Page 51 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘She will continue to live at Ashmore Castle, but may come up to Town, let us say, once a month.’

‘They can meet here,’ Caroline said. ‘Or I can chaperone them to the theatre or a ball or suchlike.’ She sounded pleased with the prospect.

‘It is not necessary to entertain them,’ Maud said. ‘Or desirable.’ Once the glamour of forbidden fruit was removed from Angus Tullamore, and Rachel realised what life as the wife of a clerk would mean, she might find her enthusiasm for him waning. A year was a long time when you were nineteen. He was a pretty boy, but nothing else. Maud wondered she had not thought of it before – allowing a tedious engagement to rub the gilt from the prize.

‘When are you leaving for Germany?’ Caroline was asking.

‘The day after tomorrow. Then I shall stay at the Usingerhof until the baby is born.’

‘But, Maud, what about Alice?’

‘What about Alice?’

‘You’re happy for her to remain at the art school? You don’t want to bring her out, or arrange a match for her?’

Maud made a gesture that was meant to be impatient, but in fact looked weary. ‘Stainton can make those decisions, since he seems to have taken responsibility for her. I wash my hands of her.’

How did she come to have two such unnatural daughters as Rachel and Alice? Linda might be annoying in many ways, but her priorities had always been correct. Maud was quite glad she would have her at her side for the next few months. She thought briefly of the baby to come, but it was not yet real to her. Usingen wanted a son, of course, and she hoped it was, for his sake. Possibly for her own sake, too – girls were so much trouble! The thought of coping with another daughter’s moods and fancies and then having to bring her out in seventeen years’ time was exhausting.

In the drawing-room, Angus and Rachel sat close together on the settle, their hands interlinked. ‘What did Mama mean about a dowry commensurate with something or other?’ Rachel asked.

‘My financial situation? I think she meant that whatever I managed to save, she would match, but nothing more.’

‘Oh. Then you must save like mad.’

‘I shall, but not for her sake. It’s always nice to be given a sum of money, but I don’t mean to depend on someone else ever again. I shall support you by my own efforts.’

Rachel glowed at such a manly statement. ‘But,’ she said timidly, ‘aren’t you a bit dependent on Mr Cowling?’

‘Not dependent: he pays me for my work. And – I didn’t mention it in front of your mother – he’s already hinted that at some point in the future he’ll allow me to purchase shares in his business, so I shall end up owning part of it. That will be something solid that can’t be taken away, not like a wage that you lose if you lose your position.’

Rachel didn’t understand the concept but was happy just to hear him talk. ‘But suppose Mr Cowling has a son – won’t he leave everything to him?’

‘Why are we talking about Mr Cowling when we only have five minutes?’ he said, drawing Rachel towards him.

The inspector had Dundreary whiskers, a look so old-fashioned it kept distracting Sebastian’s attention. He was studying Sebastian’s visiting card as if it might jump out of his hand and dance a jig.

‘So you claim to be this Mr Sebastian Tallant, do you?’

‘Not claim – I am,’ Sebastian said.

‘And your normal place of residence is Ashmore Castle in the county of Buckinghamshire?’

‘Yes.’

‘Which would make you – what? A lord of some kind?’

‘My uncle was an earl. But the Castle belongs to my nephew, and I live there by his kindness.’

‘And if I was to go to this castle and enquire after you, they’d know who you were, no doubt?’ The irony was heavy.

‘They would, but I wish you wouldn’t do that.’

‘Oh, and why not?’

‘Because I don’t want my private business bruited about. And – with all due respect to the forces of law and order – people like them don’t care to receive visits from the police.’

‘You’ve got the talk down pat, I’ll give you that. You remind me of Smooth Cecil, the Gentleman Burglar. He got invited to grand houses by sounding like a nob, and then disappeared in the night with their bits and pieces.’ He examined the card again. ‘And what’s this other address?’