Read Online The Temptress: The Scandalous Life of Alice De Janze and the Mysterious Death of Lord Erroll by Paul Spicer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Paul Spicer
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English furniture, old silver, leather-bound books, and grand family portraits of Idina’s and Joss’s mothers.
But the feature that would have impressed Alice the most would have been Idina’s bathroom, which was adjacent to the master bedroom. It was ten feet by eight feet and made of green travertine marble. Hot water was piped in from three forty-four-gallon drums heated by a log fire outside the bathroom. The water was somewhat discolored by the local iron and murram sediment, but it was refreshing and stimulating. Idina was in the habit of taking a bath before dinner, wallowing in steaming water with a cocktail in hand while holding forth for dinner guests, who were invited to join her as she bathed—in the nude, of course. The bath ceremony was just one of the many unconventional rituals at Slains. Another custom was that of dining in pajamas and a dressing gown. Alice had no pajamas, but she found a pair laid out neatly on her bedroom pillow by Marie. Dinner was usually late—around eleven at night—but in deference to Alice and Frédéric’s long journey, it is likely that it was served earlier that first evening. The African cook had been well taught by Marie and could manage a cheese soufflé and oeufs en cocotte , and there was champagne to celebrate the de Janzés’ arrival. Despite the prevalence of French wine and food, Alice would have felt herself as far away as possible from the formalities of Parfondeval and Paris.
The following day, Alice and Frédéric had their first sighting by daylight of Slains and its surrounding landscape. It has often been observed that the Kenyan highlands are reminiscent of the English and Scottish countryside—albeit on an epic scale. When the onetime editor of the East African Standard, George Kinnear, later visited Wanjohi, he, like so many visitors before and since, found himself in thrall to the landscape. His description of the valley gives an idea of the sight of the Aberdare Mountains that awaited Alice and Frédéric when they awoke that morning:
Every morning it takes the sun well nigh two hours to climb over the Aberdares and paint this valley with its rays and chase away the dew that cheats the drought. Many times I have stood shivering at dawn and watched the grey curtain of fading night lifted from the valley. The Aberdares stand like black bastions against the sun. Pockets of grey mist hide and reveal in turn. Here and there wisps of blue smoke rise lazily from hut and homestead. A silvery light steals down from the sky, but away over the Rift Valley the sky is already orange and yellow and a little pink. Suddenly the orchestra of the countryside plays the song of dawn and a dark hilltop is lit by a shaft of light. Even the streams run more noisily, chasing over the stones and leaping recklessly down the mountain-side. Weirdly the light changes from silver to soft gold as the sun relentlessly climbs up the mountain; and then soars over the mountain ridge and restores all the colour to the flowers and the trees and to every living thing. Here is a lovely garden radiant with masses of flowers: there are several ponds and water always running back to the mountain stream from whence man had led it higher up the valley.
That morning, Alice and Frédéric were indeed treated to views of rolling hills layered in early-morning mists, the mountain peak of Kipipiri rising from the clouds, a great waterfall in the distance, and dense forests of cedar. Breakfast would have included porridge and fresh cream from a nearby dairy. Joss and Idina were intent on owning their own dairy and were breeding Guernsey cattle to enable them to do so. After breakfast, Alice and Frédéric participated in another Slains ritual—the early-morning ride. Together with Joss, they rode out on three Somali ponies, with Idina staying at home because of her pregnancy. Although in France, Alice had been forced to ride on the left side, in Kenya, she was free to ride astride. These
But the feature that would have impressed Alice the most would have been Idina’s bathroom, which was adjacent to the master bedroom. It was ten feet by eight feet and made of green travertine marble. Hot water was piped in from three forty-four-gallon drums heated by a log fire outside the bathroom. The water was somewhat discolored by the local iron and murram sediment, but it was refreshing and stimulating. Idina was in the habit of taking a bath before dinner, wallowing in steaming water with a cocktail in hand while holding forth for dinner guests, who were invited to join her as she bathed—in the nude, of course. The bath ceremony was just one of the many unconventional rituals at Slains. Another custom was that of dining in pajamas and a dressing gown. Alice had no pajamas, but she found a pair laid out neatly on her bedroom pillow by Marie. Dinner was usually late—around eleven at night—but in deference to Alice and Frédéric’s long journey, it is likely that it was served earlier that first evening. The African cook had been well taught by Marie and could manage a cheese soufflé and oeufs en cocotte , and there was champagne to celebrate the de Janzés’ arrival. Despite the prevalence of French wine and food, Alice would have felt herself as far away as possible from the formalities of Parfondeval and Paris.
The following day, Alice and Frédéric had their first sighting by daylight of Slains and its surrounding landscape. It has often been observed that the Kenyan highlands are reminiscent of the English and Scottish countryside—albeit on an epic scale. When the onetime editor of the East African Standard, George Kinnear, later visited Wanjohi, he, like so many visitors before and since, found himself in thrall to the landscape. His description of the valley gives an idea of the sight of the Aberdare Mountains that awaited Alice and Frédéric when they awoke that morning:
Every morning it takes the sun well nigh two hours to climb over the Aberdares and paint this valley with its rays and chase away the dew that cheats the drought. Many times I have stood shivering at dawn and watched the grey curtain of fading night lifted from the valley. The Aberdares stand like black bastions against the sun. Pockets of grey mist hide and reveal in turn. Here and there wisps of blue smoke rise lazily from hut and homestead. A silvery light steals down from the sky, but away over the Rift Valley the sky is already orange and yellow and a little pink. Suddenly the orchestra of the countryside plays the song of dawn and a dark hilltop is lit by a shaft of light. Even the streams run more noisily, chasing over the stones and leaping recklessly down the mountain-side. Weirdly the light changes from silver to soft gold as the sun relentlessly climbs up the mountain; and then soars over the mountain ridge and restores all the colour to the flowers and the trees and to every living thing. Here is a lovely garden radiant with masses of flowers: there are several ponds and water always running back to the mountain stream from whence man had led it higher up the valley.
That morning, Alice and Frédéric were indeed treated to views of rolling hills layered in early-morning mists, the mountain peak of Kipipiri rising from the clouds, a great waterfall in the distance, and dense forests of cedar. Breakfast would have included porridge and fresh cream from a nearby dairy. Joss and Idina were intent on owning their own dairy and were breeding Guernsey cattle to enable them to do so. After breakfast, Alice and Frédéric participated in another Slains ritual—the early-morning ride. Together with Joss, they rode out on three Somali ponies, with Idina staying at home because of her pregnancy. Although in France, Alice had been forced to ride on the left side, in Kenya, she was free to ride astride. These
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