Page 125 of The Affairs of Ashmore Castle

‘Perhaps so,’ said Giles, ‘but I have a great deal to do on the estate, which will require large capital investments. I’m sorry.’

‘I’m sorry too,’ Vogel said thoughtfully. ‘I understand your priorities, my lord, but it would be a great shame to miss an opportunity like this.’

‘Can’t it be done some other time?’

‘The market is ripe for it now. If we do not seize the moment, some other firm will certainly do so, and it will be harder to make an impact when in competition with another company, rather than playing in an open field. And Logan – he is energetic, ambitious, full of enthusiasm. I fear if he is thwarted of his plans, he may leave the company, and he would be a great loss.’

Giles frowned. ‘Do you seriously suggest I would make a decision based on the career plans of an employee?’

‘Of course not, my lord. I merely suggest that all the stars are in alignment at this moment. There is a tide in the affairs of . . .’

Jam? Giles anticipated. He shrugged. ‘No, I’m sorry, I need the capital for the estate.’

‘Then I wonder if there might be someone else we could bring in, someone looking for a good investment opportunity? Of course, they would take a share in the profits. And they might also want a say in the running of the company, so it would have to be someone you trust – someone who would take the business in the right direction.’

‘The only people I know who have that sort of money,’ Giles began, thinking hopelessly of Lord Shacklock, but at that moment he caught Kitty’s eye, and her thought seemed to leap the gap into his mind. ‘Have you ever come across a Mr Cowling – Joseph Cowling?’

‘Of Cowling and Kempson, the shoe manufacturer?’ said Vogel. ‘I’ve never met him, but of course I’ve heard of him. He is known to be a very shrewd businessman – the King relies on his financial advice. Do you know him?’

It was Kitty who answered. ‘Yes, we know him. He married my closest friend.’

* * *

Forbes, the Manningtree butler, was plainly on the verge of regretting that Lady Stainton was not at home, when Kitty came down the stairs, almost running.

‘Dearest, dearest Nina! When Hatto said you were downstairs I had to come, in case you thought I didn’t want to see you, but I really am just going out, and I daren’t be late! Oh, it’s lovely to see you! How are you? You must come and see my baby! But, oh dear, I’m engaged every minute this week. It’s wretched!’

Nina laughed. ‘Wretched, is it? Oh, the miserable life of the fashionable lady!’

Kitty laughed too. ‘But you know what I mean. I’d much sooner sit and coze with you, but all these things have been arranged and one can’t not go – especially when it’s my mother-in-law who’s done the arranging.’

‘No, I quite see that. I wouldn’t dare cross her either.’

‘Next week will be better – not so busy. But I want to talk to you now, today! We can’t even have tea, because I have a fitting this afternoon, and then there’s the concert, or recital, or whatever it is, at Lady Leven’s.’

Nina brightened. ‘We are going to that, too.’

‘Are you? Well, of course you are musical – I’m sure a talented new pianist will be a treat for you. I’m rather dreading it, though Richard knows her and says she really is wonderful. It was going to be here originally, but once Sir Thomas persuaded the King to look in, too many people wanted to come to fit in the drawing-room. So Sir Thomas asked Lord and Lady Leven for the use of their long gallery – you know, where we went to the art exhibition – because they are great patrons of the arts, music as well as pictures. How is it that you are coming?’

‘Mr Cowling knows Lord Leven – and the King of course. They’re all in the same circle.’ Nina smiled impishly. ‘I think Mr Cowling is rather dreading it, too – he’s not musical – but he wouldn’t let the Levens down. He suspects a subscription is going to be taken up – that’s usually why he gets invited to things.’

Kitty looked slightly shocked. ‘Oh, I’m sure not! The pianist is Sir Thomas’s protégée – he’s paying for everything. I’m sure it was just a friendly gesture on Lord Leven’s part. It’s going to be very grand, with a reception afterwards, and the newspapers will be sending people, so there’ll be photographs in all the papers and magazines.’ The hall clock struck the three-quarters. Kitty glanced at it. ‘Oh dear, I really must go. But I’ll see you at the reception tonight, and we can make a plan. I’m determined to have a whole day with you, if it can be managed’ She darted a kiss at Nina’s cheek. ‘Dearest Nina!’ And she was gone.

‘I’m not even to be allowed to turn for her,’ Molly Sands said to Richard, when they met for a moment in the great hall of the Levens’ mansion in Portman Square. ‘Sir Thomas has got one of his students to do it – a young man who is altogether too handsome for a mother’s peace of mind.’

‘Does she need the music?’

‘Not for the solo pieces – only for the quintets.’ She sighed. ‘I suppose he thinks a slender young man in black and white will look tidier in the background than a fussing mother.’

‘You never fuss,’ Richard said. ‘But I agree that you wouldn’t disappear into the background. You are altogether too striking, Mariamne. Sir Thomas is right – you would draw too much attention from Chloë, and it is her night after all.’

‘You say very foolish things,’ Mrs Sands said severely. ‘And if anyone should hear you calling me by that ridiculous name—’

‘There’s no one within earshot. Though it’s not ridiculous,’ Richard said. ‘Is Chloë nervous? Considering all the grand people who will be here, not least the King . . .’

‘She was a little nervous yesterday, but she was quite calm this morning. She says the music is the only thing that matters, not the rank of the people listening. I don’t know how she does it, when so much hangs on it.’

‘Does it?’