Page 120 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘Happy! What has that to do with anything?’

‘Don’t you want to be happy?’

‘I shall be happy when I do the right thing. That’s the only happiness that matters.’

‘Is marrying Cousin Pippi the right thing?’ Alice asked, a little crossly.

‘Of course. It’s what Mama wants. It’s what Papa would have wanted.’

‘Papa never cared a jot about any of us,’ Alice said.

‘That’s a shocking thing to say, and shows you have a very bad character. And, by the way, your sulks have been noted. Aunt Vicky has been asking about you. Personally, I think it’s far too good of her to want to take you in hand and find you a husband.’

Alice grasped at that. ‘Yes, far too good. I wish she wouldn’t. It would cost a great deal of money, and for what? I’ll never “take”.’

‘Not with that attitude.’ Linda hesitated, and it came to Alice that she was not here merely to harangue. ‘Mother said you want to go back to London, and go on with that silly school.’

‘I do. It’s the only thing I want,’ Alice sighed.

‘Well, I think you should go,’ said Linda.

Alice looked up in amazement. ‘You do?’

‘You’re not needed here. I can look after Mother until she’s out of bed. And I don’t want you hanging around with your miserable face and bad temper.’

‘I’m not bad-tempered,’ Alice protested.

Linda wasn’t listening. ‘And you won’t do Rachel’s prospects any good if you tag along with Aunt Vicky.’

‘Rachel’s engaged to Angus. She doesn’t need any more prospects.’

Linda ignored that, as well. ‘So the best thing is for you to go back to school until you come to your senses and realise it will get you nowhere in life. Then you’ll come begging for another chance, and perhaps some clergyman might be found willing to take you. Don’t expect anyone better, because it will be too late.’

Now it was Alice’s turn to ignore what to her was as meaningless as a sparrow’s chirping. ‘Will you help me go home? Will you persuade Mother? Oh, thank you! You don’t know what it means to me. But how can it be managed? She’ll never let me travel on my own.’

‘Of course not,’ said Linda, ‘but as it happens, it fits in with my own plans. Miss Kettel shall take you back.’

‘Miss Kettel?’

‘I’ve only been keeping her on until I could find a new governess. Now the Pfaffenheims have recommended someone. A Fräulein Schneider. She comes tomorrow. So as soon as you’ve packed, you can be off.’

‘You’re getting rid of Miss Kettel?’ Alice said slowly.

Linda looked scornful. ‘Did you think I would keep her after her appalling negligence cost the life of my son? I needed her to bring Arabella to me. I intended to punish her by turning her off to fend for herself in Germany. But as it is, she can accompany you back to England. She should be grateful for the opportunity, which she doesn’t in the least deserve.’

‘But what will happen to her then?’

‘I neither know nor care. Why on earth do you? My little boy is dead.’

Alice had never understood Linda, who had always seemed only to want to be rid of the bother of her children. But perhaps she had a mother’s heart underneath all the crossness. And, in fairness, the crossness was not much in evidence these days. She couldn’t help asking, ‘If you marry Cousin Pippi, will you take Arabella with you?’

Linda frowned. ‘Of course I will. What a strange question! He has two daughters of his own, just about her age, as well as two older sons. One more won’t be noticed in the nursery. Fräulein Schneider can teach them all.’

‘I see,’ Alice said. She was wondering whether that was Linda’s attraction for Cousin Pippi – he wanted her as a stepmother for his brood. A suitable woman of rank to run his house and supervise his children.

Then Linda said, looking rather conscious, ‘Of course we may well have children of our own.’

‘I suppose so,’ Alice said blankly.