August 31, 1918

The next morning, on the way back from the hospital, Mary asked if his back bothered him.

"No, the way the scars healed makes it hard for me to stretch but I don't intend to pursue a life of physical labour so it shouldn't be too bad. It is a plus for my music hall act."

She knew he wanted her to ask but she refused to take the bait. So they ended up walking in silence back to the Great House.

They did not speak again until they met in the nursery before dinner.

"How was your day?"

"If your father was not already in the House of Lords I would swear he was running for a seat in the House of Commons. We met every notable in the North Riding, most of the seminotables and a lot of the nonnotables. We shook innumerable hands. Out of regard for Patricia I refrained from kissing the many babies offered up for my blessing. An extraordinary number of nubile young maids were strewn in the path of the heir of the Earldom of Grantham."

"Strewn?"

"Self strewn. There was one girl, reddish hair that really stood out. Adele something. Someone like... From up towards Thirsk way. Do you know who? No? Maybe your father will remember..."

"You must be very tired, what with all that adulation"

"I am. Do you think I would have a tray up here in the nursery? I could eat with Patricia and tell her a bedtime story. Maybe about my music hall act"

Mary almost gave in and asked but she could see the expectant look on his face so she refrained from doing so.

Mary hurried her preparations for dinner so that she arrived downstairs before Matthew.

"What ever you do, do not ask Matthew about his music hall act" Mary told Violet.

"Music hall act? He has a music hall act?" Cora asked.

"No, he has a joke about a music hall act he wants to tell so you must not give him an opening to tell it."

"And why not?" asked Robert. "If it is funny why should he not tell it? As long as it is not off colour of course."

"Did I miss someone telling an off colour joke?" Matthew asked as he was coming down the stairs.

"No, not at all" said Mary.

"An on colour joke maybe, I enjoy a good on colour joke as well"

"No, there were none of those. Come let us go into dinner." Robert motioned towards to the dining room. He must be getting senile he thought, he could not understand half of what they were saying around him.

The nightly inquisition almost did not start. Every question Violet thought of asking transformed itself into a question about Matthew's music hall act. She glared at Mary, what was she thinking to plant such a suggestion in her mind? It was like asking someone not to look at their left hand.

Matthew thought he was home free. He was tired, he had not had a chance to nap all day, and thought he might be able to escape to bed early.

"Matthew, do you have a music hall act?" Violet could not withstand the internal pressure any more.

"No. I have been to a music hall show. I have seem music hall acts. I do not have a music hall act. Why on earth would you want to know if I had a music hall act?"

"I...I" Violet was dumbfounded. She did not know how to answer. She could not think of any witticism with which to respond. She glared at Mary.

Mary saved her.

"How did you learn to change a baby" she asked.

"I had twin sisters. I had to help my mother take care of them. They died in a diphtheria epidemic when they were two years old. Now if you will excuse me I have had a busy day and I need some sleep."

After he left everyone glared at Mary.