Secrets of Cavendon: A gripping historical saga full of intrigue and drama

Charlie nodded as he leaned back against the cushions, stretching out his artificial leg. ‘He had to beg off. His father is sick, and he felt he had to go to Brighton to sort things out. Bryan’s mother is dead, as I’m sure you know, and I don’t think Bryan’s younger brother is all that good about taking care of their father.’

‘I understand. I like Bryan. He’s an awfully nice man and such a good actor.’ She laughed. ‘I rather thought we might be getting yet another actor in the family, actually. Alicia and he seem like a good fit. What do you think? Is Alicia finally going to tie the knot?’

‘I hope they make it permanent. He’s a fine chap—’

‘Hello, Aunt Ceci!’ Alicia exclaimed as she floated into the room, looking lovely in a summer frock of checked lilac and purple cotton, which Cecily had given her last year.

‘I’m so glad you both came up,’ Cecily replied, smiling at her niece.

‘About our mother,’ Alicia began, and then stopped abruptly when she saw Charlie shaking his head, warning her off.

Looking at his sister, Charlie said, ‘I’ve already apologized to Aunt Cecily, and she fully understands about Mother being exhausted, Alicia. There’s no problem here.’

‘There certainly isn’t!’ Cecily exclaimed. ‘I know Daphne will come back, sooner than we think, and everything will be back to normal. Cavendon is her home, and Hugo’s and yours. This is where you all belong.’

‘Goodness me, am I late?’ Aunt Charlotte asked from the doorway, walking in, coming to join them near the fireplace.

‘I think we were a bit early,’ Charlie replied, standing up to greet the Dowager Countess. He went over to Charlotte, escorted her into the room; Alicia joined him, welcoming her as well.

They all sat together talking for a few minutes, when Charlie suddenly focused on Cecily and asked quietly, ‘Isn’t Greta here? I thought she was coming to see you this weekend?’

‘She is at Cavendon, yes, Charlie. She and Dottie are here for a meeting about changes we’re planning in my business. But my mother invited them both to lunch.’ Greta’s half-sister, Elise, was best friends with Victoria, the young girl who had been taken in as an evacuee by Walter and Alice Swann when she was ten years old. Now almost twenty-one, Victoria was working as a photographer in London.

Poor Greta. She was going to get quite a grilling about how Victoria was doing in the big city.

A faint smile played around Cecily’s mouth, then she laughed, as she added, ‘As you well know, my mother is forever wanting news of her little evacuee, whom she and my father love very much. She’s like a second daughter to them. Mam’s missed her since she moved down to London.’

‘I’ve no doubt Greta is getting quizzed at this very moment. I know how Mrs Alice feels,’ Charlie answered. ‘But she has nothing to worry about. Victoria is doing well, and because Elise works in the reporter’s room at my place, I get constant updates about her friend all the time.’ The mischievous grin he was well known for suddenly surfaced. ‘Surely you must realize by now that both girls treat me like their big brother.’

‘More like their great hero,’ Cecily shot back, knowing how the two young women felt about Charlie. They were in awe of him, almost worshipful.

‘You know, Aunt Ceci, the next time you want to have some of your clothes photographed, you ought to try Victoria,’ Charlie said. ‘I’ve seen some of her pictures and she’s extremely talented. I know she’s still young, but Paloma is very proud of Victoria’s talent, which she helped to nurture. She thinks she will go far.’

‘That’s a very good thought. I’ll keep it in mind.’

At this moment the door opened again and Eric entered the library. Looking at Cecily, he said, ‘Lunch is served, Lady Mowbray. His Lordship is waiting for you in the dining room.’

It was one of those lunches where everyone was friendly, warm and chatting to each other continually. Obviously, they were happy to be with family.

Charlotte sat at the right of Miles, and was engaged in a long conversation with David, his eldest, while Miles was questioning Alicia about her new film, due to start soon.

Walter and Venetia were focused on Charlie, wanting to know what it was like to work on a newspaper, asking questions. And Gwen was taking every ounce of Cecily’s attention.

‘Can I help you design the clothes?’ the eight-year-old was begging her mother. ‘You said I was very good at sketching.’

‘Yes, you are, my darling,’ Cecily replied, not wanting to discourage her youngest child, who was indeed talented when it came to drawing. ‘I shall be starting the new collection soon. You can help me to do my research.’

Gwen gazed up at her mother, a smile of adoration flooding her face. ‘Oooh,’ she sighed, ‘thank you, Mummy. What will I research with you?’

‘The gardens – the ones designed by Uncle Harry. That’s going to be my theme for the collection of 1950.’

‘A garden collection,’ Gwen said.

Cecily stared at her intently, and then laughed. ‘Why, of course it will be a garden collection. I shall call it Autumn Garden. You see, you’ve helped me already, Gwen.’

Deep within the inner recesses of her mind, Cecily knew that Miles would be angry with her when she gave him the bad news. Not because she didn’t have the money to give him for the estate taxes, or because her business was in trouble. He would be angry because she hadn’t confided in him earlier, shared her worries.

Miles expected her to tell him everything. He had been that way since their childhood, wanting every piece of her, every little bit, every thought, every feeling. Even when they were apart, after his unhappy marriage to Clarissa, she was aware he was still involved with her emotionally, in love with her. She knew because everyone told her he asked questions about her constantly. ‘He’s very possessive of you,’ her brother had once told her. ‘He’d control your life from a distance if that were at all possible.’

At the time she had not been impressed. In fact, she had been angry, disdainful of Miles when answering Harry. And she had made sure she never ran into Miles at Cavendon, or anywhere else for that matter. She believed he would want her as his mistress if she so much as gave him a half smile.

Now she looked down the table at him, staring at him with intensity. He noticed her fixed scrutiny as he turned away from Alicia and picked up his glass of water.

He smiled at her, love suffusing his face.

She smiled back.

Their eyes locked and for a moment neither could look away from the other.

It was always like that between them … They had their quarrels and disagreements, and sometimes became angry with each other, but their little spats were over in a very short time, and about nothing of great importance, in actuality.

What she had to tell him was important. She decided to take a wholly different approach, and she would do it tonight. After dinner, they usually had a little quiet time together in their upstairs sitting room before they went to bed. Her thoughts continued to turn about this matter through the latter part of the lunch, and by the time it was over she was fully prepared, everything in place in her mind. She was armed and ready to deal with him.

Once everyone had left the table, and gone off to do other things, Cecily went downstairs to the kitchen, heading for Eric’s office. She found him behind his desk, and he jumped up at once, welcomed her, pulled out the chair so she could sit down.

‘Thank you for the notes about the wine cellar and the stock, Eric,’ Cecily began. ‘I am going to mention the possibility of an auction, in passing, to Miles tonight. However, Aunt Charlotte will take it up with him later in more detail. Along with several other things.’

‘Perhaps she should be the one to mention the idea of paying guests during the grouse season,’ Eric suggested, throwing Cecily a quizzical look. ‘I did ask Percy if he could make a few enquiries and find out which aristocratic families are inviting Guns who pay for the privilege of shooting at a stately home.’

‘That was a good move, and knowing that others are doing it would perhaps influence Miles.’

Eric said, ‘About the wooden box up in the main attic, m’lady. I took the liberty of opening it, and bringing down the contents. They are paintings which belonged to Lady DeLacy, from her flat in London. I took them to Lady Diedre’s old room and stacked them in there.’

‘Thank you very much, Eric.’ She gave him a small smile, which faltered, then added, ‘It was thoughtful of you not to take them to Lady DeLacy’s room …’ She broke off, blinking back unexpected tears, swallowing hard, pushing back a sudden rush of emotion.

‘It struck me that having them there would have been too much for you to bear … a neutral room seemed the best under the circumstances,’ Eric explained. He knew how close they had been, understood it might be painful.

‘Some are by Travers Merton, aren’t they?’

‘Yes, and very beautiful.’ Eric unlocked the top drawer of his desk, and took out an envelope, handing it to her across the desk. ‘This is the key for the new steamer trunk you bought. Actually, there are two keys, m’lady, and you should put both of them in your private safe in your bedroom. Better they’re locked up.’

‘I will do that. Aunt Charlotte kept the Swann record books under lock and key all her life, and I must do the same. And thank you again for helping me to fit so many notebooks into the trunk. It was quite a task.’

‘And an amazing record of the Swann family, and the Inghams, and things that happened to them over the centuries. Full of secrets, too, I’ve no doubt.’

If only you knew, Cecily thought, you’d never believe it. But she remained silent. After a moment, she went on, ‘Now that Lady Daphne has gone to Zurich for an indefinite period, I think Ted can relax a little, concentrate on repairs more than redecorating, Eric.’

‘I agree. By the way, the bedrooms not in use have all been closed. I’ve put dustsheets over the antiques in the North and East Wings, attics as well. But obviously the South Wing is open. Even though Lady Daphne and Mr Hugo are away, I’m sure their wing should be open. After all, their children will keep coming up for weekends.’