Page 91 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle

‘Oh. Well, you could give a child a penny to put it through their letter-box.’

Rachel cheered up at the thought. ‘I suppose I could.’

‘Only be sure to tell him not to write to you here,’ Alice went on, getting interested in the conspiracy. ‘Now, who can we trust to receive a letter from him for you? Not Daisy – she’d tell straight away. Uncle Sebastian?’

‘I don’t think he’d go behind Mama’s back.’

‘No, you’re right. Not Josh, that’s for sure – he’s hateful. Oh, but what about Axe? Victor could give a letter to him at the forge. And then Axe could give it to whichever of us he saw first.’ They often stopped at the forge when they were in the village, for something to do. And Alice sometimes went over to his house on a Sunday afternoon.

‘Do you think he would?’ Rachel asked.

‘I don’t see why not,’ said Alice. ‘He’s awfully nice.’

As the girls came out of church on Sunday, Alice was going to look out for Axe, when she saw Victor Lattery, leaning on the railings of the house opposite, hands in pockets. She nudged Rachel, who gasped. It was obvious he was waiting for her, because as soon as he saw her he pushed himself upright and started across. Rachel made a violent negative gesture.

Alice turned to her mother, who was just concluding a conversation with the rector. ‘Mama, it’s such a nice day, Rachel and I would like to walk back, instead of going in the carriage.’

Lady Stainton was indifferent. ‘Very well. But don’t dawdle. I’ll take your prayer books.’

‘What was all that about?’ Lattery said genially, when they finally joined him. He was looking at Rachel. Again, Alice felt invisible – just a child. ‘I stayed away from mass this morning on purpose to see you. Didn’t you get my letter?’

‘No, our butler took it to Mama, and she was angry because I’m not out, you see,’ Rachel said, blushing at the shameful admission, ‘so I shouldn’t get letters from men. So, please, you mustn’t write to me at the Castle again.’

‘Oh, Lord, I’m sorry. I never meant to make trouble.’

‘We know,’ Alice said. ‘But the thing is, our mother absolutely hates your aunt.’

‘Good God,’ said Lattery blankly. ‘Why on earth? Everyone loves Aunt Violet.’

‘We don’t know why. And Mama isn’t the sort of person you can ask,’ Alice said.

‘I’ll ask Aunty if she knows,’ Lattery said. ‘It’s bound to be some silly misunderstanding. Honestly, you couldn’t hate Aunt Violet, not if you tried ever so hard.’

‘Oh, Mama’s a good hater,’ said Alice. ‘I don’t think she even likes us very much.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true,’ Lattery said gallantly.

‘Anyway, she’s forbidden Rachel to have anything to do with you.’

‘Ah,’ said Lattery. ‘Well, in that case, I suppose I had better say goodbye and make myself scarce.’

‘Oh, please don’t,’ said Rachel.

‘I don’t want to get you into trouble.’

‘It’ll be all right if we’re careful,’ Rachel said.

‘Clandestine meetings?’ Lattery said. Alice couldn’t tell from his tone whether he approved or disapproved. But then he grinned. ‘How exciting!’

Alice said, ‘Not very clandestine, standing here where anyone can see you! Ray and I are going to walk home now. We’ll go the long way round, by Cherry Lane and up Mop End. There’ll be nobody about. If you should happen to come across us on the walk …’

‘That would be a very happy coincidence,’ said Lattery, and walked away.

The girls turned in the other direction. ‘Do you think it’s wrong,’ Rachel said, ‘going against Mama’s orders?’

‘Not if they’re unreasonable,’ Alice said stoutly. ‘If she really wants us to have nothing to do with him, she should tell us why. And even if she has a reason to hate Miss Eddowes, she shouldn’t involve Victor and us.’

‘I don’t know …’