A woman called Antonia shuns
meals-on-wheels, preferring instead to boil a soft egg. Antonia
thinks dipping bread and butter in the yolk is vulgar, so she
arranges one slice on a separate plate, in quarters with the crusts
removed. She nibbles at the soft whiteness, taking care to alternate
bites of egg-bread-egg-bread. Antonia listens to Radio 3, knows the
correct piece of cutlery to use, reads the Bible, Shakespeare,
nothing newer than Edith Wharton. She dresses each afternoon to
receive visitors that may drop by for high tea. A cake stand is
unused in the kitchen. Antonia’s hair is barely streaked with
silver in the photos with her grandchildren. She wonders if they
remember her.
A woman called Antonia never learnt to
drive. What was the need when one’s driver is always available?
Antonia shopped at Harrods, on account. She thinks Sir Hugh Fraser
would never have sold to an Egyptian, and bought three monogrammed
Louis Vuitton bags. Antonia marked twenty years since Coco Chanel
passed away with a new suit. She wore it to Francis’ graduation
but chose Ralph Lauren for his wedding after he warned her not to
upstage his bride. The flight arrived in Johannesburg with only
hours to spare before her first grandchild’s christening. The
invitation for the second was lost in the post.
A woman called Antonia blossomed in
pregnancy. Nanny said so each time. She regained her trim figure
three times, each with a little more difficulty than the last.
Antonia saw the boys each afternoon for an hour and her daughter for
a little longer. She saw her husband if he wasn’t up in town.
Dinner was served promptly at 7.30 but she was forbidden from
planning the menu for all except the smallest gathering. Antonia
wondered if seven really was old enough to start boarding. She
cultivated roses and supported charities. Neither filled the hole
she didn’t realize was there.
A woman called Antonia chose a chiffon
coming-out gown and low heeled pumps, suitable for dancing as much as
was seemly. Other girls were envious at the number of suitors paying
her attention and when they smiled at her, their eyes did not. She
was introduced to Charles by his mother. Antonia delighted her
father with the union and wore her mother’s wedding dress, her
grandmother’s pearls. They honeymooned in the South of France,
returning early after Charles’ mother had a minor health scare.
Antonia once attended a ball where Princess Margaret was guest of
honour, but wasn’t presented to her.
A girl called Antonia dreams of being a
princess, married to a handsome prince who worships her. She takes
ballet classes and practises walking as if there is a book on her
head. She has beautiful manners and already speaks French and a
smattering of Italian. Antonia misses her brother and if her younger
brother must be sent to join him, longs to go too. She looks forward
to needlework with Mama each afternoon but is relieved to return to
tea with Nanny at 4 o’clock. Antonia has a favourite tree and even
climbed it once.
A girl called Antonia wonders what the
future holds for her.
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