Page 87 of The Mistress of Ashmore Castle

‘Wife, make us a dinner, spare flesh neither corn,

Make wafers and cakes, for our sheep must be shorn.

At sheep-shearing neighbours none other thing crave . . .’

Nina joined in and they said the last line in unison:

‘But good cheer and welcome, like neighbours to have.’

Alice was delighted with it, and wanted to know where the verse came from, but the dowager looked sour, and Nina found Mr Cowling staring at her, and realised she’d lapsed again into too much ease.

That night he came to her bed for the first time since the Levens’ party. She did her best to welcome him, but there was only a grim struggle as he attempted again and again to engage with her body. There seemed little pleasure in it for him, and she couldn’t help remembering how her aunt had told her that gentlemen enjoyed the act and liked to do it often.

In pity for him, she whispered, ‘How can I help you?’

She really wanted to help, but it seemed only to put him off. He stopped what he was doing abruptly and rolled away from her, lying on his back with one arm over his face.

‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘Please, won’t you . . . ?’ She hardly knew how to phrase it.

He said, ‘Oh, Nina!’ almost in exasperation, as if she were being slow to understand something. Then he got up, put on his dressing-gown, and went away, leaving her sad.

Given the length of Moss’s service with the family, Giles felt he should go and see him in person to make sure he was happy about his new position.

Moss was almost overcome by the honour. He stammered, ‘Oh, my lord – too kind – I never presumed—’

‘No, you never did,’ Giles said heartily, ‘and I want to thank you for your long and faithful service to the Staintons and to Ashmore Castle. Your going will be the end of an era.’

He meant to be kind, but it overset Moss, who had to turn his head away and drag out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. ‘It’s been an honour and a privilege, my lord. Your late father, her ladyship – oh, my!’

‘Cheer up, old fellow,’ Giles said awkwardly. ‘It’s not as if we shall be far away, and you are always welcome to visit.’

‘Thank you, my lord. I shall miss everyone very much. If I might . . .’ He hesitated.

‘Spit it out, man.’

‘Might I enquire who is to be my replacement? I heard a rumour, my lord. Being naturally interested, I did feel, if you’ll forgive me, my lord, that . . . well, I have known him for some years and do not feel he has the necessary qualities for the position. In fact—’

‘You’re speaking of Hook,’ Giles divined. ‘He is temporarily covering your duties.’

‘Temporarily!’ Moss exclaimed in relief.

‘He was the best placed to do it, in the emergency, but I have my doubts about his suitability in the long term. I suppose I’ll have to give him a fair trial, but if it doesn’t work out, I’ll remove him without regret. We could never replace you,’ he added, with a smile, ‘but we’ll have to do our best.’

‘Oh, my lord!’ Another application of the handkerchief.

‘I must be going,’ Giles said hastily. ‘The carriage will be coming from the Castle in an hour or two to take you to Weldon House. No, no, don’t thank me – Miss Eddowes doesn’t keep a carriage, I understand, and we couldn’t expect you to walk. Now, I just want to make sure you have everything you need.’

‘You are too kind, my lord. My valise and a box of my possessions have been brought to me here, but my stamp album was not in either receptacle. I dare say it has been put somewhere for safekeeping, but I should be very glad if you could make sure it is sent down to me. It is bound in red leather – rather old and shabby, but the collection inside is precious to me.’

‘I’ll look into it,’ Giles said. ‘And now, goodbye, old fellow, and thank you for all your service.’ He shook Moss’s hand, and neatly transferred an honorarium to him in the same movement.

Moss’s eyes brimmed again, but whether it was from love or the size of the tip, Giles couldn’t be sure.

‘I’ve looked everywhere I can think of, my lord. And I’ve asked, but nobody’s seen it,’ said Rose.

‘You know what you’re looking for?’ Giles asked.

‘Oh, yes, my lord. I’ve seen Mr Moss poring over it sometimes of an evening, in his room. A sort of book with red covers.’ She paused, and added, ‘I know it wasn’t in the box of his things when it was taken over to him because I packed it myself.’