Page 118 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘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!