Part 26 (1/2)
Diedre crossed the room in a sedate fas.h.i.+on, came to a standstill in front of Daphne, and looked down at the baby. Quite suddenly, unexpectedly, she moved the shawl away, revealing the baby in her long nightgown. ”Lovely child, Daphne,” she said. ”And quite a good size for a premature baby, wouldn't you say?”
”Quite the normal size for a premature baby,” Hugo cut in swiftly, his voice controlled. Being protective of Daphne, he was annoyed. He had discovered Diedre was a sourpuss with a mean streak, and it was obvious she was envious of all her sisters, and not just his wife.
He fully understood why Dulcie didn't like her and was afraid of her. Since they had been living in the South Wing, Hugo had befriended Dulcie, who was neglected by her mother, in his opinion. But then Felicity was recovering from a bout of exhaustion. He thought she looked on the edge today, and there was a faded air about her. Sometimes she seemed distracted, he thought, and acted very strangely at times. She had changed a lot lately.
Once everyone was seated, Daphne handed the baby to Charlotte, and stood up. She walked across to the fireplace and beckoned for Hugo to join her.
Together they faced the room and their guests, and Daphne said, ”We've been calling our daughter Baby, as everyone else has, but we have been considering names for her. And now that we've settled on them we thought this afternoon was as good a time as any to reveal them to you.”
”She has four names,” Hugo told them. ”And lovely names they are, as far as we're concerned. And very meaningful to us.”
Daphne looked across at Alice Swann. ”Baby's first name is Alicia, and she will be called that. She is named in honor of you, Mrs. Alice. Because you have been so wonderful to me all my life, and especially lately.”
Alice was so startled and touched she couldn't respond, and her eyes filled with tears. After a moment, she said, in a trembling voice, ”Thank you, Lady Daphne. You too, Mr. Hugo.” She paused, unable to continue, then after taking a deep breath she finished, ”I am very honored.”
”Her second name is Felicity, for you, Mama, and for all the reasons you know. Hugo and I hope this pleases you.”
”It does indeed, Daphne and Hugo, and I thank you with all my heart.”
Hugo now spoke. ”We come to Baby's third name. It is Gwendolyn, and she's called after you, Aunt Gwen, because of what you have meant to me, especially as a child. And also to the entire family.”
Lady Gwendolyn's eyes were moist when she answered in the most surprised voice, ”Thank you, Hugo, and you too, Daphne. I'm afraid I can't say anything else. You see, you've knocked the breath out of an old lady, who for once in her life has been rendered speechless.”
Everyone laughed.
When the room was silent again, Daphne spoke. ”Finally, we come to the last name, but by no means the least. It is Charlotte, and she's named for you, Miss Charlotte. For your devotion and wisdom. And the help you've always given me ... and for being a fine example of true Swann loyalty to the Inghams.”
Charlotte was genuinely moved, and she choked up for a second, was unable to respond. Finally, she said, ”Thank you, Lady Daphne, for those kind words, and how lovely of you both to give your first child my name. I'm so very touched.”
Charlotte looked down at the sleeping child in her arms. ”As a Swann I will always be there for her, whenever she needs me. I will protect her always.”
Forty-three.
Hugo stood at the French doors in the library, looking out at the terrace. Except that he couldn't see a thing. Frost on gla.s.s had made an intricate pattern, was blurring his view. It was already March but snow had been falling for several days now, and it didn't look like stopping.
Outside everything was covered in a blanket of pure white, and the surrounding countryside was beautiful, but it was hard to get around the estate, and the weather was icy cold. Fortunately Hanson had fires burning brightly throughout the house and there was a cheerful atmosphere.
How glad he was he had not bought Whernside House. They would have been isolated out there in weather like this. Daphne had suddenly understood that, and she had also pointed out that the house was far too large for them anyway. Shortly after this conversation, the surveyors he had hired presented him with a bad report about the roof and the foundations of the house. All needed extensive work. That was that, as far as he was concerned. He agreed with Daphne they should pa.s.s on the house.
Charles had invited them to live in the South Wing, and they had accepted with alacrity. He and Daphne had enjoyed being there so much Daphne had eventually told her father they would prefer to live at Cavendon permanently, rather than seek a home of their own. n.o.body had been happier than the earl.
They had soon discovered that the unusually beautiful South Wing was also comfortable and easy to manage, and it was private whilst still allowing them to be in the midst of the family, and with the downstairs staff readily available.
Hugo was genuinely happy about the arrangement, and one of the reasons was that he would have to travel soon. He must be in Zurich for several meetings, and also in London. He had been putting the trip off, but now he would be leaving tomorrow. It was imperative.
Knowing that Daphne and the baby were with her family made him feel comfortable and at ease about them. He loved them both very much, and he was filled with the kind of happiness he had not thought possible. He knew he was a lucky man.
Charles came into the library, breaking into his thoughts. ”I had Gregg drive to Harrogate and back,” the earl announced. ”And I'm happy to tell you the roads are clear. He'll have no problems driving you to the station tomorrow, and the trains are running on time.”
”Thanks for doing that, Charles, and it's good to know,” Hugo answered.
”Are you sure you don't want to stay at the Mayfair house?” Charles now stood in front of the fireplace warming his back, and he threw Hugo a questioning look.
Walking over to join him, Hugo shook his head. ”Thank you, Charles, it's awfully good of you to offer. But I'll be in London for only two nights. It's not worth opening up the house for such a short stay.”
Charles nodded. ”Whatever suits you best, old chap.”
”The reason I'm going to Switzerland via London is to see my former personal a.s.sistant, Jill Handelsman. She worked alongside Ben Silver first, and then became my PA after his death. She and her husband came to live in London about five years ago, and I've stayed in contact with her. I'm hoping she'll agree to find and open a London office for me, and run it.”
”She's that good, is she?” Charles raised a brow.
”One of the smartest women in business I've ever met,” Hugo replied.
Charles sat down on the Chesterfield and leaned back, his expression thoughtful. He said, after a moment, ”I don't mean to pry, but I'm curious. Why do you need a London office?”
”I need a proper organization to handle my private money, and personal investments around the world. In other words, what I made myself, as opposed to what I inherited from the Silvers. Which is the whole real estate company, by the way. This is run in New York by Leonard Peters, who has been president of the corporation for years, even when Ben was alive. I've no worries about him; he's doing a superlative job. He likes me to visit New York from time to time, but basically he's in charge, reporting to me every week.”
”And when do you plan to go to New York?” Charles asked. ”And do you plan to take Daphne with you every time you go? You did tell me you wanted to travel back and forth.”
”I did want to do that, but not anymore. I don't believe it will be possible, or, quite frankly, very safe. The high seas are going to be highly dangerous, in my opinion.”
”War? You're thinking of war, aren't you?” Charles stared at his son-in-law intently.
Hugo nodded.
”So the kaiser is ready to march?”
”I believe he is. He's building up the German navy, for one thing. And thankfully, Churchill's doing the same with ours. He's been doing that since he first became First Lord of the Admiralty in 1911. He's very aware of the kaiser's aims. As the Germans build one new dreadnought battles.h.i.+p, Churchill builds two for the Royal Navy. Then when Germany builds two, Churchill builds three.”
”An arms race, obviously.”
”Correct. That's why Winston is always endeavoring to squeeze more and more money out of Parliament for his naval budget. I guess he drives them mad with his demands, but by G.o.d he's right, as far as I'm concerned.”
”Asquith likes Winston, I'm told by my friends in the know,” Charles said. ”And that's good enough for me.”
”I'd go as far as to say that the prime minister admires Winston Churchill and likes Lloyd George. There are some good men in Asquith's government and they'll cope with a war. It's a b.l.o.o.d.y awful thing to think about, though.”
”I trust Churchill's judgment. He has enormous potential,” Charles remarked.
”I wish we could avoid a conflict, but unfortunately England promised France that we would come to their aid if they were invaded,” Hugo pointed out.
”I know. If push comes to shove, that's what we'll have to do, I suppose.”
”And G.o.d help us all.” Hugo shook his head, and looked off into the distance, as if seeing something only visible to himself. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, ”Bad times are coming, and the world will never be the same again.”