Three Graces (34 page)
Authors: Victoria Connelly
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Horror, #Ghosts, #Romance, #Fantasy & Futuristic, #Fantasy, #Romantic Comedy
‘You mean there are other men who’ve inherited titles which aren’t really theirs?’ Carys said aghast.
‘Well, I cannot prove anything but it’s not completely out of the question, is it?’
‘I’d never really thought about it. I just assumed-’
‘That’s it. Everybody assumes and the world continues happily enough.’
Carys laughed again. ‘What am I to do with such knowledge?’
Georgiana gave her a warning look. ‘Absolutely nothing.’
‘Can you imagine if people knew? Can you imagine what Natasha Bryant would make of it in the local paper? Imagine the faces of the tour groups if they were told. Amberley - passing to the child of a painter!’
Georgiana tutted. ‘You make him sound like a tradesman,’ she admonished. ‘He was an
artist
. And a very respected one at that.’
‘And your husband never knew?’
‘No, James, never knew. Leo did, of course. That’s why there are so many portraits. It was a legitimate way for him to spend time with his children and they’re such wonderful portraits, are they not?’
Carys had to agree. She’d never seen such lovely paintings. ‘But not to be a Bretton - a true Bretton.’
Georgiana sighed. ‘It isn’t the end of the world when you think about it. He was still my son and what was wrong with him inheriting the title? Why shouldn’t
my
family make a contribution to the Bretton family tree - a
real
contribution? You, I believe, have had such thoughts yourself.’
‘Well, I must admit to wondering about the role that women play.’
Georgiana nodded. ‘I didn’t plan any of it, Carys. It was all - well - wonderfully spontaneous and it was not my fault that Leo’s love gave me a son and heir whilst James’s did not.’
Carys and Georgiana looked at each other and then they both burst into sudden laughter, filling the Montella Room with merriment.
‘I’d never have guessed in a million years,’ Carys said at last.
‘Come on, now,’ Georgiana said. ‘I’ve seen you looking at the portraits. You cannot tell me you didn’t suspect
some
thing.’
Carys looked pensive. ‘I always thought there was rather special quality about the paintings, I must admit, and I can see that naughty sparkle in your eyes.’
Georgiana smiled prettily. ‘We had something rare and very beautiful and I so wanted to share it with you.’
Carys smiled back at her. ‘I’m so glad you did.’
A voice shouting suddenly broke into their secret conversation.
‘Come on, Carys! We’re leaving.’
‘Oh, my goodness. It’s Richard. I totally forgot.’
‘What is it?’
‘We’re leaving - for Scotland.’
‘Now?’
‘Yes. A sort of second honeymoon. I don’t know where the time’s gone.’ Carys suddenly looked panicky.
‘You had better hurry.’
For a moment, Carys was torn. As much as she longed to get away with Richard, she didn’t want to leave Georgiana but she didn’t suppose it would be fitting to take a ghost away on a second honeymoon.
‘Go on, then,’ Georgiana said, flapping her hands to hurry Carys along. ‘What are you waiting for?’
Carys sighed. ‘I guess I’ll see you later,’ she said with a tiny smile and she began to walk out of the room, stopping when she was at the door. ‘You
will
be here when I get back, won’t you?’
Georgiana looked anxious for a moment.
‘Georgiana?’
‘Actually, I was thinking of taking a little break too.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, I can’t stay here forever. I must leave you to make a home for yourself. I can see you’re beginning to settle. I knew that awful Amanda would never make a go of life at Amberley. That’s why I gave her a helping hand in leaving.’
Carys dared to grin. ‘Oh, Georgiana!’
‘But you - you appreciate a place like this. You belong.’
Carys bit her lip. ‘I suppose I do. But I want you here with me.’
Georgiana shook her head. ‘Ghosts who hang around to long tend too start meddling in the lives of the living and that can be a dangerous thing.’ She saw Carys’s sad expression and added, ‘But I’ll be around. I might just make my presence felt on the occasional ghost tour.’
Carys smiled and nodded and watched in awe as her friend slowly began to vanish in her blue cloud, leaving the faintest scent of roses hanging in the air, and then she walked through the house to where Richard was waiting for her.
‘I’ve packed all our stuff already. Where were you?’
‘Oh, just saying goodbye to the house.’
He ruffled her hair. ‘You are funny. I thought you couldn’t wait to leave.’
‘I can’t. But, now that we’re going, I’m beginning to realise how much I’ll miss it.’
He smiled and kissed her. ‘I feel just the same.’
They walked out of the house and there, standing on the driveway was a sight Carys thought she’d never see: a brand new silver Marlva Panache.
‘Who’s is that?’ she exclaimed.
‘Ours.’
‘Richard!’
He shrugged. ‘I traded in the old Marlva County and did a bit of a deal.’
‘But you need the Country for work.’
‘Not really. Jamie’s got his own and we can share that. And this is far more fun, isn’t it? It’ll get us up to Scotland in real style.’
Carys hugged him. ‘It’s wonderful,’ she said. ‘I love it!’
Then, like a pair of excited children, they got into the car, started the engine and drove away, glancing every now and then in the rear-view mirror at Amberley Court, content in the knowledge that they would be back home very soon.
###
Thank you to the following people who have helped during the writing of this book: Lady Montagu, The Honourable Rebecca Howard, Lady Victoria Leatham, and Elizabeth Howard.
Thanks also to Pia Tapper Fenton, Sue Haasler and Stephen Bowden.
And, as ever, a big thank you to my dear husband, Roy, a tireless chauffeur who hardly ever grumbles at taking me to yet another stately home!
I found the following helpful in the writing of this novel:
Deborah Devonshire, Counting My Chickens and Other Home Thoughts
Tiger Aspect’s Country House series
The Duke of Bedford’s How to Run a Stately Home
Marchioness of Tavistock and Angela Levin’s A Chance to Live
Woburn Abbey Guidebook
Castle Howard Guidebook
Victoria Connelly was brought up in Norfolk and studied English literature at Worcester University before becoming a teacher in North Yorkshire. After getting married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and living in London for eleven years, she moved to rural Suffolk where she lives with her artist husband and a mad Springer spaniel and ex-battery hens.
Her first novel,
Flights of Angels
, was published in Germany and made into a film. Victoria and her husband flew out to Berlin to see it being filmed and got to be extras in it.
Three of her novels have been Kindle bestsellers.
If you’d like to contact Victoria or sign up for her newsletter about future releases, email her at:
[email protected]
She loves hearing from her readers.
She’s also on Facebook and Twitter @VictoriaDarcy
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