very unofficially into a kidnapping in his county. She was happy to see him but hoped he wouldn’t mention Alec’s profession.
She averted the possibility by telling him at once that she was at Edge Manor to write an article. They talked about her writing for a minute or two. Then Jack, looking mischievous, appeared with a pretty young woman in tow who was at least two months more pregnant than Daisy.
He introduced her as Mrs. Snelgrove, saying, “I think you ladies will find you have a great deal in common.”
“Naughty boy!” said Mrs. Snelgrove coyly. Daisy was sure she would have tapped his arm with her fan were fans not long out of fashion.
Miller and Sir Nigel had identical expressions of alarm at the prospect of being caught up in a conversation about babies. Taking pity on them, Daisy suggested to Mrs. Snelgrove that they should sit down. They found chairs near enough so that Daisy could hear the two men amicably discussing the future of aviation, Sir Nigel apparently undismayed by Miller’s lowly antecedents.
All Mrs. Snelgrove wanted to talk about was whether the bangs of the fireworks would be bad for her baby-to-be. Since Daisy had no idea, this was not a fruitful topic. She was delighted when Mr. Snel-grove arrived with a drink for his wife and she was able to escape.
The room was filling up. Daisy decided it was time she went down to the meadow. As she looked around for Miller, who had moved off, she saw the Gooches enter. She was too far away to hear what was said, but she saw Jack hurry over to smooth their entrance. He escorted them into the room, and she saw that Mr. Gooch looked worried, Mrs. Gooch determined. And she saw Sir Harold and Lady Tyndall turn to stare after them, both with identical expressions of horror.
6
D own in the meadow, lit by lanterns, villagers and farm folk warmed their hands on mugs of cocoa and hot mulled cider. They willingly chatted to Daisy about their part in the festivities. They told her about the grand celebrations in ’ 87 and ’ 97 for the old queen’s Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee. Children ran around playing, or stood with sparklers, drawing glittering shapes in the air. Older boys thrust potatoes into the bottom of the great pile of wood and brush, to be retrieved later from the embers.
Daisy watched the arrival of the guy, carried down the terrace steps by Biddle and the garden boy. Red Riding Hood’s wolf was considered a very good joke by most, though some of the older women were shocked by the brazen appearance of a nightgown in public. It was being hoisted to the top of the bonfire as Daisy and Miller left.
Back at the house, people were buttoning their coats and winding around their necks woolly mufflers from the colourful pile supplied by the Tyndalls. In chattering groups, they drifted through the drawing room and out of the French doors onto the top terrace. Daisy saw Mr. Gooch alone and looking lost, so she joined him and they went out together. It wasn’t entirely altruistic: She had an idea for an article on the Australian visitor’s view of Britain.
“I suppose it’s hot in Perth right now,” she said as they emerged with a shiver into the frosty air.
“Too right. November’s late spring, so it’ll be eighty or better in the shade right now. Coolgardie’s a bit hotter, and dry, my word !The miners used camels instead of packhorses. I remember the days before the pipeline, when you paid a shilling for a gallon of water.”
“Is that why you moved to Perth?”
“No, the easy gold ran out and the big mining companies moved in. No room left for an independent agent, but luckily I’d made my pile by then. Ellie wanted our kids to go to school in the city. Lots of outback kids go to boarding schools, but she didn’t want to be parted from them. They’re boarding this term, while we’re away, though.”
“How many children have you?”
“Three boys. I miss ’ em,” Gooch said simply.
“I hope you’re enjoying your
She averted the possibility by telling him at once that she was at Edge Manor to write an article. They talked about her writing for a minute or two. Then Jack, looking mischievous, appeared with a pretty young woman in tow who was at least two months more pregnant than Daisy.
He introduced her as Mrs. Snelgrove, saying, “I think you ladies will find you have a great deal in common.”
“Naughty boy!” said Mrs. Snelgrove coyly. Daisy was sure she would have tapped his arm with her fan were fans not long out of fashion.
Miller and Sir Nigel had identical expressions of alarm at the prospect of being caught up in a conversation about babies. Taking pity on them, Daisy suggested to Mrs. Snelgrove that they should sit down. They found chairs near enough so that Daisy could hear the two men amicably discussing the future of aviation, Sir Nigel apparently undismayed by Miller’s lowly antecedents.
All Mrs. Snelgrove wanted to talk about was whether the bangs of the fireworks would be bad for her baby-to-be. Since Daisy had no idea, this was not a fruitful topic. She was delighted when Mr. Snel-grove arrived with a drink for his wife and she was able to escape.
The room was filling up. Daisy decided it was time she went down to the meadow. As she looked around for Miller, who had moved off, she saw the Gooches enter. She was too far away to hear what was said, but she saw Jack hurry over to smooth their entrance. He escorted them into the room, and she saw that Mr. Gooch looked worried, Mrs. Gooch determined. And she saw Sir Harold and Lady Tyndall turn to stare after them, both with identical expressions of horror.
6
D own in the meadow, lit by lanterns, villagers and farm folk warmed their hands on mugs of cocoa and hot mulled cider. They willingly chatted to Daisy about their part in the festivities. They told her about the grand celebrations in ’ 87 and ’ 97 for the old queen’s Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee. Children ran around playing, or stood with sparklers, drawing glittering shapes in the air. Older boys thrust potatoes into the bottom of the great pile of wood and brush, to be retrieved later from the embers.
Daisy watched the arrival of the guy, carried down the terrace steps by Biddle and the garden boy. Red Riding Hood’s wolf was considered a very good joke by most, though some of the older women were shocked by the brazen appearance of a nightgown in public. It was being hoisted to the top of the bonfire as Daisy and Miller left.
Back at the house, people were buttoning their coats and winding around their necks woolly mufflers from the colourful pile supplied by the Tyndalls. In chattering groups, they drifted through the drawing room and out of the French doors onto the top terrace. Daisy saw Mr. Gooch alone and looking lost, so she joined him and they went out together. It wasn’t entirely altruistic: She had an idea for an article on the Australian visitor’s view of Britain.
“I suppose it’s hot in Perth right now,” she said as they emerged with a shiver into the frosty air.
“Too right. November’s late spring, so it’ll be eighty or better in the shade right now. Coolgardie’s a bit hotter, and dry, my word !The miners used camels instead of packhorses. I remember the days before the pipeline, when you paid a shilling for a gallon of water.”
“Is that why you moved to Perth?”
“No, the easy gold ran out and the big mining companies moved in. No room left for an independent agent, but luckily I’d made my pile by then. Ellie wanted our kids to go to school in the city. Lots of outback kids go to boarding schools, but she didn’t want to be parted from them. They’re boarding this term, while we’re away, though.”
“How many children have you?”
“Three boys. I miss ’ em,” Gooch said simply.
“I hope you’re enjoying your
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