“Mother, it’s past their bedtime! You’ll see them tomorrow. I nearly forgot, Geraldine’s invited everyone to lunch.”
“Nearly forgot to pass on an invitation? Well, I must say, modern manners are quite extraordinary! I suppose we shall have to go, though I don’t know how the woman has the nerve to ask me to be a guest in what should be my own home!”
Daisy dutifully kissed her cheek, rounded up the flock, and left the Dower House with all possible speed.
On the way home, they met Frank Crowley coming along the footpath from the village, which joined their path. “I’ve always wanted to see an English country pub,” he explained. “That young chap Ernest—the vice-butler?”
“Footman,” Alec told him.
“I asked his advice and he told me how to get to the Wedge and Beetle in Morton Green. Nice place. Good beer.”
“I’ll come with you one evening,” said Alec. “I stayed there a few years ago and found it friendlier to strangers than some I could name.” He hesitated. “Perhaps you’d like to go too … er … Vincent?”
“Certainly, certainly,” Vincent agreed insincerely.
Catching Alec’s eye, Daisy was fairly certain the invitation would not have been extended if he had thought for a moment that a country pub held any attraction for Vincent.
When they reached the house, it was time to change for dinner. Ernest met them in the hall with instructions from Geraldine that black ties would not be worn. Daisy was not surprised. Edgar loathed evening dress as much as Alec did, and the chance of Mr. Crowley owning a dinner jacket seemed slim.
Belinda pulled at her sleeve. “Mummy!” she whispered urgently.
“Ernest, did her ladyship mention whether Miss Belinda and Master Benjamin are to join us?”
“Oh yes, madam. My lady expects the young people to dine with the company.” He gave a slight bow towards said young people, who exchanged a happy smile and made for the stairs. Ernest said to Daisy in a lowered voice, “Mr. Crowley asked for Master Benjamin to be seated tonight with the rest of the—er—cousins, so as not to make an exception of him. My lady expects the young people, given a choice, to choose not to dine with the grown-ups after the first time.”
“My lady is experienced in the ways of young people,” Daisy agreed, laughing, remembering the excruciating boredom of grown-up dinner parties.
Daisy and Alec followed the Vincent Dalrymples and the children upstairs. Belinda was waiting at their bedroom door.
“Should I wear my best frock, Mummy?”
“Second best, pet. Save the best for Uncle Edgar’s birthday. And come and see me before you go down. I’ll help you with your hair.”
“Oh yes, I want to go down with you and Daddy.”
“Of course. Would you go and ask Aunt Martha whether she needs any help? Let me know if it’s something you can’t do for her. You know which is her room?”
“Yes. Did you know Aunt Geraldine put Ben in the turret room? She says it’s perfect for boys.” It had been Gervaise’s room in the all-too-short years between nursery and war. “It’s not really fair, because I think it’s perfect for girls, too, but it’s nice of Aunt Geraldine, and Ben’s happy.”
“You like Ben?”
“Oh yes. He was telling Derek and me all sorts of interesting stuff about Trinidad. We’re going to go and visit him there when we’re grown-up, unless he’s the next Lord Dalrymple.”
Pondering this possibility, Daisy took a moment to write down Ben’s family branch:
Julian?
Josiah m.?
John m. Dolores
Lucas m. Susanna (m. 2 Frank Crowley)
Anita Benjamin ++
Benjamin, Viscount Dalrymple? No more improbable, really, than Raymond, Vincent, or Martha’s Sam.
FOURTEEN
What with one thing and another, Daisy felt as if she scarcely had time to draw breath until after Sunday’s lunch party. Everything had gone remarkably smoothly, considering the possible causes for antagonism. Even Daisy’s mother was on her best behaviour, perhaps mindful that if Edgar predeceased her, one of those present might become her nearest neighbour.
Not that she’d ever shown the least desire to conciliate Edgar and Geraldine. But, to be fair, when they arrived at Fairacres she was still suffering from the shock of losing her husband and her son.
She and Vi and John had gone back to the Dower House. Martha went upstairs for a rest. Edgar took Pepper and the children to hunt for dragonfly nymphs. Geraldine and Crowley—unlikely companions—went out together to sit on the terrace, discussing Benjamin’s education. Raymond and the Vincent Dalrymples had vanished, Daisy cared not whither.