We dozed off in each other's arms, but then a chill breeze woke us up and we hastily scampered back to the bathing machines and changed into our clothes in case the change in the weather caused Polgrave to return with the dog-cart earlier than half past four. In fact he came back only ten minutes after we had dressed ourselves and we returned back to Motley Hall for tea. Papa did not join us for dinner during which Mama imparted some very bad news. My father had been called to London for an urgent meeting with his bankers, for it appeared that the same wretch who had persuaded Mr. Braithwaite to let the scoundrel in New York handle his affairs had also prevailed upon my father to invest a large sum with the same missing villain.
Although Papa had not lost his entire fortune like Mr. Braithwaite, he had nevertheless suffered a severe financial loss and there was no chance of his being able to offer a loan to Fanny's family. To compound this awful news, my mother informed me that she and Mrs.
Braithwaite were planning a dinner party for Fanny and myself to meet Alfred and Lester Toddington, the twin sons of a local wealthy landowner who had sent them out to India fifteen years ago to make their fortunes, and they had returned home last year, having made a large profit from some transactions in government surplus goods.
'But Mama, Alfred and Lester are in their late thirties!' I exclaimed despairingly. 'Fanny and I have met them before, and they may have lots of money but it would be difficult to decide who is the more boring.' 'Ah, they might seem boring now, but I'm sure that when you get to know them better, you'll find the two gentlemen to be far more entertaining then the callow youths you have been used to,'
Mama replied. 'Anyhow, they have formally asked permission to speak to you and Fanny and it would be most impolite for you to refuse even to meet them.' I made my displeasure known by rising from the table and saying: 'Mama, the very idea of an involvement with either Alfred or Lester Toddington is quite absurd. If we had no financial troubles, you would simply turn down such a request without a second thought.'
'Maybe I would, Cassie, but I am thinking of you far more than any benefits gained by Papa and myself she replied hotly. 'Don't you see that your father and I are greatly concerned that you might not bring any dowry with you into a proposed marriage. If and of course the decision must be yours and yours alone, it transpired that you found one of the Toddingtons to your fancy, the lack of a dowry would be unimportant.' The next morning I discovered that a similar conversation had taken place between Fanny and her Mama, so I will come straight to the point, Charlie. You must come down to Devon as soon as possible and rescue Fanny and myself from the clutches of the Toddingtons! Don't misunderstand me, of course my parents would never force me to marry against my will, and neither would Fanny's – but I need someone whom I trust implicitly to help us work out how best to cool the Toddingtons's ardour without upsetting the apple cart even further. Can't you get away from Oxford for a long weekend?
By all means bring a friend with you (preferably a nice young man because I've bad no boyfriend since I decided to end my relationship with the Honourable Graham Bowe earlier this year after catching him behind the pavilion at the tennis club being sucked off by the vicar's daughter). Write back soon, Charlie dear, and let me know whether you will be able to help two girls in need of a doughty champion.
All my love, Cassandra With a sigh, I put down this heartfelt cri de coeur and carefully folded the sheets of paper back into the envelope.
Clearly, Charles showed me this letter to find out whether I would be willing to assist him rescue these two young damsels in distress.
I hauled myself out of my seat and strode briskly out of the library to take up Charles' invitation to join him for coffee in the common room. Wasting no time, I plumped myself into an armchair next to him and said: 'There's only one question I want to ask you, old chap. Do we go to Devon on Friday or shall we wait until the following week end?' Morley Hall, South Devon, October 25th, 1901 (Before Dinner) From the date above this entry, diary, you will note that Charles and I wasted no time in hastening down to assist Cassandra and Fanny rid themselves of their unwanted suitors. Even if it had meant cutting a lecture or two, we would still have booked tickets on the fast London train. However, Dr Barnes was slightly indisposed and cancelled his Friday seminar. If we return by Monday evening, all we will miss will be an economics lecture and Joshua has promised to supply us with his notes so we will not fall behind in our studies. The only disappointment is that Charles and I have both had to drop out of the college football team's game against Oriel, but unless I am much mistaken, Charles and I may well find ourselves involved in physical sport of another kind tomorrow night. We're in fine fettle for any such engagement for Charles and I left Oxford at eight o'clock this morning and we arrived here by tea-time. What a difference the railway has made to travel.
Journeys which took my parents several days can now be accomplished in a matter of hours, and I am convinced that once perfected, the internal combustion engine will herald a similar revolution in this new century. On the other hand, we'll need to build many more roads to accommodate the growing numbers of motor vehicles and it will be a great shame if we sacrifice the beauty of the countryside. I grant that scientific progress should not be impaired, and there is no doubt that fellows like Julian Clayton derive great fun from driving their motor cars at tremendous speeds of up to forty miles an hour on the better roads. Yet how much more pleasant it is to relax in the luxury of an express train where one can stretch the legs, read a book or simply stare out of the window and then stroll slowly down to the refreshment car for a snack or slap-up meal. Certainly, this is how I enjoyed the journey. A footman met us in a dog-cart to convey Charles and myself on the last mile and three quarters to Morley Hall on the outskirts of the tiny village of Alston. Cassandra was waiting for us at the entrance to the imposing old mansion and I was immediately struck by the striking beauty of this shapely girl.
Charles had told me that his cousin was stunningly pretty and he had not exaggerated by a whit, for Cassandra is blessed with a finely formed face framed by a mass of shiny brown hair which falls in ringlets upon her shoulders. Her eyes are also a deep shade of brown and her clear complexion shows off her aquiline nose and full, sensuous lips. She was wearing a tightly fitting white blouse which accentuated her high, thrusting breasts and I had to tear my eyes away from her heaving bosoms as she ran forward to greet us.
'Charlie, how lovely to see you,' she cried as she threw her arms around him and gave him a huge welcoming hug before she turned to me and held out her hand. 'And you must be Henry Dashwood, I've heard so much about you from Charlie that I feel like I'm meeting an old acquaintance.' 'You're very kind, Miss Morley,' I replied as I shook her hand but she immediately said: 'Do call me Cassie, Henry, all my friends do and you will be my friend, won't you?' 'Oh yes, I would be honoured to be counted in that company,' I exclaimed and the lovely girl escorted us into the house whilst the footman took down our cases from the dog-cart. 'Polgrave, put Charles's case in the blue guest room and Henry's in the bedroom next to it,' Cassie instructed the footman as we followed her into the drawing room where a maid was standing behind two polished cake-stands, waiting to serve tea. Then she turned to us and added: 'Papa has had to go up to London on business and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon, but Mama will be here shortly. This summer she has been attending an art class in Brixham and hopes to bring back her latest picture with her when she returns in about half an hour.' As it happened, Mrs.