Page 151 of The Mistress of Ashmore Castle

‘It’s not the way I wanted it to be. And there doesn’t seem to be anything to be done about it. But I want to make it up to you – or, at least, make it come out all right for you. As right as it can be. So I’ve a suggestion.’

‘Please don’t,’ she said. ‘Please don’t say any more.’

He lifted a hand. ‘Hear me out,’ he said. ‘This is not easy for me to say, and it won’t be easy for you to hear. And you might be shocked. You might be offended. But before I say it, I want you to know that I love you, more than ever, and though I know you don’t love me the same way, I think you are fond of me, a bit – aren’t you?’

‘Oh, Joseph!’

‘So this might be the solution – the thing that’ll make it come out all right. With good will on both sides, I think it could.’

In her distress she couldn’t find any words. And taking her silence as consent to continue, he told her his idea.

It was not easy for the telegraph boy to get his bicycle up the hill through the remains of the snow, and since Uncle Stuffy had sent the telegram from the station before mounting the train, it gave barely enough time to put the horses to and get down to Canons Ashmore station to meet him.

Rachel was in a panic. ‘He didn’t say Mama was with him, did he?’

‘No,’ said Giles. ‘It just says, “Arriving by the 1.55. Please meet.”’

‘But it doesn’t say it’s just him. It might be both of them. All three of them.’

‘Why should Mother and the prince be travelling with Uncle Stuffy?’ Giles said patiently. Rachel dithered on the spot, like someone preparing to bolt. ‘I assure you, if Mother was coming back she’d have said so. We’ve only sent two horses to meet Uncle Stuffy. She’d expect four, you know that. She wouldn’t risk being met without due ceremony.’

‘Oh,’ said Rachel. ‘I expect you’re right.’

‘We’ll put Lord Leake in the Waterloo Room,’ said Mrs Webster to Afton. ‘Thank goodness we’ve got enough good sheets now. Once when he came he got a sides-to-middled sheet because that was simply all we had, and he sent McGregor down to request a different room.’

‘McGregor’s his manservant?’

‘Yes, and look out for him. A more savage temper there never was on a human being. I had nightmares about that sheet for weeks afterwards.’

Afton smiled. ‘I’m sure you didn’t. I can’t imagine anything flustering you.’

‘I wasn’t flustered, just frost-bitten. Now I must go and speak to Mrs Terry about dinner tonight. He’s a great diner, is Lord Leake. We can’t give him hashes. The leftover pie is all right – her pastry is so good it will carry it – but there will have to be a joint.’

‘We’ve pheasants enough in the game larder,’ Afton pointed out.

‘But he’ll expect a joint as well as game. Someone will have to go down to the butcher. Who can you spare, Mr Afton?’

‘You can have Sam. He’s intelligent and quick.’

‘Then he can see if the butcher has any sweetbreads, as well, for a savoury. Lord Leake is very fond of fried sweetbreads.’

‘You’d better let me have the menu as soon as possible, so I can look out the wines,’ said Afton. ‘Is it usual for his lordship to descend like this, without notice?’

‘No,’ said Mrs Webster, ‘it isn’t. He’s a great one for his comfort, likes to be sure everything’s in place for him before he arrives. And it’s a strange time to be coming. Wherever he goes for Christmas, he arrives well before and stays until well afterwards. I hope it’s not bad news.’

‘People generally send bad news by letter or telegram, don’t they?’ Afton said comfortingly. ‘They don’t dash down to deliver it in person.’

‘Perhaps not,’ Mrs Webster said doubtfully, then shook herself. ‘We’ll know soon enough, I dare say. Send Sam to me in the kitchen right away, will you, and I’ll give him his instructions once I’ve agreed with Mrs Terry. She’ll want to make a special sweet for him, too, I expect.’

‘Lucky man,’ said Afton, turning away.

‘Well, it’s nice to cook for someone who appreciates it,’ said Mrs Webster.

It was too cold for the family to assemble outside on the steps to greet Uncle Stuffy. They waited for him in the great hall, where there was a good fire. Rachel fidgeted on the spot as she waited to see if he was indeed alone, and Kitty threw her a compassionate look. There were sounds of arrival outside, murmured voices, and then he was there, pulling off his heavy, fur-lined gloves and the travelling-cap with the lappets and handing them to Afton. His face was wreathed with smiles. Not bad news, then, Afton thought. He could tell them that downstairs.

Giles came forward to shake his hand, Kitty at his elbow. ‘What a pleasant surprise, Uncle. How nice to see you. Did you have a pleasant journey?’

‘I’ve only come from London. Wretched train, no heating, but I had my big rug so I was all right. McGregor tells me some Scotch feller has invented a patent glass bottle in a metal case that uses a vacuum to keep liquids hot. Don’t ask me how that works, but it means you could carry hot tea or soup with you on a journey, for when the train has no restaurant car. Excellent idea. Have to get one of those if I’m going to be dashing back and forth at all times of year.’