Page 68 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘Might I have a word, my lord?’ Afton said.

His lordship had been looking more than usually grim since his return from London, but Afton knew he should not put things off any longer.

There was a full diary of shooting events, and then in November the hunting would start.

He ought to have said something in Scotland, but somehow or other the right moment hadn’t arisen.

‘Can’t it wait?’ Giles said impatiently. When a servant said Might I have a word, my lord it always meant trouble, and he had enough on his mind at the moment.

‘If you would be so kind,’ Afton insisted.

‘Very well. Out with it, man,’ he added, as Afton hesitated.

Afton cleared his throat. ‘When you were so good as to appoint me butler as well as valet, I thought the two roles could be combined. But I have been finding it difficult as the Castle has done so much more entertaining. In short, my lord,’ he hurried on, as Giles’s scowl spurred him, ‘I would be grateful if I could return to being your lordship’s valet, without the other duties. ’

‘The dickens!’ Giles exploded. ‘You’re telling me you want me to find a new butler?’

It was a nervous moment. ‘I don’t feel I can give satisfaction in both roles, my lord.’

Giles glared at him. ‘But you want to remain valet?’

‘It is my natural calling, my lord.’ He coughed again. ‘I was never entirely comfortable as butler.’

There was a silence, and Afton made himself stand still, though he was longing to insert a finger and ease his collar.

‘Well,’ said Giles at last, and Afton held his breath, ‘I don’t want to lose you as valet, so I suppose I must find another butler.’ Relief washed over Afton. ‘But it’s a damned nuisance. And a damned expense!’

This last struck Giles as ungenerous even as he said it – actually Afton combining the roles was not the norm and had saved him money.

‘Very well,’ he said, before Afton could apologise and make him feel worse. ‘I’ll put it in hand. I assume you’ll continue as you are until a replacement can be found?’

‘Of course, my lord. And I’m very grateful.’

Moss paused at the door to the kitchen until the cook looked up, then greeted her with a large and genial smile. ‘Ah, Mrs Terry.’

‘Mr Moss. How nice to see you here again. What do we owe the pleasure to?’

‘Mrs Webster invited me to tea. Something smells delicious.’

‘A beefsteak pie for upstairs dinner. It’s only his lordship and her ladyship and Mr Richard tonight, but we shall be getting busy again on Saturday, with a whole party coming for the shooting.’

‘Yes, so I understand,’ said Moss.

Mrs Webster appeared at his elbow in the catlike way she had. ‘We’ll have tea in my room, Mr Moss. Will you come? You may send it in, Mrs Terry.’

Moss looked about him keenly as he followed her to the housekeeper’s room. ‘It’s good to see that nothing has changed,’ he remarked. ‘Except the pictures on your mantelpiece,’ he added, as he entered behind her. ‘You have them the other way around.’

‘A remarkable power of noticing you have, Mr Moss,’ Mrs Webster commented coolly.

‘Essential for a butler, I believe,’ Moss said, pleased with what had not been meant as a compliment. The round table was pulled out and laid for tea. ‘And is that a new tea set?’

‘Different, not new. It was in the very top of the cupboard.’

‘Ah, yes, I remember now. Your predecessor used it sometimes. It came from upstairs originally, when breakages rendered it unusable for the family.’

‘So I supposed. There isn’t much of it left, but enough for my purposes. It’s pretty, isn’t it, with the bluebells and primroses?’

‘More suitable for spring, perhaps,’ he said, taking the seat to which she had gestured. ‘And laid for three, I see.’

‘Mr Afton is joining us. Ah, here he is now.’

Moss rose again. Greetings were exchanged. Ivy followed Afton in with the tea tray, everything was set out, and Mrs Webster began to pour. ‘You like it strong, I believe, Mr Moss? And do have a scone while they’re hot.’

There was Mrs Terry’s latest batch of blackcurrant jam to go with them, and a cake. ‘Cherry, one of my favourites,’ Moss remarked, eyeing it.

‘Mrs Terry remembered,’ said Mrs Webster.

‘You’re looking well, Mr Moss,’ said Afton.

‘I’m feeling well, thank you,’ said Moss.

‘No recurrence of the trouble?’ Mrs Webster asked delicately. ‘No, indeed. That unhappy episode is all behind me and quite forgotten. I am as fit as I have ever been – fitter, in fact. I walked up the hill just now without stopping.’

‘I expect working in a quiet household has given you a nice rest,’ said Mrs Webster.

‘It is quiet,’ Moss said. ‘In fact, it is rather too quiet for me. Miss Eddowes is a true lady and I could not ask for a better mistress. But with only a cook and one girl under me, and very little in the way of entertaining, I must confess it is no challenge for someone of my experience. I was accustomed to commanding a large staff and running a great house. I frequently have too little to do.’ He sipped his tea.

‘Whereas you, Mr Afton, must be very busy. It is good to hear that the Castle is entertaining again. An earl’s house ought to set the example of hospitality for the whole neighbourhood.

’ He looked up in time to intercept the quick glance that passed between Afton and Mrs Webster.

‘Just the family upstairs at the moment, I understand? And no young ladies?’

‘Lady Alice has gone back to London,’ said Mrs Webster. ‘Her classes have started again. Wonderfully keen not to miss any, she is.’

‘It’s an odd business,’ Moss said judiciously, ‘but I suppose there’s no real harm in it. There have been gently born female artists in the past,’ he added, ‘like, er . . .’ He couldn’t recall any names and covered the moment with a cough. ‘And Lady Rachel?’ he began again.

‘We haven’t seen her all summer,’ said Mrs Webster. ‘She went with the Prince and Princess Wittenstein-Glücksberg straight to Scotland. They’re staying with the Strathmores.’

‘Ah, then there may be an invitation to Balmoral,’ said Moss, pleased with the thought. ‘That would be a great thing for her.’

‘Lord and Lady Leake are in Scotland as well,’ Mrs Webster went on, ‘staying at Kincraig, of course, but I dare say there’ll be visits back and forth.’

‘Are they expected here?’

‘Nothing’s been said to me,’ said Mrs Webster.

‘But I did hear his lordship say that they might call in on their way south,’ Afton said. ‘I believe Lady Leake wants to spend a few days in London before they go back to Venice.’

‘Quite the vagabond life they are leading,’ Moss remarked.

‘But then, Lord Leake always was one for travelling. I remember her ladyship – her dowager ladyship, I mean – her highness as she now is – saying that she hoped he would settle down once he was married and stay in one place.’ Mrs Webster had refreshed his tea, and he sipped again.

‘I must say it is good to have news of the family. I often wonder how you are all doing up here. Any news below stairs?’ He looked at them keenly.

‘Only that Cyril is leaving to better himself,’ said Mrs Webster. ‘He’s got a position as first footman at Loughton Manor.’

‘Oh, the Massingberds,’ Moss said. ‘You will be left short-handed.’

‘Wilfrid will be promoted to third footman,’ Afton said. ‘He’s ready. But we really need a fourth, in a house this size, and with all the extra work of entertaining.’

‘It must be especially difficult for you, Mr Afton,’ Moss said, ‘given that you have valeting duties as well.’

Mrs Webster exchanged another glance with Afton. She’d suspected Moss knew why he was here.

Afton abandoned pretence. ‘You’ve obviously heard that I am giving up the role of butler, as soon as we’ve found a replacement.’

‘Rose told me,’ Moss admitted. ‘She calls in when she’s in the village. And I did wonder,’ he coughed discreetly, ‘when I received your kind invitation to tea this afternoon . . .’

‘We don’t want a stranger,’ Mrs Webster said bluntly.

‘You never know what you’re going to get.

And the disruption of teaching a newcomer how we do things, and possibly having him make changes, is more than I can contemplate.

So Mr Afton and I have been wondering whether you might consider coming back.

If you’re well enough for the extra work. ’

Moss beamed. ‘I would like it beyond anything. It’s what I have dreamed of, ever since I went to Weldon House, though of course I didn’t know in the beginning if I would ever .

. .’ He stopped, overcome, and took out a handkerchief.

‘His lordship knows you’re asking me, of course?

’ he said, when he emerged from it. ‘And her ladyship?’

‘I wouldn’t have put it to you without their approval,’ said Afton. ‘His lordship would much prefer it, if you really are able for it, rather than find a new man. In fact, the idea of having you back is the only thing that softens his disappointment in me.’

‘I would have to put it to Miss Eddowes very carefully,’ Moss said. ‘I wouldn’t want her to think I was ungrateful. I don’t know what would have happened to me if she hadn’t given me a place.’

‘I’m sure the details can be managed to everyone’s satisfaction,’ Mrs Webster said. ‘This would be a pleasant solution all around. Ashmore Castle and Mr Moss, united again!’

‘And Mr Afton once more a valet only,’ said Afton.

‘I don’t wish to cause offence, Mr Afton,’ Moss said, already regaining some of his magnificence, ‘but I never thought you to be cut out for a butler.’

Afton grinned. ‘Now why should I take offence at that? But would it trouble you to tell me why? I don’t think I did too badly, all in all.’

‘Of course you didn’t,’ said Mrs Webster, sharply. ‘Why did you not think him cut out for it, Mr Moss?’

‘I’m afraid he’s not tall enough,’ said Moss.

‘Moss back at the Castle,’ said Aunt Caroline, looking up from her letter. ‘How splendid! There’s something properly grand about the old fellow. Sets the right tone.’

‘But is his heart strong enough?’ Alice asked.