A Loving Son and Daughter

Part 3

Even after three months, the office still smelt like Father, Albert thought as he opened the door. Perhaps it was his imagination, but it didn't really matter, he had always associated Father with this office. Essentially, this was the only place he saw Father in the last few years.

Taking his place was not an easy task. The threads of Father's business manipulations were long and many, spread throughout Europe and the Empire. Fortunately, Father had built a staff of competent people, employees who could be relied upon to let him know what he needed to know and not bother him with trivial details they could easily tend to themselves. Every operation was covered this way, except one, the file on his desk, the file that held little detail and raised more questions than answers.

None of Father's files were this barren of information, so what was different about this one? Perhaps his morning appointment in a half hour will explain it all, this Mr Anderson, from Anderson and Sons. Albert quickly ran an eye over the file, making sure he knew what he was going to be asking about, making a few notes. The minutes passed quickly. Miss Wilson, his rather elderly secretary, soon called him on the inter-office communication device to let him know Mr Anderson had arrived. Miss Wilson ushered him into Albert quickly.

Introducing themselves, Albert invited Mr Anderson to sit on the Chesterfield lounge with the low table in front as Albert retrieved the file.

"Now, Mr. Anderson, how can I help you?"

"No, Mr. Riley, it is how can I help you?"

Albert looked at his visitor and said nothing, furiously thinking of a response that wouldn't make himself look foolish.

"Before we start, though, Mr Riley, what is your intentions with regard to your future involvement in the Company?"

"I beg your pardon?" Albert asked,he wasn't used to be put on the back foot like this.

"It's simple, Mr Riley," Mr Anderson said, "Either you intend on selling out of, or stay as the head of the Company." He paused to allow that to sink in a little, "If you wish to sell out then this meeting will end now and we will part pleasantly as we will take our business to another firm. Or, this meeting will continue to its natural conclusion." Again, Mr Anderson paused, "Of course, my Board assumed that you would stay as they have heard no rumours of you seeking a buyer and after three months, there should have been some word if you were."

Albert was a little nonplussed here, this man Anderson was perhaps a little too well informed. "I had considered selling, of course, but when I started delving into the business, I saw its challenges, its many successes, its few failures. Father built a team that is made up of excellent people, not just good at their jobs but decent hard working men, who really are the backbone of this organization. Having gotten to know many of them here in this office alone, I admit to becoming more accepting of the idea to keeping the business in the family."

"That is precisely what I wanted to hear Mr Riley, what my masters expected." Mr Anderson reached over to his briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of documents. "Now, before we go any further, I would like you to read this and sign it."

Albert cast an eye over it and was shocked. "This-This is the Official Secrets Act!"

"Yes, it is. Your father signed both the forerunner to this and this same document two years ago when it was first enacted."

"But this mean-"

"It means we cannot discuss anything any further unless you sign it."

Albert started reading, and essentially it said do secret things, don't talk about it or a penalty will apply, anything from long prison term to execution at His Majesty's pleasure. Without hesitation, Albert picked up a pen and dipped it in ink.

"Before you sign it, do you understand the terms and provisions of the Act and how they may apply to yourself?" Anderson asked, formally.

"Yes, I do," Albert replied equally formally.

"Do you sign of your own free will?"

"I do."

"Then please sign and I will witness."

"Are you an authorised person to witness this document?" Albert had noted that only such a person could witness. He didn't think that Anderson wouldn't be authorised, but he had to ask.

Anderson smiled, "Yes, I am," he said. "Your father told me you were very sharp, and that is the first time anyone to whom I have given this document has ever asked me that question."

Albert signed and put the day's date, 7th July, 1913. Anderson signed the appropriate place. Blotting the signatures, Anderson folded the papers and replaced them in his briefcase.

"Well, now the formalities are out of the way, lets get down to business," Anderson commented, "What do you understand about the current European situation?"

Albert blinked, "Only what I read in the newspapers and from a few discussions with Father and friends."

"What is your perspective then?"

"The Ottomans are in trouble, Mehmed is losing his grip, the Caliphate is having to bow to the modernists too often for them to allow him to continue to rule for much longer." Anderson raised an eyebrow. "Franz-Joseph is having a similar problem in Austria-Hungary, the Baltic States are in almost constant unrest and the Empire has no way of quelling the rebels."

"France and Germany?"

"Since the late King Edward spent a lot of time developing the Entente Cordiale at a personal level and the King is now following in his father's footsteps, France is not the potential problem it was. Germany though, Germany has rapidly developed its own industrial base in the Ruhr, and may even eclipse ours in the next ten or twenty years. Germany could become a larger problem than France ever was."

"That's very astute-" Anderson started, but was interrupted by a buzzing sound from Albert's desk.

Somewhat annoyed, Albert went to the desk and pressed the button on the brand new interconnecting device. "I thought I asked for no interruptions?"

"You did sir, and my apologies, Mr Albert," Miss Wilson said, "But i have Miss Winifred on the telephone and she refuses to let me take a message for you or to call back later."

Albert shook his head, knowing how insistent Winnie can be, "Oh, alright, connect her please Miss Wilson," he said, looking over to Anderson saying, "My apologies, Mr Anderson, but my sister will not be denied."

Anderson laughed, "Yes, very strong willed she is, according to your father," he replied as the candlestick telephone on his desk chirped a call. This was the second time Anderson had mentioned his father and personal discussions, he would have to ask about this later.

Picking up the ear piece, Albert spoke into the microphone, "Winnie, I am in a meeting-"

"Yes, I know and give my apologies to whomever you are meeting with. I need to talk to you about Mother, today! Here! At my place!" Winifred said.

"I can't just drop everything and come running-"

"You can today, according to your diary," Winifred interrupted, "After this meeting you have nothing important to do, so I am expecting you for elevenses. Don't be late and please, be patient."

Albert knew there was little point in arguing, if Miss Wilson had shared his diary, then Winnie would know there was nothing important. "Oh, very well, but I can't stay long. It may not be important to you, but I have many of Father's records to go through yet."

"Good, see you at eleven o'clock! Goodbye brother dear!"

"Goodbye, sister mine." What on Earth has gotten into her Albert asked himself as he hanged the earpiece of the telephone up. She hadn't called him that for years.

"My apologies, and my sister's Mr Anderson, a family issue, it appears."

"Never mind, now let's get down to business..."

Anderson left Albert's office an hour and a half later, and Albert had learned far more about his Father's activities on behalf of the Crown than he ever knew. It was simple, really, Riley and Company has developed a number of business contacts throughout Europe, particularly in Germany and the Austro-Hungary. These contacts would pass information to Father who would then pass it on to his contacts at the European Desk of the Foreign Office. A spy? Anderson denied it, and simply said that all Father was doing was passing business information back to the Foreign Office. Not military, or political, just business information.

This was how His Majesty's Government knew about Krupp Steel Works development of some rather strong armor plating that was going to be used in the Kaiser's new ships. As a result, English steel makers were developing similar steel, for similar reasons. In a rather skeptical thought, unvoiced, Albert considered it likely they were also developing a cannon shell that would go through that armor. This turned into a much deeper meeting than Albert had expected.

The ride in this London cab gave him more time to think. Winifred had gotten married two years ago, had one child, a little girl. Her husband was a fellow Oxonian Albert had introduced on a trip to London some five years before. Winifred had entered The School of Medicine for Women and was studying medicine, now on the verge of graduating. What she was doing home, Albert had no idea, but he was sure he would find out.

He paid for the cab ride, went and knocked on the ornate door knocker. He was expecting Nanny to open the door but it was Winnie herself. "Come in, come in," she said, "Kettle is boiling and tea will be ready in a minute or two. Go into the drawing room and I'll be right with you. Shoes there, house slippers on the shelf." She pointed and hurried off before he could say anything. Albert noted she had carried on the same practice that Mother did about shoes inside the house.

Albert walked in, closing the door behind him, put his hat and cloak on the rack, slipped his shoes off and used a pair of house slippers. Something was different. He couldn't hear the baby's nanny, or the baby cooing or crying nor laughing, now the child was, oh, must be getting close to a year old now. That was odd. Every time he had visited Winnie in the last six months, there was always something bustling in the house. Albert made his way to the drawing doom and took a seat in a large comfortable chair facing the chenille curtained window with a small table right in front. This gave him some protection if Winnie decided to get a bit aggressive.

Some years back, it became obvious to Albert that Winnie was angry with him, and he had no idea why. When coming down to London from Oxford for a weekend, he often brought a friend to stay with him at Aunt Lillian's, this kept Winnie at bay while they could go to a show, or attend something somewhere in the City. It was one of those weekends where Winnie was introduced to Robert, her now husband, and since then, she has been a lot less angry with him. But, there was no point in taking chances.

A few moments later, Winnie appeared with a tray, two cups, a large teapot and some biscuits and other consumables. Looked good, Albert thought, but as always, Winnie looked beautiful. She poured tea, making it the way Albert preferred, one sugar and a dash of cream.

"I sent Roberta with nanny to visit Aunt Lillian so we could have this chat. Nice of you to come, thank you."

"Right," Albert said, "Why the rush?"

Winnie took a deep breath, something she always did when she wanted to say something important.

"Father is not been in his grave for three months," she said and stopped.

"Y-e-e-s-s," came Albert's reply, encouraging her to continue.

"Well, Melba has moved into Mothers bedroom!" Winnie said in a rush, "Into her bed."

Albert relaxed, Mother is finally acknowledging the depth of her relationship with Melba.

"And?" Albert asked.

"Well! That is unseemly to say the least!" Winnie replied, "Father's barely cold in his grave and Mother has taken a woman lo- ah - companion."

"You were going to say "lover", did you not?"

"Well, yes," Winnie replied somewhat abashed, "A woman as a lover, there are names for people like them!"

"Yes there are, like 'Saphics' or 'Lesbians'," Albert said, forcing Winnie to hear the words, "But what business is it of ours?"

"This is Mother we are talking about, you know, Mother!"

"Yes, I know of whom you speak, but first, what they do in the privacy of their bedroom is their business not ours. Second, there is no law prohibiting women from co-habitating."

"Some of the staff don't like it!"

"Oh, who cares, if they don't like it they can seek another position, if they choose. Besides, since Old Maud retired there is only three house staff left, and now with Father gone, James is really superfluous. He won't go anywhere, he is far too old to be looking for another position now. Mother decided to retain him until he too retires to one of the cottages on the estate. Perhaps to live with Maud."

Winnie had a somewhat scandalized look on here face. James and Maud, really? Well, he was a man and Maud was definitely a woman, so why wouldn't they seek each other's company, Winnie thought. She had never gotten a hint of such shenanigans though.

"But Mother and Melba in a lesbian relationship?" Winnie asked, "Yes, I know the words."

"Well you should, you are going to be a doctor, so you need to know a lot of things that you may have sought to avoid in the past," Albert said, "When I graduated from Oxford and studied for my Bar exam, I spent a lot of time in the company of an older Barrister, Gordon Wilkins, and he pretty well shook me out of my childhood into a very new world, a very real world. You are going to have to do the same thing, you know."

"What, spend time with your Barrister?"

Alfred laughed, "No with an older doctor, one who has seen a great deal of life and is not blinkered by social rules."

"You mean like you boffing Mother?" Albert felt a chill pass over him, a shocked expression on his face. "And Melba!"

"Wha-Wha-" Albert started stammering

"Oh I knew! I knew years ago. Why do you think I was so angry with you?"

A few years ago, after one Christmas, she stopped talking to him at one point and that went on for a year or so. Mother remarked that Winnie was mad at her too, but she thought is was because Mother had sent Winnie to London, not have her living at the Estate. He just sat, shaking his head.

"Don't deny it, I don't want to know you are a liar too." Winnie stated, "I knew because I went to your room one night and you didn't answer your door. I knew you hadn't come past my room, so there was only one room left for you to be in." Winnie's tone was scornful. "I got the glass from my room and held it against the door of Mother's room and I heard you and Mother. Mother telling you what a big prong you have, and how well you use your tongue. When I heard Melba, I was shocked." She took a deep breath, "Both of them? At the same time?"

Albert couldn't speak, he was mortified she knew, but horrified by what she might do or say next.

"I was terribly angry with you! We had shared everything when we were growing up! Here was I wanting to share the most momentous event in my life to that point with you and you are off boffing Mother!"

Alfred took this is and again, shook his head, "momentous event"? What "momentous event"?

"What are you talking about? What do you mean?"

"For a smart man you can be incredibly dense at times!" Winnie said, somewhat exasperatedly, "I was jealous! You would share your loving with Mother and I wanted it to be me!" Albert was rocked back into his seat. She wanted- "I came to your room so that you would do what I wanted you to do with me!" Albert had to take a breath. "Anything you wanted! I wanted you to be the first man to fuck me!"

Albert was stunned at this revelation, "Instead I waited until my wedding night, years later because you were too dense to look at me!"

Taking a deep breath, Albert reviewed the events of the last five years. He occasionally came to London for one thing or another, stayed at Aunt Lillian's place. Often he would bring someone from Oxford and spend the night there. Other weekends he would be attending dinner parties at the Calthorp residence, pursuing or being pursued but one or more of Lydia's small circle of intimate friends, or a daughter of such. How many times had he really wanted it to be Winnie? Then he brought Robert, about the time that Winnie stopped being so angry with him, and started talking to him again. Winnie flirted with Robert shamelessly, and eventually, he asked Father for her hand in marriage.

How Robert got up the courage to do so was really beyond Albert and why both Father and Winnie agreed was lost to him. Robert struck him as somewhat insipid, unless it was connected to law or theatre. Robert was a walking encyclopaedia on both subjects, and he was always able to entertain Albert with his knowledge of anecdotes and legends from theatre, the developing cinema industry, vaudeville and musical revues.

Albert remembered their wedding day, and took a breath. "I remember how much more beautiful you were on your wedding day. I saw you and it ripped the lid off my feelings. they poured into me and I was so envious and jealous of Robert at that moment. I had been burying my love for you from when we were children, but now we were grown, adults, I understood I wanted to know you as any man would want to know a woman."

"But you never did!"

"No, I would have ravaged you on the floor of the church if you had given me any indication you would want me to."

Winnie stood and held her hand out, "Then come and show me." This is the Winnie he wanted, the strong Winnie, the woman who knows what she wants. Albert stood and took her hand, as Winnie led the way up stairs to her bedroom.

Once inside, she turned and opened her arms. Albert took that step and held her, lowering his face onto hers. He kissed her lips, softly, then with growing passion. He held her for moments, his tongue explored her lips, opening them, forcing it's way into her mouth, to touch her tongue.

Fingers flew over the buttons on her dress, releasing them, strings to loosen her gown, as Albert kissed down the side of her neck. Winnie drew a sharp breath at the first touch of his lips on her neck, She really did not know what to expect. Oh, she has been fucked, yes, but her husband, a good man, has little romance in him, little imagination when it comes to matters of the flesh.

She was somewhat tremulous, but she kissed him back. He pushed her dress off her shoulders, kissing her again. Albert ran his hands over her back, and kissed her neck, pushing her dress down, exposing her breasts. She kissed him back with an increasing fervor and by the time her dress was around her hips, Albert had manoeuvred her to the edge of the bed.

He kissed her again, taking in her taste, her aroma. She was just as beautiful and sensuous as Mother, Albert thought, her lips were open and inviting. Albert reached down and pushed her dress over her hips revealing her sex. She was wearing no undergarments, surprising Albert as he slid her dress to the floor. She had obviously trimmed her lower hair but it was still a thin bush. No matter, Albert thought as he kissed her legs, working his way up to the downy junction. He gently kissed the inner thigh and heard her gasp, then as he worked higher she cooed her pleasure. He got to her swollen mons, her light coloured lower lips were glistening and a pair of pink moisture covered inner lips were pushing out, her clit already yellowish bright, tight and full, contrasting against the darker hair of her pubis. To experience her fully, Albert eased her back, onto the bed, and opened her legs, Winnie lay back and exposed herself fully to him, wanting to feel him in every manner he wished to take her.

Albert touched Winnie with his tongue, wiping over her nether lips, and she squirmed in her pleasure. Any unwelcome vapour was already replaced by the heady aroma of a woman in heat, driving Albert on. He scooped a small dribble of her juices with his tongue into his mouth and tasted her fully for the first time. His tongue plunged into her love hole, wiping over the folds of soft, swollen skin along the channel to her pleasure button. Time became meaningless as he lost himself in pleasuring her, suckling on her swollen button, sliding down to lap at her intimate hole. He heard Winnie's cries, her groans and moans as she let herself be pleasured. Suddenly, his head was grasped by her thighs, her hands pulled him into her as she shuddered and spasmed in a huge climax. Albert continued licking her slowly until she had relaxed after her spasms had passed.