Page 114 of Rivals at Ashmore Castle

‘The herd nominally belongs to my stepmother, but she hasn’t shown much interest in it in years, and she’s agreed to hand it over to me in return for…certain considerations. I should tell you,’ he added, before Richard could speak, ‘that she’s retiring to London, buying a house there. She doesn’t mean to be much at Ashridge Park in the future. She never really liked living in the country. Town suits her better.’

I’d be willing to wager on that, Richard thought. A beautiful young – or youngish – widow with an ample jointure could lead a comfortable and amusing life in the capital, and it probably wouldn’t be long before she found herself a new husband, one better suited to her than that surly old curmudgeon, twenty-two years her senior.

The conversation turned to less prickly matters. Elliot mentioned that he was selling his father’s hunters, as he had his own, and wondered if Giles or Richard knew of anyone looking to expand their stables.

‘As a matter of fact,’ Giles said, ‘my uncle Sebastian is looking for a hunter – he’s too heavy to borrow mine.’

‘Perhaps you’d like to come over and have a look at Viceroy and Hermes. Warlock is rather old now, I will probably pension him off, but the other two are eight and nine years old, in their prime. My stepmother will probably want to sell her hunters too.’

Sebastian had been thinking about getting a horse for Dory, so they had plenty to talk about.

CHAPTER TWENTY

There would be no Christmas ball at Ashridge Park, as they’d be in mourning.

‘If only we had a proper ballroom,’ Kitty said, ‘we could give one ourselves.’

‘Poor Kitty, deprived of your glory,’ Giles teased.

‘It’s not the glory, it’s the company. I’m so looking forward to Christmas this year, what with Uncle Sebastian and Dory here, and Angus and Rachel will be coming, and I’ve asked Nina and Mr—’ She put a hand to her cheek. ‘Why can’t I remember to call him Lord Wigston? I’ve asked them and I think they’ll come. It’s what I’ve always wanted – a big gathering around the table. When I was a child there was only me.’

‘Would you like to ask your farher and stepmother?’ Giles said, taking pity.

‘They wouldn’t come. My stepmother likes to do her own entertaining. And we couldn’t risk her being rude to Dory like last time. But couldn’t we have a hunting party the weekend before Christmas?’

‘I see no reason why not. Who would you invite?’

‘Not too many, just the Massingberds, their two sons and the daughter, and the Denhams and the Ravenscars. Just a nice, neat party of friends. We would be…’ she counted up ‘…eightteen at table.’

‘Ask the Stavesacres as well, and make it an even twenty,’ he said, humouring her.

‘Are you sure? I thought you didn’t like the Stavesacres.’

‘She’s so fashionable she makes my teeth ache, and you know I’d always sooner be just family. But if entertaining makes you happy…’

‘Thank you, Giles. I’ll arrange it all. You won’t have to do anything but eat and drink. I won’t make you dance.’

He laughed. ‘I’ll dance. What sort of a grizzly bear do you think I am? I’m not Lord Shacklock, you know.’

‘What a pity we can’t ask the new Lord Shacklock. I’ve heard he’s a sweet boy.’

‘He’s twenty-six, older than you, but I believe he may be sweet.’

‘Oh, Giles, do you think Louis is old enough to go to the first draw? Giddins could lead him on Goosebumps and take him straight back if they find.’

‘We were so worried when we heard about your accident,’ said Miss Rowsham, as they sat at the first covert, waiting for hounds to be put in. ‘Are you sure you’ve no lingering after-effects?’

‘Only that I still can’t remember a blessed thing about it,’ said Richard. ‘I’ve stopped trying.’

‘But it’s so strange. Do you suppose you came off and hit your head on a stone?’

‘I don’t like that verb, “came off”. Makes me sound like a poor novice.’

‘I wasn’t impugning your horsemanship. One only has to look at you to know you were born in the saddle.’

‘Hmm. I shall take that as a compliment, however it was meant.’

‘Why are you so suspicious of me, Mr Tallant?’