3-16（在线收听）

16.

Next was Willy. I knew he’d kill me if I let it go another minute. So Meg and I popped over one

afternoon, shortly before he and I were due to leave on a shooting trip. Walking up to apartment

1A, under the huge arch, through the courtyard, I felt more nervous than I had before the meeting

with Granny.

I asked myself why.

No answer came to mind.

We climbed the gray stone steps, rang the bell.

No reply.

After a wait the door opened and there was my big brother, a bit dressed up. Nice trousers,

nice shirt, open collar. I introduced Meg, who leaned in and gave him a hug, which completely

freaked him out.

He recoiled.

Willy didn’t hug many strangers. Whereas Meg hugged most strangers. The moment was a

classic collision of cultures, like flashlight-torch, which felt to me both funny and charming. Later,

however, looking back, I wondered if it was more than that. Maybe Willy expected Meg to curtsy?

It would’ve been protocol when meeting a member of the Royal Family for the first time, but she

didn’t know, and I didn’t tell her. When meeting my grandmother, I’d made it clear—this is the

Queen. But when meeting my brother, it was just Willy, who loved Suits.

Whatever, Willy got over it. He exchanged a few warm words with Meg, just inside the door,

on the checkered floor of their hall. We were then interrupted by his spaniel, Lupo, barking as if

we were burglars. Willy hushed Lupo.

Where’s Kate?

Out with the kids.

Ah, too bad. Next time.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Willy needed to finish packing and we needed to go. Meg

gave me a kiss and told us both to have fun on our shooting weekend, and off she went to spend

her first night alone at Nott Cott.

Over the next few days I couldn’t stop talking about her. Now that she and Granny had met,

now that she and Willy had met, now that she was no longer a secret within the family, I had so

much to say. My brother listened, attentive, always smiling thinly. Boring to hear someone

besotted go on and on, I know, but I couldn’t stop myself.

To his credit, he didn’t tease, didn’t tell me to shut up. On the contrary, he said what I’d hoped

he’d say, even needed him to say.

Happy for you, Harold.