Charles had changed. I was always amazed to see him and Philip when they came home; they seemed to grow so fast and to change with it—particularly Charles. He was quite grown-up now; he walked with a swagger and drawled faintly. He was playing the part of a worldly young gentleman. I was faintly amused. I saw his eyes following Grace with some appreciation. I heard Miss Logan say to Miss Everton that she would like to know what he got up to … or perhaps it would be better not to know.
Miss Everton sighed and said: “They don’t remain young long.” She spoke with feeling. I imagined she was thinking they would not be needing her at The Silk House much longer.
Philip was very different from Charles—much more serious, I thought Charles was not very interested in the family business—or ever would be. But he was enormously interested in the female form.
Once, to my horror, I caught his eyes on me as though he were considering … what? I could not imagine. But I did not like that seering glance and I felt myself growing hot under it.
I was in the garden where I used to sit with Grand’mere and I was alone, hoping that she would join me as she often did at this hour. I heard footsteps and looked up expecting her. But it was a young man.
He was very tall and very fair … quite good looking in a Nordic way. When he saw me he smiled pleasantly. “Oh, I say,” he said, “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“No,” I replied. “What… do you want? Are you looking for someone?”
”For Charles Sallonger actually. There wasn’t time to let him know. I’ve left my luggage at the house and as none of the family was in I said I’d look round the garden for a while. It’s a lovely spot. I knew it was in the heart of the forest but I didn’t imagine it quite like this.”
“Are you a visitor? You must be …”
“Drake Aldringham,” he said.
”I might have guessed.”
“Are you … Julia?”
“No. I’m Lenore Cleremont.” Clearly he did not know who that was, so I explained: “I live here. I’m not one of the family. My grandmother works here and it has always been my home.”
He nodded. “It’s a most interesting place. Coming here from the station I thought it was magnificent.”
“Yes, I feel that, too.”
“Charles tells me it is the country house. There is a place in London.”
“Yes, in Grantham Square. I have only been there once or twice. Sir Francis… that is Charles’s father… is there most of the time.”
I liked his friendly looks and the fact that his manner towards me had not changed when he had discovered that I was not a member of the family.
“I daresay Charles or Philip will be in soon,” I said.
“I thought of paying my respects to Lady Sallonger but they said she was resting.”
“Oh yes, she would be at this time. She is very delicate.”
He nodded.
”We have been eagerly waiting for you to come,” I told him.
”How nice of you.”
“We’ve talked about you a lot … about Sir Francis Drake and all that.”
He grimaced. “You can imagine what it has been like going round all my life with a name like that.”
“Inspiring, I should think.”
“A little daunting. They are expecting me to go to sea.”
“And you don’t want to?”
He shook his head. “I want to go into politics.”
“I am sure that will be very exciting. There is always some-thing going on … and you are shaping the country’s destiny.”
He laughed. “You make it sound like a great responsibility … but it is rather like that. I’ve always wanted to know what was going on and how we fit into European politics. My uncle has talked to me a great deal. He knows of my ambition.”
“It must be very satisfying to know what you want in life. It enables you to go straight for it. So many people are undecided.”
“Very often one has to deal with opposition.”
“But that makes it more exciting in a way. How does one begin in politics?”
“Well, you really start at University. I’m in all sorts of things … debating society and political club. I see a great deal of my uncle. I go to the House and see him there. It gets into your blood. I read the newspapers and form my opinions about what is going on. I discuss it with my uncle, who encourages me in every way. I’m lucky to have him. It’s so thrilling to learn of these things. People are apt to shut themselves up in little cocoons. They know what is happening in their immediate circle. They know the Tay Bridge was destroyed. They know Gladstone had defeated Beaconsfield and is in power. They know Parnell is being tried for conspiracy. But they don’t really know what is going on in Africa. What I mean is they don’t know why. I’m talking too much. You must forgive me. I get carried away.”
I said: “I’m very interested. I am sure you would make an excellent politician.”
Just at that moment Grand’mere came into the garden. She was looking for me.
“Grand’mere,” I said. “This is Mr. Drake Aldringham. He has arrived and there is no one to receive him.”
She came towards us. She had great dignity. One would have thought she was mistress of the house.
“We have heard so much about you,” she said. “I am sure Charles will be quite put out that he was not here to greet you.”
“It was my fault,” he said. “I should have let him know, but I thought it was quicker just to come.”
“So you have been received by my granddaughter.”
“Yes, we have been having a very interesting conversation. But I’m afraid I was talking a great deal about myself.”
“That is the sign of a good politician,” I replied, and he laughed.
We sat down by the pool and I went on to say: “Mr. Aldringham has been telling me about his ambitions, Grand’mere.”
We talked about the forest and he said he had been very eager to see The Silk House. It was such an unusual name. One would expect it to be made of silk … if that were possible.
“You know of course that the Sallongers are the biggest manufacturers of silk of the country,” said my grandmother. He did not know, but he was interested and I told the romantic story of the Huguenot St. Ailengeres coming to England and becoming Sallongers. “They had to leave everything they possessed,” I said, “and all they could bring with them was their knowledge of silk.”
He thought it was romantic and exciting and he said he would enjoy his stay at The Silk House all the more because of the fascinating history behind it.
I could see that Grand’mere liked him. She had a very special look in her eyes; she smiled and nodded and talked volubly with a sprinkling of French among her words.
We could have gone on quite happily for a long time but Charles came out. He had returned to the house and was immediately told that his guest had arrived and had gone into the gardens so he had come to look for him and I guessed the sound of our voices had directed him to us.
He stood at the entrance to the garden looking in surprise at Drake Aldringham sitting between myself and Grand’mere chattering to each other like old friends.
“Drake … old fellow,” he said.
Drake stood up.
“So there you are,” he said. “I should have let you know but it seemed more sensible to arrive.”
“It’s good to see you. Sorry I was out and there was no one to receive you.”
“Oh, but there was Miss Lenore and her grandmother. We have had a very interesting chat.”
Charles gave a sharp laugh. He hardly glanced at us. He took Drake’s arm and said: “Let’s go in.”
Drake looked over his shoulder and smiled at us. “I’ll see you later,” he said.