CHAPTER XXVI
SUPPER
As they ate their supper in the dining room, compliments to Daisy on her cooking crisscrossed the table once again much to her embarrassment. To her, she had just cooked food for them all, she felt she had no special skill, it had just happened years before out of necessity and she enjoyed it.
Peggy, as she ate, thought about Dick's idea. Yes, they would all benefit from Dot's unwanted inheritance but she and John, and Nancy would be benefiting more than any of them. Dick was right of course, over the years they had all stayed at Beckfoot as if it was a hotel, mother always refused contributions towards food and each of them had always arrived with some small gift for her, which though she appreciated she thought was unnecessary. The house cost money, when they sold the houseboat neither of them wanted to and Nancy had convinced her, without doing so Beckfoot would decline to the point where it would not be saleable, Which was worse? No houseboat or no Beckfoot?
Had she looked across the table she would have noticed that Nancy was thinking too. Peggy then wondered about John, he did not own the house but being married to her he often behaved as if he did, and as much as she loved him this was really a matter between her and Nancy. She could see John was about to say something.
'The thing is Dick, if we set up, sorry, if Dot sets up a trust,' John paused to eat another mouthful of curry, 'even if the money is spent on Beckfoot it still benefits Nancy and Peggy.' Dick looked thoughtful. Titty knew from his body language he would only speak once he gathered his thoughts together. But Dot was ahead of him.
'Why shouldn't it? I don't mind, I really don't, I just don't want the money, I can manage, I make enough from my books and I will get some pensions, I'd rather everyone benefited, it's a really good idea Dick.' There was a pause, and Titty could see Dick was preparing a reply.
'Exactly, I really do feel we have all made so much use of Beckfoot for so long now that something needs to be put back, you don't want the money, we all understand that, and remember Timothy used Beckfoot too, he used to stay here and worked with Captain Flint. It's a choice between Dot's money supporting Beckfoot or we all see Nancy and Peggy lose their childhood home and a place we all like to visit.'
For a moment there was silence, then an unexpected voice spoke.
'I'm happy here. Stay here.' Roger, to their surprise stated his view. Susan and Titty had both wondered how much of the conversation he had followed, it seemed more than either of them thought.
Nancy suddenly stood up, slightly red faced as if she was indignant but she wasn't, she was actually a bit embarrassed, John they could all see was about to speak, she held up her hand to silence him.
'That settles it! Roger, you can stay here forever, you deserve it. Peggy, do you agree?' Her question was delivered in such a way that her sister knew there was only one possible answer, but it was the answer she wanted to give anyway.
'Of course.' Nancy continued.
'So if Roger is here, Susan and Titty, and everyone else needs to be here. And, I'm sorry Dot if this sounds selfish, to keep the house and to let you all be here then we do need the money.'
Dot smiled, it was the first real smile any of them had seen from her in months.
'Thank you, thank you. Do it, please do it. As soon as you can, whatever it takes.'