Page 54 of Rivals at Ashmore Castle

But she would like to know why her mother-in-law hated Miss Eddowes so violently. Was it just the home for fallen girls? Or was there something else?

It was something to think about on train journeys.

CHAPTER TEN

In the echoing, sulphur-scented terminus they were briefly reunited with the servants, the children and the luggage before separating again, Giles and Kitty with Afton and Hatto into the carriage sent by Aunt Caroline, and the children, their entourage and the luggage into a large ‘growler’ cab. There were still plenty of horses on London’s streets, but horse-drawn buses were dwindling in number, and there seemed many more private motor-cars than the year before. Kitty, enjoying the smooth ride behind the pair of chestnuts and the elegant sound of their hoofs on the road, was glad Aunt Caroline had not succumbed to fashion.

Grandmère, Richard, Rachel and Alice were already at the house in Berkeley Square when they arrived, so there was catching-up to be done. In the first pause in the conversation, Aunt Caroline said, ‘Mr Cowling was here yesterday with his friend Mr Morris, the cartoonist. What an interesting man he is! So much to say on so many subjects! We began with sun spots and comets and somehow by the end we were talking about hats and Ellen Terry. He knows her personally. He seems to know absolutely everyone.’ She stopped, puzzled. ‘I can’t remember why I was telling you this.’

‘Mr Cowling?’ Richard prompted.

‘Oh, yes! He said that poor Nina is suffering very much in this warm weather, because of her condition. And of course she is missing the whole Season.’

‘It will be worth it when she has a darling baby of her own,’ Kitty said.

‘You’re just in time to catch Ellen Terry in the new production of that Shaw play,’ said Aunt Caroline. ‘I remember now, that’s why Mr Cowling was here. He is getting up a party to see…What is it called, Richard? I can never remember.’

‘Captain Brassbound’s Conversion,’ Richard supplied.

‘Such a strange title. And I believe the content is rather heated,’ she added doubtfully. ‘I know Shaw is a genius, but I must confess I do not always understand what he is talking about.’

‘Never mind,’ Richard comforted her. ‘If you doze off, I shall give you a précis afterwards. In fact, if the subject comes up in company, just nod and say, “Oh, Terry was brilliant!” and everyone will agree and think you very wise.’

‘Kitty, you will be coming to the fête champêtre, won’t you?’ Rachel urged. ‘Everyone says it will be the event of the Season.’

‘I don’t know. What is it? Have I been invited?’

‘Oh, yes, dear,’ said Aunt Caroline. ‘We’re all going. I got invitations for you and Giles as soon as I knew you were coming up. There was no difficulty – I came out with Marjorie Worsley-Denning. She was Lord Danbury’s second daughter, you know. She married Cecil Worsley-Denning, who was a friend of my dear Sir James, so we’ve always been close. So lucky that the weather looks set fine. One takes such a risk, planning outdoor parties in England.’

‘But what is it?’ Kitty asked again.

‘It is a way for as many people as possible to be uncomfortable at the same time,’ Grandmère said.

Rachel said reproachfully, ‘Oh, Granny, it will be fun!’

‘Don’t call me Granny,’ said Grandmère. ‘And do not use that dreadful word “fun”. It exists only in English, and is used to disguise much that is vulgar and unnecessary.’

‘Trop sévère, ma chère!’ Richard said, laughing. ‘You did not refuse your invitation, I notice.’

She looked lofty. ‘Il faut faire quelque chose, enfin.’

Rachel took over Kitty’s enlightenment. ‘It’s an outdoor party with music and entertainments and all sorts of lovely things, and everyone will be there. Someone said there will be fireworks at the end, so you see?’

‘Yes, I do see,’ Kitty agreed. ‘It sounds delightful.’

‘As long as one is not required to sit on the ground,’ Aunt Caroline said anxiously. ‘That sort of picnic is only suitable for very young people. But I’m sure Marjorie has too much elegance.’

‘Shall we be treated to a Tableau of Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe?’ said Richard, with a laughing glance at his grandmother, who pursed her lips and shook her head at him.

Alice was so pleased to have art discussed (Rachel and their aunt talked mainly of clothes) that she forgot to be cautious. ‘Oh, but the woman in that painting is naked,’ she objected.

‘Is that the sort of thing you are studying at the school?’ Giles asked. ‘I’m not sure our mother would approve.’

‘There’s so much nudity in art one can hardly avoid it,’ Alice said. ‘It’s just a puzzle why the woman is nude and the men are fully dressed. When it was first shown the critics disapproved and said she must be a prostitute—’

‘Alice, dear!’ Aunt Caroline protested.

Alice addressed the rest of the sentence to her. ‘But Mr Wentworth thinks it was a joke on Manet’s part, to tease the critics.’