Page 20 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle

‘You always say that, but will you be happy?’

‘Look at Miss Thornton. Doesn’t she seem happy?’

Kitty still doubted. She herself wanted love, a husband, and babies – particularly babies – to fill the empty place inside her, and as she couldn’t imagine a contented life without those things, she wanted Nina to have them too.

‘We will always be friends, won’t we?’ she asked, in a small voice.

‘Always,’ Nina said.

Lady Bayfield had not intended to fetch Kitty from school herself, but she had received a carefully worded letter from Miss Thornton, saying that when she did, Miss Thornton would welcome the opportunity of a brief word with her about Kitty’s immediate future.

Lady Bayfield was inclined to dismiss the request as impertinence, but she remembered that Miss Thornton’s was considered the best school in London and that her fees were extremely high, so perhaps she had something worth hearing. She sent a scribbled note, and on the day arrived in her carriage and a severe mood, ready to be offended if necessary.

In the comfortable private sitting-room – only too well furnished with books to be truly elegant – Miss Thornton offered refreshments, and when they were declined began. ‘We have been privileged to have Miss Bayfield as a pupil here and I have grown extremely fond of her. I assume that you will be bringing her out when the new Season starts?’

Lady Bayfield assented.

‘She is a most accomplished and, may I say, beautiful girl, but …’ a quick frown tugged Lady Bayfield’s brows at the word, and Miss Thornton hurried on ‘… she is shy and retiring, especially in the company of strangers.’

‘Are you saying she won’t “take”?’ Lady Bayfield interrupted, with blunt readiness to be affronted.

‘I am saying that a lavish debut and a full Season can be a considerable strain on a girl of such delicate sensibilities. I would like to think that everything possible would be done to make her debut enjoyable for her, as well as successful.’

‘Kindly get to the point,’ Lady Bayfield said frostily. She couldn’t see where this was going, but she was suspicious.

Miss Thornton obliged. ‘Miss Bayfield has a very particular friend in the school, a Miss Sanderton, and I have noticed that she’s always more confident in her company. It can be a great comfort to a shy girl to have the companionship of a friend during her Season.’

Lady Bayfield’s mind was working quickly. It was not infrequently done, two girls, friends, being brought out together. Miss Thornton would hardly have mentioned Kitty’s shyness if she hadn’t thought it might be a problem: awkwardness in company could certainly damage her chances. On the other hand, the last thing she wanted was for Kitty to be outshone by some other girl. If there was to be any arrangement of this sort, the other girl must be second to Kitty in every way and that must be clearly understood by the girl’s parents.

Loftily, as though not much interested, she asked, ‘Who is this Miss—?’

‘Sanderton. She’s a nice, well-behaved girl, well-spoken and refined, from a most respectable family. Unfortunately, her lack of dowry will prevent her making as brilliant a marriage as we all expect for Miss Bayfield. But they are very fond of each other, and I feel she would prove most useful in bringing out Miss Bayfield’s fine qualities and helping her to shine as she should.’

Lady Bayfield considered. This Miss Sanderton sounded rather middle-class. She didn’t want some indigent hangeron lowering the tone of Kitty’s debut. On the other hand, if she brought out the best in Kitty, as Miss Thornton suggested … and provided she was well-behaved and could take instructions … The image of Kitty cowering tonguetied at her own come-out was one to make Lady Bayfield shudder.

‘What is her family?’ she asked abruptly.

‘Her father was an army officer, of a good Northamptonshire family. Her mother was a country rector’s daughter. Both are dead, and she is being brought up by her paternal aunt, a widowed lady who has a private income and no children of her own.’

Lady Bayfield liked the sound of the last part. If there was Sanderton money for the girl to inherit, that would make her more acceptable. There must be no whiff of poverty, however genteel. ‘Very well,’ she said. ‘I will consider what you have said, and if Sir John and I decide it would be in Miss Bayfield’s interest, I will ask the girl’s aunt to come and see me.’

Miss Thornton inclined her head gracefully, and rang to have Lady Bayfield shown out. She had done what she could for Kitty – and for Nina.

Nina had come to her school as one of her special pupils, at a reduced fee, for though there was clearly intellect in the family, there was no money. But even at the initial interview, she had so loved Nina’s mind, she would have taken her for no fee at all. Kitty was no more than average, but she had a great capacity for trying hard when affection was involved, and seeing how attached she was from the beginning to Nina, she had taken her in hand too – though at the full fee. Lady Bayfield was the sort who believed the more she paid for something, the more it was worth.

So the girls had been taught together, by her. She was fond of them both, and felt each in her way had the possibility of success within her grasp. Together, they ought to do better than apart. She hoped Lady Bayfield had taken the bait; and she hoped – for she had met her – that the intelligent and independent Mrs Schofield would see past Lady Bayfield’s arrogant manner and fashionable appearance and consider her niece’s best interests.

CHAPTER FIVE

Dory was settling into her new home. The sewing-room was on the first floor, next to the linen-room, in a good position to see everyone who went to fetch clean sheets or towels, or went past to the back stairs. People who popped in with small sewing jobs – a button off here, an apron string coming loose there – usually stayed to chat. And she was sent here and there about the house to do running repairs, so she was always in the way to hear the latest gossip.

She was learning about her new family: that Mr Moss’s great passion was his stamp collection, over which he brooded with magnifying-glass and tweezers whenever he had the chance. That James was sharp and pushing and ambitious to get on. Mrs Webster was an enigma. She hadn’t been long at the house and no-one quite knew what made her tick, but they said she saw everything – it was no use trying to put one over on her. You did not speak to Miss Taylor until spoken to. Mrs Oxlea the cook had a melancholy secret, and was given to bouts of weeping and, more inconveniently, occasions when she got too drunk to do her work. Rose, the head housemaid, was a care-for-nobody but so good at her work she got away with it. Daisy, who attended the young ladies, loved to gossip, though most of her stories had no basis in fact.

Two topics dominated the conversation: what changes would come about as a result of the old lord’s death, and what Christmas would be like this year. They already knew there would be no entertaining, and the traditional servants’ ball was cancelled.

‘Mean, I call it,’ said Ellen, the pretty housemaid. ‘We don’t get much fun as it is.’

‘I heard they’re going to have one at the Grange instead,’ said Daisy.