Page 65 of The Affairs of Ashmore Castle (Ashmore Castle #2)

Alice made a rather French popping of the lips that she had caught from her grandmother. ‘London things!’ she dismissed them. ‘Theatres and art galleries and dancing . The only green is the parks, and what can one do in a park?’

‘Whereas at home you can disport yourself over green fields comme une femme sauvage . And that pleases you?’

‘At home, no one cares what I do,’ Alice said simply.

‘That, I fear, is the truth. But, ma petite , that cannot go on for ever. Life lies in wait, like a wolf at the door.’

‘“The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, and his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold,”’ Alice quoted.

‘Very pretty. Where do you have that?’

‘We used to have to recite poetry for Papa when we were very young. That’s the only bit I can remember now.

I used to love the name Sennacherib – it sounds like crunching up chop bones.

’ She sighed. ‘I wouldn’t mind so much if life was going to arrive gleaming in purple and gold, but I have a horrid feeling it’s going to be just an ordinary grey old wolf – probably with a mangy coat and dog’s breath. ’

Her grandmother laughed. ‘Poor little one! I fear you are right. But your imagination will save you. There you shall romp in the green fields always.’

Alice was about to say she’d sooner do it in reality, when the door opened, and Richard came in, closely followed by the butler, Chaplin, who had wanted to announce him properly but could not beat him up the stairs.

‘Thank you, Chaplin. We shall have tea. And so,’ Grandmère turned up her face to receive Richard’s kiss, ‘tell me about your protégée.’

‘What is a protégée?’ Alice asked

‘Do they not teach you any French?’ Grandmère complained.

‘There is no “they”, Granny. I haven’t had a governess for years.’

‘Hmm. In general, I am not in favour of too much education for females – it takes off the natural bloom – but there are some things that are merely a matter of civilisation.’

‘Like sitting up straight,’ Alice said.

‘And speaking French,’ Richard added. ‘Or at least understanding it.’

‘You are both wicked creatures to tease your poor frail grandmère .’

‘You, frail?’ Richard exclaimed. ‘You’re made of pure steel, and you know it. You will outlive all of us.’

‘ Oh, j’espère que non !’

‘But what is a protégée?’ Alice persisted. ‘Is it the same as a prodigy?’

‘In this case, yes,’ Richard said.

‘Like the infant phenomenon in Nicholas Nickleby ?’

‘She’s no infant. But she has astonishing talent for a young woman. And protégée is from the French, as you ought to know, my ignorant little savage, and means “protected person”. But she’s not my protégée, she’s Grandmère’s. And Sir Thomas Burton’s.’

‘Oh. She’s musical, then,’ Alice said.

‘She plays the piano like – like – well, you have to hear her to understand.’

‘But who is she?’ Alice demanded.

‘Her name is Chloe Sands. Remember that, because she’ll be famous one day.’

‘And how do you know her?’

Grandmère stepped in. ‘It is not comme il faut to ask so many questions, cherie .’ She turned to Richard. ‘All is well for the first recital? I have not seen Sir Thomas for a day or two. Il n’y a pas de problèmes ?’

‘Only some severe pre-performance nerves when I visited this morning.’

Grandmère frowned. ‘She has always struck me as a supremely confident young woman. But once she begins to play, she will forget all but the music.’

‘Not the prodigy’s nerves, ma chère , the mother’s,’ said Richard. ‘Miss Chloe already thinks about nothing but the music. It is her mother who is in shreds. I recommended a glass of Wincarnis and a cold flannel to the head.’

‘You are a very wicked boy. Some nervousness is natural in a mother at such a time. But it will all go splendidly. When Sir Thomas puts on a concert, tout le monde fait attention . There will be no empty seat.’

Richard nodded. ‘I’ve secured tickets for everyone at Aunt Caroline’s, and she’s warned her friends that they absent themselves at their peril.

Mother isn’t entirely happy. She dislikes concerts – and dislikes even more to be dragooned.

“Who is this person ?” she booms – person, being, as you know, Granny, the worst insult she can bestow. ’

‘But she will be present,’ Grandmère said. It was not a question.

‘Sheer curiosity will bring her,’ said Richard. ‘She can’t understand what I have to do with music. She suspects some ulterior motive.’

‘She will be there because I will tell her to be. And because it will be a very important event of the Season.’

‘Do I have to go?’ asked Alice, who had followed the exchanges like someone watching tennis.

‘You do. But you’ll enjoy it,’ said Richard, patting her arm. ‘I didn’t think I liked music until I heard Chloe play. It’s like nothing on earth.’

‘Are you in love with her?’ Alice asked suspiciously.

‘Too impudent,’ Grandmère rebuked her.

But it was Richard’s laugh that convinced her. ‘No, I certainly am not.’

She must be more than usually plain , then , poor thing , Alice thought. And said, ‘I suppose a pianist must be something like a ballet-girl or an actress?’

‘No, nothing like,’ Richard said, a little tautly.

‘Good. Because I overheard one of the grooms saying something about Papa liking actresses and ballet girls and—’

‘That’s enough from you, miss,’ Richard said. ‘You ought to know better at your age than to repeat grooms’ talk.’

‘I wouldn’t, to anyone else,’ Alice said.

Grandmère thought it time to change the subject. ‘I hope you are to be fitted with some new gowns while you are here. Your hems are too short.’

‘I’ve outgrown everything,’ Alice said. ‘I don’t mind.’

‘ I mind,’ said Grandmère. ‘I cannot have my granddaughter appear in public like that.’ She waved a hand. ‘I shall speak to Maud.’

‘She’s awfully busy with Rachel.’

‘Then I shall speak to Caroline. You must have a new gown before the concert. I mean you to sit beside me, and all eyes will be on us.’

‘Ah, the concert of the unearthly pianist!’ Alice said, with a sly look at Richard. ‘Does she have wings?’

***

How Linda learned that the Castle Staintons had gone to London was uncertain, but she arrived the day after they did, and it was only fortunate that she did not bring her husband, children or a maid, because it would have puzzled Lady Manningtree how to accommodate them all.

‘How lucky to find everyone here,’ Linda said brightly.

‘I have some business to attend to which necessitated coming up, but now I see it’s a family gathering, I shall stay for a day or two. What’s the occasion?’

‘No occasion,’ Caroline said. ‘Giles has business, and Rachel is to be shown at a few parties—’

‘Oh, I can help Mama there. I know she doesn’t care for such things. I can chaperone Rachel and save her the trouble,’ Linda said eagerly.

‘You can offer,’ Caroline said, ‘but I don’t think she is minding it this time. Rachel has taken very well so far. She’s certainly rewarding to show.’

‘Well, she’s pretty,’ Linda said, somewhat sourly. ‘But she may find the lack of dowry holds her back – unless Giles has relented at all. He seems very reluctant to part with any of the fortune he married.’

‘If I were you,’ Caroline said mildly, ‘I would not use that tone – or those words – around him. Honey catches more flies than vinegar, Linda dear.’

‘You’d be vinegary, Auntie, if you had my problems. And he ought to continue Papa’s allowance. He has an obligation to respect our father’s wishes. Family is everything.’

‘All I’m saying is that if you ask him, ask nicely. But don’t expect too much. He has a great many drains on his finances with the estate.’

‘Oh, the estate,’ Linda said dismissively. What were acres and farms compared with blood relations? she thought. ‘Did they bring the baby?’ she asked, on the back of that idea.

‘Yes. He’s in the nursery – do you want to see him?’

‘I suppose so. She’s lucky she had a boy first time. If I hadn’t had a girl first I wouldn’t have had to have two. Half the trouble and half the expense.’

Poor Gerald , Caroline thought. She had begun by thinking it callous of Linda to leave him behind with the children (presumably to save on the railway fares), but now she thought he was probably relieved to be rid of her for a while.

Vogel, the Staintons’s banker, had offered to attend Giles in Berkeley Square, but he had preferred to go to the bank, and when he said he was going to discuss the Harvey’s Jam business, Kitty asked shyly if she could go with him.

‘If you want to, of course,’ Giles said, surprised. ‘But it will be dull, you know – talk of money and business and so on.’

‘But I should like to understand where the money comes from,’ Kitty said. ‘I always knew I was an heiress, but at home no one would tell me anything more than that. Mama used to say talking about money was vulgar, but it can’t be, with a banker, can it?’

He laughed. ‘No. What else would you talk to a banker about? Certainly Vogel is a very dull dog. I don’t think you’d get very far with chat about balls and dinners and plays and so on.’

‘So I can come?’

‘Of course,’ Giles said. Despite the words, there was the faintest impatience in his tone. But it was her inheritance, and she wanted to know, so she didn’t back down.