Page 102 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘She’s given her permission,’ Kitty said. ‘She’s allowed you to become engaged.’

‘But it wasn’t announced anywhere, so she can change her mind,’ Rachel said. ‘I’ll bet she’s got someone else lined up for me – some dreadful old relation of the prince’s that she’ll try to force me to marry.’

‘You only have to stick it out,’ Alice said.

‘You needn’t sound so smug,’ Rachel said, irritated. ‘If she’s asked for you to go, it’s because she’s found someone for you as well.’

Alice paled. ‘You don’t really think so?’

‘You are heartless girls,’ Aunt Caroline said. ‘This is your mother you’re talking about. She wants to see you, that’s all. She wants to spend some time with you.’

Two pairs of eyes turned on her. ‘She’s never wanted to spend time with us before,’ Alice said frankly.

‘You’re grown-up now, you’re able to be proper company,’ Aunt Caroline said. ‘And she’s having a baby, so she won’t have been able to visit or have visitors for some time.’

‘That’s true,’ said Kitty. ‘She must be terribly bored. Having you there will cheer her up.’

‘Besides,’ said Aunt Caroline, ‘I’m closing up the house at the end of next week.’

‘Are you going to Usingen?’ Kitty asked.

‘The South of France first, to stay with Vicky and Bobo. But I expect we’ll all go to Usingen after the baby’s born. One ought to pay one’s respects,’ she added, with a vague look. It was hard to think of her older sister being involved in childbirth again, at her advanced age, with her youngest children on the brink of adulthood. The whole thing smacked of the bizarre – and Aunt Caroline had a dislike of anything outré.

‘I wish I could go with you,’ Angus said, ‘but I can’t possibly leave the office for that long. You ought to have a man to look after you on the journey. It isn’t right for ladies to travel alone, especially abroad.’

‘I wish you were going too,’ Rachel said. ‘Then you could stand up to Mama if she tries to separate us.’

‘I can’t believe she’d go back on her word. Why would she, after all this time?’

‘You don’t know her. If she wants to do something, she does it. But Kitty and Aunt Caroline both say we must go. I thought Kitty would be on my side, but she says it’s the proper thing to do.’

‘I suppose it is,’ Angus said. ‘Perhaps you’ll enjoy it when you get there.’

‘I don’t suppose they’ll be having any parties until the baby is born, so it will be deadly dull.’ She brightened slightly. ‘It will be nice to see Aunt Vicky again, though, if she comes. She took me about when I was over there before my come-out. Parties every day, and balls, and hunting, and military reviews. Aunt Vicky makes such fun! She’s not a bit like Mama. And Uncle Bobo’s terribly nice, too. He bought me the prettiest coral set for my birthday. It will be my birthday again while we’re there,’ she added, with a thoughtful look. ‘They might take Alice and me away with them after the baby’s born, to the summer palace, or the South of France. You meet everyone there.’

‘I hope you do have a nice time,’ Angus said, ‘but don’t get carried away, will you? All this talk of balls and parties . . .’

‘I know,’ Rachel said impatiently. ‘There won’t be any after we’re married. You said so.’

‘I didn’t say there won’t be any. But we won’t be mixing with dukes and princes. And you ought to take the opportunity of studying how a house is run in Germany. They might do things differently, and it would be interesting to compare and see which way is better.’

Rachel looked astonished at his idea of what was interesting, and said quickly, ‘Oh, I don’t think Mama would like me to question the prince’s housekeeper. I’m sure it wouldn’t be proper at all.’

Angus opened his mouth and closed it again. It wasn’t in his nature to nag, but if Rachel had been less absorbed with her own thoughts she’d have seen that he was worried.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘It’s almost too hot to ride,’ Kitty said, checking Apollo as he objected to a carriage and pair coming the other way. The two ladies in the open landau were wearing light summer dresses and shading themselves with frilly parasols. ‘Riding habits are so heavy.’

‘It’s a good thing you’re going down to the country, then,’ said Nina. She glanced back. ‘I can see our grooms disapprove of our being here. Yours looks quite thunderous.’

‘Oh, that’s just Josh’s way. He always looks cross. And he hates London. He won’t have to suffer much longer, anyway. This will be my last ride. He’s taking the horses down this afternoon, and I’ll be leaving with the children tomorrow.’

‘Hm. I suppose I might as well send mine back tomorrow. Without you to ride with, it won’t be as much fun. And you’re right about riding habits. I feel like a pudding wrapped up for boiling!’

‘I wish you would come down to Ashmore with me. It’s been lovely seeing so much of you, but it’s never enough.’

‘Dear Kitty! But I’ve engagements all week, and then we’re invited to the Isle of Wight. My friend Bobby Wharfedale’s father has taken the house there again for the summer for the whole family, and they’ve asked us. I had such a lovely time last year.’