‘Yes, I’m sure you can,’ said Flora, loving Louise for her obliging and grateful nature. And, Flora supposed, her niece had expected nothing more, unaware of the true circumstances as she was. ‘So, Teddy, all this is to be yours.’ Flora swept a hand round the kitchen gaily. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Mother, I am only getting what is rightfully mine, am I not?’ he said with an air of entitlement.
‘Yes, but you know all too well that the High Weald estate takes a lot of work. As Mr Saunders will explain to you, there are scarce funds to maintain it. Especially the farm. You will need to employ a new farm manager,’ Flora added. ‘And some help in the house itself, what with Louise moving to her own home in the summer.’
‘You’ll be here with me to sort all that, Mother. That is, until I marry.’ Teddy smiled slyly. ‘And I may just have someone in mind.’
‘Really?’ Louise’s face lit up. ‘It would be wonderful if we both had children of a similar age who could grow up together. Wouldn’t it, Teddy darling?’
‘I’m not sure she’s the motherly type, but I’m certainly very keen on her.’
‘What a dark horse you are, Teddy. What is her name?’ asked Louise.
‘All will be revealed in time. She’s not from round here.’
‘Well, of course I shall move out as soon as you have a wife,’ Flora said. ‘I can always go to the London house temporarily until we can perhaps refurbish the dower house? It hasn’t been lived in for many years.’
‘The London house will be for my use only from now on. Perhaps when you go up to town, you could stay with your own mother in Albemarle Street? Now,’ Teddy said, checking his watch, ‘I must be off. The London train leaves in half an hour. I shall drive myself to Ashford station in Papa’s Rolls-Royce.’
‘But he hadn’t used it for years, Teddy. It eats up too much petrol and we need the coupons for the farm machinery,’ said Louise, casting a nervous glance in her mother’s direction.
‘I am sure that my estate can afford it just this once. I’ll be home in a couple of days.’ He stood up, pecked both his mother and sister on the tops of their heads and left the kitchen.
There was a stunned silence.
‘Don’t worry, Mother.’ Louise turned to her. ‘There will always be a place for you with us at Home Farm.’
In the following month, Flora steeled herself to say goodbye to High Weald, while Teddy was conspicuous by his absence, up in the London house for most of the time. Flora and Louise struggled to move on from their grief and run the estate between them. Mr Saunders had written a letter to Flora – out of diplomacy rather than need – to advise her that the transfer of the High Weald estate, the London house and the peerage into Teddy’s name was proceeding smoothly and should be finalised by November at the latest.
If Flora and Louise had thoughts on the subject of Teddy’s inheritance, neither wished to admit their doubts. And at least June brought with it a burst of fresh spirit, due to the success of the D-Day landings in France. Flora did her best to focus on Louise’s forthcoming wedding, deciding that she would present her gift to them when Rupert arrived for the weekend to discuss pre-wedding plans. She was gratified to see the delight on their faces as she told them about Arthur Morston Books.
‘Good grief!’ Rupert took out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. ‘And there was me worrying about how I can keep your daughter in the style to which she is accustomed. Well now, you have just given me the answer. I can never thank you enough. I am . . . quite overwhelmed.’
Tears came to Flora’s own eyes as she watched the young couple – so happy and in love – embrace each other. And she knew for certain that she had done the right thing.
‘There is also a small flat above it, which can be modernised to use when you need to stay in town,’ she said. ‘Although I’m sure your brother will offer you the use of his London house.’
‘I doubt it, Mother,’ said Louise. ‘And even if he does, I think the rooms above the bookshop – whatever state they may be in – would suit us far better.’
A few days later, Flora received a telegram from Teddy:
MARRIED DIXIE AT CHELSEA REGISTRY TODAY STOP VERY HAPPY STOP OFF TO ITALY FOR HONEYMOON STOP SEE YOU SOON FOR CELEBRATIONS STOP TELL LOUISE I BEAT HER DOWN THE AISLE STOP TEDDY STOP
Louise read the telegram in silence, her face betraying everything she felt. ‘Oh dear,’ she said.
‘Do you know this girl?’
‘Not well, no. But I certainly know of her. The whole of London does. I was introduced to her briefly by Teddy at New Year.’
‘Who is she?’
‘Lady Cecilia O’Reilly. She’s Irish by birth, and from a good but rather . . . bohemian family. She is without a doubt a head-turner. Every man in the room became silly the second she walked into the Savoy on New Year’s Eve. She has waist-length red hair, and a temperament that is apparently just as fiery. Teddy was mad for her that night, and I reckon that’s why he’s been spending so much time in London lately,’ Louise added. ‘They’ll certainly make an . . . interesting couple.’
‘I see.’ Flora read between the lines of Louise’s comments and her spirits sank even further.
‘Forgive me, Mother. As you have always said to me, one must never judge a book by its cover. Or its reputation. Dixie may be regarded as “fast”, but she might also be a good person. And she’ll certainly liven up High Weald and keep Teddy on his toes.’ She smiled wanly.
That night, Flora lay in bed, her heart aching for the warmth and comfort of the body that used to lie next to her. As she lay back on her pillows, she began to make plans for her own future – and wondered how she could salve her guilty conscience about Louise.
A month later, the new heir to High Weald brought home his equally new bride. Contrary to her expectations, ‘Dixie’ was a young woman Flora liked immediately. With her throaty laugh – engendered, Flora was sure, by the endless strong French cigarettes she smoked – and her gorgeous milky white complexion and willowy frame, she was certainly a force to be reckoned with. She was also ferociously bright, judging by how she proceeded to tear a strip off Teddy for any disingenuous comments he made.
After a viciously alcoholic evening of celebration, where poor Louise turned to wallpaper as Dixie aired her opinions loudly on everything from the Irish situation to the war, and shared her ‘insider’ knowledge of Churchill’s depressive personality, Flora said her goodnights and walked up the stairs to bed. She was at least comforted by the fact that Archie would have appreciated his new daughter-in-law’s vivacious company.
The following day, Flora called Teddy into her study. She kissed him warmly, and bade him sit down.