Page 152 of The Affairs of Ashmore Castle

‘Jan’ry or Feb’ry, she says. Why?’

‘You and her got together in August, at the fair, right? And babies take nine months, start to finish.’ Hook watched as William, frowning, counted in his head.

‘She said it takes six months to grow a baby,’ he said at last. ‘Or five. She said—’

‘Nine months. Everybody knows that. I’m not making it up. You ask anyone you like. She was up the pole before you ever laid a finger on her. And who was she seeing before the fair? Speen, that’s who – our own roving tom-cat. Quite the Lothario is Mr Edgar Speen. Women can’t resist him. O’ course, to be fair, Tabby never tried to.’

William’s face was red. ‘That’s not true! You take it back! She loves me, we’re getting married, she’d never – she’d never—’

‘She never stopped seeing him, you bloody idiot! She’s got him for fun, and you for the serious stuff, like bringing up his kid.’

William’s hands bunched into fists. ‘You’re making it all up,’ he said. ‘And you’re a dirty dog for saying stuff like that. I could smash your face in for talking about my Tabby.’

‘You’re getting mad at the wrong person, cully. Speen’s your man. He’s not on duty tonight – where d’you think he is?’

William stared a moment with his mouth open, then walked abruptly away. He was too easy a target, really, Hook thought. It was like teasing a puppy. And a puppy that didn’t bite, at that. William might talk big, but he’d never actually do anything. Still, at least he’d shaken him out of his languor, Hook thought: he was moving quite briskly now.

Giles came into Kitty’s room, where Hatto was fastening her necklace. ‘Nearly ready?’ he asked.

She turned her head. ‘The bell hasn’t gone yet,’ she said. Her eyes caressed him. ‘You look so handsome in evening dress.’

Hatto picked up a few things for washing and slipped out of the room. Kitty turned back to the looking-glass and began to put in her earrings, watching him in reflection.

Giles moved about the room, fidgeting with things.

‘Is something wrong?’ she asked at last.

He opened his mouth and closed it again. She waited, thinking he was about to tell her something; but in the end, he said, ‘No, nothing. Of course not. Why do you ask?’

‘You seem – uneasy.’ It wasn’t quite the right word.

He knocked over a small vase on one of the tables and righted it again. ‘It’s probably the phase of the moon,’ he said. ‘Full moon tonight, isn’t it?’

‘That’s women,’ Kitty said. ‘And cats. Men aren’t affected by the moon.’

‘What about lunatics?’ he objected. ‘Well, it’s windy tonight. Horses get nervous when it’s windy.’

Kitty turned to look at him again, wondering why they were having this conversation. ‘Giles, if there’s something you want to tell me—’

‘It’s nothing. Are you ready? Then let’s go down. It would be bad form for our guests to wait for us.’

‘Uncle Sebastian would look after them. He’s always down early,’ Kitty said, but she got up obediently and went with him.

‘Where’s William?’ Moss asked agitatedly. ‘Has anyone seen William?’

‘I think he’s gone out, Mr Moss,’ Hook said.

‘Out?’

‘I saw him with a coat on a bit since.’

‘It’s not his evening off!’ Moss cried in outrage. ‘How can he go out? Where has he gone?’

‘I don’t know, Mr Moss. I didn’t ask him,’ Hook said.

Moss looked about him, a little wildly. ‘But we have a big dinner tonight. With guests! I can’t serve it just with Cyril. Sam has a boil on his chin – he can’t go into the dining-room.’

Hook toyed for a moment with the idea of tormenting the butler, but decided to put himself on the side of virtue for once. ‘I’ll give a hand, if you like, Mr Moss. I don’t mind.’