Simon’s designs for the orangery were completed, but, mindful of Juliet’s instructions to spin out their stay at Staineybank for as long as possible, he made no effort to present them to the duke. Instead, he occupied himself with sketching ideas for the interior. But inevitably the day came when the duke looked down the dining table at Simon and remembered why he was there.
“Anything new to show me, Payne? You must have some fresh ideas for this orangery after all this time.”
“I have, your grace. After seeing how the Marshfields orangery was arranged, I have come up with a completely different plan that I believe would suit Mrs Richard Merrington very well, and would be an enhancement to Staineybank itself.”
Richard, who had resumed dining with the family, snorted at this, but the duke merely nodded easily.
“Tomorrow at noon, in my study, Payne.”
When Simon arrived, sketchbooks in hand, he found that he faced an audience of five. Apart from Richard and the duke himself, the duke’s secretary, James Hammond, and Mr Hammond Senior were both there, and also Mr Pyott, the comptroller.
“The key feature of the Marshfields orangery,” Simon began, “is that it is attached to the house. That means it can be used all year round as an additional room. The Duke of Camberley uses it as his private retreat as he recovers from illness, and even in the depths of winter it is warm and comfortable. Mindful that Mrs Richard wishes to be able to use her orangery every day, I have ventured to modify my original design to connect it to the house. The new design retains an imposing location on the far side of the lake, but now it is connected to the house by way of a bridge… thus.”
“A bridge!” Richard said. “What on earth is all this likely to cost, Payne?”
“I will address that point in a moment. You will see that the bridge and orangery will be visible from every room at the front of the house, and—”
“We already have a bridge over the river,” Richard muttered. “An elegant little bridge, too, not a monstrosity like this. And this huge window in the centre — it is preposterous! Why must you make it so large?”
“Because the bridge contains a gallery,” Simon said diffidently. “There is no gallery at Staineybank, and every great house should have one, in my opinion. And it will make an excellent ballroom, too.”
“A ballroom! Great heavens, why not just throw out a new wing, while you are at it? Or perhaps you would prefer to knock down the whole house and start anew?”
“Knock down a Campbell house?” Simon said, shocked. “No, indeed! But I hope my suggestions are in keeping with his work.”
The duke began to laugh. “You like this house, I think, Payne?”
“It is a glorious house, your grace. I would not change anything about the original, but Mrs Richard wants to be able to use her orangery every day, and this is a way in which it could be done, while providing an additional feature.”
“A ballroom…” the duke said thoughtfully. “Why a ballroom?”
“It is a great pleasure to young ladies to dance, and there is no place for a proper ball in the current design.”
“It is certainly ingenious,” Mr James Hammond said. “More spectacular than any of us had envisaged but very much in keeping with the grandeur of Staineybank.”
“And her grace would like to hold balls here, perhaps,” the duke said. “She loves to dance — or she did before the tragedy.”
“So do the Miss Merringtons,” Simon said, with a sudden smile as he recalled Sophia’s enthusiasm at Marshfields.
Richard had been pacing about the room, his anger visible on his face. “It is ridiculous! Staineybank is big enough already without adding on vast extravagances like this. And knowing Payne and his love of marble, it would cost five or six thousand, I should think.”
“Oh no,” Simon said. “With the correct facings to match the main house and a suitable interior, it could not be done for under ten thousand, I imagine.”
“You imagine? Then you have not even costed it properly?” Richard said, aghast.
“Not yet, no. For a labourer’s cottage, perhaps, the sum would need to be calculated with some precision, but to enhance a ducal seat — what value would you put on that, Mr Merrington? Does the exact cost matter so very much? Would you choose to put in a smaller window in the gallery to shave a few guineas from the overall price, knowing that every timethe duke walked past that window he would think,‘For a few pounds more, I could have had a view all the way down the lake, instead of the tops of the trees?’”
“Would it overlook the whole lake?” Mr Hammond said. “That would be quite something — a place for the ladies to take their exercise on a dreary day, yet still be able to enjoy the lake.”
“You like it, then, Hammond?” the duke said.
“I do, your grace. It would make a worthy addition to Staineybank, assuming it could be afforded.”
The others murmured their agreement.
“Well, Richard?” the duke said. “You have seen the accounts. Can I afford to spend ten thousand without undue hardship?”
“It will not stop there, sir. There will be delays, complications, additional expenses…”
