Page 62 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

Alice could supply the next line for herself: Then come kiss me, Sweet-and-twenty . She blushed. He was watching her face, and seemed to enjoy it.

‘But perhaps we shall meet again in England,’ he said. ‘Do you make much stay in Usingen, Lady Alice?’

‘I hardly know,’ she said. ‘It depends on my mother. But I hope not. I want to be back in London when the new term starts.’

‘New term? You intrigue me, madam. Surely you cannot still be at school.’

So she told him about her studies, and the topic lasted to the end of the dance. When the music ended he bowed, and said, ‘At least now I know how to find you when next we’re in London. Thank you for the dance, bella signorina . I’m enjoying myself much more than I had any expectation of.’

Rachel hurried to join her as soon as her partner released her, and said, very flushed, ‘What a charming boy Mr Farocean is! You danced with his brother, didn’t you?

What a pity they’re going away tomorrow.

Everyone else in the neighbourhood is so old and dull.

I wonder if Aunt Caroline knows Sir Jocelyn. ’

‘Aunt Caroline knows everybody, but that’s not the same as receiving them,’ Alice said. ‘I don’t think you ought to have flirted when you’re an engaged woman.’

‘I wasn’t flirting, I was being civil,’ Rachel said automatically. ‘But, oh dear, we shall be so dull tomorrow!’

But when tomorrow came, it brought news that Aunt Vicky and Uncle Bobo would be with them by dinner time, and everything grew cheerful again.

‘It really is quite a sweet little thing,’ Aunt Vicky said, with slight surprise – unflattering, but understandable. ‘But goodness! I don’t envy poor Maud. At her age!’

Everything was nicer when Aunt Vicky was there, for she had an irrepressible charm and cheerfulness.

The difference in the prince was remarkable: he stood up straighter, looked and spoke like a proud papa, and remembered much more of his English.

The servants vied with each other to please her, and everyone reaped the benefit.

Even the cook served up more interesting food, ransacking seldom-consulted recipe books for un-German fancy dishes.

One morning Rachel was summoned to her mother’s chamber for the first time.

Alice was giving Arabella a drawing lesson, sitting in one of the windows and sketching the view outside.

Arabella seemed to be settling down from the shock of her brother’s death.

Though she was quiet, she did not seem to be unhappy, was learning German both from Miss Kettel and from the housemaids, and had been taken on one or two visits to neighbours with suitably aged children to play with.

As Alice was helping her with a difficult fir tree, she said suddenly, ‘Kettel said Grandmama’s new baby is my uncle, even though I’m ten years older than him. Isn’t that queer?’

‘It is,’ Alice said. ‘But I believe it quite often happens, when people marry a second time.’

‘I hope I’m let to see him soon. I’d like a little baby to play with.’

‘A baby isn’t a toy,’ Alice said. ‘Put more shading on that side. See how the light is coming all from the other side?’

‘I think Mother means to stay here – don’t you?’

‘I really don’t know. Would you mind? Do you like it here?’

‘It’s all right,’ Arabella said. She frowned over her sketch for a moment, drawing more branches on the tree.

‘It wasn’t very nice at home in Dorset. It was always cold and I was always hungry.

But Papa was alive then. And at the Castle there was enough to eat, but no-one liked me.

But Arthur was alive then.’ She sighed. ‘I don’t really belong anywhere, do I? ’

Alice felt a pang of pity. ‘You belong where your mother is,’ she said awkwardly.

‘Mother doesn’t really like me. She’s never bothered with me.’

Alice knew that was true. And if Linda married again – if Cousin Pippi came up to scratch – what were Arabella’s chances then?

The little girl looked up. ‘But I like Kettel. She can be strict, but she’s always there. And new grandpapa Paul is very rich, so perhaps I can have a pony. I miss Biscuit and Goosebumps. Don’t you miss Pharaoh?’

‘Very much,’ Alice said. At that moment a servant came in and told her she was wanted at once in her highness’s room above. ‘I must go,’ she said to Arabella.

‘I know.’

‘Perhaps you could add Biscuit to your picture – have him waiting for you beside the tree.’

‘But he isn’t there.’

‘Use your imagination.’

* * *

Alice had expected to find Rachel still there, but her mother was alone. ‘Your sister is with Aunt Vicky,’ Maud said. ‘Sit there and let me look at you.’

Alice took the seat indicated at the bedside, and sat up straight, hands folded in her lap, as she had been taught.

She was shocked at the sight of her mother, lying propped up on half a dozen pillows, in a lace and chiffon bedjacket with a lace-and-ribbon cap over her hair.

The extravagant lingerie did nothing to mitigate her worn and frail look.

She was as pale as milk, with blue shadows under her eyes, her face more gaunt than ever.

‘You look just the same,’ Maud said at last, and it was not a compliment. Alice said nothing – what was there to say? She was used to being a disappointment. ‘You’ve seen the baby?’

‘Yes, Mama. He’s very sweet.’

‘Well, I have done my duty. The prince is pleased. And the child is healthy.’ She broke off and was silent.

Alice thought she could supply the thought.

Every man with a title wanted an heir and a spare, just in case.

She had heard her brother Richard talk about it often enough – joking that he would never have been born except for the need for insurance.

But would little Heiko ever have a brother?

In marrying her mother, would the prince even have hoped for one child?

Maud came to the end of a train of thought and a shudder went through her. She drew a handkerchief out from her sleeve and coughed into it, eyes closed, and Alice half rose and said, ‘Are you all right, Mama? Shall I ring for someone?’

Maud emerged from the handkerchief looking annoyed and therefore much more like herself, and snapped, ‘Don’t fuss. Sit down. I wish to talk to you.’

Alice sat, reassured by the sharp tone. But her mother leaned back on the pillows and closed her eyes again, looking exhausted, and it was a while before she went on.

‘Your aunt Vicky is taking Rachel away to the Summer Palace,’ she said. The sharp tone was gone. She sounded only weary. ‘She will stay with Vicky and Bobo until October, when they will be going to England and will take Rachel with them.’

So Rachel was to be drowned in pleasure, Alice thought, and if that did not convince her of the folly of her present engagement, the attentions of dozens of eligible young men surely would. Oh, Mama! Alice thought reproachfully. And Poor Angus!

‘The question is, what is to be done with you?’ Maud went on.

‘Linda stays here. She has expectations of Cousin Pippi.’ Maud closed her eyes.

‘It would be the best outcome for her,’ she murmured.

‘For me, too. We do not deal comfortably together. Although she is much improved lately . . . He seems in earnest . . . I must do all I can to foster the match. I have already . . .’ She opened her eyes abruptly and looked at Alice with a touch of confusion. ‘What was I talking of?’

‘You wondered what to do with me,’ Alice said.

‘Alice. Always such a disappointment,’ Maud said, as if she hadn’t spoken.

‘Well, Vicky must do what she can for you. She says she’s willing to take you as well, and I hope you will do your best to attract a husband, because I don’t know what else to contrive.

I can’t have you here. As soon as I am well, Paul and I will be travelling.

To Venice first to see Fergus and that woman – his bride, I should say.

Linda, I hope will stay here, if she is not already married. But you?’

‘Oh, Mama, please let me go home!’ Alice said urgently.

‘Home? To the Castle?’

‘To London, to Aunt Caroline’s. I must be back before the new term starts.’

‘What new term?’

‘At the art school. Don’t you remember? You gave me permission to study there and, oh, I do love it so. I’m good at it, all the teachers say so. You must let me go back!’

It was the wrong word to say to her mother, even in her present weakened state.

Maud frowned. ‘There is no “must” about it. I don’t know what I was thinking.

You haven’t your sister’s looks, but you are well enough, or will be once Vicky has worked on you.

And if Linda can attract an offer, so can you. I won’t have you disgrace me.’

‘I shan’t, Mama, but I don’t want to be married. I want to be an artist. Oh, please, please let me go back! I’m not like Rachel, I couldn’t bear that sort of life. If I’m in London, you won’t see me or hear about me so you won’t be able to be disappointed. It’s the only thing I want. Oh, please !’

‘Stop talking! You exhaust me.’ Maud closed her eyes and waved Alice away, like a troublesome moth. ‘Go away now, I can’t bear any more. Ring the bell for my maid on the way out.’

Maud drifted . . .

She was back in her childhood home, Cawburn Castle.

There was a new baby in the crib, the longed-for heir, her brother Fergus.

Her father, a cold and autocratic man, had made his disapproval manifest at the arrival of three daughters, and his oppressed and miserable wife had died as soon as Fergus was born.

So Maud had become mother to the baby, and mistress of the castle, to atone for her unwelcome existence.

Plump little Fergus, her darling baby, had thrived, but she had never won her father’s love.

She had done her duty, but he had never given her a word of approval.