As the Crow Flies (30 page)

“Certainly
not,” said Daphne out loud. “Once I am back in England I shall have far more
important things to worry myself with than aging aunts.” She then read the
P.S.:

And
while you are in Cumberland, my darling, it will be a good opportunity for you
to advise me on my will, because I’m not sure which of the pictures to give to
whom, especially the Laueletts, which I do feel deserves a good home.

Wicked
old lady, thought Daphne, well aware that Aunt Agatha wrote an identical P.S.
to every one of her relations, however distant, thus guaranteeing that she
rarely spent a weekend alone.

The
second letter was from Michael Fishlock and Company, the catering specialists,
who enclosed an estimam for supplying tea to five hundred guests in Vincent
Square immediately preceding the wedding. Three hundred guineas seemed an
outrageous sum to Daphne, but without a second thought she placed the estimate
on one side, to be dealt with by her father at some later date. Two other
letters addressed to her mother that were from friends and no concern of Daphne’s
were also placed on one side.

The
fifth letter she saved until last, because the envelope was enriched by the
most colorful stamps, the King’s crown set in an oval on the right-hand corner
above the words “Ten Annas.”

She
slit the envelope open slowly and extracted several sheets of heavy notepaper,
the first of which was embossed with the crest and legend of the Royal
Fusiliers.

“Dear
Daphne,” the letter began. She hurriedly turned to the last page in order to
check the signature, which lead, “Your friend, as always, Guy.”

Returning
to the first page, she glanced at the address before beginning to read Guy’s
words with apprehension.

Officers’
Mess

2nd
Battalion Royal Fusiliers Wellington Barracks

15
May 1921

Dear
Daphne, I hope you will forgive me for presuming on our long family friendship,
but a problem has arisen of which I am sure you are only too aware, and
unfortunately I now find that I must turn to you for help and guidance.

Some
time ago, I received a letter from your friend Rebecca Salmon Daphne placed the
unread pages back on her dressing-table, wishing that the letter had arrived a
few days after she had set out on her honeymoon rather than before. She fiddled
around with the guest list for some time, but realized she would eventually
have to find our what Guy expected of her. She returned to his letter. informing
me that she was pregnant and that I was the father of her child.

Let
me assure you from the outset that nothing could be further from the truth, as
on the only occasion I remained overnight in your flat, Rebecca and I had no physical
contact.

As
a matter of record, it was she who insisted we had diner together at 97 Chelsea
Terrace that evening, despite the fact that I had already booked a table for us
at the Ritz.

As
the evening progressed, it became obvious that she was trying to get me drunk,
and indeed when I thought to leave, I confess I did feel a little queasy, and
wasn’t certain that I would be able to make the journey safely back to my
barracks.

Rebecca
immediately suggested that I remain overnight in order to “sleep it off”. I use
her exact words. Naturally I refused, until she pointed out that I could stay
in your room as you were not expected to return from the country until the
following afternoon – a fact which you late confirmed.

Indeed,
I took up Rebecca’s kind offer, and on retiring to bed, quickly fell into a
deep sleep only to be awoken later by the banging of a door.

To
my horror I awoke to find you standing there in front of me. I was even more
shocked to discover that Rebecca, quite unbeknown to me, had crept into bed
beside me.

You
were naturally embarrassed and left immediately, without uttering another word.
I rose, dressed and returned to my barracks, arriving back in my own room by
one-fifteen, at the latest.

On
arriving at Waterloo Station later in the morning to begin my journey to India
I was, as you can imagine, somewhat surprised to find Rebecca waiting for me on
the platform. I spend only a few moments with her but left her in no doubt as
to how I felt about the trick she had played on me the previous evening. I then
shook her by the hand and boarded the boat train for Southampton, never for one
moment expecting to hear from her again. The next contact I had with Miss
Salmon came a few months later when I received this unwarranted scurrilous
letter, which brings me to the reason why I now need your assistance.

Daphne
turned the page and stopped to look at herself in the mirror. She had no desire
to find out what Guy expected of her. He had even forgotten in whose room he
had been discovered. Yet it was only seconds before her eyes returned to the
top of the next page and she began reading again.

No
further action would have proved necessary had it not been for the fact that
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Danvers Hamilton took it upon himself to drop a note to
my new Commanding Officer, Colonel Forbes, informing him of Miss Salmon’s
version of the story, which resulted in my being called upon to defend myself
in front of a special enquiry made up of my brother officers.

Naturally,
I told them exactly what had taken place that night, but because of Colonel
Hamilton’s continuing influence with the regiment, some of them remained
unwilling to accept my version of events. Fortunately my mother was able to
write to Colonel Forbes a few weeks later to let him know that Miss Salmon had
married her long-time lover, Charlie Trumper, and that he was not denying that
the child that had been born out of wedlock was his. If the Colonel had not
accepted my mother’s work, I might have been forced to resign my commission
immediately, but fortunately that unjustice has been avoided.

However,
since then my mother has informed me of your intention to visit India while you
are on your honeymoon (my sincere congratulations). You are therefore almost
certain to come across Colonel Forbes who, I fear, may well refer to this
matter, as your name has already been mentioned in connection with the affair.

I
therefore beg you to say nothing that might harm my career. In fact, if you
felt able to confirm my story, the whole sorry business might finally be laid
to rest.

Your
friend, as always, Guy Daphne placed the letter back on the dressing table, and
began to brush her hair as she considered what should be done next. She did not
want to discuss the problem with her mother or father and certainly had no
desire to drag Percy into it. She also felt certain that Becky should not be
made aware of Trentham’s missive until she had thought out exactly what course
of action needed to be taken. She was amazed at how short a memory Guy assumed
she must have as he distanced himself from reality.

She
put down the hairbrush and looked at herself in the mirror before resuming to
the letter for a second and then a third reading. Eventually she placed the
letter back in the envelope and tried to dismiss its contents from her
thoughts; but whatever distraction she turnd her attention to, Guy’s words
continued to prey on her mind. It particularly aggravated her that he should
imagine she was so gullible.

Suddenly
Daphne realized from whom she should seek advice. She picked up the telephone,
and after asking the operator for a Chelsea number, was delighted to find the
colonel was still at home.

“I
was just off to my club, Daphne,” he told her. “But do let me know how I can be
of help.”

“I
need to talk to you urgency but it’s not something I feel I can discuss over
the telephone,” she explained.

“I
understand,” said the colonel, who paused for a moment before adding, “If you’re
free why don’t you join me for lunch at the In and Out? I’ll just change my
booking to the Ladies’ Room.”

Daphne
accepted the offer gratefully, and once she had checked her makeup Hoskins
drove her to Piccadilly, arriving at the Naval and Military a few minutes after
one.

The
colonel was standing in the entrance hall waiting to greet her. “This is a
pleasant surprise,” said Sir Danvers. “It’s not every day I’m seen lunching
with a beautiful young woman. It will do my reputation at the club no end of
good. I shall wave at every brigadier and general I come across.”

The
fact that Daphne didn’t laugh at the colonel’s little aside brought about an
immediate change in his demeanor. He took his guest gently by the arm and
guided her through to the ladies’ luncheon room. Once he had written out their
order and handed it to a waitress, Daphne removed Guy’s letter from her bag and
without another word passed it over to her host.

The
colonel fixed the monocle to his good eye and began to read, occasionally
looking up at Daphne, only to observe that she hadn’t touched the Brown Windsor
soup that had been placed in front of her.

“Rum
business this,” he said, as he placed the letter in its envelope and handed it
back to Daphne.

“I
agree, but what do you suggest I do?”

“Well,
one thing’s for certain, my dear, you can’t discuss the contents with Charlie
or Becky. I also don’t see how you can avoid letting Trentham know that should
the question of who fathered the child be put to you directly you would feel
beholden to tell the truth.” He paused and took a sip of his soup. “I swear I’ll
never speak to Mrs. Trentham again as long as I live,” he added without
explanation.

Daphne
was taken aback by this remark; until that moment she had not been aware that
he had ever come across the woman.

“Perhaps
we should use our combined efforts to come up with a suitable reply, my dear?”
the colonel suggested after some further thought. He broke off to allow a
waitress to serve up two helpings of the club’s dish of the day. elf you felt
able to help, I would be eternally grateful,” said Daphne nervously. “But first
I think I ought to tell you everything I know.”

The
colonel nodded.

“As
I’m sure you’re only too aware it is I who am to blame for the two of them
meeting in the first place...”

By
the time Daphne had come to the end of her story the colonel’s plate was empty.

“I
knew most of that already,” he admitted as he touched his lips with a napkin. “But
you still managed to fill in one or two important gaps for me. I confess I had
no idea Trentham was that much of a bounder. Looking back on it, I should have
insisted on further collaboration before I agreed to allow his name being put
forward for an MC.” He rose. “Now, if you’ll be good enough to amuse yourself
for a few minutes by reading a magazine in the coffee room, I’ll see what I can
come up with as a first draft.”

“I’m
sorry to be such a nuisance,” said Daphne.

“Don’t
be silly. I’m flattered that you consider me worthy of your confidence.” The
colonel stood up and strode off into the writing room.

He
didn’t reappear for nearly an hour, by which time Daphne was rereading
advertisements for nannies in the She hastily dropped the magazine back on the
table and sat bolt upright in her chair. The colonel handed over the results of
his labors, which Daphne studied for several minutes before speaking.

“God
knows what Guy would do if I were to write such a letter,” she said at last.

“He’ll
resign his commission, my dear, it’s as simple as that. And none too soon, in
my opinion.” The colonel frowned. “It’s high time Trentham was made aware of
the consequences of his misdeeds, not least because of the responsibilities he
still has to Becky and the child.”

“But
now that she’s happily married that’s hardly fair to Charlie,” Daphne pleaded.

“Have
you seen Daniel lately?” asked the colonel, lowering his voice.

“A
few months ago, why?”

“Then
you’d better take another look, because there aren’t many Trumpers, or Salmons
for that matter, who have blond hair, a Roman nose and deep blue eyes. I fear
the more obvious replicas are to be found in Ashurst Berkshire. In any case,
Becky and Charlie will eventually have to tell the child the truth or they’ll
only store up more trouble for themselves at some later date. Send the letter,”
he said, tapping his fingers on the side table, “that’s my advice.”

Once
Daphne had returned home to Lowndes Square she went straight up to her room.
She sat down at her writing desk and, pausing only for a moment, began to copy
out the colonel’s words.

When
she had completed her task Daphne reread the one paragraph of the colonel’s
deliberations that she had left out and prayed that his gloomy prognosis would
not prove to be accurate.

Once
she had completed her own version she tore up the colonel’s transcript and rang
for Wentworth.

“Just
one letter to be posted” was all she said.

*
* *

The
preparations for the wedding became so frantic that once Daphne had passed over
the letter to Wentworth she quite forgot about the problems of Guy Trentham.
What with selecting the bridesmaids without offending half her family, enduring
endless dress fittings that never ran to time, studying seating arrangements so
as to be certain that those members of the family who hadn’t spoken to each
other in years were not placed at the same table or for that matter in the same
pew as each other and finally having to cope with a future mother-in-law, the
dowager marchioness, who, having married off three of her own daughters, always
had three opinions to offer on every subject, she felt quite exhausted.