Besides, he'd save a few shillings this way - always an important consideration.

The superbly tuned engine of the little motor-bike started at first kick. It really had been a bargain, this machine.

Hugh remembered he hadn't washed the breakfast things or made the bed. They'd be waiting for him when he got back.

Something else to look forward to.

 

* * *

 

It was a little after eleven o'clock when Merryweather threw open the big double doors of the morning room at Alderley and announced, 'Mr and Mrs Sebastian Everard.'

Thankful at last to know her cousin's surname, Lady Burford went forward to greet her.

The woman who led the way into the room was small, somewhat plump, had a round, good-natured face and blonde hair done in lots of small tight curls. She stopped, staring at Lady Burford, her head tilted to one side. There was something birdlike about her.

'Lavinia?'

'Cecily?'

'My dear, how lovely! You're looking wonderful.'

'And you, Cecily.'

They kissed. Lady Burford said, 'You remember George?'

'Why, of course.' Cecily turned and presented her cheek as the Earl stepped forward. He brushed it with his lips, a little uncertainly.

'Well, well, well,' he said, 'this is splendid. Splendid,' he added dogmatically, as though someone had contradicted him.

Cecily said, 'And this is my husband, Sebastian.'

Sebastian Everard was slight and thin, with a round, clean-shaven pink face and a bland expression. He smiled. 'How - how - how de do?' He spoke in an exaggerated drawl, offering a limp hand to the Earl and Countess. 'Jolly - jolly decent of you to ask us.'

'Delighted to have you,' Lord Burford said.

'Really? Oh, jolly good.' He gave an amiable titter, gazing round the room vaguely at the same time.

'Now, George,' Lady Burford said briskly, 'why don't you give, er, Sebastian a drink? Cecily and I have a lot to talk about. There'll be some coffee shortly and if I remember rightly that's what she'll prefer.' She led her cousin to a chair by the fireplace.

'Thank you, dear.' Cecily said. 'Now, there's so much I want to hear about you and George and Geraldine. And you must bring me up to date on twenty-five years of gossip. I want to know all about Lucy and the twins and Margaret and Reggie and Bobo and the Pearsons - and, oh, dozens of people.'

'My, that's a tall order.'

Lord Burford meanwhile had plucked at Sebastian's elbow. 'Come across here and let me pour you something.'

'What? Oh. Right. Jolly good.' He followed the Earl across to a sideboard where drinks were laid out. 'What'll you have?'

'Oh.' Sebastian frowned. 'Don't know, really.'

'Sherry?'

'Jolly good.'

Lord Burford poured and handed Sebastian a glass.

'Cheers.'

'Oh, yes, rather.'

They drank. There was a pause. Lord Burford cleared his throat. 'Chilly today.'

'Oh, rather.'

'Good drive down?'

'Jolly good.'

'Capital.' There was another silence. The Earl said, 'Er, I keep a few sheep.'

'Really? Oh, jolly good.' Sebastian peered out through the window, as though expecting to see them dotted about the lawn.

'Oh, not personally, of course. At the home farm. Have a good man running it. Must admit I find 'em rather irritatin' creatures. No offence, I hope?'

'No, no, not at all.'

'Always getting lost in the snow or caught in hedges, lambing at the most inconvenient time of the year. No doubt you feel quite different about 'em.'

'Well, I - I haven't given it a lot of thought, actually.'

'Really? You surprise me. I imagined it would be unavoidable.'

'No, never found it necessary.