A Haddington Manifestation

  Chapter 11.

  “Your secret is safe with me, Your Lordship.” Lady Marlebone came to sit with Haddington in the garden where he was quietly enjoying a cigar. He got to his feet as she took a seat then sat down.

  “My smoking doesn’t bother you?” He held up his cigar.

  “Not at all, Your Lordship,” she smiled, “my dear husband always has an afternoon cigar, he knows how much it affects my lungs, but far be it from me to ruin his pleasure.” Wordlessly Haddington stubbed out his cigar in an ashtray on a table at his elbow. “I didn’t mean……”

  “Quite alright, dear lady, I’ve been smoking far too much lately.” He settled back in his chair to cross one leg over the other. “I must say there is not another soul with whom I would entrust my secrets with complete safety than yourself.”

  “Mr Clarence told me all about it.”

  “I see,” he nodded his head, “Mr Clarence.”

  “You know how devoted he is to you, Your Lordship, he felt that I should know.”

  “Of course, if Mr Clarence felt you should know then there is no doubt that you should know.”

  “I knew of course.”

  “Did you?”

  “I knew what your decision would be. It was so obvious that young Reggie was so at home when he first came here.”

  “He was, wasn’t he?” Haddington wore a mirthless smile.

  “It’s my poor Cynthia, she’s suffered terribly, she adores young Reggie…..”

  “Poor thing.” Offered a sympathetic Haddington.

  “But she was blinded by pity for this Lee fellow, she can be the most stubborn of girls at times.”

  “I imagine she must be a trial sometimes.”

  “She certainly can be. But that’s all over now, young Reggie has asked for her hand in marriage, you know?”

  “Has he?” Asked Haddington calmly.

  “Being so stubborn she’s determined to torture the poor chap as long as possible, but between you and me, she’ll accept.”

  “That’s wonderful, Lady Marlebone,” he got to his feet, “I do hope you’ll pardon me?”

  “Of course.”

  He bowed and strode off toward the house and as he got closer he got more and more angrier, finally he reached the door and shoved it open with all the strength he could. There was the sound of a thud and a yelp of pain. He glanced behind the door to see Clarence sitting on the floor unconscious.

  “Serves you right.” Muttered Haddington as he strode off down the corridor.

  “…..a tongue, sir, a tongue……”

  “Oh, no.” He spun on his heels and virtually ran back out of the house. He stood mopping his brow with a handkerchief when he saw Cynthia strolling through the trees.

  He went quickly to join her, she was slowly walking up and down in front of the marble bench on which lay Miss Blackie who was watching with a bored look on her face. Cynthia was obviously unhappy, she was absently poking the tip of her parasol in the dirt with each step.

  “Good afternoon, my dear.” Smiled Haddington as he got in step beside her to link his arm with hers.

  “Good afternoon, Your Lordship,” she said dully with her head averted so he wouldn’t see her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

  “Beautiful weather, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” Miss Blackie jumped down to walk over and rub herself against Haddington’s leg.

  “Arr,” smiled the old man, “two of the prettiest ladies on my estate.”

  Miss Blackie looked up with wide eyes. ‘We know that, you silly man, we don’t need to be told!’ Her expression seemed to say.

  Cynthia dabbed her handkerchief to her eyes.

  “Have you named the date yet?”

  She looked at him sharply. “What date, Your Lordship?”

  “Come, come, my dear, I’m not that old, I know when I see two people in love.”

  “Oh, you mean Reggie and I?”

  “Of course I don’t mean Reggie and you, I was referring to you and Two-Refs.”

  “Mr Lee means nothing to me.”

  “You mean a great deal to him.”

  “Did he tell you that?”

  “Of course, the fellow couldn’t stop talking about you, he threatened to become a crashing bore, and you’re to blame for that.”

  “When was he talking about me?” She looked at the old man carefully. He was very touched by the sadness he could see in her eyes.

  “Only last night.” He smiled with an innocent smile covering up the fact that he was lying through his teeth brilliantly.

  “He doesn’t want me.”

  “I think you’re mistaken.”

  “He told me I was after his money.”

  “He hasn’t got any money.”

  “He thinks…… he expects to come into some money soon.”

  “That’s perfect, you both love each other, your family needs money, Two-Refs will have money.”

  “I do not love him.”

  “It’s amazing the wild stories that can sweep a small village, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t know what you mean, Your Lordship.”

  Haddington reached down to pick up Miss Blackie to nurse her in his arms. “You take the financial difficulties of your family, for example, the village has been very gentlemanly about that and they’ve kept it to themselves. But that doesn’t mean some smart young chap wouldn’t pick it up.” Cynthia looked at him with a slight frown then stepped forward to pat Miss Blackie. “I’ve also heard some ridiculous nonsense about that Reggie being my grandson, naturally I didn’t take it seriously, but if you were a foreigner and you heard such rubbish you might be foolish enough to believe it.”

  Cynthia was looking at him closely and he saw the life come slowly flooding back into her eyes.

  “Naturally, if you were a foreigner and you cared a great deal for a young lady who just happened to be in search of a wealthy husband, you just might try to persuade her what choice she…….”

  Cynthia suddenly threw herself onto Haddington’s shoulder, he patted her shoulder with one arm while he continued to nurse Miss Blackie with the other. Cynthia reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

  “Thank you, Your Lordship.” Then she ran away quickly dropping her parasol in her haste.

  Haddington stood smiling after her. “Ah, youth, Miss Blackie, it’s a wonderful thing isn’t it?” Miss Blackie just looked up into his face.

  ‘You silly old man!’ Her eyes seemed to say.

  “You cold, heartless woman.” Smiled Haddington as he stroked the top of her head, she lay back comfortably, closed her eyes and purred happily.

  Lady Marlebone stood up and crossed the lawn to see her daughter coming toward her, her face looked radiant, her long dress trailing in the grass.

  “Cynthia……”

  “Have you seen Mr Lee, mother?” She asked breathlessly as she came up to stand before her mother.

  “I think he and Mr Cloud went into the village.” Cynthia ran off, “Cynthia, where are you going?”

  “I have to tell Mr Lee I’m getting married.”

  “Reggie will be so pleased.”

  “I hope so.” She called over her shoulder.

  “You hope so?”

  “Mother,” Cynthia stopped and looked back, “I’m marrying Mr Lee.”

  “That’s wonderful, dear…..Mr Lee!” Cynthia turned and went on her way.“ Oh, my heart.” Lady Marlebone clutched her chest. “You wretched girl.” She sighed and then with one move fell backwards in a deep faint.

  She saw the carriage just coming back from the village and she ran toward it. “Stop! Stop!” She panted. Rogers stopped the horses and watched her impassively. Lee stepped out of the carriage and stood in the road to watch her with a frown.

  “What is it, Cynthia?” He asked, but she said nothing, she threw herself in his arms and threw her arms around his neck, she stood panting with her head on his chest. “Now let’s not be silly about this.” He said as he tried to r
emove her arms from his neck.

  “Two-Refs…….” Began Cloud as he stood in the carriage looking down.

  “Don’t say anything, Smokey, just go away.” Lee closed his eyes as he smelt Cynthia’s hair.

  “Two-Refs…..”

  “I’ll fix the matter.”

  Cloud went back to his seat glumly.

  “You’re a damn lucky fellow, old chap.”

  Lee opened his eyes to look up at Winterhaiming who was smiling down from the carriage to show he had no hard feelings.

  “Thanks.” Said Lee with a weak smile.

  “Move on, Rogers.” Ordered Winterhaiming.

  “Yes, sir.” Rogers flicked the horses with his reins and the carriage moved off.

  Lee stood in the middle of the road with Cynthia in his arms as he watched the carriage drive away.

  “What is it you English say about compromising your reputation? Do you realise you’ve just done that in front of Reggie?”

  “I don’t care.” She tightened her grip around his neck, Lee wrapped his arms about her and held her close as they stood there in silence.

  Garth was livid, he stomped over to the foot of a tree and knelt down to inspect some roots.

  “The good Lord in his Heaven,” he hissed, “will you look at this. Be quiet, Rodney, of course it hurts, your flesh is hanging in strips, I’ll catch that vicious monster this time.” He jumped to his feet and stared up at the branches of another tree.

  “They’re nearly touching the ground, do you realise that, Hector, I suppose the monster has rested its huge body on them. Don’t contradict me, lad!”

  Marlowe had been through the woods once but late that afternoon he came back to look for his butterfly net. It was the second one he’d lost, he had a fair idea what had happened to it but so far he’d seen no sign of the gardener.

  He was just passing a tree when he heard the weak cry of a cat, he saw a pile of branches, he walked over to have a closer look just in time to see a branch come dropping from a tree to land on top of the pile. The weak cry was repeated. He looked more closely and saw a box hidden under the branches. He cleared the pile away and lifted the box.

  Miss Blackie was sitting there calmly, she meowed and began to clean one of her paws.

  “Good afternoon.” Smiled Marlowe as he sat down on the grass beside her.“ Now how on earth could such a clever lady as you fall for such a primitive trick like this?” He pointed to the box and the string that had been tied around a piece of meat and around a peg holding up the box, ready to trap its prey.

  He reached over to pick her up and she began to purr as she nestled into his arm. “I’ve got to get you out of here, if I’m not mistaken our Mr Garth is looking for you.” He laughed as she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes and opened her tiny mouth in a silent, calm meow.

  “Drop that vicious little creature immediately!” Garth came from between two trees, he stood there with his arms folded on his chest.

  “Good afternoon, Mr Garth,” smiled Marlowe, “you’re mistaken about this harmless little lady.”

  “Harmless! Poor Rodney is limping, do you realise that? This creature has scratched off most of his flesh with those evil claws of hers.”

  “It must be another creature, sir, this lady has been with me all afternoon.” He looked down at Miss Blackie, who lay in his arms watching Garth with a bored expression on her face.

  “Hand her over to me, sir.” He stepped forward.

  “I would suggest you don’t take another step.”

  “Are you threatening me? Do you hear that, lads?” He laughed, a branch came plummeting from above, adroitly he stepped aside to catch it in mid-flight. “Thank you, Charles, this will do nicely.” He came toward Marlowe with it raised above his head.

  “Run, go on, run.” Said Marlowe as he forced Miss Blackie to jump from his arms, he turned to put himself between the cat and Garth.

  “I think I can arrange a little afternoon sleep for you, Marlowe.” Smiled Garth with an evil smile. Suddenly a branch dropped from above to land on his head. “Ouch.” He dropped his branch and rubbed his sore spot, then he looked up and stood shaking his fist up at the tree, a branch came roaring down to just miss him by inches, “you be very careful, Henry.”

  No sooner had he said this when suddenly a shower of branches came plopping all around him, he stood with a look of shock on his face, then ran through the rain of branches to stand behind Marlowe.

  “Help me, help me, Mr Marlowe.” The shower became heavier.

  “They’re your lads, Mr Garth.” Marlowe managed to step aside as a heavy branch landed at his feet.

  “They’ve gone mad, Mr Marlowe, they’ve gone mad. Run, run.” And Garth proceeded to do so. Marlowe stood watching Garth running off through heavy showers of branches that followed him until he was lost through the trees.

  Marlow saw Miss Blackie settling herself on a branch to lay with her throat flat on the branch, he walked over to her and she purred as he stroked her fur.

  Garth ran as far and as fast as he could with the shower of branches following his every twist and turn, until finally he fell to the ground heavily, to lay panting for breath and was immediately covered by a dense layer of branches.

  It was some time later when he regained consciousness, he attempted to crawl out from the thick pile of branches, a branch thudded to the ground inches from his hand, he hesitated and then tried to crawl out once again to have a branch just miss his head.

  He reached into his pocket and took out his handkerchief and waved it through the branches.

  “Lads, lads,” he called as he slowly got to his feet and stood in the waist high pile of branches. “What have I done?” He asked, he turned to look at a tree to his right sharply. “What do you mean, Bertie, you’ve been elected spokesman? He began to chuckle, “these big, strong lads wouldn’t pick the puny, timid likes of……” A branch plummeted from above to punch its way through the pile of branches and land heavily on his foot. “You were saying, Bertie?” He said with a grimace.

  He listened with an intent frown on his face that began to look incredulous as his mouth slowly hung open.

  “You’re saying that you like that beast clawing away at your feet?” He asked in disbelief, “I bet Rodney won’t agree with you.” Garth’s eyes widened, “he considers it a special treat? Lads, lads.” He shook his head, “obviously this creature has you all living in fear. You have no need to be afraid, I’ll take care of her, I’ll……..“ He held his hands to his ears.

  “One at a time, lads, you’re all making too much noise.” He turned back to Bertie. “I won’t hurt her, I’ll just put her in a cage……” A branch fell from the sky to plunge through the branches to land on his other foot. He looked at Bertie and then up at the tree from whence the branch had come.

  “You listen to Bertie, Algernon, of course I was only joking.” He tried to move his foot. “Alright,” he said to Bertie, “alright, I agree with your terms, no cages, freedom of the forest.” He listened and nodded, “if you want her to tear your feet to pieces I won’t stop her. Feed? Now that’s going too far…..”A very heavy branch landed with a crash in front of him. “Is two meals a day enough, Bertie? Good, two meals it is.” He struggled through the branches and stood clear of them to brush off his clothes.

  “Now, lads, there’s no need to applaud me.” He smiled, “if that’s the way you want things I’ll not stand in your way.” A branch came from nowhere to hit him on the head and knock him to the ground.

  He lay there rubbing his head and looking up suspiciously at an old tree.

  “I know old William is deaf, Bertie,” he slowly got to his feet to continue watching the tree, “tell him, go on, Bertie, tell him I’ve agreed to the terms.”

  The day had turned out so well for them that they all readily agreed to Grace’s suggestion that they should go on a picnic.

  A very pleased Dickie stood up and stretched his arms, he reached down to pick up a last pie
ce of cake and as he munched on it he walked over to one of the trees. He smiled at a small black and white cat sleeping on one of the low hanging branches.

  Miss Blackie opened one eye sleepily and purred softly as Dickie patted her. Suddenly a shape came running past, it was Lee on an afternoon run. He was running too fast to notice but he bent the branch back with him and let it go.

  The small creature was flung into the air to land with startled surprise, in Dickie’s arms.

  Garth appeared on the other side of the branch and stood looking at Dickie with narrow, suspicious eyes.

  “May I ask just what you think you’re doing with that lovely little creature?”

  “I……I…….”

  “Let her go you fiend, you overgrown fool.”

  “Charming.”

  “Don’t try to pay me compliments! Turn that poor animal loose.” Garth raised his arm with a heavy branch. Dickie followed it with his eyes.

  “Look,” he put Miss Blackie hurriedly on the ground, “see, I’ve released her.”

  “Just as well for you.” Garth appeared to be deep in thought, then made up his mind. “Just the same I think you need to be taught a lesson, I can’t stand cruelty but you would have thoughtlessly broken my lads hearts so it might be best if they see me thrash you a little.”

  Dickie reached into his pocket and brought out a handful of coins.

  “Why don’t I just give you some money and you can buy them some sweets, I’m sure they’d prefer that to seeing some poor innocent chap thrashed.”

  “Not my lads.” Garth looked down at Miss Blackie who was rubbing herself against Dickie’s leg. “I thought you said you’d released her.”

  “Go away, kitty,” Dickie was about to give her a gentle kick to brush her away but he saw Garth raise the branch higher and instead knelt down to try and shoo her away.

  “I see, now you’re going to be cruel to her, are you?”

  “I haven’t touched her.” Dickie got to his feet.

  “Now I know I’ll have to thrash you, I can’t have my lads hearing you lie.”

  “Let me speak to your lads.”

  “Go on.”

  “Go on where?”

  “Speak.”

  “I’ll speak to one of your lads.”

  “Well, go on.”

  “There’s no-one here but you and me.”

  “You’re deliberately trying to be stupid.”

  “There’s nothing deliberate about it.”

  “You can speak to Hector.”

  “Hector?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hector who?”

  “He’s behind you.” Dickie spun quickly and looked all about him at the emptiness. “Go on, speak to him.”

  “He’s here, is he?”

  “Right in front of you.”

  “Oh, yes, now I see him,” Dickie looked down at the ground in front of him, then he went down on one knee to pat the air, “what a handsome little chap, he looks just like you. What’s that, Hector? You’d prefer the coins?” Dickie got to his feet and walked over to lean on the branch on the other side of which stood Garth. “See, the lad wants the money and he thinks I should be allowed to leave in peace and unthrashed.”

  “He’s comical, ain’t he, lads?” Cackled Garth raising his head, Dickie followed his gaze and thought he was talking to someone in the branches above. “I’ve come across some lunatics in this forest, friend……”

  “I’ve no doubt about that.” Said Dickie flatly.

  “Who were you talking to out there?”

  “You said he was called Hector.”

  “You’re mad, do you know that?” Garth looked up at the branches again, “isn’t he lads, mad as a hatter.”

  “If I am, I seem to be in the right place.”

  “Or are you?” Garth narrowed his eyes to look at him suspiciously, “maybe you’re just pretending to be a maniac so I won’t bash your head in.”

  “Oh, no, no, nothing like that.” Smiled Dickie, “I’m mad alright, yes, yes, quite mad, look,” he walked over to a tree and put his arms around the thin trunk. “See, I talk to trees, the trees are my friends.” He spoke to the tree, “isn’t it a lovely day, tree?”

  “Take your hands off him!”

  “Him?”

  “That’s Peter, and he hates humans, except me, of course.”

  “Yes, that’s right, this is Peter, a lovely day isn’t it Peter?”

  “Peter hates the hot weather.”

  “That’s right, that’s what he told me.”

  “You wouldn’t be mocking me and the lads, would you, friend?”

  “No, no.” Dickie shook his head. “Nothing like that.”

  “Peter told you he hates the hot weather?”

  “That’s right.”

  “This lad said that did he?”

  “He did, he did.”

  “Well, clever fellow, you just fell into my trap, that’s not Peter, that’s Hubert, and he loves the hot weather.”

  “Hubert, how could you lie to me like that?”

  “I can see that I’ll have to thrash you.”

  “Maybe Peter’s a ventriloquist?”

  Garth wasn’t listening as he came slowly toward Dickie with the branch raised.

  “Help,” thump, “help.”

  George was lying on a blanket under the shade of a tree, he lifted his hat off his face and got up on one elbow. Charlie lay on the other end of the blanket, he opened his eyes to see George listening to the forest intently.

  “What wrong?” Charlie asked.

  “I thought I heard something.”

  Charlie sat up to listen. “I can’t hear anything.”

  Suddenly Dickie came running from the forest, he fell to the ground and began to pack everything he could.

  “What are you doing?” Asked George.

  “A maniac is loose, he’s back there in the trees, he talks to ‘em.”

  “That’s only Garth, he’s harmless enough.” Said George.

  “Harmless enough? He was going to bash me head in.”

  “You don’t look any different, Dickie.” Smiled Charlie.

  “That’s very comical, very comical,” he looked at George, “can we leave Charlie here for the maniac when we leave?”

  “Where is this maniac?” Asked Charlie.

  “Back there in the trees.”

  “Is he after you?”

  “Not right now, but he soon will be.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The last time I saw him he was unconscious.”

  “Unconscious? What did you do to him?”

  “I didn’t do a thing, one of his bleedin’ trees fell on him.”

  “One of his trees?”

  “I think he called it Hubert,” Dickie was still packing, “when that maniac gets his hands on me I’ll be lucky to get away alive, but I know one thing.”

  “What’s that?” Asked George.

  “When he comes to, I don’t think we’ll ever see Hubert again.”

 

  ”Are you crazy, Two-Refs? You can’t do it to the little girl, I’ve told you everything, you can’t do a thing about it.”

  Lee sat on a log smoking a cigarette he looked across at Cloud’s face and spoke calmly.

  “I don’t care.”

  Cloud could not think of a reply, he sat glumly with his chin on his chest looking down at his feet. He admitted to himself over and over again that never before had he made a bigger mistake than when he’d thought up this scheme.

  “Two-Refs…….”

  “You wanted me to become a partner with you, we can find a good, young fighter and I can teach him all I know and you can be his manager.” Cloud lifted his head to look across at Lee, the voice was dull and flat, as he smoked his cigarette the eyes were vacant as his mind seemed to be a thousand miles away. “That was your plan wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, that was my plan, Two-Refs.”

  “Jerome! Jerome!” Came the voice of C
ynthia.

  “It can work, can’t it, Smoke?” He was alive again, he jumped up with a smile on his face, Cloud nodded silently. Lee strode off quickly to join the young woman, Cloud lit a cigarette and sat smoking it gloomily.

  Lee took Cynthia in his arms and kissed her lightly on each cheek, then took her arm as they walked through the forest. She was happily chattering away, so sure that everything would now be alright. Behind his cheery smile Lee was all too aware of reality.

  He had three days, that’s all. On Wednesday the old Lord would publicly declare Winterhaiming to be his grandson, he accepted that because it was only fair; what if the old man had made Lee his grandson and a few years later Lee found out what Cloud had told him? He wouldn’t have been able to bear the thought he had tricked the old man and hurt him as well.

  Cynthia chatted on and he turned his head slightly to look down at her. Of course he couldn’t marry her, he thought to himself, on Thursday he would have to go back home, apparently to be an assistant to Cloud for the rest of his life. Of course he might well be a manager himself and get his own champion, but that would take years, too late to help Cynthia and her family.

  The best thing to do is to pretend for the next three days all would be well, then on Thursday morning just to sneak away, as he continued to listen to her voice he realised how difficult that was going to be.

  They became inseparable. At dinner they sat side by side while Haddington beamed at them from across the table. The only time his smile slipped was the time Sir Rupert began to talk about the time he was twenty-two years of age, the room listened in silence.

  After dinner they all headed for the sitting room where Lady Marlebone quickly got a bridge game together. Her partner was Winterhaiming while their opponents were Lee and Cynthia, this way she hoped to keep them within her sight all the time.

  Somehow she had to convince Cynthia of the terrible mistake she was making, but her mind could think of nothing, she had to wear a mask of merriment she most certainly did not feel.

  Sir Rupert sat to one side of the room facing Haddington and Clarence, Cloud sat opposite Sir Rupert telling them stories that had them roaring with laughter. He appeared to be his usual self except when he stole quick glances across the room at Lee and Cynthia.

  “Oh, dear me,” Haddington was wiping tears of laughter from his eyes with his handkerchief, “Rupert knows some good stories like that, don’t you, Rupert?”

  “I do, Clemmie, I do.” He said still chuckling.

  “Tell us some of them, that time you saved the Queen from losing the Empire, that’s my favourite.”

  “I hope you’ll pardon me……..” Clarence attempted to get to his feet, but Haddington put his arm around his shoulders and pinned him to the lounge.

  “Nonsense, Clarence, you don’t want to miss this.”

  “This is when Rupert was eighteen, is it?” Asked Cloud.

  “That’s right, that’s right.” Said Sir Rupert with a very pleased look on his face.

  “Oh, well, I’ve heard it before so I’ll just be…….” Began Cloud.

  “No, no, old boy, you’ll like this,” said Rupert, “it’s very amusing.

  “I believe I’ve heard it before too, I do have a lot of work……” Began Clarence.

  “You heard what Sir Rupert said, Clarence,” said Haddington with a strange smile on his face as he took a firmer grip on Clarence’s shoulder. “This story is very amusing.”

  “You really want me to tell it, Clemmie?”

  “Yes, Rupert, I do.”

  “It’s just that I thought you didn’t like me talking about my life?”

  “I’m so overwhelmed that your constant loss of voice has been cured, Rupert, so overwhelmed with joy, I do wish there was some lucky person that was responsible for your cure, I should so love to reward them.” Haddington was looking at Clarence.

  “Yes, it was rather a blessing.” Smiled the forgetful Sir Rupert with his hands clasped on his ample stomach.

  “What would be the form of the reward, if I may ask, Your Lordship?” Asked a worried Clarence.

  “Oh, I should think hearing Sir Rupert’s life story from his own lips would be a fair reward.”

  “His whole life?”

  “His whole life.”

  “A little excessive don’t you think?”

  “No, I would term it a just reward.”

  “It was the young Queen, our present Queen, she’s not a young Queen now, of course, but our present old Queen was the young Queen then, that is before she became the old Queen.”

  “You mean Queen Victoria?” Asked Cloud.

  “For Heaven’s sake, Cloud.” Snapped Haddington impatiently, “don’t interrupt.”

  “Sorry.”

  “On second thought, Clarence,” Haddington said, “that reward might be a little excessive.”

  “Queen Victoria, that’s right,” smiled Sir Rupert, “our old Queen, but she was the young Queen then, before she became the old Queen, our old Queen today, that is. You’re perfectly correct, Cloud, Queen Victoria.”

  Cloud looked across at Haddington and Clarence who were watching him with blank faces.

  “Sorry, fellahs.”

  “Pardon?” Asked Sir Rupert.

  “I was apologising, Rupert.”

  “Were you, what for?”

  “For interrupting.”

  “Interrupting, interrupting what?”

  “You were talking about Queen Victoria.”

  “Yes, that’s right, you’re perfectly right. Our old Queen, you know, our old Queen today, but our young Queen then,” Cloud looked at Haddington and Clarence, who were looking at Sir Rupert, then they turned their heads in unison to look at Cloud with hooded eyes and blank faces, Cloud shrugged his shoulders apologetically. “She was only a young lady, you see, so she was called the young Queen, she’s an old lady now, so they call her the old Queen.”

  “What Queen is that, Sir Rupert?” Called Lady Marlebone with a smile, when she looked up her smile slipped a little as she saw three faces looking closely at her from across the room as if she’d just said something foul.

  “Our old Queen, she was our young Queen then, of course, and we called her our young Queen before she became our old Queen as she is now, so now we call her our old queen.

  “Queen Victoria.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “Yes, that’s right, Queen Victoria……” Began Sir Rupert.

  “Oh, my God.” Sighed Haddington.

  Tuesday passed quietly into night, the only thing of note to occur was that Clarence elicited the information from Gilmore that Lord Haddington had not suffered any of his periods of indisposition for some days now. Clarence was very pleased with the news.

  After breakfast Miss Marlebone invited everybody to pay a visit to the village where she had an important task to perform, Clarence was the only one who could not accept the invitation, he had a great deal to do supervising details for the birthday celebrations that night.

  They all set off in two carriages, Cynthia, Lee, Lord Haddington and Lady Marlebone in the first carriage. Winterhaiming, Cloud and Sir Rupert in the second.

  “Upon my soul,” said Haddington with a smile, “there’s a sight I thought I’d never see.” They all turned to follow his gaze. Just off the road stood Garth, he was talking to one of his trees while he carried a contented Miss Blackie in his arms.

  As they drove past, he turned to wave at them wearing an unusually broad grin.

  “Fickle,” smiled Lord Haddington, “all you female creatures are terribly fickle.”

  “Oh, Your Lordship.” Laughed Lady Marlebone.

  “One of the reasons you are all so charmingly attractive.” He was very pleased with himself as he glanced over at Lee and Cynthia, it was obvious they were trying to sit as close to each other as they possibly could. He wore a slight smile as he nodded in reply to Lady Marlebone’s chatter, his mind wandering back to fond memories.

  They clattered through the village
and halted in front of the church. The vicar stood at the top of the steps beaming down at them as they climbed out and ascended the steps.

  “Your Lordship.”

  “Good morning, vicar.”

  “So glad you could come.”

  “You can thank this young woman for that, vicar.” He patted Cynthia’s arm as she led the way into the church. Sir Rupert took Lady Marlebone’s arm, Cloud, Lee and Winterhaiming took up the rear.

  “Is everything in readiness, vicar?” Asked Cynthia.

  “As per your instructions, Miss Marlebone.” Said the vicar as he led the way down the aisle of the silent church, long fingers of sunlight pierced the gloom from the stained glass windows.

  “I never fail to find your beautiful church very restful, vicar.” Said Haddington.

  “It is a haven of serenity, Your Lordship.” Said the vicar pleased with the compliment.

  “Except during the sermon.” Said Cloud softly.

  “Quite so.”Nodded Haddington.

  “I beg your pardon, Your Lordship?”

  “I was agreeing with your description, vicar.”

  “This is it.” The vicar stopped and stood looking at one of the stained glass windows beyond the pews on the opposite wall.

  “Is it?” Smiled Haddington as he and Cynthia walked up to join him.

  “Do you recognise it, Your Lordship?” Asked the vicar.

  Haddington looked with more care at the window, a knight with a standard in one hand, a sword in the other, one foot resting on the head of a slain dragon.

  “Upon my soul,” murmured Haddington his eyes still on the window, “Saint George, a window of Saint George.” He smiled.

  “May I direct Your Lordship’s attention to the tablet at the foot of the window.” Suggested the vicar quietly.

  “Indeed?” He walked through the pews to look up at the tablet; he stood quietly reading and then looked up at the window for a long time. Finally Cynthia went to join him.

  “If I’m not mistaken, my dear, this is your doing.” He turned to look at her with a slight smile on his lips, there were tears in his eyes as he quickly turned back to look up at the window. “He was her favourite saint, the one for whom she had the greatest admiration, the one she prayed to all the time.” Cynthia walked over to stand beside him, he took her arm in a firm grip, “In her own silly way she was very patriotic, you couldn’t get a more English saint, could you?”

  Cynthia was looking at the tablet: Dedicated to the cherished memory of Lady Mary Haddington.

  Winterhaiming came quietly to stand on the other side of Haddington.

  “It was Cynthia’s idea,” said Winterhaiming and Haddington just nodded, “she thought it would be a present that would please you.”

  “It has, it’s an excellent present.”

  “Reggie was the one who suggested we get Mr Chesters down from London.

  “Mr Chesters is the artist who did the window.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “That’s right, Your Lordship.”

  They turned to see Chesters standing to one side with his hat in his hand.

  “I can see the work of an expert craftsman, sir.”

  “Kind of you so say so, Your Lordship.”

  “I feel we are in the presence of a great masterpiece.”

  Chesters smiled in agreement and went back to join the vicar.

  “He really was the best man, wasn’t he?” Smiled Haddington and Cynthia looked up at him suddenly, “it was very wilful of you both to have kept it so secret, the poor village gossips had no idea of what exactly was going on, they made some wild guesses.”

  “That was Cynthia’s idea, sir, she wanted to make it a complete surprise.”

  “Well, she’s done just that.”

  “I hope not an unpleasant surprise, Your Lordship?” She asked.

  “My dear it is impossible for you ever to surprise me unpleasantly.” He took her arm as they slowly began to walk back through the pews. “Just the same, that secrecy was….. a little extreme. Many people got the wrong idea.”

  “I was determined that not one word of our scheme would reach your ears.” Said Cynthia.

  “There is no doubt that you succeeded in doing so. I have nothing but the highest admiration for your cleverness, but quite a few people believed they knew what you two were up to. I heard talk of wedding plans. Cynthia, can you imagine the state of any of your suitors should they have heard the rumours floating around?” Haddington was looking at Lee as they approached the rest of the group. “If one of them had been a little slow in telling you their feelings this would surely have forced them to do something.”

  “I hope Your Lordship will believe me,” said Cynthia emphatically, “when I say this plan was meant…….”

  “I understand, my dear, I appreciate the sincerity of your thoughts and the kind generosity of you both, it was a wonderful gesture and I am deeply touched by it.” He squeezed her arm as they walked back down the aisle and out into the sunshine.

  Most of the villagers had gathered in the square at the foot of the steps, they stood in silence, Haddington shook the vicar’s hand and then Chesters and then he began to descend the steps.

  “Three cheers for Lord Clumsy.” Someone called out.

  “Hip, hip, hooray!” Haddington smiled and then raised his hat to wave it happily. “Hip, hip, hooray!” He reached the carriages and was the last to climb inside. “Hip, hip, hooray!” He stood up as the carriage moved away and the crowd began to sing “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”

  He sat down to face Lee and Cynthia.

  “Now do you see why I love this area?” He asked still smiling, his face all aglow.

  The gathering to celebrate Haddington’s birthday began early. In the ballroom tables were spread all around three sides, leaving the entrance and the centre clear as an entrance and for dancing. A servant stood at the doorway shouting the names of the guests as he was handed the invitations.

  “Sir Daniel and Lady Williams.”

  “Mr and Mrs Cartwright.”

  All the local gentry were steadily arriving, a pile of invitations were placed in the servant’s hands.

  “Reverend and Mrs Stillwell and……and……and party.”

  A great crowd came surging merrily in to be shown by another servant their places at the tables.

  The servant glanced over his shoulder and stepped out into the centre of the room. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called and the room fell silent, “His Lordship, Lord Clemence Haddington.”

  Haddington came striding down the couple of steps with Cynthia on his arm and followed by his party, as they strolled down the centre of the room everybody got to their feet and applauded loudly, they kept it up until the old Lord and his group reached their table and stood in their places to face the room, then all his party too joined in the applause.

  He let them clap then raised his arms for silence, the clapping slowly died away and everybody sat down except for Haddington.

  “I feel deeply honoured that so many of my dear friends have gathered here to help me celebrate my birthday. I shall not bore you with long, dreary speeches except to say I hope you will all enjoy this evening as much as I intend to.” He sat down to a wild burst of applause, then a long string of servants came in carrying trays of food, the applause grew louder.

  The guests all settled down to eat heartily while a string orchestra set comfortably in one corner of the room kept them entertained. After the food came the speeches, many of them, until Lord Haddington himself got to his feet amid polite applause.

  “I am sure you all agree when I say we all have memories of certain events that we keep in our hearts and we like to recall with fondness, for myself, this is such an event.” There was a burst of applause and cries of “Here, here.”“This is indeed a memorable night, for two reasons,” he smiled down the table at Lee and Cynthia sitting to his right. “Over the past week or so, I’ve had a guest in my house who has fulfilled my fondest wish.” The ro
om was very silent. “When my beloved daughter left these shores many years ago never to return she had a son, my dearest wish was to find the lad and bring him back here where he belonged, I had decided many days ago to reveal him to you, my friends, on this night so that you all could share this wonderful pleasure with me.”

  He strolled down past Cynthia and Lee and put his hands on Winterhaiming’s shoulders, there was a half-hearted burst of applause led by a very pleased Clarence who was smiling broadly. Haddington leaned forward to whisper something to Winterhaiming, then he went back to Lee and took him by the arm to lead him back to stand near the old Lord’s seat.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, my grandson.” They stood with their arms linked as the applause became so thunderous that it threatened to bring the roof down around their ears.

  Cloud was on his feet clapping with vigour copying half the room, he leant down to shout to Clarence.

  “Too bad, pal.”

  “A damn fool, a damn, old fool.”

  Haddington held up his hand and the room slowly subsided into silence.

  “It took a lot of hard, detective work.” Said Haddington, “most of the credit for which must go to Mr Clarence, he proved himself a determined and painstaking stalker, not that I needed that proof. He gathered all the evidence diligently and laid it all at my feet and left the decision up to me.” Haddington smiled at Lee who stood in stunned silence. “I saw this boy display kindness, strength and great courage, just the attributes we Haddington’s have in abundance.” There was polite laughter to this little sally. “But I wanted more proof, conclusive proof, so I resorted to a lowly act that I hope my new found grandson will forgive me for.”

  “You know that you don’t even have to ask.” Said Lee softly, and Haddington squeezed his arm warmly.

  “I took the liberty of searching Mr Lee’s luggage, I know how caddish that sounds, but I believe it was well worth it. I found this.” He took something from his pocket to hold up, there was a craning of necks. “There was one thing my dear daughter cherished above everything else, it was this hair ribbon given to her by her mother many years ago.”

  “But I’ve never….” Began Lee, Haddington squeezed his arm and then he looked down and realised Cynthia was holding his hand and looking up at him with a strange, pleading expression.

  “That’s right,” laughed Cloud, “that old ribbon he used to carry it everywhere.”

  “I should like to examine that old ribbon.” Said Clarence grimly.

  “You can all see the pleasure and pride I take in making this announcement.” He was drowned out by the applause, while he stood there Lee leaned down to whisper to Cynthia then they both looked down the table with questioning looks at Lady Marlebone. The older woman began to smile, then dabbed her handkerchief to her tear-laden eyes and nodded.

  Cynthia whispered into Lee’s ear and took the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek, with a wide smile he returned to Haddington to say something softly.

  The old Lord shook him by the hand, then reached over to kiss Cynthia on the hand, he stood up and raised his hand to stop the applause.

  “I have a second announcement to make, an announcement that gives me the greatest pleasure I can possibly imagine. My grandson wishes to announce his engagement to Miss Cynthia Marlebone.” The cheers and applause were louder than ever and more prolonged, many of the women were holding their handkerchiefs to wet eyes.

  “How grand,” roared Sir Rupert, “how perfectly grand, how grand.” He smiled down at a tearful Lady Marlebone as he got to his feet to join in the applause. Winterhaiming was on his feet on the side clapping as enthusiastically as the rest.

  Haddington had his hand in the air but it took a long time for the noise to subside and for everybody to return to their seats.

  “I have a third announcement,” he went to Cynthia and took her hand, “with this beautiful woman’s consent, I intend to dance the first waltz of the night with her.”

  Cynthia nodded tearfully, she couldn’t trust herself to speak, as Haddington led her out to the centre of the floor the people erupted once again into hearty applause.

  “I had begun to believe, my dear,” he said to her as they waited for the crowd to fall silent and the music to begin, “that all my happiness was behind me, until tonight.” She smiled as the music started and they moved off in the waltz, the floor was soon filled with more dancing couples.

  Sir Rupert raced down to shake Lee’s hand vigorously, but the young man couldn’t take his eyes from Cynthia.

  In the middle of the waltz Haddington had to surrender his place to Lee, he joined Clarence on the side of the room and stood tapping his foot to the music and watched them with a pleased smile on his face.

  A servant came up to whisper something to him and Haddington nodded, while the servant strolled away he glanced over at Clarence’s face.

  “I know what you’re thinking, my old friend. You think I’ve disregarded all your good advice and all your hard work.”

  “My one thought is that you’ve made a great mistake.”

  “Come to my office, I’d like to talk to you.” Haddington put his arm around Clarence’s shoulder as they walked down the side of the room, the old Lord kept looking at the dancing couples or else he smiled and waved to a friend in the crowd along the sides of the room.

  “What did you say to Winterhaiming?”

  “I told him I was sorry and that I’d make it up to him, in fact, he’s in my office now.”

  “You know that he’s been cheated out of his inheritance?”

  “Clarence, Clarence……” Haddington was shaking his head.

  “He’s been denied natural justice because you’ve acted like a foolish, selfish, old man.”

  “We’ve been the closest of friends for many years, Clarence, but what you’ve just said proves that you know nothing about me, I might as well be a total stranger.”

  “What I’ve seen recently are the acts of a total stranger.”

  “There you are,” said Haddington emphatically, “you see, you have no idea what I’m talking about. For the first time in years I feel real happiness, I feel real confidence about the future, the estate is safe and sound and in good hands.”

  “I would have protected the estate…..”

  “How could you have? How Clarence? You’re just the family legal adviser. With my death this estate would have passed into the hands of a squabbling bunch of distant, unknown relatives. Now it will become……”

  “The property of an American boxer.”

  “Exactly, but what a boxer. He showed real courage facing young Winterhaiming for a second time, remembering that he was knocked out the first time. And that young woman, she’ll fight like a tiger to preserve her property. Can you imagine the children they’ll have?”

  “I’m trying not to.”

  “Admit it, old boy, you’re only pretending to be displeased.”

  “There’s no pretence on my part, Your Lordship,” he looked at Haddington who was watching him carefully, “but if this is Your Lordship’s decision, I’ll abide by it and say no more on the matter.”

  “As I knew you would, old friend.” They came upon one of the servants carrying a tray of drinks, “where is Miss Blackie?”

  “In the garden, Your Lordship, she’s just been fed.”

  “Good, good.” He shook his head to show he didn’t want a drink, Clarence did the same and they continued on with their stroll.

  “It seems that little creature has decided to make this house her home.”

  “Which is our good fortune, Clarence.”

  “All the servants think a great deal of her.”

  “And why not? With that affectionate, gentle nature how could anyone refuse her slightest wish, but damnably fickle, Clarence, like all her kind, fickle.”

  “Yes.” Smiled Clarence.

  Cynthia and Lee came swirling past and she waved brightly to Haddington who stopped and stood smiling with his hands behind his back.
>
  “That beautiful black body, Clarence, the sheer pleasure of stroking it cannot be matched.”

  “No, Your Lordship.”

  “But to think the little devil should spend the day in the woods with my gardener, the heartless little hussy.”

  “Yes, Your Lordship.”

  “But I forgive her, Clarence, and I gladly take her back.”

  “Yes.” They were both smiling as they continued on their walk. Behind them they left pandemonium. The form of one stout lady lay to one side unconscious in her chair, as her daughter fanned her with concern and her husband rubbed her wrists.

  Another lady was being held up by the arms by her sons.

  “The beast, the man is a wanton beast, oh, it’s horrible, horrible.”

  “What man, mother?” Asked one son.

  “That…..that creature in human guise.” She pointed to an innocent Haddington strolling away calmly talking to Clarence.

  “What did he say?” Asked the second son of the first and got a shrug of the shoulders in reply.

  “I’ll go and get his Lordship.” Said the daughter of the unconscious woman and took a few steps.

  “No.” Shrieked the standing woman and the younger woman stopped in her tracks. “Get her, bring her back,” she ordered one of her sons, “do not allow that sweet creature to get within reach of that vile monster.”

  A gentleman leaned over to speak to the husband of the unconscious woman.

  “Anything wrong, sir?”

  “There’s just been too much excitement, that’s all.”

  Haddington and Clarence went on blissfully unaware to the old Lord’s office. Winterhaiming was sitting in a chair having a drink when they came in. He stood up as Haddington grimly went to his desk and sat down, he eyed Winterhaiming carefully as he clasped his hands in front of him.

  “I do hope we’re not going to have any difficulties with you, sir.” Said Haddington sternly.

  “Of course not, Your Lordship.” The young man said calmly as he returned to his seat.

  “A drink if you please, Clarence.” Said Haddington to Clarence, then returned to Winterhaiming, “you’ve taken this very well, sir, very well indeed. If there is one thing I admire more than anything else, it’s gentlemanly conduct. I intend to reward such conduct.”

  “There’s really no……”

  “Don’t interrupt, young man,” he said with mock solemnity, “I have an interest in many companies in the city, I’m offering you a position on some of those companies.”

  “Well……”

  “Good, I knew you’d accept. They won’t be much of a drain on your time or energies but they will ensure that you can live like a decent human being.”

  Clarence came back with the drinks.

  “I also want you to accept as a gift from me a few shares in those companies, in payment for your having come all this way and to have wasted so much of your time.”

  “There really is no……”

  “Good.” Haddington got to his feet, “let’s drink on it, shall we. Your health.” They all stood up and drained their glasses. “May I shake your hand, sir?” Winterhaiming stepped forward to offer his hand.

  “I consider it a great privilege that I know you, Your Lordship.” He smiled, “now, with your permission I should very much like to return to the festivities.”

  “By all means, Clarence, show the young man to the door.”

  “Of course.” Clarence led the way across the room and stood with the door open, Winterhaiming nodded as he left.

  “This calls for a cigar.” Smiled Haddington as he took a cigar out of a box and lit it, as Clarence returned to the desk the old man offered him the box, Clarence took out a cigar and Haddington lit it for him. “The glasses, Clarence, they’re empty.”

  “Not for long, Your Lordship.” Clarence was puffing on his cigar contentedly and refilling the glasses when a knock came to the door.

  “Come in.” Said Haddington and the door was opened by Lee, “come in, my boy, join us in a drink.”

  “No thanks just the same, Your Lordship, I wanted to talk to you.” Lee was very subdued.

  “By all means.”

  “I’ll just step outside.” Said Clarence.

  “No, I’d rather you stayed as well.” Clarence stood where he was as Lee came across the room. “I’ve thought the whole thing over and I just can’t allow you to go through with it, Your Lordship.”

  “What’s that?” Said Haddington pretending to be deaf, “do you know what the boy’s talking about, Clarence?”

  “He’s talking about publicly humiliating a certain old man who has told all his friends of a decision he’s made. He is such a foolish young man he doesn’t seem to care one bit about the disgrace he will cause to those who have been kind to him.”

  “Surely not, Clarence, not this young fellow. I know what it is, he’s drunk too much wine and he has no idea what he’s talking about.”

  “Your Lordship……”

  “Not another word, if we’re both in this room who is outside seeing to our guests?”

  “Mr Lee is just on his way to do so, aren’t you, Mr Lee?” Said Clarence.

  Lee stood looking from Clarence to Haddington, unsure just what he should do.

  “That young woman, my boy,” said Haddington suddenly, “have you left her on her own?”

  “It’s alright, Your Lordship, she’s dancing with Sir Rupert.”

  “Get back there at once and rescue that poor girl.” Snapped Haddington jumping to his feet. Lee spun quickly to move to the door followed by Clarence. Lee opened the door just as Clarence reached it with him, without a backward glance Lee closed the door heavily behind him, on Clarence’s fingers.

  “Mr Lee…….ouch!” Said Clarence and Lee hurriedly opened the door, onto Clarence’s head, “ouch!”

  “Sorry, Clarence.”

  “That’s quite alright, Mr Lee, I’m rather used to it.”

  “Did you want to say something to me?”

  “I just wanted to say…..” He was rubbing his forehead where the door hit him grimly, then he softened and in that normally stern face Lee caught the faint glimpse of a smile, “congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” Lee smiled back. “That’s very kind of you to say so.”

  Clarence closed the door.

  “I suppose from tomorrow, I’ll have to start calling that young man sir.” He mused aloud as he walked back to the desk.

  “If you don’t hurry up and refill my glass that’s not what I’ll call you.” Said Haddington testily.

  “I wonder, Your Lordship, if you have made the best choice after all.”Smiled Clarence.

  “Stop trying to cover up your tardiness by trying to get on my good side, Clarence, where’s my drink?”

  “Coming, Your Lordship, coming.”

  As he came back with the glasses to stand to one side of the desk he saw Haddington absently about to drop his cigar a few inches from an ashtray. Clarence reached forward to grab at the ashtray but the old Lord brought his cigar down on Clarence’s hand.

  “Ouch!” He bellowed and startled Haddington who swung in his swivel chair to sweep the ashtray off the desk and on to Clarence’s foot. “Ouch!”

  “Clarence,” said Haddington impatiently, “when in Heaven’s name are you going to get over this confounded habit of yours of getting in people’s way?”

  “That’s a question I’ve asked myself a thousand times, Your Lordship.” Said Clarence alternately rubbing his hand and his foot.

  “You must have gotten a thousand interesting replies.” Smiled Haddington as he took a sip of his drink.

  Clarence drained his glass and chatted for a few moments then decided to return to the celebrations, Haddington waved cheerfully and took up his box of cigars, deciding to indulge himself once more before throwing himself into the festivities again.

  As he approached the door Clarence heard a familiar voice.

  “……..tiresome, don’t bother t
o knock, knocking is so tiresome, don’t knock, go in, go in, it would only be tiresome to knock.” It was the voice of Sir Rupert, he glanced down to see the door knob slowly turning, he decided to be clever and stepped to one side so that he could hide behind the opening door.

  Sir Rupert opened the door a little and was about to step inside when he tripped on the feet of a too eager Winterhaiming, he fell inside and the door flew from his grasp to be stopped by a dull thud.

  “I am awfully sorry, Sir Rupert,” said a shocked Winterhaiming.

  “Think nothing of it, old chap, think nothing of it,” Winterhaiming was helping him to his feet, “I’m getting as clumsy as Clarence, that’s what I am, as clumsy as Clarence.”

  Now, for the first time Haddington became aware of their presence, he lit his cigar and sat watching them calmly.

  “Clemmie, Clemmie.” Smiled Sir Rupert as he came walking across the room, “close the door, Reggie, there’s a good chap.”

  “Certainly, sir.” He closed the door without noticing Clarence lying unconscious behind a chair.

  “Rupert, Rupert.” Said Haddington.

  “That’s a bad habit you’re developing, old boy.” Said Sir Rupert seating himself in a chair facing the desk.

  “What habit is that, Rupert?”

  “Repeating yourself, I’ll have one of those, Reggie,” he indicated the box of cigars, “repeating yourself, old boy.” Winterhaiming was handed the box by Haddington and took it over to Sir Rupert, who made a choice, “thank you.”

  “I was not repeating myself.”

  “Of course you were, I heard you, you repeated yourself,” he turned to Winterhaiming who was about to sit down after taking out a cigar for himself and returning the box to the desk, “light, Reggie, light, if you please.”

  “I was not repeating myself, Rupert.”

  “Tiresome, old boy, tiresome, repeating yourself is so tiresome.”

  “I was not……..”

  “Reggie heard you, didn’t you, Reggie?”

  “You did repeat yourself, Your Lordship.” He was lighting Sir Rupert’s cigar.

  “It’s tiresome, old boy, tiresome, isn’t it tiresome Reggie?”

  “It is very tiresome, Sir Rupert.”

  “Repeating oneself is tiresome.” Said Sir Rupert.

  “Very tiresome, Sir Rupert, very tiresome.”

  “Alright,” said Haddington rubbing the side of his head with two fingers, “I was repeating myself, I was being tiresome, I won’t let it happen again.”

  “I regret having to correct you, Clemmie.”

  “Correcting people is very tiresome.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “Aptly put, my boy,” smiled Sir Rupert, “aptly put, correcting people is very tiresome.”

  “Rupert……”

  “I’ve always found it very tiresome, Sir Rupert. Necessary but tiresome just the same.”

  “So have I, my boy, people will make mistakes, they have to be corrected, it’s tiresome to have to do it, but as you said necessary.”

  “Rupert……”

  “My foster parents make woeful mistakes, and I am compelled to correct them, very tiresome.”

  “It is a very tiresome……..”

  “Rupert!” Haddington slammed the desk with the palm of his hand.

  “You see, my boy,” said Sir Rupert sadly indicating Haddington, “another bad habit he’s developing, thumping tables and shouting, tiresome, thumping tables and shouting.”

  “Tiresome.” Agreed Winterhaiming.

  “As you say, my boy, tiresome.”

  “I’ve begun to develop another tiresome habit.” Said Haddington grimly.

  “Have you, Clemmie, another habit, you’d think you had enough habits without developing another one.”

  “I’ve begun to suffer uncontrollable urges to strangle certain people with my bare hands.”

  “Oh, Clemmie, Clemmie,” Sir Rupert was shaking his head sadly, “violence, Clemmie.”

  “Violence is tiresome.”

  “Exactly, my boy, tiresome, violence is tiresome.”

  “Very tiresome.”

  “Exactly, very tiresome.”

  “Rupert,” Haddington was massaging his forehead, “why did you come in here?”

  “We didn’t want to be tiresome, Your Lordship.”

  “That’s right,” agreed Sir Rupert, “we didn’t want to be tiresome, Clemmie, that’s the last thing we wanted, to be tiresome.”

  “You’re not…….” Haddington began to shout then got control of himself, “you’re not being tiresome.”

  “A gentleman, Clemmie, despite your terrible habits, you’ve never failed to act like a gentleman, ungentlemanly conduct is so tiresome.”

  “Chaps who refuse to act like gentlemen are very tiresome.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “Quite right, my boy, they can be terribly tiresome……”

  “Rupert……”

  “We had a chap like that visit us a couple of months ago,” said Winterhaiming, incredibly tiresome fellow.”

  “I know exactly what you mean.”

  “Rupert……”

  “We had to ask him to leave, his conduct was so tiresome.”

  “I don’t blame you, if a chap is such a cad as to be so tiresome there is no other recourse left to decent people.”

  “Gentlemen,” said Haddington grimly, “I must warn you that so far I’ve managed to control my inner urges to strangle the person nearest me, but at the present moment I’m fighting a losing battle.”

  Sir Rupert and Winterhaiming noticed the expression on his face so they slowly got to their feet and backed toward the door.

  “Oh, dear me, dear me.”

  “He’s not going to be tiresome, is he?” Asked Winterhaiming.

  “Rupert, why not just tell me why you came in here?”

  “I wouldn’t dare, Clemmie, you’d be so overcome with disappointment that you’d surrender to those inner urges.”

  “You’d become tiresome.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “I think I’ve got control of them for the present.”

  “As you know, Clemmie, I can’t stay here forever?”

  “Can’t you?” Asked Haddington in disbelief.

  “I’ve decided to go home tomorrow, and with your permission I should like to take Reggie here to meet my good lady wife.”

  “Gentlemen,” Haddington tried to keep himself from smiling to keep the overwhelming joy he felt from his voice, “it’s alright, I’ll be strong now, you need have no further fear.”

  “A real gentleman,” smiled Sir Rupert, “a ripping fellow.”

  “I knew you’d take it like this, Your Lordship,” said Winterhaiming as he was about to stride across the room to offer him his hand.

  “No.” Whispered Sir Rupert loudly as he grabbed the young man by the coat-tail, “keep your distance from him.”

  “But he’s not being tiresome.”

  “He can change, my boy, he’s not tiresome but he can change.”

  “I think it’s time, gentlemen, we returned to our guests.” Said Haddington getting to his feet and coming around the desk. Winterhaiming led the way across the room and stood with the door open, Sir Rupert and then Haddington went striding through.

  Before he could close the door Haddington came back to stand beside Winterhaiming as he looked back into the room.

  “That’s odd.”

  “What is it, Your Lordship?”

  “Where’s Clarence?” He shrugged his shoulders and went out as Winterhaiming closed the door. Clarence was just coming to, he got to his hands and knees and shook his head to try and clear it, then groaned aloud when he realised what a mistake that was. He began to crawl toward the door slowly, as he neared it, it flew open.

  Haddington came striding in oblivious to the dull thud made by the door and went to his desk. He smiled as he picked up his cigar, took a few puffs and came walking back across the room with the cigar between his lips, he stepped outside and closed t
he door behind him.

  “Just like that confounded Clarence, just like the fellow, just like him.” Said Sir Rupert.

  “Is it?” Asked Haddington.

  “It is, Clemmie, it is, it’s just like him to disappear when you need him, he’s disappeared just when he’s needed.”

  “In what way is he needed, Rupert?”

  “I wanted his advice on a most important matter, an important matter, I needed his advice, that’s what I needed.”

  “About what?”

  “Adoption, sir, the matter of adoption, I merely wanted his advice, that’s all.”

  “Adoption?”

  “Yes, adoption, it was a most important matter and now the confounded fellow has disappeared into thin air.”

  “What advice would you want about adoption, Rupert?”

  “Just a thought I had, old boy, a thought that came into my head.” He was looking across at Winterhaiming who was strolling calmly on the other side of Haddington.

  “Don’t be so tiresome.” Said Haddington coldly.

  The night was passing quickly and everybody was enjoying themselves. Haddington seemed to be everywhere and he still managed to have a couple of dances with Cynthia. He attempted to ask a stout lady for a dance but she, to his surprise, fled the room in hysterical terror.

  He contented himself with standing on the side of the room chatting happily with some of his guests and sharing a drink.

  Clarence stood on the opposite side of the room nursing a glass of wine and gingerly rubbing a set of sore lumps on his head.

  “Ah, Mr Clarence.”

  “Vicar.” He nodded as the vicar joined him and stood with his hands behind his back rocking on the balls of his feet to the lively music.

  “What a grand night it’s been.”

  “Yes.”

  “Look at that old chap, will you.” He smiled as Haddington asked a young lady to dance and as he escorted her out to the centre of the floor there was a burst of applause. “Where does he get the energy from?” The vicar hummed a bit of the music then turned to look at Clarence earnestly. “Does he look different to you, Mr Clarence?”

  “No, vicar, I can’t say that he does, should he?”

  “He looks younger, happier to me, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.”

  “Your vision must be better than mine.”

  “I was very worried about him after his wife passed on, you know, he had no family left of his own, I feared he was about to become a morose recluse.”

  “He still had Sir Rupert.”

  The vicar looked at him in silence for a few long moments then spoke as if he hadn’t heard Clarence’s remark.

  “It was a great fear of mine that the old Lord would become a morose recluse, you know how deeply he was attached to his charming wife, and then suddenly he had no-one left.”

  “He may not show it, but it was a great blow to him.”

  “I don’t doubt that for one moment.” Said the vicar watching a laughing Haddington go dancing past with his partner. “She was such a frail creature and his devotion to her was so touching.”

  “His age may fool you a little, vicar, he’s very resilient.”

  “I don’t know, Mr Clarence,” the vicar shook his head, “I saw signs, worrying signs.”

  “What signs? Signs of what?”

  “It’s unimportant now, thank God, the signs have all gone, we’ve got our old Lord back now. Although, not quite.” Said the vicar with a frown.

  “What do you mean?”

  “As you know certain people, feeble minded people, I might add, in the village have taken to calling Lord Haddington by another name………”

  “Lord Clumsy.”

  “Precisely,” nodded the vicar, “Lord Clumsy, frightful ideas some people have for nicknames…….”

  “At the same time, quite apt.” Said Clarence

  “I might have agreed with you on that at one time, Mr Clarence, but lately I’ve noticed our good Lord Haddington has been nowhere near as clumsy as he once was.”

  “You’ll have to pardon me, vicar,” Clarence was rubbing his sore spots once again, “if I disagree with you on that observation.”

  “Oh, Mr Clarence, what makes you say that?”

  “Signs, vicar, certain signs.” Said Clarence ruefully.

  “Hmmm.” The vicar nodded vaguely, queer fellow, he thought to himself.

  Haddington thoroughly enjoyed himself with a few more dances and then went to join Cynthia who sat fanning herself while she watched Lee and her mother dancing and chatting together. The old Lord stood just behind her mopping his brow with his handkerchief.

  “Before this night’s out, my dear, I must dance with your charming mother.” He puffed.

  “Father always says that she dances like an angel.” Smiled Cynthia over her shoulder.

  “Your necklace, my dear, the clasp seems to be broken.” He leaned down to look at it closely.

  “I’m afraid it’s broken, Your Lordship, it keeps falling open, would you please close it for me?”

  “Certainly,” he was reaching down when Sir Rupert and Winterhaiming appeared from nowhere.

  “Quickly, Reggie, grab his arm.”

  “What the blazes…….”

  “Now, you’re not going to be tiresome, are you, Your Lordship?” Said Winterhaiming taking his arm in a grip of iron and bending it behind Haddington’s back to pin it there, Sir Rupert did the same with his other arm.

  “If you fools do not release my arms this instant I’m going to be positively wearisome.”

  “I told you, Reggie, didn’t I? I told you?”

  “You certainly did, Sir Rupert.”

  “Sir Rupert what are you doing?” Asked Cynthia getting to her feet and turning to look at them with a puzzled frown.

  Sir Rupert looked around and saw a young man standing with his arms folded on his chest, listening to the music and watching the dancing.

  “You, sir.” The young man turned, “this young lady is in need of a dancing partner.” The young man came over to bow and offer his arm.

  “I don’t want to dance.”

  “I would regard it as a great favour, my dear, if you would accept this fellow’s offer so that I may settle this little misunderstanding.” Said Lord Haddington grimly. Reluctantly she danced off with her escort. “Besides, I wouldn’t want her fainting at the sight of blood.” Said Haddington pointedly looking at Sir Rupert and then Winterhaiming.

  “I told you, Reggie, I said so, didn’t I?”

  “Of course you did, Sir Rupert.”

  “He’s about to be tiresome, Reggie, I can tell, he’s about to be tiresome.”

  “How tiresome.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “If you chaps will just release…..” Haddington struggled in vain.

  “I saw you, Clemmie, I saw you, you were about to strangle that poor girl.”

  “What! Rupert will you stop being so…so……”

  “Tiresome?” Suggested Winterhaiming.

  “Ridiculous.” Said Haddington impatiently, “I was about to fix her necklace, the clasp had come undone.”

  “This is terrible,” sighed Sir Rupert as he watched Cynthia go sliding past, “this is terrible, Clemmie, now you’re pretending to yourself.”

  “How tiresome.”

  “Rupert, what are you talking about?”

  “The girl is not wearing a necklace, she’s not, you know, she’s not wearing a necklace.”

  “Of course she is.”

  “She’s not, Clemmie, she’s not.”

  “Alright, she’ll be around again and I’ll show you, if she’s wearing a necklace will you let me go?”

  “That seems reasonable, Clemmie, that’s a reasonable request, I can see no reason…….”

  “Just say yes or no.”

  “Yes, Clemmie, if that’s what you want, by all means, I agree……”

  “And you?” He asked Winterhaiming.

  “If you promise not t
o be tiresome.”

  “When my arms are released, sir, I can promise you absolutely I shall not be tiresome.” He said with a glint in his eyes.

  “Done.”

  They stood waiting until Cynthia came dancing by, she saw Winterhaiming and Sir Rupert smiling in triumph while they held a red-faced Haddington by the arms.

  “The blasted thing must have broken, I tell you.”

  “Now, now, Clemmie.”

  “You’re being tiresome, you promised you wouldn’t.”

  “If you gentlemen do not release me this instant I’m going to be tiresome to such an extent that I shall throw you both through a window.”

  “You see, Reggie, you see, I told you?”

  “You did tell me, Sir Rupert.”

  “Rupert……..” Haddington was struggling angrily.

  “I told you, Reggie, we can’t leave the poor chap like this, we just can’t leave tomorrow.”

  Haddington stopped struggling and his face took on an angelic expression.

  “What’s happening?” He asked calmly, “where am I?” He turned to smile sweetly first at Sir Rupert and then at Winterhaiming. “Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. I must have had one of my turns again, but now I’m cured, I’ll never want to strangle anyone again in my whole life.”

  “Are you sure, Clemmie, are you sure?”

  “Let me prove it to you. You must release my arms.” Sir Rupert exchanged a glance with Winterhaiming who finally nodded after a few moments. “Now, Rupert, I’ll just place my hands around your throat.” Sir Rupert took a step back in fright. “I’m cured, Rupert, you must have faith in me.”

  “Couldn’t you put your hands around Reggie’s throat and I can watch and have faith that way?”

  “Come, come, Rupert, are you saying that you don’t have faith in your own brother?”

  “Well……well,” he swallowed, “I warn you that at the first sign of pressure I shall faint.”

  With a strange look in his eyes Haddington came toward him with raised hands to clamp them about his brother’s throat lightly, he raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘I could always plead insanity.’ He thought to himself.

  “Your Lordship?” Asked a worried Winterhaiming.

  “Don’t interrupt me, my boy, just let me enjoy this moment a little longer.”

  It was at this stage Cynthia came gliding past once again to look with surprise at the three of them before they were left behind.

  Reluctantly Haddington lowered his arms with a sigh.

  “I believe, Clemmie, you are cured.” Smiled Sir Rupert happily. “Another miracle cure.”

  “Miracles are tiresome things.” Said Winterhaiming.

  “Tiresome or not, my boy,” said Haddington, “you’ve been the witness to one tonight.”

  In the middle of the dancing, above the chatter of the people and the music of the orchestra a voice suddenly bellowed clearly:

  “MY PARTY, MY