Free A Question of Inheritance by Elizabeth Edmondson Page A

said with a look at Lady Priscilla every bit as ferocious as her ladyship’s.
    ‘That’s what comes of being brought up in America,’ Lady Priscilla said – unfairly, in Freya’s opinion.
    She was interested to see that Gus was sensibly keeping out of this conversation. He was outnumbered by Selchester women. Or perhaps he had no particular views on the subject of cats, dogs, ponies and goats.
    Lady Priscilla was looking at Barbara again. ‘You can’t go around dressed like that. Not in the country. It’s completely inappropriate. It might do for Chelsea, but Selchester is not Chelsea.’
    Freya heard Barbara mutter under her breath, ‘More’s the pity.’
    ‘Gus,’ Lady Priscilla said, ‘I hear you have a cousin who brought the girls up. What was she doing letting Barbara dress like this?’
    Barbara said in a deliberately drawling voice, ‘Cousin Charlotte doesn’t say what I wear. I’m nearly eighteen and I choose for myself.’
    ‘That is exactly what the right kind of person looking after you will prevent. Where is this cousin of yours? Did she come over with you?’
    Gus intervened. ‘My cousin Charlotte doesn’t care for travel.’
    ‘You mean the girls have no one to look after them? That won’t do, Gus.’ She turned to Freya. ‘You see to it that Barbara has some decent clothes. She can’t go around looking like that. People won’t like it.’
    Barbara said, ‘I guess they’ll just have to get used to it, Great-aunt Priscilla. I’m not going to go round in tweeds and a London Fog for anyone.’
    Freya wondered what a London Fog was and Barbara, seeing her incomprehension said, ‘I think it’s what you call a mackintosh. And those horrible wellington boots? No, thank you. If it’s wet and muddy I’ll stay in and read.’
    Freya was impressed by the way the two girls were standing up to their great-aunt, but they looked as though they’d had enough of her.
    Polly said to Gus, ‘Can we go now?’
    ‘Yes, be off with you,’ Lady Priscilla said. ‘I want a few more words with your father and then I’m going.’
    After the door closed behind them she said to Gus, ‘Nice girls, we can make something of them. Your cousin Helena, my oldest girl, is bringing out her daughter Alice next season. She can bring Barbara out as well.’
    Gus said, ‘I believe . . . My intention is that Barbara will go to college. Her mother was at Wellesley and—’
    ‘If she wants to go to university she can do that after she’s done the Season. Quite a few girls do that these days. It’s a complete waste of time and money of course, because they just get married in the end. Meanwhile, I’ll speak to Mother Joseph at St Ursula’s about Polly. They’ll get rid of that American accent in no time. And she needs to do something about those spectacles. A good man will find her a more becoming pair. I’ll give you the name of the ophthalmologist in London that Sir Archibald goes to.’
    Lady Priscilla was making for the door. ‘Thank you, Gus, no need to show me out I know my well way well enough. Goodbye, Freya.’
    The two cousins looked at one another. Gus sank back into a chair. ‘Do I have any more relatives who are as overpowering is that?’
    Freya said, ‘She can be difficult, but her heart’s in the right place.’
    Gus said, ‘Will she and her family be joining us here at the Castle for Christmas?’
    Freya laughed. ‘Don’t worry, no. She’ll have a horde of her own family at Veryan House. I expect there’ll have to be some visiting but you shan’t have to entertain them for all of Christmas. Which is just as well, if we have to look after Sonia and her guests.’
    Gus said, ‘I shall have to find a school for Polly. Would you know about this convent, St Ursula’s? Did you go there?’
    Freya said, ‘No. Sonia did, but—’
    Gus said, a twinkle in his eye, ‘But? I don’t have a long acquaintance with my half-sister, but I can imagine that she would have been a handful for even