“Do you suppose your room will keep them cool enough?” I asked Miles.
“I believe so,” he replied. “I don’t suppose it’s critical that they be kept below forty degrees. Fifty-five is likely adequate. Unless the radiator is switched on, it’s not likely to go above that.”
“I should’ve asked how much longer I should wait before planting,” I suddenly realized.
“Planting, is it?” Sir Edmund asked curiously.
“We met Finn earlier, as we were visiting the rose garden,” Miles answered. “He very kindly gave us a tour of his greenhouse, and explained how to go about developing hybrids. It’s a Bannerman tradition Anika would like to continue.”
“It’s really hard to do, and he didn’t want me to get discouraged, so he gave me some seeds to start with,” I finished.
Sir Edmund appeared to be stunned. So did Ashley.
“You don’t say,” Sir Edmund said in amazement. “Finn isn’t big on communication, much less conversation. I must admit, I’m more than a little afraid of the old chap.”
“He isn’t so bad,” Ashley protested mildly, but the amazement in her eyes was unabated. “How ever did you manage to engage him?”
“Finn overheard Anika and me talking about our own rose garden at the estate, and the hybrid varieties my mother and grandmother developed. Anika expressed the desire to do the same, and I suppose it struck a chord,” Miles replied.
“We enjoyed meeting Finn,” I said. The way they were both staring, I felt like I needed to defend him. “He’s really very nice, and very enjoyable to talk to. He’s amazing at what he does.”
“He’s brilliant,” Sir Edmund agreed. “He’s a genius, really, and without much use for others. Either you two are determined to put one over on me, or you bewitched the poor fellow.”
“He wouldn’t be the first,” Miles said, as he wrapped his arm around me. “We’ll only be a moment.”
We left them standing there, still staring, and proceeded up the stairs to the first floor. Which made absolutely no sense, since we didn’t start out in the basement, but, it’s what we did.
“Talk fast,” Miles said, as he closed the door to our room behind us. “What did you learn?”
“A lot,” I answered. “Sir Edmund’s father did die as a result of high cholesterol. He doesn’t suspect foul play, so unless there’s a drug that mimics the effects of prolonged, excessive fatty food consumption on the arteries, neither do I.”
“Good to know. What else?”
“Ashley and Edmund have been together for years. Not openly though, not around his mother. It wasn’t that much of an issue considering how little time he spent with her, and away from Ashley, until they both moved to the manor after graduating. Ashley wanted more than a covert relationship, and Sir Edmund promised he’d tell his mother he loved Ashley, when the time was right. Otherwise, Lady Carlisle would refuse to accept it. Ashley was patient, but finally she had enough stalling. She began pressuring him to tell Lady Carlisle. Ashley didn’t like sneaking around, and really didn’t like the Countess coming between them whenever she and Monsieur visited, and Edmund was expected to stick around and entertain. He kept putting Ashley off, so finally she said if he really loved her, he needed to tell his mother. If he wouldn’t, then she wondered what he was waiting for, or if he ever intended to. This conversation took place yesterday afternoon. Sir Edmund promised he would, so Ashley felt reassured, even when he sent word that he would be unable to join us in the lounge, before dinner.”
“What was he doing instead?”
“He was avoiding her. He did tell his mother he cared about Ashley, and that he’s in a romantic relationship with her. Lady Carlisle was incensed. She called Ashley a commoner, among other things. Sir Edmund was taken aback, he thought his mother liked her. Lady Carlisle was cutting, she said she likes her as staff. She told him to aim higher, and he demanded to know who she thought qualified as such. She said the Countess. Sir Edmund said you can’t be serious, that he cares nothing for her, and they’ve nothing in common. Lady Carlisle said she’s titled, and from a fine family. He said Ashley’s a good person, she’s loyal, and she cares about him, and his mother too. Countess Grieve cares only for herself. His mother demanded he either agree to an engagement with the Countess, or lose everything. She said choose the Countess, and continue on as he has been. Choose Ashley, and he can just get out. Edmund was stunned, he couldn’t believe she said it, much less meant it. Lady Carlisle said if he refused, she’d fire Ashley on the spot. He said you wouldn’t, and she reached for the phone. He said why are you doing this, she said the manor’s been in the family for centuries. There’s nothing she won’t do to save it, and preserve the family name. If he doesn’t feel the same, if he’d rather cheapen himself, then he has no business there any longer, and he’d best collect Miss Fairgrave on the way out. Edmund snapped, don’t fire Ashley. Lady Carlisle said her fate was in his hands, and he left. He’s afraid of being kicked out with no money, and no place to go. Lady Carlisle always keeps tight control, so he has nothing to fall back on. He never realized how important that was before. How is that even possible?”
“Normal is what you’re used to,” Miles replied, as he processed all that. “So… he preferred to let Ashley be blindsided, rather than tell her himself?”
“Evidently, because that’s what he did,” I said grimly. “But it gets worse. Ashley is a believer, but a relationship with God hasn’t been a priority in a long time, not since she got involved with Sir Edmund. She’s rationalized that her choices are okay, because Edmund’s promised he’s committed, and will marry her someday. But last night, what you said about me being a daughter of the King, it convicted her. She suddenly realized how far she’s wandered over the past several years. Sir Edmund had a much greater influence in drawing her away from God, than she did in drawing him to Him. As she sat there, betrayed, the lies that clouded and dulled her mind, were stripped away. She saw the truth.”
“It looks like you’ve a different kind of darkness to fight this time,” Miles remarked.
“Then I guess you know what happened after that,” I replied.
“I’m guessing he showed up after dinner.”
“That’s exactly what happened. She was crying, and he said what he had to, in order to reassure her. It only worked because she wanted to be. He told her the same thing he told us, omitting his mother’s threat. He said nothing had changed between him and Ashley, and it never would.”
“All things considered, that should hardly be reassuring,” Miles frowned.
“Exactly, but, she was desperate to be. So she accepted it. What you said earlier, was perfect. If he didn’t realize he was mistreating her before, he can’t deny it now. It also reminded her of the truth she recognized last night, then so quickly ignored. She’s putting a higher priority on one who’s continuing to let her down, than the One who won’t.”
“She’s fortunate she has a sister visiting, who’s proficient in truth,” Miles said, as we hugged each other. “You’ll find the opportunity to speak, and when you do, you’ll know exactly what to say.”
“Thanks,” I said. “If I don’t drive the point home, it won’t be for lack of trying. What about you? How will you handle Sir Edmund?”
“I’m counting on the words coming to me, too. Do you believe title is all Lady Carlisle cares about? It’s hard to believe she wouldn’t see the Countess’ choice of clothing and lack of communication skills as negatives.”
“Truly, it would appear there are those who care for little else,” I said, and the world around me shimmered, but only for a moment. “Katharine said that to James.”
“Anything else?” Miles asked.
“I’m pretty sure she had more to say to him than that over the course of their lifetime together,” I smiled, and he laughed.
“She did. I heard some of it, myself. If it’s literal you’re after, is that all you heard of either of them, just now?”
“That was i
t,” I replied. “They were both serious, I got that, too.”
“Alright,” Miles considered. “If there’s something there we need to figure out, I’m sure we will. In the meantime, we need to get your seeds put away, so we can get back to Ashley and Sir Edmund, like we said we would.”
“Where should I keep them?” I wondered, as we left our coats in our room, and proceeded to that which was designated as his. It was definitely colder, in here.
“I vote wardrobe,” Miles suggested.
“You don’t suppose someone will come to clean and decide it’s trash, do you?” I asked with concern.
“Going through drawers, would be taking the cleaning of another’s room to an extreme. Still, there’s no reason to chance it. Should anyone attempt to do so, they’ll find this one impossible to open,” Miles said. He placed the seeds inside his drawer of choice, then closed it. “Not even dynamite will reveal its contents, although the same can’t be said for the rest of the wardrobe.”
“Your superpowers are supercool,” I smiled. “I feel completely reassured.”
“Good,” Miles smiled, and I devoted the next several seconds to kissing the cutest guy that ever lived. It was a long morning, with far too little of it devoted to that. But, we had people waiting for us, so further catching up would have to wait. We left the seeds, the wardrobe, and the room, and rejoined Ashley and Sir Edmund on the ground floor.
Chapter 8
“Bannerman Manor was built by William Bannerman the third, in the mid-sixteen-hundreds,” Ashley said, as we paused in front of a portrait of a stern looking gentleman. “It’s uncertain whether it was originally intended as a primary dwelling or not, but over the years it’s alternated between that, and a seasonal home. While more temperate than the surrounding area year round, the summer months are particularly pleasant.”
We followed the perimeter of the large drawing room as Ashley moved from one portrait to the next, introducing the Bannermans who lived there over the years.
“On August 21, 1901, the Bannerman and Carlisle families united, when Evie Bannerman, the only child of Sir William and Lady Frances, married Douglas Carlisle the fourth, the son of Sir Douglas Carlisle, and Lady Nora.”
I had no idea how long it took to travel from New York to the Isle of Camden by boat at the turn of the last century, but it was possible James and Katharine were there for the wedding. I gave the paintings belonging to Evie, Douglas, and her parents, a good look. Unlike the portrait subjects in our gallery, most of whom were painted between the general ages of twenty and thirty, those at Bannerman Manor were decidedly more mature.
“How old were Evie and Douglas, when they were married?” I asked. The years of birth and death weren’t conveniently recorded on the frames, so there was no doing the math. Their names weren’t, either. I wondered how the Carlisles managed to keep track of who was who, over the years.
“I believe Evie Bannerman was nineteen, and Douglas Carlisle twenty-six,” Ashley replied, as she looked to Sir Edmund for confirmation.
“I believe that’s right,” he said.
“Seven years,” I mused. “The same difference as James and Katharine.”
“James and Katharine?” Ashley inquired.
“Bannerman,” I replied. “They were married in July of 1901, then traveled to Europe for their honeymoon.”
“Perhaps they took that opportunity to visit family, here at the manor,” Miles suggested.
“You wouldn’t happen to have any photos from this timeframe, would you?” I asked.
“Very likely,” Sir Edmund replied affably. “In one of any number of the manor’s lumber rooms.”
“We really should see to having them organized,” Ashley said. “Mr. and Mrs. Bannerman are doing that very thing, at their estate.”
“It’s Miles and Anika,” I corrected. “You don’t need to mister and missus, us. We’d prefer you didn’t.”
“Of course, then,” Ashley hesitated. “If you’re quite certain.”
“We are,” Miles affirmed.
“Then Miles and Anika, it is,” Ashley said. “How lovely if indeed, James and Katharine visited. I do wonder, regardless, at what point the families lost touch. I’ve yet to determine it.”
“And indeed, why would they?” Sir Edmund wondered. “It does seem a shame to have perfectly good family out there, and yet fail to keep up with them.”
“Relationships require effort on the part of each generation, to maintain,” Miles replied. “Anika has a large extended family. So long as our children form relationships with the children of her cousins, and so on, the connection will continue. Otherwise, it will be lost. I’ve seen it happen in a single generation.”
“We’ve neither of us family enough to risk losing what we have,” Sir Edmund decided.
“Do you have other family?” I asked.
“If so, I’ve yet to hear of it,” Sir Edmund replied.
“What about on your mother’s side?” I questioned, just to be thorough.
“Not a one,” Sir Edmund answered. “Your husband is all there is. We must see to it that we don’t lose touch again.”
The sound of a ringtone filled the room, and Sir Edmund reached inside his jacket.
“Pardon me a moment,” he said, as he stepped aside. He glanced at the screen, and a look of annoyance crossed his face. “Oh, bother… Yes?”
Miles and I turned back to the portraits, as did Ashley. Out of consideration, we studied them in silence.
“Surely you’re not serious,” Sir Edmund said shortly. “Yes, well, I happen to be occupied, at the moment. As a matter of fact I am, and my new cousin and his wife, as well.”
Sir Edmund moved another step further away, and turned his back. It didn’t make his side of the conversation any less clear.
“Alright, fine! It best not take long. This is not how I care to spend the day, and I’ve plenty to occupy my time without this busywork.”
Sir Edmund listened some more, then jabbed rather violently at the screen of his phone to put an end to his call. He turned back to us apologetically.
“I’m terribly sorry, but my presence is required.”
Demanded, is more like it.
“Is everything quite alright?” Ashley asked.
“Of course, the usual business, you know,” Sir Edmund waved away any cause for alarm. “The ball does tend to rather consume the week before, that’s all.”
I squeezed Miles’ hand twice. Escorting his fiancé to the nearest shopping center was the real order of business, and had nothing to do with the ball.
“I shall have to bow out for the time being,” Sir Edmund apologized.
“I suppose we shall see you at lunch?” Ashley inquired. There was a glimmer of suspicion in her eyes. It wasn’t lost on Sir Edmund.
“I’m afraid I can’t promise when I shall be free,” he said a bit nervously. “The moment I am able, we shall pick up where we left off.”
Judging by the look in her eyes, he’d best not count on it.
“Don’t finish the tour without me,” Sir Edmund ordered, then disappeared into the hall.
Another ringtone sounded, and Ashley reached for her pocket.
“I’m terribly sorry,” she apologized. She glanced at the screen, and her forehead furrowed. “I must take this.”
“That’s perfectly alright,” I assured her.
Ashley moved several steps away, and Miles and I turned back to the portraits. I tried to imagine Evie Bannerman and Douglas Carlisle as young adults, but drew a blank on hair color. All I was sure of, was that they probably didn’t start off gray.
“Yes, ma’am?” Ashley said quietly into her phone.
The ma’am, who was Lady Carlisle more likely than not, spoke. Ashley straightened a little, and her face flushed.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ashley replied with as much dignity as she could muster. “If that is what you wish.”
Where there were no lies, there was no truth conveniently revealed, so I coul
d only guess what that was about.
Ashley turned back to us, a look of apology in her eyes that were otherwise distracted.
“I must go. I suppose you can find your way, from here?” she asked.
“Of course,” Miles replied.
With a brief nod of acknowledgement, Ashley turned and left the room behind her.
“Exactly to where are we supposed to find our way?” I asked quietly.
“Our rooms, I suppose,” Miles replied.
“Our room is as far as you’re getting,” I warned him, and he smiled.
“Even better,” he said, and glanced at his watch.
“What time is it?” I wondered. “And when, and where, do you suppose lunch is?”
“As to where, your guess is as good as mine,” Miles answered. “It’s two o’ clock right now, so as to when, it’s sometime after that.”
“It’s awfully late, already,” I commented, as we followed the corridor in the general direction of our room. “Then again, they serve dinner at ten. Who knows what lunch hours they keep. Maybe we should’ve hitched a ride with Sir Edmund and the Countess, to the nearest shopping center.”
“So that’s business as usual, the week of the ball?” Miles raised an eyebrow.
“That’s business as usual, whenever the Countess visits,” I replied. “Sir Edmund is at her beck and call.”
“Then the Countess isn’t entirely averse to communication after all,” Miles remarked.
“I can’t say for certain she was the one on the other end of the phone,” I felt it necessary to disclose.
“Then the mystery continues,” Miles concluded. “You do realize, it’s six in the morning, Glen Haven time.”
“Ooh,” I said, as I shot him a hopeful look. “What are the chances Xander’s up, and willing to pass on a message to our courier?”
“Chances are great that he’s not only up, he’s also out walking the dogs.”
“Perfect!” I said with enthusiasm.
I was glad to see our corridor up ahead, and better yet, our room. Miles opened the door, and we went inside.
“Finn’s seeds,” I remembered, and he nodded.
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