Page 68 of The Gathering Storm

‘It’s the next left,’ Kit said, and waited until she’d made the turn before he went on, ‘I don’t believe he’d really kill himself. He’s too self-absorbed. No, I’m afraid Wally’s got him for life, poor thing.’

‘Can’t you persuade her to go away? She listens to you. If she went back to America and didn’t tell him where she was going, he couldn’t follow her, could he?’

‘I could try. But she’s almost as stubborn in her way as he is. And, of course, she still doesn’t really understand the British Constitution and the limits on monarchy. As long as he keeps telling her it will be all right in the end, she’s inclined to believe him because, after all, a king can do anything he likes, can’t he? And then she’d be queen, and even with David attached that must be a dazzling prospect.’

‘I’m afraid you’re right,’ Emma said. ‘Oh dear, let’s forget about it for now, and concentrate on enjoying the weekend. Look, is that the other car up ahead? They’ve made good time.’

The servants, children and dogs had gone on ahead in a separate motor. One of the nice things about their hosts this weekend was that they had young children and had extended the invitation to the two girls as well. It made it comfortably like home.

Polly was out for a ride with Jessie. ‘That’s a nice-looking youngster,’ she said.

Jessie leaned forward and ran a hand up an ear. ‘Yes, I like a horse with long ears. They’re always good-tempered. He’s for Lady Grey. He’s ready now, but she wants me to show him to hounds a few times before she takes him.’ She glanced across at Zephyr. ‘You ought to start bringing on a new hunter. How old is Zephyr now?’

‘Twelve,’ said Polly. ‘We’ve a few more good years together.’

‘Yes, but a second horse would allow you to stay out longer.’

Polly smiled. ‘You wouldn’t happen to have a youngster on your hands, by any chance?’

‘As a matter of fact, I’ve a couple of very nice three-year-olds. Come over and have a look some time,’ Jessie said, and changed the subject. ‘How is the young master taking to school?’

‘There was no more resistance once I said he could ride to school. I believe he’s the envy of his class. But I think he’s enjoying being with other boys. I do miss him, though.’

‘At least he comes home every afternoon. My darling Thomas is all the way over in Preston, and only visits one weekend in four.’

‘What’s the name of the college, again?’

‘Myerscough. It’s something of a disgrace that Yorkshire doesn’t have its own agricultural college, and he has to go all the way to Lancashire. But Bertie’s pretty upset that he wants to go to agricultural college at all, instead of learning at his father’s feet.’

‘I can see that would dent his pride,’ said Polly.

‘Thomas pointed out that there’s lots of new scientific advances, these days, that he ought to know about. He can be terribly tactful for an eighteen-year-old.’

‘At least he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps,’ said Polly. ’It must be hard to build up a business and find your son wants to do something else entirely.’

‘I told him that, but he misses having Tom around. Then there’s Catherine, worrying about her coming-out ball. Afraid no-one will ask her to dance.’

‘I’ll have a word with James, tell him if there’s any lull to throw himself into the breach.’

‘That should do it. He’s handsome and unmarried, and all the local females look at him with cinema eyes.’

‘Cinema eyes?’

‘You know – the way the female star looks at the male star.’ She did an imitation.

Polly laughed. ‘You look exactly like Mary Pickford! James is a worry to me,’ she went on, with a sigh. ‘He had such bad luck – gave his heart to the American woman, Meredith, and she went back to America without a word to him. And as soon as he transferred his affections to someone new, she got murdered.’

Jessie glanced sideways at her companion. ‘You didn’t have much luck either, did you? But it’s been a long time – have you never fancied anyone else?’

‘I think I’m just too particular,’ Polly said lightly. They came to the place where the track branched off towards Knapton, and she checked Zephyr and said, ‘Let’s not go that way. I hate seeing North Field all cut up, and concrete and bricks everywhere. It looks so dreadful.’

‘People have to have somewhere to live,’ Jessie said. ‘It will look all right when it’s finished.’

‘I know. But let’s go on towards Rufforth. We can have a gallop across the grounds of Rufforth Hall, and come back by the Whin.’

They took the left fork, and Polly said, ‘Tell me more about the ball. I suppose you’ll have it all to do again in a few years’ time for Ottilie?’

‘I don’t think so. Ottilie has two passions – horses and aeroplanes. Her greatest hero is Aunt Helen: she’s living proof that a woman can fly. When she found out that women couldn’t join the RAF, she cried for an hour.’