Walking rapidly, she went up the path to the house, with many different thoughts and ideas whirling around in her head. After sorting them out, Cecily focused on Miles, and she decided it was better not to discuss anything with him at all.
He had to be as surprised by Charlotte’s devastating news as everyone else. That was an imperative. The earl must not think Miles was in cahoots with her. Miles had to be an innocent bystander like everyone else. And so did Aunt Charlotte. That was the last thing Cecily had said to her. “Whatever I say, look startled.”
Once she arrived at Cavendon Hall, Cecily went in through the kitchen door, waved to Susie Jackson, the cook, and made her way up the back stairs to the conservatory. This was Daphne’s private bit of space, and no one ever came in here.
Seating herself at Daphne’s desk, she picked up the phone. Within a few seconds, she was asking for Mrs. Emma Harte, and was put through to her immediately.
They talked for twenty minutes. Cecily asked her three questions. Emma answered yes to each one of them. At the end of their conversation, Emma said, “You remind me of me when I was your age, Cecily. You have brilliant ideas, a flair for design, and the right take on retailing. But most of all you have tremendous courage. I’m going to enjoy our partnership. Because that is what it has just become. We’ll draw up the contracts next week.”
* * *
Tea was in full swing when Cecily arrived in the yellow drawing room. No one appeared to mind that she was late, and they greeted her cordially.
Miles and the earl stood, and after shaking hands with Charles, she went over and kissed Miles. She was about to sit down next to him, when Lady Gwendolyn said, “Come and join me, Cecily, please. I need to discuss something with you.”
She looked at Miles through the corner of her eye, and he muttered, “Oh go on then, go and sit with her. I’ve got you for the rest of the day.” He winked at her, and whispered, “And night.”
Cecily kept a straight face, and crossed the room, sat down on a sofa, and placed her satchel next to her.
Lady Gwendolyn said, “I’m so thrilled that Dulcie has found a gallery. I want to give a party for her, for the opening. What do you think of the idea?”
“It’s absolutely marvelous, Lady Gwendolyn, and she’ll be thrilled. I believe she has now raised all the money she needs.”
Lady Gwendolyn laughed. “As long as I give her the spoils from my attic, and Lord Mowbray does the same thing, she’ll be in business.”
“I know you won’t refuse her,” Cecily murmured, and took the cup of tea Hanson was offering her with a happy smile on his face.
They talked about other things. DeLacy came and sat in a chair next to Lady Gwendolyn and Cecily. And the whole ritual of afternoon tea at Cavendon proceeded as normal.
Cecily was proud of Aunt Charlotte. She had done her hair beautifully, put on powder and lip rouge, and wore a beautiful lavender lace-and-silk tea gown. Cecily had made it for her last year. It still looked wonderful, Cecily thought, and decided to do a new version of it in black and white for the summer.
The most important thing was that Charlotte Swann Ingham was now in total control of herself. She was the Countess of Mowbray. Elegant, dignified, and full of charm, the perfect hostess. Bravo, Cecily said to herself. She’s recouped. She’s a Cavendon woman again.
* * *
It was just before the two footmen began to clear the tea things that Charlotte looked at Charles. “I would like everyone to stay on for a while, Charles, once everything has been cleared away.”
“Oh. Why is that, Charlotte?” He looked at her, his admiration apparent in his blue eyes. “Do you have something special to announce? It sounds like it to me.”
“Well, I’m not sure I would call it special. Interesting perhaps.”
“Whatever you want to do, my darling, is all right by me.” He lowered his voice. “Has it ever been otherwise since I was twelve years old?”
She looked at him, laughing with him, but her heart turned over. If the Ingham family fell, it would destroy him. Her smile remained intact nonetheless.
Once the family was alone, Charlotte cleared her throat, said in a steady voice, “I just told Charles that I wanted you all to stay on for a while. I have something to tell you. I hope that’s all right? I hope you can stay.”
“Of course, Charlotte,” Lady Gwendolyn said. “I love this yellow drawing room, and I love being with the family.” She settled back, made herself comfortable.
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte said, “As you all know, we’ve been having some repairs done over the last few months. Ted Swann, who does such a beautiful job taking care of the interiors at Cavendon, suggested that we ought to have surveyors come in. He thought they should do a general checkup of the house. After all, it was built in 1761, such a long time ago. And what a grand and stately home it is. So well worth protecting. I asked Charles if we should do this, and naturally he agreed.”
“And we have now had their reports, is that it, darling?” Charles asked.
“Yes. We have. I just want to point out a detail that perhaps we all forgot. Or maybe never even knew. Cavendon has one hundred eighty-three rooms in total. Naturally this includes the servants’ quarters, kitchens, storage rooms, sitting rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, plus the private suites we occupy in the different wings. And then there are the reception rooms, dining rooms, and so on.”
“Good God!” Miles exclaimed. His genuine surprise echoed in his voice.
“I think I did know once,” Charles murmured, and frowned. He had caught something in Charlotte’s voice a moment ago that bothered him. He had known her since they were children, and there had been just a tiny hint of … fear? He focused his eyes on her, anticipating trouble.
She continued: “The good news is that the repairs needed for Cavendon can be done, and done well. In a two- or three-year period. The bad news is that the cost is rather high.”
“How much?” Charles asked, knowing now why she had been fearful. It had to be a large amount, quite a few thousand pounds, he decided.
“To repair and strengthen Cavendon Hall will cost quite a few thousand pounds … about a hundred thousand, actually,” Charlotte said, endeavoring to keep her voice steady, clutching her hands together as she spoke. “Perhaps even a bit more.”
Charles was shocked. All the color left his face. He kept himself upright in the chair, but his heart was thundering in his chest. They were ruined. The Inghams would fall. It was the end for them and their dynasty.
Miles was speechless. But he too was the color of bone. Neither man spoke.
A clear and confident woman’s voice rang out. “I can give you some of the money, Lord Mowbray, so that you can at least begin the restorations,” Cecily said.
Charles was flabbergasted. He simply stared at her.
So did Miles.
It was Charlotte who said, “But why would you do that, Ceci?” Her voice had risen slightly.
“It isn’t a gift, Aunt Charlotte. It’s a business deal. In return I would like the Ingham Trust to give me the ‘contaminated’ jewelry, as Miles calls it. The pieces borrowed by the former countess.”
“I’m not sure what they’re worth,” Charles exclaimed, looking across the room at Cecily, still stunned at her offer. He was thunderstruck, really. Obviously she had been more successful over the years than he had ever realized.
“I said I will give you the money you need to start the work,” Cecily repeated. Reaching for her satchel, she took out her checkbook and her pen. “Whom shall I make the check payable to?”
Fifty-four
It was Lady Gwendolyn who spoke first. Looking across the yellow drawing room at her nephew, she said, “I can’t help wondering why you haven’t accepted Cecily’s offer, Charles. The house is crumbling, about to fall down, and you’re hesitating. With all due respect, you should sell Cecily the jewels. Nobody here is going to wear them again.”
Charles answered her at once. “I’m trying to a
bsorb all of this, and the only reason I have hesitated is that I’m not sure that it’s a fair deal.”
Miles interjected, “You don’t know the exact value of the jewelry, do you, Papa?”
“That’s correct, Miles. I’m quite certain they might be worth much less than we’ve always believed. I don’t want to cheat Cecily.”
“You won’t be cheating me, Lord Mowbray. You see, there is a condition attached to my offer to buy the jewels. May I explain it to you? Because we will have to sign a contract.”
Charles nodded, and glanced at Charlotte, raising a brow. She knew what he was thinking, and said quietly, “Whenever has there been a written contract between the Inghams and the Swanns, Ceci? Never, to my knowledge.”
“I know that, Aunt Charlotte. Since 1761 there has been total fidelity between the two families, and I respect that. I also took the oath. However, in this particular instance, my offer involves a third party who insists on a contract with me. I therefore need one from his lordship.”
Before anyone else could say a thing, Miles asked swiftly, “Can you tell us who that is, Ceci?”
“Of course I can, Miles. It’s Emma Harte, of Harte’s department stores.”
“Is the money you’re offering me her money?” Charles asked, more out of curiosity than anything else.
“No, it isn’t, Lord Mowbray. It is my money, which I earned. Let me explain. If you sell me the jewelry, I shall make copies of the pieces. I am going to create a line of jewels in crystal, colored glass, and semi-precious stones. I want to call it the Cavendon Jewelry Collection by Cecily Swann. So I need permission from you to use the name Cavendon. And Mrs. Harte insists on having it in writing. She will be selling the collection in all of her stores, and I will be selling it in my shops.”
“What a brilliant idea,” DeLacy exclaimed, clapping her hands. “You’re a genius, Ceci. Come on, Papa, say yes.”
“I might have a few fine pieces I would be willing to sell,” Lady Gwendolyn ventured, smiling at Cecily. “If you’re interested, of course.”
“I very well may be, Lady Gwendolyn. We can look at them later if you wish.”
Focusing on Charles and Charlotte, who were sitting on the sofa together, Cecily went on, “To explain it further, Mrs. Harte and I have become business partners in this venture, so obviously she’s looking to be protected. It’s only natural.”
“Yes, it is,” Charles agreed, and asked, “Out of curiosity, when did you have the idea for this jewelry collection, Cecily?”
“When Miles showed me the pieces at the Grosvenor Square house, the day he, Daphne, and DeLacy got them back. I thought they were beautiful. It struck me then that I might be able to create a line of fake jewelry based on them. Then I got sidetracked, first with the boutique in Harte’s, and then the clothes for the musical. But last week the idea surfaced again in my mind. Why do you ask?”
“I was thinking what a lucky break this is for us. I will sell you the jewels and sign the contract regarding the use of the name Cavendon. You’ve saved the Inghams, saved Cavendon, Cecily, and for that I will be eternally grateful. I thank you.”
“Thank you, Lord Mowbray. Now, whom shall I make the check payable to?”
It was Miles who answered. “The Cavendon Restoration Fund, please, Ceci. That’s the new company Hugo suggested we start. It is mainly to keep track of the money we are spending to do the repairs to the North Wing roof and the bathrooms.”
“Good thinking, Miles,” Charles said.
Cecily signed the check, stood up, and walked across to the earl. She handed it to him. “You don’t have to give it to me now, Cecily. Next week will be fine, when I sign the contract.”
She said, “I trust you, Lord Mowbray. Your word is good enough for me. You are an Ingham and I am a Swann, and when I was twelve I took the oath to protect the Inghams.” She thrust out her arm, her hand clenched. “Loyalty binds me,” she said.
The Sixth Earl of Mowbray placed his clenched fist on hers. “Loyalty binds me,” he answered, and put the check in his pocket. “Thank you,” he said.
“This wonderful news and Ceci’s great generosity call for a celebration, Papa,” Miles announced. “I think we should pop a bottle of champagne and toast our most brilliant girl.”
* * *
The atmosphere in the yellow drawing room had changed. The mood of shock and despair had evaporated completely, and there was a sense of relief and hope for the future in the air. Charles and Miles looked more like themselves. Their color had returned to normal and they were relaxed. But both of them were still slightly stunned by Cecily Swann and what she had done.
And so was Charlotte, and she said so to Cecily as they sat down on a sofa together. Then she asked, “When did you really think of the fake-jewelry line?” She gave her great-niece a piercing look.
“When I said I did, which was when I first saw the pieces. I really did forget about them. So much was happening to me, and in the family. Then this afternoon, the idea popped into my head.”
Charlotte gave her a knowing smile. “And when did you make the deal with Emma Harte?”
Cecily began to laugh. “About fifteen minutes after you’d left the rose garden. I sat there thinking what to do. I hit on the idea of telling Emma about the fake-jewelry line, and two other projects I have in the works. She was tremendously excited, said she wanted to do all three projects. And become my partner. That’s when I knew I could risk the money I’d personally earned and saved over the years.”
Charlotte was silent for a moment, and then she said softly, “Thank you, Ceci, thank you so very much. You’ve not only saved Cavendon, you’ve saved Charles’s life. I know the disastrous news would have felled him, had we not been able to offer a solution immediately. I honestly think you prevented him having a heart attack.”
“I’m glad. I really wanted to help you, help the family,” Cecily replied. “And I enjoy working with Emma Harte. She’s an inspiration to me.”
“She’s a role model for all women, there’s no doubt about that.” Charlotte took a sip of champagne, and asked, “Can you tell me about the other two projects? Or are they a secret?”
“I can tell you, but keep them to yourself for the moment.”
“I will. You know I never discuss things, especially your business.”
“I’m planning on a whole new line of clothing. Bridal gowns and trousseaus, right down to fancy camiknickers, nightgowns, and other sexy underwear. Emma said yes to the idea without thinking twice. In fact, she wants me to consider having a third boutique in the store, called Cecily Swann Brides. Or something like that.”
Charlotte had an excited look on her face, and exclaimed, “That’s so clever. Brides usually need a trousseau and can never find exactly the right clothes for their honeymoon. But nightgowns and underwear should be separated. Isn’t that yet another boutique?”
“Maybe you’re right, Aunt Charlotte. I’ll give it some thought.” Lifting her glass, she clinked it against her aunt’s.
“And what is the third new project?” Charlotte asked.
“One I’ve been working on for a year … with two chemists. A beauty line of creams and lotions, and hopefully cosmetics. Emma was very keen indeed about this line.”
“I’m not surprised. And you really are a genius, Ceci. I’ve always told you that. And now you’ve turned yourself into a brand, which is just marvelous.”
Cecily smiled and sat back against the sofa. “I’m glad I’m here for the weekend. And I want to thank you for giving me your house in the park. It’s nice to have some privacy with Miles.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Charlotte answered, and then asked quietly, “Why did you really do it?”
Cecily stared at her, frowning. “Do what? Give the earl the money? Is that what you mean?”
“Yes. You didn’t have to, and frankly you surprised everyone, including me.”
“I did it for Miles. I did it to keep Cavendon safe for him. I know how much he loves it,
needs to live here and run the estate. It’s his life. And he’s my life. That’s why I did it. For Miles.”
* * *
It was early evening and still lovely as Cecily walked through the park to Charlotte’s house. She liked the house. It was neat, compact, with a big kitchen, a spacious living room looking out onto the garden, a bedroom and bathroom upstairs, and a small study next to the bedroom. She used this as her office, and it was a good place to do her designs. She and Harry would inherit the house one day, but he had his own cottage across the street near their parents’ house, and preferred that.
Hearing her name being called, she glanced around and saw her father’s cousin Percy Swann, the head gamekeeper, waving at her. She waved back and went into the house.
A number of Swanns lived in Little Skell village, others in Mowbray and High Clough, the two other villages belonging to the Inghams.
She sat down at the kitchen table and took her notebook out of her satchel, looked at the figures. She nodded to herself. She had been able to buy the Cavendon jewels without taking too much of a risk. And she knew the collection of fake pieces would be popular, make money.
Right now it was the White Rose perfume and cologne that actually topped everything, were her biggest sellers.
It had been her mother’s idea to create a perfume, and to that end she and Alice had gone to Grasse, the famous perfume town in the south of France. She and Alice had been intrigued and fascinated when they arrived, and overwhelmed by the number of parfumiers who could create scents to please anyone and everyone, and the number of companies who made scents for retailers all over the world.
They had spent days sniffing essence of flowers, oils, musk, and all manner of liquids that went to make the best scents. Her aim had been to have a strong rose smell, and in the end her chosen parfumier had created one she loved that smelled of tuberoses. It happened to be Dulcie’s favorite too. The perfume made a huge profit, and was hard to keep in stock. She thought of it as her cash cow.
The Cavendon Women Page 35