‘I know I’m not a blue-eyed blonde. However, I am quite famous too. Several German princesses are my clients.’
‘There, you see, we’re in!’ Charlie exclaimed. ‘Oh, Papa, do let’s go. I’m sure it would be quite an interesting experience.’
Hugo looked at Daphne, who looked troubled. She said very slowly, ‘Let’s talk about it, Hugo. Weigh the odds.’ Turning to Charlie, she added, ‘We’ll let you know tomorrow.’
‘I don’t know why you always do it!’ Alicia exclaimed, sitting down next to her brother on the edge of the swimming pool. This was located on the far side of the gazebo, at the edge of the lake.
Glancing at her quickly, he asked, ‘Do what?’ His blond brow drew together in a furrow.
‘Announce something that’s really provocative and bound to cause trouble, when we’re at lunch or dinner. Thank God you don’t do it at breakfast or tea.’
‘I don’t think what I said at lunch was provocative at all,’ Charlie protested. ‘You’re always exaggerating, and you’re very bossy.’
‘I’m neither. And you were provocative because you mentioned something that was bound to upset Beauty,’ she shot back, using the nickname they’d had for their mother since childhood.
‘Suggesting I was going to Berlin doesn’t seem provocative to me. I was only telling her, them, my travel plans. Actually, I thought it showed initiative on my part. As a future journalist I am naturally curious, focused on the news. And Germany’s certainly in the news these days. This happens to be an extraordinary time in history. The world is changing even as we speak.’
‘They won’t let you go,’ Alicia asserted. ‘Remember, they always stand together. Knight and Beauty are on the same page.’
‘Oh for heaven’s sake, I know that, and why are you going on about it? They weren’t as bothered as you’re making out.’ He was obviously exasperated with his older sister.
‘Oh yes they were! I could see another unpleasant scene developing. That’s why I saved your bacon by changing the subject, spoke about Felix.’
‘You enjoy talking about yourself, Miss Alicia Ingham Stanton. You’re all puffed up about your looks and your elegant figure. And your career.’
‘No, I’m not. But I am serious about my acting and getting my career off the ground.’
‘That’s the way I feel about working as a newspaperman. I’ve definitely settled on being a war correspondent. There’s bound to be a war, and I want to be right in the centre of it all, writing about it.’
‘Oh my God, don’t tell them. Beauty will have a fit and the Knight in Shining Armour will put his foot down. Hard. Forget about Berlin. It’ll never happen.’
‘Guess what Miss Know-It-All, I bet you five bob we’ll go to Berlin. Aunt Cecily gave me the solution.’
‘I’m sure you don’t have five bob to make a bet,’ Alicia muttered, eyeing him sourly.
‘Yes I do. And going en masse to Berlin will work. Pity you won’t be coming. You’re off to start your brilliant career as a film star. Ta da! Ta da!’
‘Oh do stop saying that, you sound utterly inane, and it’s irritating.’ She glowered at him yet again and he in return smiled at her, put his arm around her and pulled her close. ‘Don’t be like this … you know you’re my best friend and true companion. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank you for averting what might have turned into an angry confrontation with them – he is always on her side, you’re right about that.’
‘Mummy worries about you a lot … about all of her children, Charlie. That’s why she does seem a bit restrictive at times. Listen, she’s very smart and clever, that’s why I listen to her. Always. She just makes perfect sense. You, however, seem to flout her wishes and go out of your way to make dumb choices.’
‘None of that’s true. I do not. And, in case you’ve forgotten, I’m a man and I can certainly look after myself.’
‘So can I.’
‘Mmmmm.’ He shook his head. ‘Not true. Sadly it’s a man’s world, Ally.’
‘Don’t call me that! Mummy doesn’t like it and neither do I.’
‘Let’s not quarrel.’
‘We’re not quarrelling,’ she answered, her voice changing, becoming softer.
‘We are bickering though,’ Charlie shot back.
‘I just feel very protective of you, brother of mine. I don’t want you to get hurt in any way, shape or form, and you can be a bit rash – reckless, even – at times.’
‘I know.’ He laughed, took hold of her hand. ‘Guilty as charged, old thing. I’ll try to mend my ways just for you. To please you.’
When she was silent, he added, ‘You can’t be that mad at me. You came down to have a swim, as I asked you to earlier.’
‘No, I came down to tell you off.’
‘Liar.’ He chuckled, his eyes holding hers.
Alicia leaned closer, kissed his cheek, then hugged him to her. She had mothered him since the day he was born, and still did. They were extremely close and had been hand-in-glove since their childhood. In a certain sense, they were more like twins than their siblings Thomas and Andrew, who were twins.
After a few moments of silence, Alicia murmured, ‘You win, Charlie, I did come down to swim with you. At the same time, I wanted to talk to you … to ask you to stop saying things that alarm our mother. She’s anxious enough, though she doesn’t want to show it. Remember, Uncle Guy died in the Great War.’
‘I will, I promise. I know I sort of blurt things out, spontaneously shoot before thinking. I’m sorry, I’ll do better.’
‘Just edit yourself a bit more, that’s all.’ She jumped up, and he followed suit. They looked at each other, smiled knowingly, and dived into the pool in perfect synchronization.
Whenever she came to stay with Daphne and Hugo at Villa Fleurir, Daphne always told her she could use the small office just off the library. And Diedre did so now. Everyone had scattered, gone off to do things, and she needed to do some thinking and make several phone calls.
Sitting down at the desk, Diedre glanced around, noting how much this room reflected Daphne and her taste. It had apricot-coloured walls and matching silk draperies, and the comfortable sofa and armchairs were covered in an apricot cotton fabric. The room came alive with the vivid colours in the paintings hanging on the walls, and the cushions on the sofa.
Diedre sniffed and smiled to herself. The room was redolent of Daphne’s favourite perfume, lilies of the valley, which had been created especially for her by Cecily.
A deep sigh escaped Diedre, and she focused on Cecily and her suggestion about Berlin. It would be a clever solution, it would please Charlie, and it would certainly suit her to go along with the family group, if Daphne and Hugo agreed. However, she would have to tell William Lawson, her immediate superior. She could see no reason why he would object; also, being in the middle of the Ingham family group was the perfect cover for her. Diedre had no intention of mentioning a possible extraction to Will. There was no need for him to know. Anyway, it was unlikely to happen quickly, if at all.
Diedre placed the call through the overseas operator, using Will’s private number. He answered immediately, was obviously glad to hear from her. Once she had explained about the family trip, he had agreed she should go. ‘It might prove useful,’ he said.