‘Which is to sell?’
‘Yes,’ Donald answered. ‘Put bluntly, I have no choice.’
‘But it will break your mother’s heart if you do, surely?’
‘As you yourself said, I can’t allow my emotions to come into it. I must be pragmatic, above all.’
‘Have you mentioned this situation to Violet?’ Ralph asked.
‘No, but I’m presuming that if she wishes to marry me, she’ll love me enough for where we live to be an irrelevance.’
Donald couldn’t help but smile to himself as his comment hit home.
‘Of course,’ Ralph agreed after a pause. ‘Once you’ve paid your creditors, will there be anything left over from the sale of Astbury?’
‘Enough to buy a decent enough sort of house in the country and to keep our London place.’
‘I see.’
‘I’m hoping this should be enough to satisfy your daughter’s future requirements,’ Donald added.
‘Do I take it you’re asking for my daughter’s hand in marriage?’
‘Yes,’ Donald agreed. ‘Though I can understand after what we’ve just discussed that you may feel it unwise to consent to it. After all, I can’t give her what other suitors might be able to.’
‘Well, listen here, young man, despite what I’ve just said, even I must realise that money is not the most important consideration here. It’s my daughter’s heart and her future that matter to me. Have you spoken to her of your feelings?’
‘No, I felt it was inappropriate until I’d talked to you.’
‘Well now, Donald, you’ve sure given me something to think about. But I guess, at the end of the day, it’s Violet’s decision, one way or the other.’
‘So, do you give me permission to ask her?’
‘Yes. However, I’d prefer you not to mention to her the fact that you’re considering selling Astbury. We both know that won’t be the case if she consents to your proposal. I’m a father, and I want my little girl to have the best.’ Ralph drained the rest of the brandy in his glass and looked hard at Donald. ‘Young man, I have to admit I wasn’t sure about you, but your honesty during this conversation has won me over. I think you’d make a fine husband for my daughter.’
‘Thank you, Ralph. I’m glad that you feel that way.’
‘I’m happy if my girl’s happy. Now, shall we go and join the ladies in the drawing room?’
Perhaps it was emotional osmosis, but all three women looked up expectantly at Ralph and Donald as they came into the room.
‘I’m ready for my bed. Sissy, will you join me?’ Ralph said pointedly to his wife.
‘Of course,’ said Sissy, who kissed Violet goodnight before she left the room.
Maud also followed suit, wishing both Violet and Donald pleasant dreams.
‘So, here we are, then,’ said Donald awkwardly when finally they were alone.
‘Yes, here we are,’ said Violet.
Donald sat down in a chair opposite her. ‘You know, I was just saying to your father how much I’ll miss your company when you return to New York next week.’
‘Will you?’ asked Violet, wide-eyed. ‘Oh, my!’
‘Yes, I will. In the past month, you must have noticed that I’ve grown exceedingly fond of you.’
‘Well, that’s very sweet of you to say, Donald, thank you.’
‘And I was just discussing with your father a way in which I could perhaps persuade you to stay longer.’
‘Such as?’
‘Well –’ Donald took a deep breath. ‘Violet, I’ll understand if you feel this is an inappropriate suggestion, for I’ve no idea about your feelings for me. But I found that I’ve rather fallen for you. So, I was wondering if I could – er – ask if you wished to be my wife?’
She glanced at him, a glimmer of a smile on her lips. ‘Donald Astbury, are you trying to propose to me?’
‘Yes, and I apologise if I seem a little awkward. Don’t do this sort of thing every day, you know.’ Donald took another deep breath and went down on one knee in front of Violet. He took her hands in his. ‘Violet Drumner, I am asking you if you would make me the happiest of men and do me the honour of marrying me.’
She looked down at him but did not reply.
Feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable in the ensuing silence, Donald continued. ‘I completely understand if there’s another who has stolen your heart, and I promise I’ll take your refusal like a man.’
At this, Violet threw back her head and laughed. ‘You mean Harry Charlesworth?’
‘Yes, as a matter of fact, I do,’ he replied, not seeing the joke.
‘Oh, Donald, excuse me.’ Violet tried to compose herself. ‘Harry has no romantic interest in me whatsoever. In fact, he has no interest in any girl at all, if you understand my meaning.’
‘You mean he’s a homosexual?’
‘Why yes! Of course. Isn’t it obvious?’
‘Not to me, no.’
‘Well now,’ Violet said, regaining her composure, ‘I’m sure that Harry will continue to be one of my best friends in the future. As a matter of fact, I spoke to him a lot about you.’ Suddenly, Violet’s eyes were serious. ‘He told me that you were a dark horse.’
‘Did he now?’
‘Oh yes, apparently there was some talk last year in London about you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, something about you having a mystery woman and hiding her away.’
‘My goodness.’ Donald showed his genuine surprise. ‘I didn’t realise my movements were so closely observed.’
‘Donald Astbury!’ she chided him. ‘You’re a peer of the realm, and an eligible one at that. Of course people were watching you. So, before I give you my answer, I want to know whether it was true. Did you have a secret love?’
Donald tried to form an eloquent response, knowing it was essential he did so. ‘There was someone whom I was close to, yes. But I promise you, Violet, it was all over a long time ago.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Completely.’ For the first time, Donald actually believed his own words.
‘Well, I must say, I’m surprised at your proposal. I had an idea you weren’t interested in me at all,’ Violet confessed.
‘Really?’
‘Yes, I mean –’ she blushed prettily – ‘I think you may have realised a while back I was mighty interested in you.’
‘Then the question is, are you still?’
‘Why, Donald! How can you even doubt it? I feel I’ve done just about everything to show you in the past few weeks. You honestly haven’t seen it?’
‘To be truthful, I thought you’d fallen for our friend Harry Charlesworth.’
‘No, you goose! I spent most of my time complaining to him about the fact that you didn’t seem to notice me. When the whole of London knows how madly in love with you I am.’
‘Are you really?’ Donald asked in wonder.
‘Of course, and I have been since the first moment I saw you walking up onto the terrace in your riding breeches!’ She lowered her eyes coquettishly.
‘So, does that mean you might consider becoming my wife?’
‘Yes. In fact, I’d be awful happy to say yes right now.’
‘Then I’m a very happy man too.’ Donald pulled Violet to her feet and took her in his arms. ‘So, if we are to consider ourselves formally engaged, may I kiss you?’
‘I think you might, yes, but I do have to ask one thing: do I get a ring?’
‘Violet –’ Donald was aghast – ‘I have it upstairs, I can go and get it now. I—’
Violet put a finger to Donald’s lips. ‘Hush, I was only teasing.’
Donald reached for her lips then, and they were soft and welcoming. He didn’t feel the same urgent passion that he had for Anni, but he was gratified by her obvious eagerness. He broke away eventually and tipped Violet’s chin so that he could look into her eyes. ‘So, shall we tell everyone tomorrow that Lord Astbury has chosen his future “Lady”?’
‘That would be wonderful. But I don’t think they’ll be surprised. We ladies presumed the reason you were so long over brandy and cigars tonight with Pa was because you were asking him for my hand. I’ve no doubt my parents will be pleased. My mother knows how I feel about you, and I gather from Pa’s sudden desire to go to bed early tonight that he didn’t pose any objections. And as long as Pa’s happy, I think you’ve got yourself a deal.’
‘Well, then, it looks like I have,’ Donald said, smiling at her turn of phrase. He yawned suddenly. ‘Forgive me, Violet, I feel completely exhausted. It’s probably the tension of having to speak to your father. Shall we retire?’ He offered her his hand and she slipped her slim, cool fingers into his. They walked from the drawing room into the main hall and stood together at the bottom of the stairs.
‘I can hardly believe that this is to be my new home,’ she said in wonder as she looked up at the vast dome above her. ‘But I do think it could do with a lick of paint, don’t you?’ she asked as they walked slowly up the stairs.
‘Most definitely.’
‘And I’ll bet there’s no proper heating installed, and I’d guess it gets pretty cold here in the winter.’
‘Again, you’re right,’ he said as they reached the top of the stairs. ‘Goodnight, then, beautiful Violet.’
‘Goodnight,’ she said quietly, and then turned away to walk along the corridor to her bedroom.
Donald turned in the opposite direction to go to his. Once inside, he sat down on the narrow bed and stared out of the window into the moonlight.
‘Anni, wherever you are, please know I’ll love you forever. Forgive me.’
Then he put his head in his hands and wept.
32
30 September
V’s ‘folks’, as she calls them, are about to return to New York. Daddy Drumner has to get back there for business reasons – presumably to count his millions. Violet is staying on at Astbury to organise the wedding with Mother. If I was hoping for a quiet affair, I’m going to be disappointed. Anyone would think it was a royal occasion from the numbers V is determined to invite. Thank God Daddy Drumner is coughing up the cost of it for his little girl. Last night, he took me into the library for a discussion . . .
‘So,’ Ralph said as he poured himself a large brandy, sat down in a chair and lit a cigar, ‘it warms my heart to see my little girl so radiant.’
‘I will do everything in my power to see that she stays that way, sir,’ said Donald, sitting down opposite him.
‘Now, let’s get down to the detail – the matter of Violet’s fortune. It will come into her hands in six weeks’ time, on her twenty-first birthday. It’s a serious amount of money, but I’m aware that a large chunk of it will be needed to pay off the estate’s debts and restore the place she’s going to make her future home.’
‘Ralph, as I said to you that evening when I asked for Violet’s hand, if you’re uncomfortable with this scenario, I’m happy to tell Mr Kinghorn the estate is his. We can move into something much smaller.’
‘And as you well know, young man, my daughter would be horrified at the thought,’ Drumner countered. ‘Let’s cut to the chase: I’d like to know from you exactly how much. And you can add another fifty grand on top of that for the interior. You’ll discover my daughter will only want the best. Can you do that for me, son?’
‘I can certainly do what I can to give you a general idea,’ Donald agreed.
‘Well, just don’t be shy. I’m a great believer in getting things right from the start, and I want Violet to have the best damned house in England. Whatever it takes, I can assure you there’s enough to fund it. And then some,’ Ralph added. ‘Her investments have shot through the roof since the war. Violet is a very wealthy young woman. All I ask of you is that you make my little girl happy. If you don’t, if there’s any messing around – and you know what I mean by that – I won’t be pleased. Understand me?’
‘I do,’ agreed Donald, thinking that Ralph Drumner certainly knew how to dispense with etiquette as well as emotions.
‘As long as we’re on the same page, I’m all for the marriage. It seems you have a project on your hands, and given I’ll be the one writing the cheques as Violet’s advisor, I suggest you start gathering quotes as soon as you can.’
‘I will.’
As Donald began to investigate the costs of restoring the fabric of the building, Violet busied herself with the interior design. The house became awash with curtain fabric samples, and tradesmen arrived from London to offer her furniture in the modern style, colourful rugs, lampshades and new mattresses for all the beds, which she insisted on herself and Donald trying out.
‘If we are to invite weekend houseguests, I simply can’t have them sleeping on the ones here at the moment. They’re probably crawling with bedbugs too.’ Violet shuddered as she climbed off a mattress laid out on the drawing-room floor. She grabbed a sample of gold damask cloth and held it up to the window. ‘Don’t you think this would look darling in here? It would make the room so warm. Or –’ she put it on top of her blonde tresses – ‘shall I wear it as a veil instead?’ She walked towards him and gave him a fond kiss on the cheek. ‘It would just be swell to get the house looking the piece by the time all our friends arrive for the wedding.’
Donald knew that if anyone could get this house in order that quickly, it was Violet. Already, floorboards were up all over the place, with plumbers and electricians surveying what could be done to bring heat and modern lighting to the house, and painters gathered to plan for the enormous job of decorating the rooms once the basics had been done. Donald sent the quotes by post and telegram to Ralph as they came in, his eyes watering at the cost. So far, he had received no complaints.
Violet had already engaged an interior designer, Vincent Pleasance, whom one of her smart London friends had recommended. Personally, Donald couldn’t bear Vincent, as he minced around the Hall extolling his vision of the new Astbury to Violet.
‘Good grief,’ said Maud at breakfast one morning when Violet was otherwise engaged with Vincent redesigning the master bedroom. ‘Can’t she see it’s the emperor’s new clothes? That ghastly little man will have you lying at night in a tart’s boudoir if you’re not careful, Donald.’
‘I’ve told him not to touch my dressing room, Mother. I’ve said I like it just the way it is.’
‘I should hope so too. Violet has also suggested that Vincent comes to cast his eye over the Dower House to “update” it for when I move in there after your marriage. Suffice to say, I’ve declined his help. It will do me very well just as it is.’
The wedding date had been set for early April 1920. Donald removed himself thankfully to London, leaving Violet in charge of organising the house and the wedding. She was tireless in her efforts to oversee the tiniest detail and Donald felt that the best thing to do was to let her get on with it.
At his club, he received numerous slaps on the back and bottles of champagne.
‘Got yourself a good one there, old chap!’
‘She’ll sort you out well and truly, and the pile in Devon!’
‘Absolute stunner, can’t wait for the wedding, and I bet you can’t either, eh?’
14 October
Went home to Devon last weekend to talk to the estate manager about the new equipment he needs. The house is in chaos with tradesmen and workers everywhere, and V presides like a queen over everything. I do admire her, though; her tenacity and refusal to take no for an answer are so very un-British. Mind you, I do sometimes wonder if she loves Astbury more than she loves me . . .
The Drumners arrived back from New York for Christmas, and Donald knew they were impressed with what their daughter had achieved so far. Donald had declined to comment on the proposed rug for the drawing room. Fashioned out of eighteen leopard skins, it was sewn together by a famous Italian designer. Donald could not help but smile at his mother’s face as she surveyed it for the first time.
‘What do you
think, Mother?’ Violet had taken to addressing Maud thus.
‘Well, it’s not what I would have had in my day,’ Maud acknowledged with considerable grace.
‘I think it’s just gorgeous, honey,’ said Sissy, sitting down on the newly covered red Chesterfield. ‘You’ve warmed the old place up very well.’
‘Do you like it, Donald?’ Violet turned to her fiancé anxiously. ‘Animal skin is just so in fashion right now.’
‘I think it’s . . . very striking,’ he replied diplomatically.
The plan was for much of the structural work to be undertaken when Donald and Violet left for an extended honeymoon after their April wedding. First stop would be New York, where Donald would be introduced to society. After that, Violet had expressed a longing to go back to Europe, so they were to take a house in Italy for the summer.
‘Venice will be so romantic, just you and I,’ Violet had said happily, when she had made the suggestion.
Knowing Violet, Donald mused later, they almost certainly wouldn’t be on their own for long. She’d already mentioned friends of hers who were staying nearby. Never one for the frantic social whirl, Donald only hoped that once they returned to Astbury after their honeymoon, Violet would settle down. But as a trail of friends from London came to stay for the weekend and the corridors rang with the sound of laughter and the gramophone played endlessly, he doubted it.
‘We must employ some more servants, Donny,’ Violet said one February morning as the final houseguest departed after a particularly raucous weekend. ‘The ones we have simply can’t cope.’
‘Of course,’ he replied, then took himself off for a hack across the moors on Glory. He sat in his favourite place by the brook and shivered in the cold morning air, wondering if he would ever have the courage to say no to any of Violet’s requests. And indeed, given that she’d paid for everything, how could he?
Standing up and pacing because it was too cold out on the moor to sit still, Donald wondered what exactly would be left of the old Astbury once Violet had finished with it. Her current project was focusing on new artwork for the walls. This morning, she had expressed a dislike for the family portraits that ran up the stairs.
The Midnight Rose Page 35