Page 45 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle

‘Still talking nonsense?’

He nodded, then said, ‘Learned a new trick.’

‘What’s that?’

‘He fetches me a teaspoon to stir my tea. I say, “Spoon!” and he flies over to the dresser, and brings me one back. I leave the drawer open a bit,’ he admitted.

‘Oh, how clever! I’d love to see that!’ Alice cried.

‘Call by my cottage some time, when you’re passing, an’ he’ll show off for you. He likes company. He’s got a few little tricks I taught him.’

They were interrupted by Josh, who came over to say, ‘Now, Lady Alice, you’ll get all mucky standing there. And you’re in the way. Let the smith get on with his work, and don’t keep him chatting. He’s not paid to talk.’

Axe was his own brother, but he gave him a disapproving look. Alice didn’t want to get Axe into trouble, so she gave him a warm farewell smile and backed away. Josh had been their groom since her first pony, so he had a lot of authority, and they were accustomed to obeying him. But he was very different from his brother, she reflected, as she went to join Rachel. He talked a lot more than Axe, but there was no warmth in his words. He looked after her and Rachel and she trusted him completely, but she never got the feeling that he actually liked them.

Improving weather, and the April breezes drying the tracks, made walking down to the village an acceptable outing on one’s afternoon off. Dory was walking along Canons Ashmore high street, idly looking in the shops, when suddenly James appeared at her side.

‘So,’ he said, slowing his stride to hers, but staring straight ahead, not at her, ‘new maid joined us.’

Now that her ladyship was back in residence, Mrs Webster had made her plea for May, the housemaid who had ‘gone to a better place’ to be replaced; and Lady Stainton had said, ‘You had better recruit an additional maid while you’re at it. I’m sure there is a great deal of spring cleaning left to do.’

Rose had told Dory (they were fast becoming friends) that Mrs Webster had almost fallen over in surprise. ‘She’s wondering what else she can ask for while her ladyship’s in the mood.’

The new maids were Tilda, a stocky, gingery girl with strong red hands and not much to say for herself, and Milly. Milly was extremely pale, and with thin, limp hair so fair it was almost transparent. She had a long, pointed nose, and the rims of her nostrils were always a little pink, as though she had been crying, or had a cold. Dory and Rose had agreed together that she looked like a white mouse, but she seemed a pleasant enough girl.

‘What about it?’ Dory answered James, though she guessed where he was going.

‘William’s stuck on that Milly – mad about her. You didn’t last long, did you?’ he jeered. ‘Coupla months, that’s all. She stole him from right under your nose.’

‘He’d already gone off me,’ Dory said indifferently.

‘Gah! All heartbroken, aren’t you, losing your sweetheart?’

‘Don’t talk so daft,’ she said briskly. ‘I was only being nice to him.’

‘So why aren’t you ever nice to me?’ he asked, looking down at her insinuatingly.

‘Because you’re not a nice person.’ The words seemed to shock him, and for an instant she was sorry she had spoken them.

‘I’m nice,’ he protested. Then he thought for a moment. ‘I could be – if people were nice to me.’

‘You see,’ she said patiently, ‘it doesn’t work like that. It’s not a trade. Not everything’s got a price-tag on it.’

James, who thought exactly the opposite, considered. It was a ruse he had never considered before – tricking people by being nice to them. Was there a return to be had? What were the odds? Would it be too much of an effort, being friendly?

They had reached the haberdasher’s. ‘I’m going in here for some wool and silks,’ she said. ‘Goodbye.’

He made a decision. Right next door was the Three Corners café. ‘Come and have a cup of tea,’ he said. ‘My treat.’ She looked at him doubtfully, refusal on her lips, and he added, managing a slightly pathetic note, ‘Go on! I’m trying to be nice. You got to give me a chance.’

In fairness, she thought, I suppose I have to. ‘Oh, all right, then.’

He bought a pot of tea, and two slices of cake as well, and it was actually quite an enjoyable encounter. James had been at the Castle a long time so he knew a lot about its history and the family. He tried to quiz her on her previous jobs and childhood but she didn’t care to have her private life probed, and managed to deflect him with questions of her own – he was a born talker. After tea, he even came into the haberdasher’s with her, and bought himself a pair of fancy garters.

When they came out onto the street again, she wondered how to get rid of him – she didn’t want to walk all the way back with him. But his attention was elsewhere.

‘Isn’t that Rose?’ he said. He recognised her back view even in an overcoat. He’d watched her from behind for years, because he liked the effect of a large apron bow on a neat female backside.

Dory was about to say it couldn’t be, because Rose had told her she was going to soak her feet, then lie on her bed all afternoon to rest them. But it was her. Before she could say anything, James said, ‘See you back home,’ and stalked away, following Rose’s diminishing figure.