Flora only half listened as Rose talked of the beautiful house in Portman Square, the family’s high rank in society and the two girls, Violet and Sonia, who were aged fifteen and nine respectively.
‘Of course, Violet is a beauty and Sonia . . . well, poor lamb, let us say she has other qualities to make up for her plainness. She is a rather sweet-natured girl, but it’s Violet who’s the handful. Then again’ – Rose stared out of the window and gave a small smile – ‘one can hardly blame her, given the life that she’s led.’
‘What life, Mama?’
‘Oh’ – Rose shook herself visibly – ‘perhaps it’s just that the first child is always indulged.’
It was Flora’s turn to avert her eyes. But not before she saw a faint blush appear in her mother’s cheeks. They both knew that this had not been the case in their own household.
At one o’clock, Rose declared herself hungry and Flora duly opened the picnic hamper. ‘I do find the food in the dining carriage completely inedible,’ she added as Flora passed her a napkin and a plate. They both gave a little shriek as a tiny black devil jumped out of the hamper and, after a quick glance at his surroundings, disappeared under his mistress’s skirts.
‘Good heavens! What on earth is he doing here? Flora’ – Rose’s eyes bored into her – ‘surely you didn’t secrete him in there?’
‘Of course not, Mama! He’ – tears of joy pricked her eyes, as she swept Panther up from under her skirts and hugged him to her – ‘secreted himself.’
‘What on earth we are going to do with him when we reach London, I really don’t know. I’m sure the Keppels will not want animals living in their house, given the company they keep.’
‘Mama, I understand that Panther may be seen as an inconvenience, but to my knowledge, most children love kittens and it may be that Violet and Sonia do too.’
‘Well, it’s not a good start,’ Rose sighed. ‘Not a good start at all.’
With Panther fast asleep inside the picnic hamper – it almost seemed as if he understood the game he must play – mother and daughter disembarked from the train at Euston railway station.
‘Dear Alice said she’d send her motor car and driver to greet us. Ah, there is Freed now.’
Flora hurried after her mother along the crowded concourse as she walked briskly towards a short man with a neat moustache, wearing a smart dark green coat with shining brass buttons. He took off his cap and gave them a bow. The smell and the relentless noise from both the engines and the crowd were making Flora feel dizzy and overwhelmed. Even Panther let out a fearful yowl of displeasure from the depths of the hamper.
‘Good evening, madam, miss, and welcome to London,’ Freed said, and summoned the porter to assist with their cases. ‘I trust the journey was comfortable?’ he asked politely as Flora and her mother followed him out of the station, the porter trundling behind them with the luggage trolley. An electric brougham was waiting for them, its wooden panels gleaming in the late afternoon sun. They stepped in and settled into the soft leather upholstery as Freed started up the engine with a gentle whirr and they set off into the wide streets of London.
Flora peered out at the fashionable men and women strolling down Marylebone Road, and the imposing buildings that seemed to continue forever skywards. A constant plaintive meowing emanated from the hamper, but Flora didn’t dare open it to comfort Panther while her mother sat next to her.
The brougham circled a magnificent park, ringed by tall brick houses, and pulled up in front of one of them. Immediately, the door opened and a footman appeared to help them down. They entered the house, and the footman offered to relieve Flora of her picnic hamper.
‘No, thank you, sir, I have . . . gifts for the household inside,’ Flora lied swiftly.
Their capes and hats were taken and they were ushered up a narrow flight of stairs and into a parlour that seemed, on first impression, to be more of a greenhouse than an indoor room, filled as it was with sweet-smelling orchids, lilies and enormous Malmaisons in cut-glass vases.
Amidst the lace-covered cushions on a sofa sat perhaps the most beautiful – and certainly the most finely dressed – woman Flora had ever seen. Her rich auburn hair gleamed in an elaborate tumble of curls, strands of pearls around her neck accentuated her alabaster skin, and a deep neckline revealed the swell of an impressive bosom. Her eyes were of the brightest blue and Flora was transfixed as the woman stood up and came across the lavish room to greet them.
‘My dear Rose,’ she said as she embraced Flora’s mother. ‘Was the journey tiresome? I do hope not.’
‘No, Alice, it was perfectly comfortable, though both I and Flora are glad to have arrived.’
‘Of course.’ Alice Keppel’s penetrating gaze then fell on Flora. ‘So this is the famous Flora. Welcome to my home, my dear. I hope you’ll be very happy here. The children are eager to meet you. Nannie told me that little Sonia has spent the day drawing pictures for you. Much to their displeasure, they are now both being bathed and tucked up in bed, so I have promised I shall introduce them to you first thing tomorrow morning.’
A pitiful whine came from inside the picnic hamper and a tiny black paw appeared from underneath the lid.
‘What on earth do you have in there?’ Mrs Keppel asked as all eyes in the room turned to the hamper.
‘It’s a . . . kitten,’ Flora replied, glancing at her mother’s horrified face. ‘Please, Mrs Keppel, I didn’t mean to bring him, but he stowed away.’
‘Indeed? What a resourceful animal he must be.’ She let out a peal of laughter. ‘Let us see this stowaway. I’m sure the children will be utterly delighted.’
Flora bent down to release the leather straps of the basket as Rose murmured embarrassed apologies. Ignoring them, Mrs Keppel bent down too, and as Panther was revealed, she swept him up with a firm and practised hand.
‘What a beauty you are, young man, and mischievous too, I’ve no doubt. I had a similar cat when I was growing up in Duntreath. I am sure he will make a very welcome addition to the nursery.’
As Mrs Keppel handed a wriggling Panther back to his mistress, Flora could have fallen onto her knees and kissed the woman’s feet.
‘Now, dinner is at eight, and I have invited some old friends of yours, Rose dear. I will have our housekeeper, Miss Draper, show you to your rooms to change. Flora, I have put you in a room next to your mother. I hope you will like it.’ Mrs Keppel reached for Flora’s hands and held them tightly. ‘Welcome.’
As they were led up another flight of stairs, Flora wondered if Mrs Keppel’s generous greeting was genuine or just for show. For if it was real, it was the warmest welcome from a stranger she had ever received. As Rose was about to disappear into her room, a thought struck Flora and she pulled her mother aside.