I was making my way down again and had just reached a copse of beech trees when I heard a scream. I started to run. The descent seemed to take forever, and as I came out to the lawns in front of the house I could see a group of people gathered beneath one of the magnificent old copper beeches.

“It’s all right. They are quite safe.” I heard Edwina’s powerful voice. “Do stop making such a fuss, Irene.”

“But he was throwing a knife at Katherine,” she said. “He missed her by that much.”

I joined the group. Jack was standing sheepishly off to one side with the twins nearby. I went over to them. “What’s going on?” I asked.

“Jack was demonstrating how he could throw a knife,” Nick said. “It was brilliant, actually. So Kat said could he hit an apple on her head, like William Tell. And he told her to stand still and then he threw the knife into the tree right above her head. Pretty impressive, only Mummy was looking out of her window and absolutely had a fit.”

“I might have done too,” I said. “It was rather silly, Jack. If you want to make a good impression, you don’t try and kill your relatives.”

“They were perfectly safe. I didn’t even throw it that close to her.”

“And what’s more . . .” Irene was still shrieking. “He was teaching them to sharpen sticks and spear fish in the koi pond. He’s dangerous, Mother. You know how impressionable the children are. For God’s sake, send him away before he does anyone real harm.”

“Irene, do calm down. I remember your brother Johnnie doing rather the same sort of thing when you were young.”

“Yes, and look what happened to him—fathered a child with a nobody in the back of beyond, and then got himself killed by being too damned heroic.”

“He acted honorably in both instances, which is more than can be said for your husband.”

“That’s a cruel blow, Mama. I’m not staying here any longer. I want the children away from this place right now. We’re going up to London. Nicholas, Katherine, come with me.”

And she stalked off into the house.

Tea had been brought out to the lawn, because the afternoon was a fine one, but it seemed that nobody had much of an appetite—and not just because of the size of the luncheon. Irene did not put in an appearance, nor did Cedric and his Starlings. The princess complained that it was too cold to be outside, so it was just Edwina, the naughty countess Virginia, Jack and me, and we made a halfhearted attempt to enjoy scones, cream and strawberry jam.

“I can’t imagine what you were thinking, John,” Edwina said to Jack. “Throwing a knife at your cousin.”

“I missed, didn’t I? And I’ve done that stunt a million times.”

“But, my dear boy, what if she had moved at the last second or you had stumbled? All sorts of things could have gone wrong. Now, please understand that this is a civilized household. We do not go in for violence here.”