Page 38 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

Alice thought of her own secret love, in comparison with which the strictest parent would prefer their daughter to fancy Angus. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I wonder what news Mama had yesterday. When she saw Sir Henry Felden.’

‘Oh, goodness, yes, that was yesterday.’ Rachel frowned. ‘Could it have been good news? If it was very bad, surely she wouldn’t have come tonight at all.’

‘But Uncle Fergus is her special pet, because of being a mother to him when he was a baby. I think she would come no matter what, for his sake, even if she didn’t stay long.’

‘But do you think she looked very low? Or not so badly?’

‘I don’t know,’ Alice said. ‘You know Mama – she never shows anything in her face.’

Giles found himself beside Uncle Fergus. ‘This is a very grand occasion,’ he said. ‘You must be pleased with how it’s going.’

‘Except for your mother leaving early,’ Uncle Fergus said. ‘She said she had a headache. You don’t suppose I’ve offended her, do you? I did wonder whether I ought to invite her and Usingen to the actual wedding, but I didn’t think she’d want to make the journey just for that.’

‘Perhaps she actually had a headache,’ Giles said, concluding that the princess had not told him about her real situation.

‘She never gets headaches,’ Uncle Fergus said certainly. ‘I suppose she doesn’t approve of my choice of bride,’ he went on, with a sigh. ‘But she’ll love her when she comes to know her. You must put in a good word, Giles – you know Lady Leake better than anyone. You’ve known her from a child.’ He gave a little smirk. ‘Funny to think she’s now your aunt!’

‘Believe me, that irony has not been lost on me,’ Giles said.

‘I can hardly believe she’s chosen me when she could have had anyone. I don’t know what she sees in me, but I shall dedicate my life to making her happy. Thank God I have fortune enough to give her anything she wants.’

It was unlucky that Linda passed at that moment, and overheard the last words. She glared at her uncle. ‘I hope you know you have ruined my life!’ she hissed, and stalked away.

‘What was that about?’ Uncle Fergus said in surprise.

‘She was banking on your remaining a bachelor and leaving your fortune to her children.’

‘Oh, is that it?’ He thought a moment, and actually blushed a little. ‘Of course, I am hoping Lady Leake and I will have children. Why not? She’s young, and I’m in my prime. And Linda may be my niece, but I have no responsibility for Cordwell’s dependants.’

‘When you’ve anything in your pocket, there will always be people wanting to help themselves to it. Spend it on Giulia, that’s my advice. It will be more enjoyable.’

* * *

He danced with Kitty. ‘At last,’ she said. ‘Why is it so difficult to dance with one’s own husband at these affairs?’

‘Duty,’ Giles said. He hoped she didn’t want to talk – he was emotionally exhausted.

She was silent for a while, and then a gap opened in the crowd and she saw Giulia dancing with Lord George Alexander, the colour high in her cheeks as she gazed up at him, laughing at something he’d said. The gap closed again, and she said, ‘I don’t want to reopen old wounds, but I have to say something.’

He looked down at her wearily. ‘Must you?’

‘Oh, it’s nothing bad! Just to say that I know now I’ve been foolish to be jealous of Giulia. I know it was just friendship, because she’s so clever, and you don’t have many clever people to talk to. It must be hard for you. I used to think, during our coming-out year, that you’d have been more suited to Nina than to me. You could talk to her so much more. If only she’d had any money—’

‘Kitty, don’t!’

‘It’s all right. I know you married me for my fortune. But we’re happy enough now, aren’t we? People say these things work out, and they do, don’t they?’

‘Oh, Kitty!’ What was happy ‘enough’? he wondered.

‘I’m not going to be jealous of Giulia any more. It was silly of me and I’m over it. That’s all I wanted to say.’

He looked down at her: smiling and at ease, a sweet-faced little matron, pretty as a kitten, mother of his two adored sons; and he thought how lucky he was. ‘I don’t know what I did to deserve you,’ he said.

She looked up, and her smile was for him alone. ‘I think it’s always a matter of luck, isn’t it, not deserving? I didn’t deserve you, either, but here we are.’

There were many ways you could take that, he thought, as they danced on.

* * *