Cedric stood up. “Really, this family is too ridiculous for words. Not a word of intelligent conversation among you. Babbling and dotty old aunts, a domineering mother and a whining, complaining sister. I’ve had enough. It’s time you all moved out and left me in peace. I’m under no obligation to feed you, let alone listen to your twaddle.” And he stomped out of the dining room.

“Oh, dear. We’ve upset him,” Charlotte said. “Do you think he really will throw us out, Edwina? Where would we go?”

“I’m afraid my son is behaving like a spoiled child,” Edwina said, her voice cracking with emotion. “He needs reminding that this is the family seat of which he is caretaker for a while. It is not his house.”

“I don’t know what I’d do if we couldn’t live here,” Irene said. “I’d have to take a job, but what am I qualified for? Nothing. You brought me up to be a lady, Mama. I have no skills, no prospects and no hope.”

“Don’t worry, Mummy,” Katherine said. “Nick and I will be brilliant and go to university and earn scads of money.”

“Who’s going to pay for us to go to university, Kat?” Nick asked.

“We’ll be so brilliant we’ll both get scholarships,” Katherine said.

“Not from what Mr. Carter tells me,” Edwina says. “He commented that you were both hopelessly behind for your age. Unlike your sister, who is a most diligent student.”

“Such a pity for her. A life blighted before it’s begun,” Irene said. “I know that doctor in Switzerland could help her.”

All in all, it was a gloomy luncheon. Jack and I went up to visit Sissy afterward, and she laughed and laughed when Jack recounted the story of the hunt to her. They were getting along so well, I thought. And she’s not really a child anymore. Maybe, who knows what the future will bring? I glanced across at Jack. It wouldn’t be sensible for him to marry someone who couldn’t ever have children.

* * *

THE SUBDUED MOOD still hung over us as we gathered for dinner that night. We worked our way, in near silence, through a leek and potato soup, filets of plaice and roast pheasant. We had just started on the savory—anchovy toast—at the end of the meal when Cedric tapped on his wineglass.

“I have a couple of announcements to make,” he said. “In the morning, I will be meeting with the architect who is coming to design my theater. I’m hoping that work will begin almost immediately so that we can plan an autumn season for this year.”