Warwick.”
The conversation then turned to the Prince of Wales and the Marquis was rather amazed at how well informed the McCleods were, despite the fact that they were so far from London and only crossed the border occasionally.
When dinner was finished the ladies moved into the drawing room, while the gentlemen stayed for some time talking about sport.
The Marquis learnt that Mr. McCleod boasted some fine stalking on his land, but fishing in his lake was not as interesting or as prolific as fishing in the river.
“When the Marquis leaves me,” the Earl said to Mr. McCleod, “you must come and have a day on the Daren. I never have more than two rods fishing at the same time.”
The Marquis smiled.
“Are you suggesting, sir,” he asked the Earl, “that I have overstayed my welcome?”
“No, of course not. I would like you to stay for at least another two weeks and if you have not had a record catch by that time, I shall be disappointed.”
“So will I and I am most grateful to you.”
When they then rejoined the ladies, it was to find that Celina was not there.
The McCleods did not stay long.
“I always prefer to take my time driving back in the dark,” said Mr. McCleod. “It’s easy to have an accident if there is no moon and the horses are going too fast.”
“You are most wise,” agreed the Earl. “I am only sorry you must leave us.”
“It’s getting on for half-past eleven,” Mrs. McCleod chipped in, “and I have reached the age when I enjoy my beauty sleep.”
“So do I,” agreed the Countess. “But please come and visit us again soon.”
“We will come whenever you ask us,” replied Mr. McCleod, “and I do hope your husband will not forget his invitation for me to fish on the Daren.”
Both the McCleods then wished the Marquis ‘good sport’ and ‘tight lines’ and departed in their chaise.
What a pleasant and delightful couple they were for the Earl to have as his neighbours, he reflected.
“Now I suppose we must go to bed,” he said.
“There is no hurry,” asserted the Countess. “I am sure Ewen wants a nightcap and you will enjoy one too. I have made my ‘special’ for both of you.”
She then said goodnight to the Marquis and left him and the Earl alone.
They walked to the grog table and the Earl picked up a glass, waiting for the Marquis to do the same.
The Marquis, however, hesitated as he felt he had drunk enough at dinner and actually disliked drinking just before he retired to bed.
The Earl sat down in a chair.
Deftly the Marquis pushed the drink left for him to one side and picked up an empty glass.
There was a large jug of lemonade on the tray and he filled the glass.
As he did so, the Earl spoke to him,
“I have been wondering, Oliver, just why you never married. I heard tonight the name of yet another beautiful lady you have been with and they never seem, from what I have heard, to last long where you are concerned.”
“I have no intention of getting married. The more my relatives beseech me to do so, the more stubborn I find it makes me. I do prefer being a bachelor and I will not be bullied up the aisle!”
The Earl put back his head and guffawed.
“You sound very much like your father who always had his own way in everything. Of course, you are quite right, my boy. Enjoy yourself while you are young – one is old for a long time.”
“I am only too ready to take your advice, my Lord.”
He next deftly turned the conversation back to the sport.
It was half-an-hour later before they went upstairs.
The Marquis was aware as they climbed slowly up the stairs that the Earl was somewhat unsteady.
He wondered what had been in the ‘night-cap’ and was glad he had not touched it.
The lights had already been dimmed to only three sconces in his passage, his own room being in the opposite direction to that of the Earl.
They said goodnight at the top of the stairs and as the Earl was tottering, the Marquis
The conversation then turned to the Prince of Wales and the Marquis was rather amazed at how well informed the McCleods were, despite the fact that they were so far from London and only crossed the border occasionally.
When dinner was finished the ladies moved into the drawing room, while the gentlemen stayed for some time talking about sport.
The Marquis learnt that Mr. McCleod boasted some fine stalking on his land, but fishing in his lake was not as interesting or as prolific as fishing in the river.
“When the Marquis leaves me,” the Earl said to Mr. McCleod, “you must come and have a day on the Daren. I never have more than two rods fishing at the same time.”
The Marquis smiled.
“Are you suggesting, sir,” he asked the Earl, “that I have overstayed my welcome?”
“No, of course not. I would like you to stay for at least another two weeks and if you have not had a record catch by that time, I shall be disappointed.”
“So will I and I am most grateful to you.”
When they then rejoined the ladies, it was to find that Celina was not there.
The McCleods did not stay long.
“I always prefer to take my time driving back in the dark,” said Mr. McCleod. “It’s easy to have an accident if there is no moon and the horses are going too fast.”
“You are most wise,” agreed the Earl. “I am only sorry you must leave us.”
“It’s getting on for half-past eleven,” Mrs. McCleod chipped in, “and I have reached the age when I enjoy my beauty sleep.”
“So do I,” agreed the Countess. “But please come and visit us again soon.”
“We will come whenever you ask us,” replied Mr. McCleod, “and I do hope your husband will not forget his invitation for me to fish on the Daren.”
Both the McCleods then wished the Marquis ‘good sport’ and ‘tight lines’ and departed in their chaise.
What a pleasant and delightful couple they were for the Earl to have as his neighbours, he reflected.
“Now I suppose we must go to bed,” he said.
“There is no hurry,” asserted the Countess. “I am sure Ewen wants a nightcap and you will enjoy one too. I have made my ‘special’ for both of you.”
She then said goodnight to the Marquis and left him and the Earl alone.
They walked to the grog table and the Earl picked up a glass, waiting for the Marquis to do the same.
The Marquis, however, hesitated as he felt he had drunk enough at dinner and actually disliked drinking just before he retired to bed.
The Earl sat down in a chair.
Deftly the Marquis pushed the drink left for him to one side and picked up an empty glass.
There was a large jug of lemonade on the tray and he filled the glass.
As he did so, the Earl spoke to him,
“I have been wondering, Oliver, just why you never married. I heard tonight the name of yet another beautiful lady you have been with and they never seem, from what I have heard, to last long where you are concerned.”
“I have no intention of getting married. The more my relatives beseech me to do so, the more stubborn I find it makes me. I do prefer being a bachelor and I will not be bullied up the aisle!”
The Earl put back his head and guffawed.
“You sound very much like your father who always had his own way in everything. Of course, you are quite right, my boy. Enjoy yourself while you are young – one is old for a long time.”
“I am only too ready to take your advice, my Lord.”
He next deftly turned the conversation back to the sport.
It was half-an-hour later before they went upstairs.
The Marquis was aware as they climbed slowly up the stairs that the Earl was somewhat unsteady.
He wondered what had been in the ‘night-cap’ and was glad he had not touched it.
The lights had already been dimmed to only three sconces in his passage, his own room being in the opposite direction to that of the Earl.
They said goodnight at the top of the stairs and as the Earl was tottering, the Marquis
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