Page 116 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle

‘Borrowed it,’ Axe said, removing it firmly from his hands and taking it over to the dresser, out of reach.

‘We have Sindbad in the library at the Castle,’ Crooks said. ‘The same edition, I think. How interesting. Who lent it to you?’

Axe was collecting cups rather noisily, and didn’t hear. ‘This time machine, sir,’ he said, bringing them to the table, ‘how would that work? I mean, if you was to go back into history, wouldn’t people notice you weren’t here? And what if you went to a place you’d already been – would you see yourself there?’

‘Ah, said Crooks, ‘you ask some very interesting questions. People have always been fascinated by the idea of travelling back in time, but there are reasons to believe it could never actually be possible.’ Talking about the subject, he entirely forgot Sindbad.

‘Nina, my dear, thank you for coming,’ said Miss Thornton.

The parlour, where she had so often sat, studied and conversed looked just the same. Nina felt a pang of homesickness for that time when everything had been so simple, when there had been nothing in her immediate future but the pleasures of learning and of friendship.

Miss Thornton was examining her. ‘You’ve grown up,’ she observed. ‘You were an eager girl when you left me, now you’re very much a young woman. And our Kitty is married! How quickly things change. Have you seen her?’

‘Not yet,’ Nina said. She tried to think of something to say about Kitty and her marriage, and failed. Her former teacher’s eyes were so noticing, she was afraid she’d give herself away.

Mss Thornton observed the slight discomfort, and filed it away. ‘Well, now,’ she said, ‘to business. I expect you’ve guessed that the reason I asked you to call is that I’ve heard of a place for you.’

The ginger cat, Rasselas, came stalking in, and selected Nina to receive his blessing. He jumped up and settled his soft bulk on her lap. Nina stroked him. His thick fur was cold from being outside, and he brought a smell of leaves in with him. ‘I thought that might be it,’ she said.

‘You don’t sound excited,’ said Miss Thornton. ‘Have you changed your mind about teaching?’

‘Oh, no,’ Nina said hastily. ‘I have to earn my living. And I hope to do some good. If I can be to some other girl what you have been to me …’

‘I don’t want you to get your hopes up too high. With all due modesty I can say that not all schools are like mine. I wish I could take you on here, but I have no vacancy for a teacher.’

‘Is the place you’ve heard of – not nice?’ Nina asked falteringly.

‘Don’t be despondent. I think it is a very good place for you to start. Allely’s Academy for Young Ladies has a vacancy for a junior mistress. The senior mistress is retiring because of ill health, and one of the present juniors will be promoted. It’s in York, which is a very nice city, and has a lot of well-to-do families. Most of them will only want their daughters educated to drawing-room standard, but there is a section of York society, so Miss Allely tells me, that has quite a strong academic bent, and supports education for girls.’

‘York!’ said Nina. ‘I’ve – I’ve never been to the north of England.’

‘Dear Nina, you talk as though it’s on the other side of the world! It’s only about four hours away by train – and, as I said, it’s a pleasant city. There are theatres and an assembly hall with regular concerts, several libraries, and some fine shops, I believe, though of course they can’t compare with London. Now, you would share a bedroom with the other junior mistress, and all meals are provided, so although the salary is small, you would have no expenses but your clothes.’

Nina stroked the cat but said nothing. The loud purring was the only sound in the room.

‘Well?’ said Miss Thornton. She raised an eyebrow. ‘Did you expect to step straight into the perfect position? In every profession you have to work your way up. You will learn a lot at Allely’s, and those girls you can help, in the way that I hope I’ve helped you, will give you the satisfaction and sense of achievement I think you crave.’

Nina roused herself. ‘Yes, I’m sure you’re right. And thank you. I truly am grateful. When would I have to start?’

‘When the new year begins, in January. In the normal way Miss Allely would want to interview you to see if you are suitable, but she knows something of my school and my girls, and she is happy to trust my judgement, so you need only say yes.’

Now that it was actually going to happen, Nina was realising with dismay that she really did not want to be a teacher. But what choice did she have? And Miss Thornton had gone to considerable trouble for her, and had recommended her. She could not let her down. ‘Yes,’ she said, trying to sound pleased. ‘And thank you again.’

‘Very well,’ said Miss Thornton, still watching her. ‘I’ll write to Miss Allely – and, no doubt, she will write to you with further details. And now, my Nina, tell me what you’ve been doing. Have you been keeping up with your studies, or has it been all dancing?’

‘Dancing?’ Nina gave a short laugh. ‘Not since Kitty’s wedding. But I’ve been going to some interesting classes.’

She told her about the British Museum lectures and the summer courses she had been attending with Lepida, and her tone grew animated, and her face flushed with pleasure.

Canons Ashmore station again. Kitty noticed the details of it sharply, thinking that from now on it would be ‘her’ station, as Hampstead station had been for most of her life. The wooden roof with its decoratively carved canopy, the cherry tree, its leaves rusty now with the onset of autumn, the white-painted picket fence … Outside, the carriage awaited, with the lovely greys. This time the liveried groom bowed to her and murmured, ‘My lady,’ as he offered his white-gloved hand to help her in. My lady, she thought. I’m the Countess of Stainton. Somehow it hadn’t been real when they were abroad – it hadn’t counted. Now, here in the actual place, it came home to her.

She had felt different ever since that dreadful day when she had shouted at Giles, breaking through the barriers of a lifetime. She never would have thought she could talk to anyone like that, least of all to the man she loved with a consuming passion. But there had been an extraordinary release in it – terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Then afterwards … Well, the details had become hazy now, and she didn’t really remember why she had swum out into the sea. She only remembered how frightened she had been, how she had thought she was going to die, and how Giles had come fighting his way through the waves to save her.

The two things were mixed up in her memory. She did not think it in words, but there was a feeling in the back of her mind that he would not have tried to save her if there hadn’t been the quarrel before. The Kitty he had saved was a different Kitty. She had done something – she to whom, before, things had always been done. She felt different inside, stronger, more herself. She had come once before to the Castle, trembling with apprehension, afraid of everyone and everything, hoping only to escape notice. Not to be seen, not to offend, not to be told off – that had been her highest ambition. Now she looked around with interest as the carriage bowled through the pretty village and then up the green hill. She remembered the shabbiness and the air of neglect and believed she could make a difference to the Castle. I’ll make it a home for him, she thought. And there would be good works to do on the estate and in the village. People would come to love and respect her. They would bring their troubles to her and she would help them. She would matter.

Giles was looking out of the window on his side, his face turned away from her. What was he thinking? What did men think? To her he was as beautiful and exotic as a tiger – and as unpredictable. But she had made her stand, staked her claim. ‘I am your wife,’ she had said, and he had accepted it. Whatever happened in the future, that would not change. For the first time in her life, she looked forward to what was to come – still afraid, yes, but feeling she had something inside her that could face up to the difficulties and allow her to enjoy the good parts.

The servants were lined up on the steps as they arrived – in the same deer-trap formation as if, Giles thought again as he climbed out, he might try to make a run for it. The house looked so big, compared with the places they had been staying; it, and all the staff, and the estate made a burden he had to shoulder. The holiday was over: his work began. And now there was this small female beside him – his wife – whose happiness and welfare depended uniquely on him. He sighed, and looked up for a moment at the indifferent sky, before walking submissively in.