Page 61 of The Mistress of Ashmore Castle

‘Oh, a footman came over with a message, and Giles’s new man Afton got it all out of him. And I got it all out of Afton. Invaluable man, Afton – I like him tremendously. He’s valeting me as well as Giles while we’re all at Aunt Caroline’s.’ His smile faded. ‘Speaking of being at Aunt Caroline’s . . .’

‘You’re going home,’ she guessed. ‘To the Castle.’

‘Not immediately, but I am leaving the wicked city,’ he said, making light because he really didn’t want to go. ‘I have to go and see a man about a bull.’

‘Your dairy scheme?’

‘Yes, taking off at last. There’s a fellow near Dunstable that has a fine herd of Shorthorns and he has a pedigreed bull for sale. There’s a tremendous amount of work to do at home, improving the pastures and getting the buildings up to scratch, but the bull can get on with his side of it in the meanwhile. And the sooner we get the cows in calf to a good bull, the sooner we’ll have the new generation of heifers to—’ He broke off abruptly. ‘It occurs to me that this is a quite improper conversation to have with a lady.’

‘Perhaps it’s as well then that I’m not a lady.’

‘You mustn’t say that,’ he said seriously. ‘You’re more a lady than any other female I’ve ever met. And if only I were not a wretched pauper and helpless pensioner of my brother, I would set you up in the condition in life you deserve.’

‘If we all got what we deserved, which of us would escape calumny?’ she said lightly. ‘When are you leaving?’

‘Tomorrow, I’m afraid. Can I take you out to supper tonight?’

‘Very well, if you promise not to be sentimental.’

‘I’m never sentimental. Passionate, sometimes—’

‘No passion, either.’

‘Oh, you are a harsh mistress!’

Lady Manningtree, Giles’s Aunt Caroline, had taken an unaccountable liking to Mr Cowling, and always welcomed Nina warmly for his sake, as well as on her own account for being Giles’s wife’s friend.

And having been a debutante long ago, she could, with an effort, remember how nervous she had been at her presentation. ‘Of course, I was only seventeen and unmarried. But, still, it is quite a thing. I’m pleased for you, my dear.’

‘Mr Cowling knows the King quite well already,’ Nina said. ‘But it’s hard not to feel very small and mouselike. They’ll all be much older than me and I won’t know any of them. Well, there’s Lord and Lady Leven – not that I know them, but I went to their summer exhibition when Kitty and I were coming out.’

‘Yes, dear, I remember.’

‘And Mr Cowling said Lord and Lady Wroughton will be there. It was at their ball that I first met him. But I’m sure they won’t remember me.’

‘It is rather an elderly company,’ Aunt Caroline mused. ‘I don’t suppose it will be lively. But the Levens are educated people – and I remember you like paintings and all that sort of thing, don’t you? You can’t go wrong talking about art to either of them.’

‘I won’t have to talk to the King, will I?’

‘He’s very nice, my dear, not at all an ogre. And he likes pretty young women. You should work up an amusing story – not too long – about some little thing that has happened to you. Practise it in your head beforehand, so you have it ready if the occasion arises. That will save you the embarrassment of being silent and looking gauche.’

‘That’s a good idea,’ Nina said. ‘Is that what you do?’

‘It’s what I used to do when I was a young girl. I hardly ever meet strangers nowadays. But I expect the other guests will do all the talking anyway, dear, so you’ll only need to smile and nod. And then you can save your story for another occasion,’ she concluded frugally. ‘I presume the Keppels are invited?’

‘I believe so.’

‘Well, she’ll keep everything going. She watches the King like a hawk, and as soon as she sees him grow bored, she intervenes. She’s a fascinating woman – always has something amusing to say on every topic.’

‘Perhaps she practises at home, too.’

‘I shouldn’t be surprised. It would be like her to be thorough. Lady Vane says she’s like a Christmas tree with a present for everyone. When one is in her company one quite forgets that she’s the King’s mistress – though, of course, that’s not like being a mistress in the general way. One couldn’t as a rule condone . . . They live in Portman Square, you know, the Keppels, two doors down from the Pelham house. I don’t think Maud realised when she took it. But he’s frightfully respectable, she can’t complain about that. His father was the Earl of Albemarle, who was a direct descendant of Charles II – though I suppose Maud wouldn’t necessarily count that as respectable.’ She felt she was tying herself in knots and changed the subject quickly. ‘What are you going to wear?’

‘Mr Cowling wants me to have a new gown.’

‘Very proper.’

‘But I don’t know how grand it ought to be. He likes things with a lot of decoration on them, but . . .’ She bit her lip, not wanting to seem to criticise him. ‘I have to look right,’ she concluded.