Page 122 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

‘Well, you’ll get a bit of a rest in Scotland. Just valeting duties. Though there’ll be enough of those, with all the mud to get off every day.’

‘There are always enough valeting duties,’ Afton said. He hesitated. ‘I’ve been thinking lately . . .’

Mrs Webster gave him an intelligent look. ‘That combining valet and butler is too much, in a house like this?’

‘When I agreed to it, I didn’t know they’d be doing so much entertaining,’ he said.

‘You should tell his lordship,’ Mrs Webster said.

They exchanged a long look. It was never a good idea to tell your master you couldn’t do the job. It might all too easily lead to his kindly relieving you of it. ‘I don’t want to let him down,’ Afton said at last.

‘Hiring a new butler always brings disruption below stairs,’ Mrs Webster said. ‘I don’t relish having to get used to a new man, I can tell you. But on the other hand, things have to be done right, and if combining is too much, better you tell him before something goes wrong.’

Afton sighed. ‘You think I’m pretty feeble, don’t you?’

She looked surprised. ‘Not at all. I couldn’t combine housekeeping with maiding her ladyship. I’m surprised you’ve stuck it this long.’

‘Thank you,’ Afton said. ‘I’ll think about it while we’re away.’ He would have to work out a tactful way of saying it that would not get him dismissed.

Cyril appeared with the small overnight valise. ‘Mr Afton, are you putting his lordship’s studs and links in here, or carrying a separate box?’

Afton made an annoyed tut. ‘I haven’t finished packing that one. Take it back upstairs. No, wait, go and help with the loading. I’ll take it myself.’ And, with a nod to Mrs Webster, he hurried off.

‘I wish you would come,’ Giles said. ‘You can still change your mind, you know.’

‘Oh, I’ve plenty to do here,’ Richard said. ‘I’ll have Alice for company, and someone’s got to look after the dogs. I’m not in the right frame of mind for Scotland, anyway.’

‘You’ve been looking glum lately,’ Giles said. ‘Not your usual cheery self. Is anything wrong?’

Richard hesitated. He had always maintained an air of devil-may-careity in all circumstances, preferring always to be envied rather than pitied, but since Molly had gone he had found it hard to keep it up. If Giles, not the most noticing of brothers, had finally registered his gloom, there was perhaps some need of explanation.

‘Someone I cared about – er – very much . . .’ He began awkwardly. ‘In short, she turned me down.’

‘I didn’t know,’ Giles said. ‘You’ve kept it awfully quiet. But surely you won’t give up. Have another go at her – women always succumb to your charm sooner or later, don’t they?’

Richard could hardly blame Giles for taking it lightly, when he had always spoken lightly of himself. ‘It’s different this time,’ he said. ‘I thought I had met the one woman for me. But there were – obstacles. And she’s gone away now. Abroad. So it’s definitely over.’

‘My dear chap, I’m so sorry,’ Giles said. ‘I had no idea.’ He couldn’t think what else to say. He saw, now, by the lines in Richard’s face that it had been serious, that his brother was really suffering. ‘Is there anything I can do? I know it’s foolish to ask that when you’re obviously broken-hearted, but I do care about you.’

‘Thanks. There’s nothing you can do about my personal tragedy. But there is something in general.’

‘Fire away, then,’ Giles said.

‘I’ve never wanted to marry before. But when I discovered that I did want to at last, I realised I didn’t have an establishment to offer her. If she had accepted me, I’d have had to have it out with you. And even as it is, the situation needs to be resolved. Not that I expect there’ll ever be a next time, but for my pride alone, if nothing else.’

Giles frowned. ‘I’m sorry, I’m not following you. What sort of establishment?’

‘A salary, for the work I do for the estate. A position, so that if anyone asks me what I do, I can tell them. And a house of my own.’

‘But you have your expenses paid by the estate. And you live here.’

‘Damn your parsimony, Giles! The estate is no longer bankrupt. It’s doing rather well, in fact, and when my milk scheme is running full speed, it will do even better. I have big plans, you know. Ashmore may be my childhood home, but the estate belongs to you, and eventually to your son, so I am working for your benefit and getting nothing out of it myself. The labourer is worthy of his hire, so put aside this penny-pinching habit you’ve got into, and recognise what you have in me.’

Giles raised his hand. ‘Pax, old man! Don’t bite my head off. I know you do a lot for the estate—’

‘I don’t think you do know – not consciously. You’re so used to having a little brother to order about—’

‘Now you’re being absurd. I’ve never ordered you about. We’ve hardly lived in the same house for most of our lives.’