done, and after all she
had no experience of young girls of this age. The sooner Caroline learned that life sprang surprises on you, the better. It was not as if she was sending her to Dotheboys Hall. St Margaret’s
was a prestigious, progressive and expensive school. She would get a first-class education in fresh air and beautiful surroundings. The school was alma mater to some pioneering doctors and
teachers. Caroline was lucky to be accepted but Kitty and her friend Chrystal Macmillan had put in a word. Sir Lionel himself wrote that he couldn’t have chosen better for such a bright
child. But as they journeyed north, Phee realized that the holiday had ended on a sour note and that it was all her fault. Mrs van Hooge was right. Timing was everything.
They arrived at Dalradnor tired and jaded. Caroline shot off to see her pets without a thank you or a backward glance. If she felt any unease at the decisions, Phoebe did not want to show it to
the staff but busied herself making sure the child had everything on the long list of uniform and equipment. Kitting her out in thick winter coat, a regulation tweed suit for Sunday church,
underwear and sports clothes all took time; then everything had to be tagged with her name by Mrs Ibell, who tutted now and then but said nothing until the trunk was packed full and sent on by
rail.
Phoebe never saw Caroline from morning to dusk for those last few balmy days of late summer, when the walled garden was filled with the hum of bees in the flowerbeds, the smell of ripe apples
and bramble bushes. There was a golden light on the stone house and the water rippled on the loch like diamonds. She had first seen it in this light as she carried the new-born baby into the peace
of the garden, mourning that Arthur would never see it. Now the baby was a strapping girl, all legs and energy. How could she not think of this as home?
Then, on the day of their departure, Caroline stood pale-faced in her new navy-blue uniform like a victim about to be sent to the gallows.
‘It won’t be long to mid-term. You can always come back here and bring a friend,’ said Mrs Ibell, trying to comfort her.
‘I’ll have to go to London with
her
,’ Caroline snapped, staring at Phoebe.
‘Now that’s no way to be talking about your betters, young lady. Let’s no’ be having bad words afore ye go. You’ll have a grand time at yon school and grow six
inches.’
Callie rushed to hug the housekeeper, trying not to cry. ‘I’ll write to you.’
To Phoebe she was politeness itself on the car journey all the way to Arbroath. They left Tam with the car at the gate, and as they walked up the drive, approaching the tall greystone buildings
of the school, built like a castle, Callie was impressed by the beautiful grounds. There were parents, motor cars, chauffeurs, girls with violin cases and hordes of friends greeting each other with
excitement. The new arrivals were ticked off on a list by prefects in gowns with perfect manners.
‘Say your goodbyes here, girls,’ said a teacher, also in a gown and mortarboard.
Phoebe stopped, hoping she would get a hug, a sign that she had been forgiven for being cruel to be kind.
Caroline turned sharply. ‘You can go now. I’ll be fine. Goodbye, and thank you for coming with me.’ For once those Arthur-blue eyes were as cool as ice, her jaw firm and
composed and lips closed in dismissal.
So that’s all the thanks I get, Phoebe sighed as she walked slowly back to the gate. What else did you expect? She could hear Kitty’s accusing tone in her ear.
You take away
everything she’s ever known, even her little dog, and you expect her to be grateful
?
Just give her time
. Will she ever thank me for it, she wondered. Her stomach tightened and
her legs were heavy. She felt so uneasy. Lingering at the entrance, she wanted to turn and rush back up the drive to pull her daughter out of the line of new arrivals, but when she retraced her
steps they’d all
had no experience of young girls of this age. The sooner Caroline learned that life sprang surprises on you, the better. It was not as if she was sending her to Dotheboys Hall. St Margaret’s
was a prestigious, progressive and expensive school. She would get a first-class education in fresh air and beautiful surroundings. The school was alma mater to some pioneering doctors and
teachers. Caroline was lucky to be accepted but Kitty and her friend Chrystal Macmillan had put in a word. Sir Lionel himself wrote that he couldn’t have chosen better for such a bright
child. But as they journeyed north, Phee realized that the holiday had ended on a sour note and that it was all her fault. Mrs van Hooge was right. Timing was everything.
They arrived at Dalradnor tired and jaded. Caroline shot off to see her pets without a thank you or a backward glance. If she felt any unease at the decisions, Phoebe did not want to show it to
the staff but busied herself making sure the child had everything on the long list of uniform and equipment. Kitting her out in thick winter coat, a regulation tweed suit for Sunday church,
underwear and sports clothes all took time; then everything had to be tagged with her name by Mrs Ibell, who tutted now and then but said nothing until the trunk was packed full and sent on by
rail.
Phoebe never saw Caroline from morning to dusk for those last few balmy days of late summer, when the walled garden was filled with the hum of bees in the flowerbeds, the smell of ripe apples
and bramble bushes. There was a golden light on the stone house and the water rippled on the loch like diamonds. She had first seen it in this light as she carried the new-born baby into the peace
of the garden, mourning that Arthur would never see it. Now the baby was a strapping girl, all legs and energy. How could she not think of this as home?
Then, on the day of their departure, Caroline stood pale-faced in her new navy-blue uniform like a victim about to be sent to the gallows.
‘It won’t be long to mid-term. You can always come back here and bring a friend,’ said Mrs Ibell, trying to comfort her.
‘I’ll have to go to London with
her
,’ Caroline snapped, staring at Phoebe.
‘Now that’s no way to be talking about your betters, young lady. Let’s no’ be having bad words afore ye go. You’ll have a grand time at yon school and grow six
inches.’
Callie rushed to hug the housekeeper, trying not to cry. ‘I’ll write to you.’
To Phoebe she was politeness itself on the car journey all the way to Arbroath. They left Tam with the car at the gate, and as they walked up the drive, approaching the tall greystone buildings
of the school, built like a castle, Callie was impressed by the beautiful grounds. There were parents, motor cars, chauffeurs, girls with violin cases and hordes of friends greeting each other with
excitement. The new arrivals were ticked off on a list by prefects in gowns with perfect manners.
‘Say your goodbyes here, girls,’ said a teacher, also in a gown and mortarboard.
Phoebe stopped, hoping she would get a hug, a sign that she had been forgiven for being cruel to be kind.
Caroline turned sharply. ‘You can go now. I’ll be fine. Goodbye, and thank you for coming with me.’ For once those Arthur-blue eyes were as cool as ice, her jaw firm and
composed and lips closed in dismissal.
So that’s all the thanks I get, Phoebe sighed as she walked slowly back to the gate. What else did you expect? She could hear Kitty’s accusing tone in her ear.
You take away
everything she’s ever known, even her little dog, and you expect her to be grateful
?
Just give her time
. Will she ever thank me for it, she wondered. Her stomach tightened and
her legs were heavy. She felt so uneasy. Lingering at the entrance, she wanted to turn and rush back up the drive to pull her daughter out of the line of new arrivals, but when she retraced her
steps they’d all
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