go and change. Five years is a long time and we have a lot of catching up to do.’
Entering the library on the first floor of the house, that was the moment when Ross really did feel that he had come home. He had spent many industrious yet happy hours in this room poring over books. His gaze was drawn to the painted plaster busts of Greek and Roman worthies and he smiled when he recalled his uncle Crispin telling him they were intended to encourage studiousness.
The cousins sat in companionable silence on opposite sides of a log fire, its light shining on the steel fender. They each held a glass of brandy from which they sipped appreciatively. There was a slight similarity of features between the two, and like Ross, Giles was not very good at showing his emotions.
‘How is my uncle?’ Ross enquired. ‘I understand he isn’t well.’
Giles grimaced. ‘No, he is far from it. He has good days and bad days and there is an inconsistency in his behaviour. His mind wanders and he sits staring at nothing for long periods. It came as a blow to him when Jamie was listed as missing during the push for Toulouse, and when young Edward was killed he seemed to retreat inside himself.’
‘Is there still no news about Jamie?’
Giles shook his head, a shadow passing over his grey eyes. ‘Nothing. You know I resigned my commission after Waterloo.’
‘I was sorry to hear it. Did you have to do that? I know how much your career meant to you.’
‘Duty demanded it. When Edward was killed and with Jamie missing, Father summoned me back home. I was in London at the time. He pointed out most forcibly that now, as his heir, my place is at Castonbury. I never envied Jamie being the heir—the responsibilities. When I got back here, knowing that in all probability it would one day be mine, they became like jewels too heavy to carry, too valuable to neglect and too enormous to ignore. I believed it had all come down to me—or so I thought until we got Alicia’s letter. If it turns out that she is Jamie’s wife and her child his son, then if Harry can discover irrefutably that Jamie is dead, the child, Crispin, is the heir. It’s all such a mess. You saw her in London?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘What did you make of her? Is she genuine do you think? Is she telling the truth?’
‘I honestly don’t know the answer to that, Giles. She was convincing—though nervous, I thought. She has all the necessary papers.’
‘Then we’ll just have to see what turns up.’ He took a long drink of his brandy. ‘Coming home kept me sane enough to deal with the broken man who is my father, to deal with those who came to pay their respects and to hold together the frayed strings of the household. Although Aunt Wilhelmina does a sterling job of keeping things shipshape and the household in order. She is out at present visiting Lady Hesketh in Hatherton. She is expected back before dinner.’
‘And cousin Kate?’
‘My sister is off on one of her travels—the Lake District, I believe, but Phaedra is here. She will be glad Araminta is back from London. She spends most of her time with her precious horses but I think she’s missing Kate. I cannot guarantee what kind of reception you’ll get from father. As I said, you’ll find him much changed.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘And you’ll have to get past Smithins first.’
‘Smithins!’ Ross exclaimed, recalling that rigidly superior gentleman’s gentleman, who rarely deigned to speak to anyone but his uncle, the duke. ‘Good Lord, is he still here? I’d forgotten about him.’
‘Come now, no one forgets Smithins. A legion of soldiers couldn’t do a better job of guarding my father than he does. Even I have to get past Smithins to see him.’ He laughed, beginning to sound more like his old self. ‘Goodness, I’m glad you’re home, Ross. There’s a definite sense of the military about you. God, how I miss it. Your presence will bring back some normality to the house. And how is
Entering the library on the first floor of the house, that was the moment when Ross really did feel that he had come home. He had spent many industrious yet happy hours in this room poring over books. His gaze was drawn to the painted plaster busts of Greek and Roman worthies and he smiled when he recalled his uncle Crispin telling him they were intended to encourage studiousness.
The cousins sat in companionable silence on opposite sides of a log fire, its light shining on the steel fender. They each held a glass of brandy from which they sipped appreciatively. There was a slight similarity of features between the two, and like Ross, Giles was not very good at showing his emotions.
‘How is my uncle?’ Ross enquired. ‘I understand he isn’t well.’
Giles grimaced. ‘No, he is far from it. He has good days and bad days and there is an inconsistency in his behaviour. His mind wanders and he sits staring at nothing for long periods. It came as a blow to him when Jamie was listed as missing during the push for Toulouse, and when young Edward was killed he seemed to retreat inside himself.’
‘Is there still no news about Jamie?’
Giles shook his head, a shadow passing over his grey eyes. ‘Nothing. You know I resigned my commission after Waterloo.’
‘I was sorry to hear it. Did you have to do that? I know how much your career meant to you.’
‘Duty demanded it. When Edward was killed and with Jamie missing, Father summoned me back home. I was in London at the time. He pointed out most forcibly that now, as his heir, my place is at Castonbury. I never envied Jamie being the heir—the responsibilities. When I got back here, knowing that in all probability it would one day be mine, they became like jewels too heavy to carry, too valuable to neglect and too enormous to ignore. I believed it had all come down to me—or so I thought until we got Alicia’s letter. If it turns out that she is Jamie’s wife and her child his son, then if Harry can discover irrefutably that Jamie is dead, the child, Crispin, is the heir. It’s all such a mess. You saw her in London?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘What did you make of her? Is she genuine do you think? Is she telling the truth?’
‘I honestly don’t know the answer to that, Giles. She was convincing—though nervous, I thought. She has all the necessary papers.’
‘Then we’ll just have to see what turns up.’ He took a long drink of his brandy. ‘Coming home kept me sane enough to deal with the broken man who is my father, to deal with those who came to pay their respects and to hold together the frayed strings of the household. Although Aunt Wilhelmina does a sterling job of keeping things shipshape and the household in order. She is out at present visiting Lady Hesketh in Hatherton. She is expected back before dinner.’
‘And cousin Kate?’
‘My sister is off on one of her travels—the Lake District, I believe, but Phaedra is here. She will be glad Araminta is back from London. She spends most of her time with her precious horses but I think she’s missing Kate. I cannot guarantee what kind of reception you’ll get from father. As I said, you’ll find him much changed.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘And you’ll have to get past Smithins first.’
‘Smithins!’ Ross exclaimed, recalling that rigidly superior gentleman’s gentleman, who rarely deigned to speak to anyone but his uncle, the duke. ‘Good Lord, is he still here? I’d forgotten about him.’
‘Come now, no one forgets Smithins. A legion of soldiers couldn’t do a better job of guarding my father than he does. Even I have to get past Smithins to see him.’ He laughed, beginning to sound more like his old self. ‘Goodness, I’m glad you’re home, Ross. There’s a definite sense of the military about you. God, how I miss it. Your presence will bring back some normality to the house. And how is
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