Page 88 of The Mistress of Ashmore Castle (Ashmore Castle #3)
‘How sweet,’ Caroline said vaguely. What was there about little children to miss, she wondered.
That reminded her of something she had meant to say.
‘By the way, Giles, when you come back, I do wish you would insist that Linda goes with you back to the Castle. I’m afraid she’s settling in here as if she means to stay for ever.
And it’s not as if she’s an agreeable companion.
Nothing is ever right for her. She complains about everything. ’
‘Is she upset not to be going to the wedding?’ Giles asked.
‘Upset is not the word,’ said Caroline, grimly. ‘You’d think it was the greatest treat in the world she was missing. And,’ she remembered, ‘you’re not supposed to have treats when you’re in deep mourning.’
It was a long and miserable journey, which Kitty beguiled by thinking about her garden.
Mr Blomfield had sent preliminary drawings, suggesting how it might look, which had enchanted her so much that she was thinking of having Gale make a frame for one of them, and hanging it on the wall of her sitting-room. Just in case it never came to pass.
Because Blomfield had also sent a preliminary list of large works required and a first estimate of the cost, and it was a lot.
A very great deal. She had not shown either the drawings or the estimate to Giles yet, for fear that he would say it was out of the question.
She didn’t want to hear the absolute veto yet.
She wanted to indulge herself a little first, thinking about it: the twisting path that wound its way up the hillside, the little grassy spaces where one could rest, the shadowed ferny glades, the rockeries and shrubberies, the tall flowers and the ground-huggers, the stream tumbling whitely over stone lips into little pools .
. . In her imagination she walked there, strolling and admiring and breathing in the scents, until she reached the top were there was a grotto in which a spring, the source of the stream, leaped from a stone mask in the wall, and a little white temple with a bench where one could sit and look over the whole valley.
That last bit was not in the drawings – she hadn’t mentioned it to Mr Fenchurch in case he laughed at her.
When they got home from the wedding, she would have to talk to Giles about it, find out if there would be a yes or a no.
Otherwise it could never move forward. But she would hold off until then, and hug her dream to her in leisure moments, and in that drowsy half-world just before falling asleep at night, when girls think about their lovers.
It occupied her during the worst of the journey, during the last part of which she was profoundly grateful for Aunt Caroline’s muff, and only wished there were a muff for feet.
The carriage drive from the railway station was almost the last straw: at least the scenery dashed past when you were in a train, but the two horses pulling the carriage seemed to be built for strength rather than speed.
They pulled up at last before the main door of the Usingerhof, plain and flat-faced, which looked like an oversized English Georgian country house that had littered a large number of wings, annexes and attachments.
A vast array of unlit windows slept above and a closed great door seemed to mock their chilled weariness.
But as they trod up the shallow steps, it was flung open to them by a stout, white-haired major-domo in a uniform that featured many brass buttons.
Moments later they were in a large hall, brightly lit, and with an enormous fireplace in which what looked like an entire tree was burning briskly.
A kind-looking, mousy sort of female, whom Kitty took to be the housekeeper, came forward to welcome her, and though she was speaking German, she was plainly saying nice things and inviting her to take off her outer garments.
And then Maud was there, a strange Maud wearing a new and more flattering gown and with her hair arranged differently, giving her a softer look.
Still, she spoke with Maud sharpness. ‘In English, please, Tilde. Lady Stainton does not speak any German. So, Kitty, here you are. Giles. You are a little ahead of time. German railways are most efficient. But Stefan drives so slowly you must be frozen. I will have tea brought immediately. I have not yet managed to make many changes here, but I have at least taught them how to make tea. Oh, this is the prince’s sister, Matilde von Lippstadt,’ she mentioned, almost as an afterthought.
‘How are my grandsons?’ she continued, before Tilde could complete a murmur or shake a hand.
‘Flourishing,’ Giles answered. ‘Is everyone else here?’
‘No, you are the first. The prince is still in his business-room with the steward. I’ll have him sent for.’
And then a small whirlwind entered the room from under the great double staircase and flung itself on Giles. ‘Oh, you’re here, you’re here! I’m so glad. I was afraid you wouldn’t come!’
Giles gently detached his sister and, holding both her hands, set her back a little to look at her. ‘Such a greeting!’ he said. ‘Anyone would think you hadn’t seen me for years.’
‘It feels like years,’ Rachel said passionately.
He saw the change in her. She looked thinner. Some of her sparkle had dimmed, and the marks of discontent were in her face. ‘What’s the matter? Have you been ill?’ he asked.
‘Of course she hasn’t,’ Maud said sharply. ‘Too many late nights, that’s all. Baumann, have the bags taken up and have tea brought at once. We’ve put you in the Homburg Room. Come to the fire, Kitty. Rachel, don’t slouch in that disagreeable way. Stand up straight.’
It was plain to Giles that his mother’s character had not yet undergone fundamental change.
The prince’s sister was nominally the lady of the house, but it was Maud who already ruled the roast, and Tilde barely spoke a word, though she did what she could by way of smiles and nods to make her guests welcome.
After Aunt Caroline’s warnings, Kitty was glad to discover that the house, while large, was wonderfully warm in comparison with English houses, despite the cold outside.
In conversations over the next two days, she learned that this was largely thanks to Tilde, who in the last two years had overseen the installing of double windows everywhere, and tiled stoves in all the rooms, which gave a much more comprehensive heat than open fires.
The great log fire in the hall was for cheerfulness, and it was there, she learned, that most gatherings took place.
It was hard to feel the same about gathering around a stove, though they were pretty with their different-coloured glazed tiles, some in cream, some green, some deep burgundy red, some – Kitty’s favourite – in Delft blue-and-white.
That first evening, the prince came hurrying from his meeting as soon as he was called, and welcomed them warmly.
He, too, seemed to have undergone improvement, which Giles put down partly to new clothes but mostly to happiness, which seemed to radiate from him to such an extent that Giles was forced to conclude his aunt had guessed right.
Amazing though it might seem to one who had grown up under her shadow, Usingen was in love with his mother.
Aunt Vicky and Uncle Bobo arrived next, and finally Uncle Stuffy, and a very cheerful dinner followed, featuring Kartoffelsuppe – a potato soup; carp with grüne So?e , a green sauce made of sour cream and a variety of herbs; Rippchen , which were spiced pork cutlets; a strong-flavoured game bird, which the prince said was capercaillie; and Sauerbraten , marinaded venison, which was served with dumplings.
The food was tasty and hearty, and Giles was surprised at how much his mother ate – it accounted for her slightly less angular appearance.
There was plenty to drink, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood – except, Giles noticed, for Rachel, who drooped unhappily and didn’t join in the conversation.
They didn’t sit up late, as the travellers were tired.
As Kitty had already discovered, when she went up to change, she and Giles were to share a room, either from a mistake or because it was the German custom.
The enormous, high, white-covered bed had a vast carved headboard in black oak, which reached all the way to the ceiling and was a riot of plants, animals and gargoyles.
There were no blankets. Instead they were to sleep under a Federbett , an enormous thick quilt filled with duck down.
It was so light in weight compared with the layers of blankets at home that she feared she would be cold, but it was actually much warmer – deliciously so.
It was strange to have Giles in bed with her, but they were both so tired, they fell asleep at once.
She woke at some point in the night, and found that in sleep he had rolled over against her, and had flung one arm over her.
His closeness and touch and warmth were blissful to her and she drifted back into a happy sleep.
When they both woke early in the morning, it seemed the proximity had worked on him, too, for he drew her to him and kissed her; and then, without words or awkwardness, they made love, for the first time in a year.
Though the wedding was not to be large or grand, the prince was the local lord of the manor so it was a serious matter. On the day itself, the servants were in a state of suppressed excitement, while a stream of messages, flowers and supplies came to the door from an early hour.