Page 89 of The Mistress of Ashmore Castle

‘Just as long as you remember, I can hurt you a lot more’n this if I want.’

He released her and she hurried away.

Afton, coming up the stairs, saw her face as she passed, saw her rubbing her wrist, saw Hook’s grin as he watched her go, put two and two together, and had to restrain himself from knocking Hook down right there and then. He vowed to get to the bottom of it, and to see that Hook got what he deserved.

The Cowlings had only just got home. They were still standing in the hall, Cowling receiving a bulletin from Mrs Deering, Trump dashing off to inspect every inch of his old kingdom, Nina reading a note from Lady Clemmie – she had sent to say she would be away for several weeks visiting family friends in Scarborough – when Bobby Wharfedale appeared at the front door, which was still standing open for Deering to bring in the luggage.

‘Nina! I’m so glad you’re home! I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you!’ she cried.

‘We’ve only this instant arrived,’ Nina said. ‘I’ve just taken off my hat.’

‘I know. I didn’t want to waste a moment of seeing you.’ She spared a smile for Mr Cowling, who quickly resumed his hat for the purpose of lifting it to her.

‘But how did you know we were back?’ Nina asked.

Bobby grinned. ‘Couldn’t be easier. You sent a telegram to warn Mrs Deering – how do you do, Mrs Deering? You’re looking well. She told your housemaid, Polly, who is own sister to our housemaid Willa, and she told my maid Sutton, who told me. The most direct line of communication.’

Nina laughed. ‘You’re right! If the Government had relied on servants instead of the telegraph, they’d have had news of the victory at Waterloo hours earlier.’

Cowling shook his head at the nonsense. ‘They do pretty well as it is with the Rothschilds,’ he said. ‘How are you, Lady Wharfedale? What news from Welland Hall?’

‘That’s what I’ve come about. My darling papa has taken a house on the Isle of Wight for three months and we are all going – Aubrey and I and the children and my brothers and sisters – and it’s a huge house with lots of room, so he’s said we can bring friends, and I want you to come.’ Her look embraced them both. ‘Now, please, you must come – you can’t think how perfect it will be. The weather is always wonderful on the island, and there’s sea-bathing, and horses, and Kipper’s going to borrow a yacht from a friend. I must, must have you, darling Nina! Only think how Trump will love it after all those weeks in dusty London!’

‘I’ve too much business to attend to, thank you for asking,’ Mr Cowling said. ‘But you should go, Nina.’

She looked at him doubtfully. ‘Go without you?’

‘I shan’t be here much anyway, for weeks to come. I’ve to visit all my factories after being away so long. Things have piled up. I’ll be in Northampton, Leicester – I want to see how the jam factory’s doing as well.’

‘But you’ll want me to be here when you come back.’

‘I shall only drop in for a change of clothes, then be off again. I’d be no company.’

Since that night at Ashmore, she felt he had been withdrawn, quiet. Perhaps others wouldn’t have noticed it – in company he still talked with his usual forcefulness – but she saw he smiled less, and a light seemed to have gone from his eyes. She couldn’t bear to think he was unhappy. She was fond of him, for his honest, straightforward character, and for his kindness to her, and she felt obscurely that she had let him down. ‘I don’t like to think of you being alone,’ she said.

He smiled, a tender smile, but with a shadow of sadness in it. ‘Bless you, I’ve been on my own for years, it doesn’t bother me. And I shall have Decius with me. And Mrs Deering when I’m here, though that won’t be often. You go and have fun. It’ll do you good, all that fresh sea air. London’s made you pale. Stay as long as you like.’ He turned to Bobby for confirmation. ‘You’ll be staying all summer, you say?’

‘We certainly mean to – and Nina’s welcome for as long as she wants. And if you find you have a few days to spare, please do come too. We’d love to see you. Now, Nina,’ she turned to her, ‘you see, you must come. For Trump’s sake, if not your own.’

‘Very well,’ Nina said. ‘I’d love to. You’ll have to tell me what to pack. When do you leave? How do you travel?’

Bobby had plenty to say, and walked upstairs with Nina, chatting volubly. Nina felt a stirring of excitement – she loved the sea, though she had hardly ever been to the seaside, and a summer with Bobby and her brothers and sisters would be wonderful. But she still worried about Mr Cowling. He couldn’t have been kinder in urging her to go – but his kindness now made her feel sad.

There was no particular reason why Rose should pass Hundon’s on her way to the village – it was rather out of the way, in fact – but on a fine summer day a person bent on exercise might walk in one direction as well as another, mightn’t they? And as she passed the entrance to the yard, it was natural for her to take a step in so as to see the house.

She was rewarded by the sight of Michael Woodrow sitting on a kitchen chair, back to the wall of the house, with a mug in his hand, evidently taking a rest from his labours. It was what she had hoped for, but she was all the same suddenly tongue-tied, and stood holding her basket and staring, like a foolish girl.

But he smiled his warm, easy smile at the sight of her and said, ‘Well, this is a treat! Martha,’ he called over his shoulder, ‘here’s Miss Hawkins from up the Castle.’

His sister’s face appeared at the open kitchen window and disappeared again.

‘I just called, as I was passing, to see how you’re settling in,’ Rose said.

He looked at the basket. ‘On your way to the village? Chores to do?’

‘No, it’s my afternoon off. I thought I’d have a look in Poinings.’

‘Oh, yes – the haberdasher’s,’ said Woodrow. ‘I’ve been here long enough to know everybody goes into Poinings at least once a week.’