Page 71 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘We were discussing Lord Ravenscar’s man,’ Mrs Webster lied smoothly.

‘Ah, yes,’ said Moss, grandly. ‘I shall ensure he does not sit above you at supper tonight, Mr Afton. Lord Ravenscar is only a viscount. It was good of you not to make a fuss at luncheon.’

‘Mr Ravenscar made enough fuss of his own – I didn’t think we needed any more,’ said Afton.

‘Quite so. But precedence is precedence. I wonder,’ Moss sighed, ‘why Lord Ravenscar keeps him on. Making trouble below stairs – and I didn’t think much of the finish he got on Lord Ravenscar’s boots.

I don’t believe the French really understand good leather.

There was a gentleman once, many years ago, who came with a French valet – or was he German? I’ll think of his name in a moment—’

‘The dressing bell, Mr Moss?’ Mrs Webster reminded him kindly.

‘Yes, yes, of course.’ He went two steps, turned back and said, ‘Goossens, that was it. Now is that French or German? Of course, we called him Mr Edgehill down here, but he – yes, yes, I’m on my way.’ And he was gone.

Alice was drawing in her room when there was a knock at the door.

‘I’m sorry to disturb you, my lady, but Mr Tullamore has called, and her ladyship is out.’

‘Oh. Yes, all right, I’ll come,’ Alice said resignedly. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Angus, but Rachel was still in Scotland and she was afraid he would ask her awkward questions.

He was in the drawing-room, idly examining the cards on Aunt Caroline’s mantelpiece. He came across to shake her hand.

‘It’s just me, I’m afraid,’ she said. ‘Aunt Caroline’s having a fitting, and everyone else is at the Castle.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Rachel went straight down to the Castle?’

‘No, she’s still with Uncle Fergus and Aunt Giulia at Kincraig.’

‘I thought she was staying with your other aunt,’ he said.

‘Aunt Vicky and Uncle Bobo went back to Germany so Uncle Fergus took her over,’ Alice said, trying to sound matter-of-fact.

‘It must have been a let-down, after hobnobbing with royalties at Glamis,’ he said discontentedly.

‘I think there’s one last big shooting party, and that the King might be going across from Balmoral. He’s rather taken a shine to Giulia.’

Angus said nothing, but walked across to the window to stare out at the rainy, blustery day. She went and stood beside him in silent sympathy. The trees in the square had been stripped bare now; people below hurrying along the street were invisible under umbrellas, like travelling mushrooms.

He seemed deep in his thoughts, and she took the opportunity to study him.

He had changed since the beginning of the year.

When he had arrived at the Castle at Christmas he had seemed like an eager boy, his face like a flame, burning with love and determination.

Now he seemed older, his face firm with authority, lines in his forehead and between his sandy brows – definitely a man, not a boy.

More serious, too: he did not smile readily any more.

The work and responsibility he had taken on for Mr Cowling, she guessed, involved more effort from him than when he was his father’s heir and lightly dabbling in his father’s business.

She liked him better for it, but she had no idea about Rachel’s taste in the matter.

‘What’s going on with her?’ he asked at last.

‘I don’t know,’ Alice said. ‘Really I don’t. She used to tell me things when we were girls in the old schoolroom at the Castle, but all that changed when Mama took her to Germany. I don’t know any more what she’s thinking.’

Angus stared at her penetratingly, his mouth grim. ‘Does she mean to jilt me? Is that what it is?’

She didn’t answer. How could she know?

‘I gave up everything for her,’ he said, in a low, angry voice. ‘My brother Fritz turned twenty-one and married Fiona Culross in August and my father’s officially made him his heir. I’m cut out of his will, thrown out of the family! I wasn’t even invited to the wedding.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said.

‘I did it for her! I got myself a position. I work hard, I’m giving satisfaction, I’m saving every penny I can, and by next year, when she’s twenty-one, I shall be able to afford a decent house, and we can get married.

It won’t be near what I could have had if I’d bowed down to my father and married Diana Huntley.

But what of it? I loved Rachel, and she was all I wanted. And she said she loved me.’

‘I’m sure—’ Alice began helplessly.

‘She’s changed, you know,’ he said abruptly, interrupting her.

‘She was terrified of being separated from me. She wanted to run away with me. She talked about Gretna Green, but I persuaded her it wouldn’t do.

I said, “You only have to hold on, that’s all, and we’ll be together for ever.

” Now, all she seems to care about is dancing and parties. ’

‘You mustn’t be hard on her,’ Alice began, but again he interrupted.

‘God knows, I want her to have all that – nice clothes and jewels and a carriage and servants. I’d be a cad if I wanted her to be less comfortable marrying me than she might be otherwise.

And I will give her those things! I’ll work my fingers to the bone for her.

She only has to be patient. Is that too much to ask? ’

‘No,’ she said sadly. ‘It’s not too much to ask, to be with the man you love.’

He stared again, and his nostrils flared. ‘You’re saying she doesn’t love me any more?’

‘I’m not saying that,’ she said quickly. ‘I’m sure she does love you. It’s just—’

‘Just what?’

‘It’s hard for her. She’s always enjoyed dressing up and balls and so on. I never did. When we were girls together, it was what she dreamed of. I just dreamed about horses. And Mama gave her a taste for it when she brought her out and – well, it’s hard for her, that’s all I’m saying.’

He was silent a moment. ‘It seems as though I picked the wrong sister,’ he said, with a wry twist of his lips.

‘Oh, don’t say that!’ she begged.

‘No, no, of course I don’t mean it. I love her, and I always will, even if she loves dancing more than she loves me.

I just need to know where I stand. If—’ He broke off, and started again with difficulty.

‘If she’s had second thoughts, if she wants me to release her, I will. I only want her to be happy.’

She doesn’t deserve you , Alice thought. She said, ‘All I can tell you is that I believe she loves you too.’

‘You believe ?’

‘I haven’t spoken to her in months,’ Alice defended herself. ‘I think you have to take your own advice, and just hold on. Be patient. Let her get the dancing out of her system, and she’ll settle down. She’ll come back to you.’

He looked at her a long moment more, and gave a wry smile. ‘You’re kind. I shall like having you for a sister.’

‘I shall like having you for a brother.’

He sighed and turned away. ‘I’ll see myself out. If you speak to her, or write to her, tell her . . .’

‘I know.’

‘I gave up everything for her,’ he said again, quietly. And left.