Page 33 of The Fortunes of Ashmore Castle

It was for Giles, as host, to look after the prince while his mother kept to her chamber, and he took him out for a long walk with guns. Shooting was over, of course, but there were always pigeons, and the more of them they shot, the happier Saddler would be.

After luncheon he offered him a mount, and Richard, in response to an urgent rolling of the eyes at the luncheon table, joined the party and helped with the conversational burden. The prince rode well; he had proved himself an excellent shot, too. And when Richard, by trial and error, had discovered a subject that interested him, he waxed lyrical about his estate in Germany, the countryside, and German rural life. As his speech grew more animated he lapsed more often into German, but Richard’s German was better than Giles’s, and he was quicker at picking up meaning from context, so Giles was able to lapse into his own thoughts, which dwelt on what a horrid mess this was, how distressing it was going to be for everyone, and what would happen to his three sisters.

‘What’s happening?’ Alice asked, as she entered the drawing-room before dinner. Everyone was looking tense. The atmosphere in the house was almost palpable, and everywhere there were servants being busy about nothing, a sure sign they were waiting for news of some sort. ‘Is Mama not coming down to dinner?’ she asked, when no-one answered her.

‘He’s in there,’ Linda said. ‘In her room. They’re having the most tremendous row.’

‘I don’t think we should be talking about it,’ Kitty said.

‘It’s too late for discretion,’ Richard said. ‘The cat’s well and truly out of the bag.’

‘But what’s happened ?’ Alice asked again.

‘Uncle Sebastian had an attack of conscience,’ Richard said. ‘He took the prince for a game of billiards and put the whole thing to him. The prince looked horrified and rushed off to Van Dyck to have it out with her. Did you know Germans don’t play snooker?’

‘Don’t be frivolous,’ Giles rebuked. ‘There’s nothing amusing about any of this.’

‘I didn’t say I was amused.’

Sebastian walked in. ‘I don’t know how these things get about, but Crooks just asked me some very oblique questions.’

‘They listen,’ Richard said. ‘My mother may believe servants are blind and deaf, but that doesn’t make it true.’ He looked at Linda. ‘And of course my dear sister is thick as thieves with head housemaid Rose.’

Linda bristled. ‘Are you accusing me of gossiping with servants?’

‘Oh, please, don’t let’s quarrel.’ Rachel was near tears. ‘Mama’s dreadfully ill and the poor prince does love her so. He must be so terribly upset.’

Afton appeared at the door and caught Kitty’s eye.

‘I think we should go in to dinner, and not wait for the prince,’ she said.

‘And as mistress of the house,’ Giles said, going to her side, ‘my wife hereby forbids any further discussion of this subject. Let’s try to behave in a civilised manner at table.’

It was an unnerving thing to Giles to see his mother subdued. He had never known anyone make her do anything against her will. He supposed his father might have, but they had led such entirely separate lives, he had never seen it happen. Besides, he didn’t suppose his father cared much what she did.

She came down to breakfast in the morning on the prince’s arm and announced that she would be going to London after breakfast. She seemed disinclined to say more, but the prince gave her a nudging sort of look and she added without meeting any eyes, ‘His highness wishes me to consult a physician.’

‘That seems a good idea,’ Kitty said tentatively. ‘At least, then—’

Maud cut her off, shaking away sympathy as a dog shakes water from its coat. ‘In accordance with his wishes I shall consult Sir Henry Felden. And that is all I wish to say on the matter. Kitty, will you give orders for the carriage? The prince and I will take the ten-thirty train.’

‘Of course,’ said Kitty. She wanted to say how glad she was that her mother-in-law was to consult a doctor; to say that perhaps the case was not hopeless as she believed, that perhaps there was something that could be done. But she didn’t quite dare, and tried to put it all into a look. But Maud had turned away and didn’t see it.

Sam was third footman and content with his lot. Though fair and good-looking, he was short, and most houses liked their footmen to be tall, so he was glad to get this job. He had also been illiterate when he arrived, and had struggled to hide the fact, but Mr Crooks had discovered his secret and had kindly given him lessons, so that he could now at least sound out the names on tins and packets and avoid mistakes like using blacklead on boots.

He was cleaning the silver when someone came into the plate room behind him. He looked round and saw it was the prince’s valet. ‘Can I help you with something, Mr Usingen?’ he asked politely.

‘Please call me Adolf,’ the valet said.

Sam looked doubtful. ‘We’re not supposed to. Mr Moss was always very particular. Visiting valets are called by their master’s name.’

‘Who is Mr Moss?’

‘He was the butler before. It’s Mr Afton now.’

‘Then vielleicht we need not trouble with Mr Moss’s rules?’ Adolf smiled. ‘What is your name?’

‘Sam,’ said Sam, with a blush at so much attention. ‘I didn’t know you could speak English.’