Thea stared at her. ‘Does anyone else here know?’
‘Just Herbert,’ said Harriet, ‘which I suppose means that the rest of them will do, before long. Should be interesting, as that rails against everything Nev has built his livelihood on, eh?’
‘Good lord,’ said Thea, staring towards the scratching sounds that still came from the open carriage door. Could this party become any more stressful?
Martha and Grimston glowered at one another across a swathe ofNerines. ‘An excellent plant for later in the season,’ Theasaid, eyeing the two of them warily, as well as keeping an eye on the proximity of Knatchbull and Speckle. The latter was still scribbling notes intermittently and she had been concerned that Knatchbull would see, but he had disappeared five minutes into her garden tour. Presumably to poke around for more secrets, she imagined. Without Frankie there to plant decoy dragon’s bile, or whatever she would think of next, he might even find some.
If the whole weekend went off without incident, it would be a miracle, she thought. The only thing she could do was to keep the peace between Martha and Grimston, Knatchbull and Speckle, and Emma and Harriet as much as possible. Not to mention the complications of her own family. Polite society was anything but polite, on the inside. George had wanted to start with a tour of the outdoors, and so they did.
‘Just stunning, I do not know how you do it, Your Grace.’ Thea gave Cecily a thankful smile and she was about to go on before she was interrupted.
‘I just don’t see how you think it is better than mine?’ Knatchbull’s voice cut through the air from the greenhouse.
Oh. And there was the new tension between Knatchbull and Crumpacker, she thought. Steering the party towards the tender plants she sought to head off the confrontation.
‘And this is where we keep all of the specimens which require protection from the cold.’ She said it loudly, announcing their presence. Both Knatchbull and Crumpacker straightened.
‘I see yourSissyrinchiumare struggling,’ said Knatchbull without any more of a hello.
‘The foliage is always blackened at this time of year,’ said Crumpacker without pause. ‘The duchess’s plants are healthy.’ It was an obvious jibe, and Knatchbull set his jaw.
‘I am sure you mean the duke’s plants,’ he said, referencing George who had taken the Faircloughs and his wider family on a tour of the estate.
‘Good grower, the duke,’ said Grimston. Thea saw Martha take a breath and then remove herself from the glasshouse, presumably before she said something she would regret. She felt her own cheeks pink a little at the men’s dismissal, but it was nothing she didn’t expect. Cecily looked at her feet, knowing she shouldn’t argue with her husband. Thea heard Harriet tut from the back of the group.
‘I do believe you are mistaken, gentlemen,’ she raised her voice so they couldn’t help but hear her. ‘From what I hear the duke is supportive, of course, but the plant collection would be nothing without the duchess and Lady Foxmore.’
Grimston sneered. ‘Apparently the two of them are inseparable. But nothing you and your estranged husband wouldn’t know about, I am sure, Mrs Henry?’
Thea saw Harriet take a breath and jumped in before she could counter. Nobody needed those rumours circulating. ‘We were delighted to receive a visit from the king and queen last week,’ she said, trying to change the subject. ‘They were quite pleased with the sweet peas.’
‘I can’t deny I was a little put out at first when Crumpy suggested this place,’ said Knatchbull, ignoring Thea but taking up the topic. He waggled his finger at Crumpacker whilst smiling, but nobody missed the passive aggression. ‘But if there is any plant collection I would take second place to, it would be the duke’s.’
‘The duchess’s and Lady Foxmore’s, as Mrs Henry clearly noted,’ said Crumpacker, matter-of-factly.
‘I understand the duke is moving the hot house,’ said Knatchbull, ignoring him and addressing Herbert and Speckle. ‘As is the current custom after Mr Brown.’
‘Where to?’ asked Herbert, as Harriet stared at Thea, and Thea stared at Knatchbull, dumbly.
‘Somewhere to the east,’ said Knatchbull, gesturing. ‘He showed us the plans when we were out shooting. Has had a chap called Knowlton draw them up.’ Thea now glanced towards Harriet, and they shared a look of mutual concern. How had George been planning this without telling her?
‘Better for the smell,’ said Grimston.
‘I just hope his new setup enables us to maintain our special relationship,’ said Knatchbull. ‘I have had a number of beauties from him over the years.’
‘You must provide the duke with something very special, Mr Knatchbull,’ said Harriet, flicking a glance to Thea. Thea knew that her friend was as curious as her as to why George kept the objectionable tradesman so close.
‘I certainly do,’ he said, flashing her a fake smile that contained a lot of teeth. ‘The duke has said many times that he does not know how he would manage without our relationship.’ Thea looked to Harriet. It didn’t look like he was interested in sharing, but what could it possibly be? Was he bailing out debts? Keeping George in parliament despite his drinking? Was George in trouble?
‘I thought it was tea?’ said Crumpacker from the firewall.
Thea and Harriet looked at one another, and then back to Knatchbull. ‘Tea?’ they said in unison.
For a moment he looked abashed but then strove to spin the situation to his advantage. ‘There is a particular blend of tea which comes through the north of India that I have the almost exclusive rights to through my metal trade. The duke values it highly.’
‘You can get tea anywhere in London,’ said Harriet.
‘Not Kangra tea,’ said Knatchbull.
