Great Historical Novels (131 page)
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Authors: Fay Weldon
‘By the way,’ he said, ‘the police were on to me this morning about your Mayfair place. But you’re in the clear. Only yesterday the Honourable Mr Robin cancelled his cheque towards the rent. No way they can get you now.’
The lad had inherited his father’s good looks and his luck too. There was no justice. Why people bothered looking for it in this life he could not imagine.
‘Good-oh,’ said the boy. And then, ‘Thank you for your help, Mr Baum.’
Then when Mr Baum was almost at the foot of the steps Elsie came running after him with a large square envelope. He opened it. Inside was a truly handsome invitation for Mr and Mrs Eric Baum. Their presence was requested for dinner on December 17th, in the presence of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
‘Her Ladyship asked me to give you this,’ the maid said, ‘and she looks forward to seeing you on the seventeenth.’ She smiled respectfully. Mr Baum supposed he could now be accepted in Belgrave Square as a guest and not a servant. The question was whether he wanted to be. On the envelope was scrawled
So sorry this was late. An oversight
! and the initials, ‘ID’. Isobel Dilberne. Naomi would smile again. But he, Eric Baum, would never understand the English upper classes.
A Royal Dinner
Extract from ‘Fashion News’ in
The Times,
Monday, 18th December 1899
A newcomer on the scene at 17, Belgrave Square last Saturday night was Mrs Eric (Naomi) Baum, who wore a delightful dress in a heavy red silk, its topskirt looped away to show a rose embroidered underskirt, the bodice embellished with antique lace. Her perfect décolletage appeared to advantage, set off by a very pleasing diamond necklace given to her for the occasion by her husband, Mr Eric Baum the financier. She was seated next to the Prince, who was seen to be most taken by her. They were overheard discussing this year’s excellent production of the play
David Garrick
at the opulent new Wyndham’s Theatre in Charing Cross Road. Both were seen to laugh.
Our most gracious hostess, Isobel, Countess of Dilberne, wore a simple white satin gown with the new drooped sleeves, and was later seen in animated conversation with Mrs Baum. Mrs Tessa O’Brien wore a flowered pink ensemble with a ruby necklace and earrings, a gift from her husband Mr Billy O’Brien the philanthropist, sent over on a liner of the White Star Line for the occasion of this very special dinner. Miss Melinda O’Brien was as ever a delight to the eye in rustling pale green taffeta, well set off by a splendid antique emerald
engagement ring on her left hand. Lady Rosina was not present, being indisposed. The Prince expressed his sympathy and disappointment.
Dinner was a great success and the Prince announced himself particularly taken by the crab patties, the pastry being, as he observed, pleasingly crisp and light.
The excitement of the evening was when the Earl stood to announce the engagement of his son Arthur, Viscount Hedleigh to Miss Melinda O’Brien, to take place at St Martin-in-the-Fields in June, 1900, in the presence of the Prince of Wales. We wish them very well in their future life together.
About this Book
Set during a single year in the dying days of Victoria’s reign,
Habits of the House
tells the story of the Dilberne family and their staff. All have secrets, but for the most part life runs smoothly, with very little intrusion from the world outside.
So when the events of a single turbulent morning herald bankruptcy and ruin for the Earl of Dilberne, the solution is to marry off his only son, Arthur. But as life above and below stairs shows the strain of impending disaster, the secrets of the household may prove fatal to the Earl’s plans.
Reviews
“Weldon at her most spellbinding” —
Spectator
“A splendidly fun romp” —
The Times
“Hugely enjoyable” —
Tatler
About this Trilogy
THE LOVE AND INHERITANCE TRILOGY
The
Love and Inheritance
trilogy is a family saga set between 1899 and 1906. The aristocratic Dilberne family lurch from wild wealth, to bankruptcy, and back again, their fortunes dependent on the new steam-powered automobiles, Spiritualist gatherings and Christmases at Sandringham. But as the century turns, the rigid rules of society begin to soften…
Following lives and loves upstairs and downstairs, and brimming with Fay Weldon’s trademark wit, wisdom and warmth, this is a trilogy to treasure.
THE LOVE AND INHERITANCE BOOKS IN ORDER
Set during a single year in the dying days of Victoria’s reign,
Habits of the House
tells the story of the Dilberne family and their staff. All have secrets, but for the most part life runs smoothly, with very little intrusion from the world outside.
So when the events of a single turbulent morning herald bankruptcy and ruin for the Earl of Dilberne, the solution is to marry off his only son, Arthur. But as life above and below stairs shows the strain of impending disaster, the secrets of the household may prove fatal to the Earl’s plans.
Habits of the House
is available
here
.
The year is 1901 and London Society is in a frenzy of anticipation for the coronation of Edward VII. Lord and Lady Dilberne, their fortune restored by their son’s recent marriage to a Chicago heiress, are caught up in the lavish preparations from their home in Belgrave Square. But while they fuss over diamonds and ball-gowns, their sixteen-year-old niece, Adela, has joined a troupe of spiritualists. As the Dilbernes seek to avoid scandal, it falls to Viscount Arthur and his new wife to bring her back to the fold.
Long Live the King
is available
here
.
It is 1905. King Edward VII invites himself and his mistress to a shooting weekend. Isobel, Countess of Dilberne, must turn a run-down mansion into a palace fit for a king in short order. But nothing is simple.
The servants disapprove of the King’s morals and threaten to leave en masse and when Isobel’s daughter, Rosina, publishes a scandalous book, the misspent pasts of both her son Arthur and his new wife Minnie rear up to blacken the family name.
Then fate deals a hand – and Isobel must consider not only her position as a leading Society hostess, but her entire future…
The New Countess
will be published in November 2013, available
here
:
About the Author
One of the most successful advertising copywriters of her generation, Fay Weldon’s credits as a writer of Fiction include classic novels like
The Life and Loves of a She Devil
and
Growing Rich
, and the pilot episode of the original TV series ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’. In 2001 she was awarded a CBE for services to literature. She has seven sons and stepsons and one stepdaughter, and lives on a hill in the west of England.
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First published in the UK in 2012 by Head of Zeus, Ltd.
Copyright © Fay Weldon, 2012.
The moral right of Fay Weldon to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.