Page 157 of One More Christmas at the Castle
‘She did, thoughIfeel quite the opposite – and I have to admit, I feel a bit sorry for Sophie. I mean, it’s anillness; she can’t help herself.’
‘She can help being such a cow, though – and don’t forget she tried to accuse you of stealing the ring.’
‘I know, but …’ I paused. ‘Henry, don’t let Xan leave until I’ve packed up some food for them. I shouldn’t think Simon’s got much in the house – and they’re going to freeze tonight!’
‘Perhaps love will keep them warm, who knows?’ he suggested.
But somehow, I doubted that.
42
Strong Willed
After the party had set off and I’d taken the coffee tray to the library – though frankly, Mr Makepeace looked as if a strong brandy would have done him much more good – I firmly refocused my mind on my work.
Lunch would be at the usual time of one, and for tonight’s dessert, I thought I’d create a kind of raspberry Eton Mess using frozen fruit, and save the brandy butter ice cream I was about to whip up for tomorrow.
Once I’d made meringue for the Eton Mess and the ice cream was safely stowed in the freezer, it was time to make a start on the soup and salad for lunch. Plum, who had stayed with me instead of accompanying Xan, had long since got bored and gone to snooze on the sofa in our sitting room. He has a loud snore for so small a dog.
‘Happy in your work, darling?’ asked Henry, as he and Nancy returned from their slightly belated bedroom tidying.
‘Delirious,’ I said. ‘Pass me the timer shaped like a Brussels sprout!’
I left most of the serving of lunch to Henry, though when I did take the salad in, Mrs Powys graciously told me she was expecting me and Henry to join them again that evening for dinner.
‘In fact, I insist upon it!’ she added, and Nancy gave her an approving smile.
Henry told me the atmosphere at lunch had been more relaxed, probably at least in part due to Sophie’s absence, but two fewer for meals did make a difference to the catering, too.
‘And we won’t be thirteen for dinner tonight, so no need to lay a place for Plum!’
He finished washing the cut-glass water jug and then carefully dried it.
‘There we are, that’s everything either washed up or in the dishwasher, so if you don’t need me for an hour or two, then Dom and I are going to skate on the lake, while it’s still frozen. The forecastdefinitelysays warmer tomorrow and heavy rain.’
‘How very unseasonal,’ I said, ‘though I’m sure Mrs Powys will be glad if the roads thaw out so her guests can leave tomorrow as planned!’
‘I wonder if she’ll have told them how she’s left the estate by then?’ he mused. ‘I’m sure she’s made her final decision, but will Mitras Castle go to Nigel, or the National Trust?’
‘Oh, the National Trust, I should think, together with the bulk of the estate. Xan thinks so too, and Nigel probably suspects it by now, even if he hopes he’s wrong.’
‘Nigel’s coming skating with us. Lucy doesn’t skate, but she’s going to watch.’
‘I can’t imagine Nigel skating!’ I said.
‘He says he’s quite good, so I’ll let you know – unless you can come and join in for a little while?’
‘Oh, I’ve got so much to do, I really don’t think I can,’ I toldhim … but later, being by now putty in Xan’s hands, I let him persuade me out on to the ice for half an hour.
I spent most of it upright and not always hanging on to Xan’s arm, which was an improvement. Nigel was actually quite a good skater, and what with Dom and Henry too, the ice was quite crowded.
When I left them to it and walked up the terraces back to the house, I found Nancy, Olive and Mrs Powys in the Winter Garden.
‘Hellebore, Dido,’ said Nancy, by way of greeting. ‘So pretty!’
‘You do love this part of the garden, don’t you, Dido?’ Mrs Powys said, looking intently at me.
‘Yes, it’s so magical, the way things flower in the middle of winter.’
