When It Rained at Hembry Castle Chapter 14

Ready for the Queen

T

here was more to learn about life at Hembry Castle than Daphne ever imagined. Her enthusiastic Americanisms weren’t proper, as her grandmother constantly reminded her, not at Hembry, not with any other fine British family, and most certainly not at Court.

“Everyone will be watching,” Lady Staton said from her throne-like armchair in the sitting room. “People would love nothing more than to see the Earl of Staton’s American niece fail at Court, so we will do everything in our power to make certain that you shine far above everyone’s expectations.”

“What will happen if I do something wrong, Grandma?”

“You will do nothing wrong.”

“What if…”

“It’s not up for discussion, Daphne. You will be perfect.”

“But the presentations don’t begin again until spring. Is it necessary to start practicing in September?”

“You should have been practicing since the day you were born.” The Countess squinted at her granddaughter and set her ear trumpet in place. “Rowland?”

Leslie Rowland came to life where she had been standing in the corner. “Yes, my lady.”

“I’d like to begin getting my granddaughter’s clothing ready for her presentation.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You’re familiar with what she’ll need? The length of the train and such?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“My granddaughter has informed me that in America she makes her own clothing, but that will not suffice here, will it, Rowland?”

“No, my lady.”

“That is all.”

Rowland disappeared. At that moment Daphne wished she could disappear as well, from Hembry Castle, from England altogether. She was ready to run up to her room, pack her bags, and set off for the ships in Liverpool and take her chances with finding passage home. She wasn’t quick enough, and Lady Staton gestured for her to stand.

“We’ll need to continue working on your posture, Daphne. Head high, shoulders back. Walk gracefully, confidently. You’re the niece of the Earl of Staton. Your grandfather was one of the most respected men in the country, as your uncle is, or as he will be when he pulls himself together. Every movement you make, every turn of your head, every wave of your hand shows pride in your family. Now walk from here to the window.”

“Grandma, I don’t think...”

“Daphne.” Lady Staton sighed. “Why did your parents insist on giving you such a common name? They couldn’t have named you Elizabeth, or Victoria, or Charlotte?”

“My mother named me after her favorite aunt.”

“Of course she did. Now do make your dear Grandmamma happy and walk to the window and back.”

Daphne was tempted to skip like a little girl, but she was afraid her grandmother’s squint would crack off her face if she did. She glided away in her most demure manner, moving as few muscles as possible as she had seen from her grandmother and other visiting ladies. When Daphne returned from the window, Lady Staton shook her head.

“How could your father raise you without teaching you the most basic mannerisms? We have so much to do and so little time. You will learn to act like the niece of the Earl of Staton if it kills me.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, Grandma.”

“You still need to learn the concept of polite conversation. It won’t do to share everything you’ve ever thought or felt with complete strangers. And you must learn to control your emotions whilst speaking. Americans are far too boisterous. What do you have to be so happy about?”

“What do you have to be so dour about?”

“I’m not dour, Daphne. I’m well bred. Join me in the dining room.”

Daphne followed her grandmother into the dining room, though even the bright yellow walls couldn’t cheer her.

“Please sit, Daphne.”

Daphne sat at the table. Mr. Ellis watched Henry Horrocks as the footman set a dinner place in front of Daphne.

“It isn’t luncheon, is it, Grandma?”

“No, my dear, it’s time to learn some etiquette. First, you must sit up straight. Sit a comfortable distance from the table so that your hands are level with the knife and fork. Do not ever put your hands on the table.”

“We do in America.”

“I’ve noticed.” Lady Staton sat beside Daphne and took the knife and fork in her hands. “Hold your knife and fork in this way.” She held her knife in her right hand and her overturned fork in her left. She gestured with her fork. “After you cut your food, do not stab it like you’re attacking your enemy with a pitchfork. Why do Americans insist on holding cutlery in such an undignified manner?”

“I can say in all honesty, Grandma, I’ve never given a moment’s thought to why we hold our forks the way we do. It does seem like more work, though, pushing the food onto the back of the fork with a knife. Why not just use the side of the fork that works?”

“Are children allowed to run wild in the streets in America?”

“I don’t believe so, Grandma.”

“If they don’t run wild in the streets then they should not be allowed to use flatware like heathens. Now, don’t begin eating until everyone has been served unless the hostess gives her permission. Never eat too fast or too slow, but observe your hosts and eat at the pace they’ve set. Never make noises of any kind.”

“What if I have to burp?”

“You will save your slurping for your own time, in private. When you are finished, you will place your utensils with the tines facing up on your plate like so.” The Countess nodded at her own elegant display.

Suddenly, Daphne understood her father. She understood why he ran from England, why he loved their comfortable life in Connecticut, and, most importantly, why he had been so reluctant to return. Hembry Castle was beautiful. The history contained within those walls, the art and the sculptures and the very house itself, told stories of a past Daphne cherished since it was her family’s past. But the way you had to conduct yourself when you lived there was wearying to her brain and burdensome to her soul, and she wondered how much longer she would stay in England. She looked at the Georgian clock on the mantelpiece and thought she could still make a dash for Liverpool and find passage for home if she were quick about it. Thoughts of home made her smile. She pictured the whitewashed two-story house by the river that she shared with her father, the sailboat at the end of their dock bobbing in the wind-blown ripples. Daphne exhaled loudly enough for her grandmother to hear without her ear trumpet. Then she realized this too shall pass. She would be going home soon. She was thankful when her father walked into the dining room.

Frederick kissed Daphne’s cheek and then his mother’s. “Hello, my darling. Hello, Mamma.”

“Hello, Frederick. Daphne and I were preparing for her presentation.”

“In the dining room?”

“You must begin somewhere.” The Countess stood, returning her ear trumpet to a useful location. “You must tell me about Richard, Frederick. Have you made any progress?”

“Progress?”

“You must have located your brother by now and persuaded him to return home. Did you make him realize his duty is here now?”

Frederick dropped into a dining room chair and stared at the flower moldings on the ceiling. “Yes, I persuaded him to come home, but I can’t say I’ve made any progress. I think he’s hiding something, but he won’t confide in me.”

“I don’t care what he’s hiding,” said the Countess. “He must be made to understand that he no longer has the option of leaving Hembry to go gallivanting with his friends. He is the Earl of Staton!”

Frederick paced to the window to watch the gathering storm clouds, such a contrast to the brightness of the summer-yellow room. “I don’t know how to say this Mamma, but it’s best to come out with it. I think there’s something wrong with Richard.”

“Oh no.” Daphne joined her father by the window. “Is he sick?”

“Not ill, not exactly. I think he’s terribly sad.”

The Countess nodded. “He’s certainly behaving in a bad way.”

“Not bad, Mamma. Sad. Something is bothering him.”

“Tiddlysquats!” The Countess swatted some invisible pest near her face with the back of her hand. “I’m sad too. I’m sad my eldest son isn’t able to perform his duties after his father worked his entire life to preserve this estate for him, and his children, and his children’s children. Your brother must leave behind those ridiculous men he insists on carrying on with. They’re silly, vain men and they set my teeth grinding whenever your brother brings them here. Why doesn’t Mr. Hough tell him? Mr. Hough is a reasonable man. Even when they were at university together Mr. Hough was the one with common sense. You should make Mr. Hough talk to your brother, Frederick, if you refuse to do it.”

“I’m not refusing anything, Mamma. I’ve been trying to talk to Richard for as long as I’ve been here but he won’t hear me. And it’s not my place to make Mr. Hough do anything. Besides, I don’t know how commonsensical Mr. Hough is. After all, he accompanies Richard virtually everywhere he goes. It’s a wonder he’s able to keep up with his duties here.”

“Do you know what I think, Frederick?”

“I do, but you’ll tell me again anyway.”

“I think the only thing wrong with your brother is the fact that your father coddled him. Your father should have kept Richard at home and made certain he learned his responsibilities.”

“Do you think you can force Richard to stay any more than you forced me?”

The Countess heard him. She had her ear horn in place, and Frederick had all but shouted the words. Daphne waited, not sure what to do. Though she didn’t often agree with her grandmother, she didn’t want to return to Connecticut with hard feelings on either side. For a flash, before she could pull her features into her unyielding mask, the Countess looked beaten. Then, as quickly as the weakness came on, it vanished.

“I forbid Richard to see those ridiculous men ever again.”

“I’m afraid that attitude isn’t going to help, Mamma.”

The Countess turned her most disapproving look onto her middle son, and an impressive disapproving look it was. “I have a mind to…”

“To what, Mamma? Unless you tie Richard down with rope and sailor knots, I don’t see what can be done.”

The Countess blew away on her icy wind, leaving Daphne and her father alone in the dining room. Frederick looked around as though he wanted to be certain they were alone—there were no servants standing silently by or hiding behind the curtains.

“What do you think is wrong with Uncle Richard?”

“My guess is your uncle has more troubles than he’s willing to admit to.”

“So what do we do?”

“I don’t know. He’s so uncommunicative these days. I know there’s always been a level of detachment to him. Even when we were boys I knew he had secrets he didn’t share with me, or with anyone. When he met Hough when they were at Oxford I was grateful that he finally had a friend he seemed to confide in. But lately Richard seems resigned somehow, que sera sera, what will be will be. I told him I can’t be of any help unless he tells me what on earth is going on.”

“Maybe if I talk to him,” Daphne said. “Maybe he’ll tell me.”

“It certainly won’t hurt for you to try. Now let’s move onto more pleasant topics. What did you think of Lord Darges?”

“Who?”

“The young man who was clearly smitten with you when he came to dine. The future Duke of Norley.”

“He seemed nice enough. I didn’t see we had much in common. All he talked about was hunting.”

“He was trying to impress you with his physical prowess. Do you think you might come around to liking him if you discovered that you did indeed have things in common?”

Daphne shook her head. “You’re starting to sound like Grandma. Are you trying to marry me off too?”

“Never. I’m merely interested in your opinion. I believe young Mr. Ellis is also interested in your feelings toward Lord Darges.”

“Why?”

“For such a perceptive girl, my dear, you’re blind when it comes to young men’s intentions toward you. Edward Ellis is in love with you.”

“Don’t be silly. Edward and I are friends.”

“Edward? Things must have progressed if you’re on a Christian name basis.”

“Nothing has progressed. I was tired of being Miss Daphne or Miss Meriwether to everyone. I’m Daphne to my friends and Edward and I are friends. After all, you and Edward are on a first name basis.”

“True enough. And you have things in common with Mr. Edward Ellis?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. Edward and I share a love of the same books. I admire his work as a journalist, which I happen to have some experience with, and he’s a wonderful author in his own right. We both think education is important for everyone, not only the wealthy, and we both find people at Hembry rather odd.” Daphne saw those bright hazel eyes that flashed between green and brown and gold. She mimicked her grandmother’s sharp tone when she spoke. “Don’t be difficult, Frederick. Young Mr. Ellis and I are friends, and that is all.”

“Whatever you say, my dear.”

“Besides, we’re going home soon, and it doesn’t pay to form any attachments here.”

Frederick sat at the table and pulled out the chair beside him. “Come sit, Daphne. That’s precisely what I wanted to speak to you about.” Her father looked serious. “My dear, I know we planned on staying in England only for a short time, and I had wanted to leave before the winter weather started, but is there any way I could convince you to stay a while longer?”

“How much longer?”

“I can’t say for certain. Your Uncle Richard is having a difficult time. As I said, I believe something is wrong. You see how your grandmother is about the situation. Your Uncle Jerrold is the same. They see only family duty, not the human being behind the expectations. Richard is struggling, and I think, I hope, I can be of assistance to him in some small way. Who knows? Perhaps we can even find him a nice wife who will help settle him down.”

“Do you really think a wife will fix him?”

“At this point I’m willing to try anything.”

Daphne watched the pink-light sun appear suddenly, as was its habit in England. In Connecticut if it rained it rained all day. At Hembry it rained, it cleared, and rained again all in a matter of moments.

“Of course we can stay, Papa. I want to help Uncle Richard too. Although,” she grimaced, “if we stay until spring then I’ll have to go through with Grandma’s plan to have me presented at Court.”

Frederick laughed. “It might not be so bad. It will be something to tell your grandchildren about one day, that you were presented at Queen Victoria’s Court. Does the fact that you’ll be presented make you reconsider Lord Darges?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Never fear, my dear. Your grandmother will have plenty more young men lined up before long.”

“She can line them up all she likes. I’m not getting married unless I’m in love.”

Frederick held his arm out to his daughter, and together they left the dining room and the day’s etiquette lesson behind.