Page 158 of One More Christmas at the Castle
‘There must besomethingabout this spot, because even in my Hampstead garden there’s practically nothing out at this time of year,’ complained Olive. ‘But I’ll try those hardy daffodils, Sabine.’
I carried on up to the house, where we’d left Plum asleep on the sofa. I didn’t wake him – he has a tendency to get underfoot when I’m busy.
I thought it might make a change if tonight’s starter was prawns and crudités with a dip. It would sort of go with the fishy theme of the main course.
First, though, there were the remains of the turkey to deal with and I was still stripping the meat from it when Henry returned.
Most of it was destined for the freezer, and eventually would be used for risottos, paellas, casseroles, curries and pies.
‘Have you finished for the moment?’ asked Henry, as I put the turkey carcass in a big lidded container.
‘Yes, I can turn this into stock tomorrow.’
‘Good,’ he said, and commandeered the other end of the long table, while I cleared up the utensils I’d used.
‘Dom has never tasted proper seed cake, so I’ll make some for tea. There’s just time –andit’s even nicer warm.’
After tea, Dom and Henry laid the table ready for dinner and Nancy came to ask if there was anything she could do to help. But really, there wasn’t: I had everything well in hand.
‘Xan told me about the food you sent over for Sophie and Simon. That was such a lovely, kind thought!’
‘I do feel sorry for her, but more for poor Simon, who was enjoying being warm and well fed, for a change!’
‘Perhaps he could come back for the New Year, because I suspect Sophie will get away at the first opportunity. I’ll mention the idea to Sabine.’
And with another beaming smile, she went out, followed by Plum, who had given up hope of any further scraps being forthcoming.
I changed into my lovely green tunic again for dinner, though this time early, and then simply wrapped an enormous apron around my waist while I finished cooking.
The whole large salmon en croûte, with its creamy spinach topping under the golden pastry, looked magnificent, and when I took my place at the table everyone was very complimentary. We pulled the rest of the Marwood’s crackers and, under the influence of a good white wine, even Frank began to look faintly merry, going so far as to loosen his tie.
Poor Mr Makepeace, though, looked even more as if what life force had been left in him had been entirely drained. Some of that might have been due to his discussion with Mrs Powys that morning, or the scene with Sophie, though perhaps it wasa relief to have her kleptomania known about, because he must have felt as if he’d had a sword suspended above his head!
But as the meal progressed, I noticed he was beginning to cast much the same sort of worried glances at his hostess as he had at his granddaughter, rather as if she was a ticking time bomb that might go off at any minute.
We discovered why once the dessert had been removed and the cheese and fruit put on the table, for Mrs Powys tapped on the side of her glass for attention and said she had an announcement to make.
‘Since for some of my guests, this is likely to be their last night here, it seems a good moment to tell you all about the decision I’ve made to ensure the future of Mitras Castle and the estate.’
There was a silence, into which Henry said, tactfully, ‘Would you like me and Dido to leave you, Mrs Powys?’
‘No need,’ she said, then continued: ‘As you know, I had Timothy draw up two wills, though the minor legacies, which righted one or two past wrongs, remained the same in both.’
I saw Olive and Frank Melling, who I’m sure had no real expectation of inheriting the estate, look at each other and away again.
‘This morning,’ continued Mrs Powys, ‘I made my decision, and the will leaving the estate to the National Trust … was destroyed!’
I heard Nigel, who was staring intently at her, let out his breath in a long sigh.
‘But then, that means …’ Lucy began eagerly, but Nigel shook his head at her and she faltered into silence.
‘My main concern was to ensure the continuity of the estate and the Castle as it is now, and though I knew the National Trust would look after it, I preferred it to remain a loved and cherished family home.’
She looked around the table and the puckish, three-cornered smile appeared.
‘There seemed only one way of ensuring that – so, I’m leaving it to Xan.’
There was such a deep, stunned silence after this bombshell that the cracking of a log in the fire sounded like a whiplash and we all jumped.
