Page 81 of The Secrets of Ashmore Castle

Dangerfield, examining his various injuries, said that it was not merely a sprained foot but small bones were broken, and he set it in plaster. There was not much to be done about a broken shoulder, he said, except to keep it immobile; and among Richard’s many injuries were a bruised spine, which accounted for the pain whenever he tried to turn over. There were many weeks of recovery ahead of him: going to the wedding was out of the question. When he had gone, Richard wept a little from sheer weakness. He had never felt so helpless.

Giles visited. He came in evening dress and with wine on his breath, having just been in Berkeley Street for the return visit to the Bayfields.

‘Was it hell?’ Richard asked feebly.

‘Not as bad as I feared,’ said Giles. ‘Aunt Caroline had paid a visit of congratulation, so they asked her as well. She can always talk.’

‘Why did she do that?’

‘It seems she went to school with Miss Sanderton’s aunt, so I suppose she felt a connection,’ Giles said, trying to hide his discomfort at having to mention Nina.

‘Ah, yes, Miss Sanderton,’ Richard said. ‘Was she there?’

‘Yes,’ said Giles. Then he realised he had been too abrupt, and with an effort, said, ‘She and Aunt Caroline kept things going.’ He hoped Richard would not ask anything more about her.

Richard was too weak still to sustain much curiosity. He lapsed into silence for a while, then roused himself to say, ‘This accident of mine, the sawbones says I won’t be able to make the wedding.’ He looked up apologetically at his brother.

‘I know,’ said Giles. ‘It’s already been discussed. Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry you won’t be there, but it can’t be helped.’

‘But who—?’

‘Will be my supporter? Well, I asked Uncle Sebastian, but he said he was too old and that he’d spoil the effect for everyone. Said they’d think the organ needed repairing if they heard him wheezing. You know how he talks.’ Richard smiled. ‘He suggested Uncle Stuffy.’

‘Uncle Stuffy?’ Richard said in surprise. Their uncle Fergus, the Earl of Leake, their mother’s brother, had acquired the nickname Stuffy at school because of his love of eating, and it had stuck, in an affectionate way. He was much younger than their mother, a bachelor dedicated to middle-aged pleasures that made him seem older. ‘Would he do it?’

‘Mama thought he would, so I sent off a telegram. It took a while to find him – you know how he moves from house to house at this time of year – but he telegraphed back that he’d be delighted. I must say,’ Giles added, ‘that she was really pleased I was asking him. It‘s put her in a better mood than I’ve seen since Papa died. So I didn’t tell her it was Uncle Sebastian’s idea.’

‘Well,’ said Richard, feebly, ‘I’m glad it’s all sorted out.’

‘You’re tired. I’ll go,’ said Giles.

‘Come again soon,’ Richard said. ‘I’m infernally bored tied to this bed.’ It was only partly true. He was too weak and still slept too much to be often bored.

‘I will,’ said Giles.

Aunt Caroline’s solicitor, Camberwell, called. ‘I’m afraid the matter is serious,’ he said. ‘Your companions will only be charged with unruly behaviour, but things are much worse for you as the driver. Criminal law is not my field, so I have consulted a criminal barrister, on Lady Manningtree’s instructions. He says there is not much point in trying to devise a strategy until we know when your case will come on, and before which magistrate.’

‘Strategy?’

‘The penalties for reckless driving range from fines to imprisonment. And magistrates have considerable discretion. Some are particularly harsh when it comes to motoring offences – the older sort who think motor-cars are the invention of the devil. Others take a lighter view. A more lenient magistrate might decide that as no-one else was hurt, and you have already suffered considerably, no further punishment is needed. He might let you off with a caution.’

‘Can’t we get one of those?’ Richard begged.

‘I’m afraid it isn’t up to us. I wish it were.’

Linda visited. ‘You really are a fool, Richard. What a mess you’ve got us into! I had to come back from the Isle of Wight—’

‘You were coming back for the wedding anyway,’ he protested.

‘Yes, but I had to come back early because of worries about you.’

‘You don’t seem worried.’

‘I’m more angry about the court case than anything. Dragging our name into the mud, just when things are at such a delicate stage for Giles!’

‘It might not come to anything,’ Richard said. ‘If the beak thinks I’ve suffered enough—’

‘You’ve suffered!’ she snorted. ‘And why Giles has to rush into marriage in this unseemly manner I don’t know. Another month of engagement would surely not be much to ask. He doesn’t seem to realise the difficulty of getting anything new made. With everybody in London for the Coronation, and foreign royalties hogging all the best dressmakers … If he’d chosen the end of July, they’d have been begging for work and there would have been discounts to be had. As for hats, the expense is ridiculous, and my allowance is all used up. I simply can’t appear at my own brother’s wedding – and in St George’s, with the whole of the ton invited – in a made-over hat. Won’t you ask him for a little extra for me, as it’s a special occasion?’