threatening.
In fact it came to the Marquis’s mind that it was a Fairy Castle and not real.
The Captain skilfully berthed The Neptune along a wooden jetty that stood out into the bay.
As soon as the yacht appeared, it was apparent that the Earl had members of his staff looking out for him and by the time The Neptune was safely moored, there was a man waiting to greet them at the end of the jetty.
A number of what the Marquis took to be footmen were also in sight and the young man waiting came aboard and explained that he was the secretary to the Earl.
“His Lordship has been expecting you for the last two days, my Lord.”
“We were delayed by a rather vicious storm,” the Marquis explained “and turned into Edinburgh.”
“That was a very sensible thing to do, my Lord, if I might say so. Those storms can be dangerous for a small vessel.”
The Marquis stepped ashore.
He was taken through some beautiful gardens by the secretary and up a flight of steps that led to the Castle.
“His Lordship has been so looking forward to your visit, my Lord, and I feel sure you will enjoy the fishing, which has been particularly good lately.”
“I am much looking forward to the sport.”
They entered the Castle by the front door and into a vast hall. It was hung with antlers and surprisingly there was the head of a tiger over the fireplace.
As if he was accustomed to making explanations, the secretary informed him,
“His Lordship killed several tigers in India and you will see their heads in various parts of the Castle.”
The Marquis smiled.
He had thought of bringing back home the head of the tiger he had killed in India, but then he had decided it was too much trouble.
It might, however, have looked rather impressive in his house in the country.
They climbed up the wide staircase.
The secretary was still with him, but a butler wearing a kilt had also joined them.
Then, throwing open a large door, he announced in a stentorian voice,
“The Marquis of Kexley, my Lord.”
The Earl was standing at the window looking over the garden at The Neptune in the bay.
He turned and the Marquis saw, with his white hair and lined face, that he had aged more than he had expected.
“It is delightful to see you, Oliver, after all these years and I only wish your father was with you.”
“I wish so too,” replied the Marquis. “But he often told me how spectacular your Castle is, my Lord, and I do realise now I see it that there are not enough words to describe its beauty.”
The Earl looked pleased.
“It is something I am very proud of, Oliver, and I only hope you will enjoy staying with us as much as your father enjoyed it the last time he came.”
“He often spoke of it, telling me how he shot two outstanding stags and caught, I think, over twenty salmon.”
“I believe it was more than that. Your father was a great fisherman and I do hope that you are as proficient as he was.”
“It is just what I am hoping too, but it is something that can be easily proved one way or the other!”
The Earl laughed.
“That is very true, but we have been lucky lately in having more fish than I can remember for some years and I am also told that the hatching of the grouse this year has been exceptional.”
“You are indeed lucky, my Lord. Actually I have brought with me not only my own rods but my father’s.”
“Then you cannot fail to land a prize catch which, of course, will go down in the annals of Dardendell Castle for posterity!”
They both laughed and then the Earl suggested,
“Tea is awaiting us in the next room. My wife had an engagement this afternoon, but she will be back soon. My daughter, not surprisingly, is fishing.”
They walked across the large room.
It had surprised the Marquis that the walls were all covered in books.
There was a portrait over the mantelpiece of one of the ancient Earls in full Highland regalia and another one of his wife wearing both a tiara and a plaid.
They
In fact it came to the Marquis’s mind that it was a Fairy Castle and not real.
The Captain skilfully berthed The Neptune along a wooden jetty that stood out into the bay.
As soon as the yacht appeared, it was apparent that the Earl had members of his staff looking out for him and by the time The Neptune was safely moored, there was a man waiting to greet them at the end of the jetty.
A number of what the Marquis took to be footmen were also in sight and the young man waiting came aboard and explained that he was the secretary to the Earl.
“His Lordship has been expecting you for the last two days, my Lord.”
“We were delayed by a rather vicious storm,” the Marquis explained “and turned into Edinburgh.”
“That was a very sensible thing to do, my Lord, if I might say so. Those storms can be dangerous for a small vessel.”
The Marquis stepped ashore.
He was taken through some beautiful gardens by the secretary and up a flight of steps that led to the Castle.
“His Lordship has been so looking forward to your visit, my Lord, and I feel sure you will enjoy the fishing, which has been particularly good lately.”
“I am much looking forward to the sport.”
They entered the Castle by the front door and into a vast hall. It was hung with antlers and surprisingly there was the head of a tiger over the fireplace.
As if he was accustomed to making explanations, the secretary informed him,
“His Lordship killed several tigers in India and you will see their heads in various parts of the Castle.”
The Marquis smiled.
He had thought of bringing back home the head of the tiger he had killed in India, but then he had decided it was too much trouble.
It might, however, have looked rather impressive in his house in the country.
They climbed up the wide staircase.
The secretary was still with him, but a butler wearing a kilt had also joined them.
Then, throwing open a large door, he announced in a stentorian voice,
“The Marquis of Kexley, my Lord.”
The Earl was standing at the window looking over the garden at The Neptune in the bay.
He turned and the Marquis saw, with his white hair and lined face, that he had aged more than he had expected.
“It is delightful to see you, Oliver, after all these years and I only wish your father was with you.”
“I wish so too,” replied the Marquis. “But he often told me how spectacular your Castle is, my Lord, and I do realise now I see it that there are not enough words to describe its beauty.”
The Earl looked pleased.
“It is something I am very proud of, Oliver, and I only hope you will enjoy staying with us as much as your father enjoyed it the last time he came.”
“He often spoke of it, telling me how he shot two outstanding stags and caught, I think, over twenty salmon.”
“I believe it was more than that. Your father was a great fisherman and I do hope that you are as proficient as he was.”
“It is just what I am hoping too, but it is something that can be easily proved one way or the other!”
The Earl laughed.
“That is very true, but we have been lucky lately in having more fish than I can remember for some years and I am also told that the hatching of the grouse this year has been exceptional.”
“You are indeed lucky, my Lord. Actually I have brought with me not only my own rods but my father’s.”
“Then you cannot fail to land a prize catch which, of course, will go down in the annals of Dardendell Castle for posterity!”
They both laughed and then the Earl suggested,
“Tea is awaiting us in the next room. My wife had an engagement this afternoon, but she will be back soon. My daughter, not surprisingly, is fishing.”
They walked across the large room.
It had surprised the Marquis that the walls were all covered in books.
There was a portrait over the mantelpiece of one of the ancient Earls in full Highland regalia and another one of his wife wearing both a tiara and a plaid.
They
Similar Books
