones, Mr. Humphries!" Mr. Lucas proudly deciphered her toddler-speak.

"Oh, scones! Yes, I should have known! We can make scones if you'd like."

"And princesses! We hafta play princesses, Uncle Clay!" Stephanie added.

"Of course!"


11:45

The door latch clicked and Stephen supported Betty as she sleepily trudged through the door, leaning on him. He carried her shoes in his hands, the straps looped through his fingers.

Mr. Humphries and Mr. Lucas sat on the settee watching Parkinson, wearing paper hats on their heads. On Mr. Humphries' hat was written 'Sir Clay' and on Mr. Lucas' hat was written 'Sir Dicky' scrawled with a crayon in child's handwriting.

Stephen shook his head and chuckled, "What was it tonight? Last time it was a princess party."

"We made 'stones' and jousted," Mr. Lucas announced, tilting his head.

Stephen smiled, "Oh! Kathy loves scones! She'll love you forever for making them. Jousting, huh?" he shook his head, laughing at the mental image playing in his mind.

"It was his idea!" Mr. Humphries motioned to Mr. Lucas.

Betty hung onto Stephen, swaying, her eyes tightly closed. They looked at her and gave Stephen a knowing smile.

"Betty's not drunk, in case that's what you're thinking; she is right knackered from dancing all night! I'm proud of her; she only had one drink all night. The men I work with in my department think the world of Betty and they all wanted to dance with her. It was quite comical: she was the belle of the ball!"

"That's good, for her! I remember the Grace Brothers' Christmas parties…" Mr. Humphries trailed off.

"Quite," Stephen nodded, his eyes wide, "Well, gentlemen, I need to get Mrs. Peacock up to bed. So I must bid you good night. Thank you, thank you."

"It was our pleasure, Captain Peacock!" Mr. Lucas began, "It's not every Saturday night that we get to crawl around on all fours, wearing paper hats and getting hit with mop and broom sticks!"

"Oh, you loved it, Mr. Lucas, admit it!" Mr. Humphries teased.

"Oh, I did! I did, Mr. Humphries!" Mr. Lucas nodded for emphasis.

"And don't forget the scones and tea!" Mr. Humphries interjected.

"Oh, yes!" Mr. Lucas bubbled, his head bobbling, "We mustn't forget the scones and tea, mustn't we?"

"No, we mustn't!" Mr. Humphries burst out, "We did have a grand time. The girls were really no trouble."

"Well, thank you," he said beaming.

"Let's go, Clay. If we hurry, we can make it to the Palais for Under 30s Night!" Mr. Lucas said impatiently.

"Oh, there's a good crowd what shows up for that!" Mr. Humphries nodded, "Good night, Captain Peacock!"

"Good night. Be careful and stay together!"

They stepped out of the door and Mr. Humphries turned to Mr. Lucas, "One day I shall find out what, exactly, he means by that!"

They left and Stephen snaked his arm round Betty's waist and helped her up the stairs.