The Cavendon Luck

FIFTEEN

‘I’m glad I found you alone,’ Diedre said, following Cecily into her suite at the Adlon. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘They decided to go to the Tiergarten, because Charlie hadn’t seen it, and Daphne went along as well. They were then going to Horcher’s for lunch.’

‘I see. Didn’t you want to go, Ceci?’

‘Not really, I’m already back in my work mood …’ She paused, half smiled. ‘Miles wanted us to honour this break, but I’m not very good at holidays, you know that. I needed to speak to Dottie, go over a lot of things. With a war undoubtedly in the wind I have so many plans to make for the business. It’s all rather urgent.’

‘I understand. Did you speak to Greta this morning?’

‘No, I didn’t really have reason to, and anyway I wanted to avoid it, if the truth be known. Rather cowardly on my part, isn’t it?’

Diedre shook her head, and said, ‘Not at all. I know how you feel. I got a bit of unexpected and interesting news yesterday – only by chance, of course. And I know it’s going to please you.’

Cecily looked at her sister-in-law, expectancy filling her eyes. ‘Is it about Professor Steinbrenner?’

‘Quick as a tick, you are, Cecily. Yes, it is, but I don’t want you to get too excited. My friend Tony Jenkins from the embassy has told me several English people will be at the reception tonight. Lady Arabella Cunningham, who is now married to a German prince. Daphne used to know her when they were girls.’

‘How amazing. And it will make Daphne feel better about going. She really doesn’t like being here.’

Diedre nodded. ‘I know. She has a great aversion to Germany. The academic and broadcaster, Sir Anthony Parry, is coming, and he’s asked if he can bring an old friend, Professor Steinbrenner.’

‘Oh, thank God. I’m going to meet him, and in the most normal way … quite by accident.’ Cecily was obviously thrilled.

‘Yes, you are. However, when I told Tony he was also an acquaintance of ours, he said the professor hadn’t yet replied to the invitation.’

Cecily’s face fell. ‘I do hope he comes. It would be lovely to go back to London and tell Greta I had talked with her father. I know it would make her feel so much better.’ Cecily paused, and then asked quietly, ‘Do you think he’ll come?’

Diedre shook her head, gave a half shrug. ‘I just can’t answer that. However, I got the impression that Sir Anthony and the professor are very good friends of long standing, so I’m going to hazard a guess and say it’s more than likely he’ll be there this evening.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me last night?’ Cecily asked, frowning.

‘There really wasn’t a chance; we were surrounded by family and Charlie hardly stopped talking. Anyway, I need to speak to you very seriously, that’s another reason I waited until this afternoon.’

‘You sound so grave,’ Cecily responded, searching Diedre’s face. ‘Go on, tell me. I’m all ears.’

‘I want to caution you to be extremely careful how you handle the meeting with Professor Steinbrenner. You must watch your words. There can be no discussion about getting the family out, or anything like that. Talk mostly about Greta, how wonderful she is, how much you rely on her. Be very positive in every way. No woeful commiserations about his predicament.’ Diedre paused for a moment, then continued, ‘I’ve only been to a couple of these receptions over the years, but they are now very crowded, so Tony explained. Everyone comes to the British Embassy “bun fight”, as he calls it. Look, Ceci, all eyes will be on us, because of who we are. And never forget walls have ears.’

‘Even carpets do,’ Cecily shot back, and they both laughed, breaking the solemnity of the moment.

Swallowing her laughter, Cecily said, ‘I promise to be extremely cautious – careful in everything I say and do. I truly understand the situation. You’ve made it very clear to me. And I know I must keep this bit of information to myself, correct?’

‘Yes. It’s better you look surprised when Professor Steinbrenner is introduced. So don’t tell Miles or anyone else.’

‘I won’t. Are you going to mention Lady Arabella to Daphne?’

‘I thought about it long and hard today, and I think it’s better if I just leave it alone. She’ll meet her in a natural way, be brought over to Daphne, I’ll make sure of that.’ Noticing a look of puzzlement in Cecily’s eyes, Diedre went on swiftly, ‘I want the evening to be casual, very normal. And I want us all to enjoy it. Tony says there’ll be lots of interesting people there, and that it will be fun.’

Cecily made a face. ‘Fun, eh? At a time like this, with the world on the edge of a precipice. Sometimes I can’t figure it all out … or why people behave the way they do.’ She shook her head. ‘To be honest, deep down inside I’m filled with alarm about the future.’

‘And so am I,’ Diedre answered quietly. ‘But not everyone sees things the way we do. They don’t understand politics, what’s happening around them. And so they live their lives as usual. And we have to do that for the moment as well. We must keep a smile on our faces, Ceci, and never show fear.’

‘Right,’ Cecily said, ‘So you’re going to wear my black crêpe de Chine frock tonight, but you will need some jewels to liven it up.’

Diedre laughed. ‘I didn’t take anything like that with me to Geneva last week. I’d gone on an overnight trip. Can you help me out?’

‘I certainly can,’ Cecily exclaimed. ‘Come with me to the bedroom, I’ll show you some of the pieces I brought. They’re all fakes, of course, from the Cavendon Collection.’

Diedre nodded, and the two of them went into the bedroom. Cecily removed several black velvet bags from a chest of drawers, and emptied the contents on to the bed, sorting through them.

Diedre joined her and couldn’t help exclaiming about the beauty of the pieces. ‘They all look like the real thing,’ she said, and instantly reached out for the long strand of pearls.

‘Hello, ladies,’ Miles said from the doorway.

He had startled them both, and they swung around in surprise, not having heard him enter the suite.

‘Gosh, you made me jump!’ Cecily exclaimed, and hurried over to her husband, hugging him tightly. ‘You’re back earlier than expected.’

He nodded, smiling at her, and turning to his sister, he said, ‘You’re looking very smart today, Diedre. I like the suit … but it does look a bit familiar.’ He chuckled as he said this.

‘Courtesy of your wife, Miles. How was the trip to the Tiergarten? And where are the others?’

‘Gone to their rooms. I said we’d all go down for tea a bit later. Not that I’m hungry. We had quite a lunch at Horcher’s.’

The three of them went back into the living room and Diedre, showing him the pearls and ear clips in her hand, said, ‘I’m staggered by these pieces. Ceci’s a wonder.’

He grinned at her. ‘Oh, I know that. I’ve known it since she was five.’

‘Did Charlie enjoy himself going around the sights this morning?’ Diedre asked, sitting down.

Joining her on the sofa, Miles nodded. ‘He did, and I must say he’s really sharp and bright, and has a wonderfully searching, very curious mind. He’ll do well as a journalist. He’s picked the perfect profession for himself. He wants to know everything … about everything. He’s articulate, and has great clarity when he speaks. And what knowledge is stored in that mind of his. I was quite amazed by him, actually.’

A smile spread across Diedre’s face, and she said, ‘I’m glad you’ve seen that, Miles, and I hope Daphne knows it, too.’

‘I believe she’s learned a lot about him whilst we’ve been in Berlin.’

Cecily interjected, ‘Daphne worries about him because he can be very impetuous.’

‘I think adventurous might be a better word,’ Miles said. ‘Hugo was certainly impressed by his son today, wanted to know how he knew so much about Hitler and the Third Reich, and what’s going on in the world.’

‘I believe it’s because he reads all of the British newspapers,’ Diedre announced. ‘As do I. He explained this to me the other day, and he is indeed a fount of information, as you say.’

‘I think Daphne finally gets it about him,’ Miles murmured, settling back against the cushions. ‘She’s such a good mother, and not possessive really, but she does fuss about him.’

‘I know,’ Diedre agreed. ‘She loves all of her children, but it’s Charlie she seems to focus on. No wonder they have these contentious quarrels at times. He just blurts things out. He doesn’t know how to edit himself around his parents.’

Miles said, ‘Look, she’s seen him with us today and every evening we’ve been here, and she’s come to understand he’s twenty, almost twenty-one. I kept reminding her. I think it’s finally sunk in he’s a grown man—’

‘I hope he doesn’t do something silly, like trying to become a war correspondent if war breaks out,’ Cecily cut in.

‘When it breaks out,’ Diedre corrected her. ‘And I agree. But it’s far more likely he’ll have to join up – he may not have a choice.’

‘I’ve never seen such a militaristic city,’ Miles now said, changing the subject. ‘There are more uniforms here than you can possibly imagine. Horcher’s was full of them.’

‘What sort of uniforms do the Gestapo wear?’ Cecily asked.

‘They don’t. They’re in civilian clothes. But they look so sinister in their leather trench coats and snap-brimmed trilbies, you can’t fail to miss them.’

‘I’d better go and put the jewellery away,’ Diedre said, standing up, wanting suddenly to escape. ‘Are we having tea in their suite or downstairs, Miles?’

‘Downstairs, in about an hour, darling.’

‘See you then,’ she said, and looking at Cecily she added, ‘Thank you for putting me properly together for tonight.’

SIXTEEN

Miles couldn’t help smiling to himself as the six of them walked through the lobby of the Adlon. Every head turned to stare.

No wonder, he thought: the women look stunning. Cecily was in lavender chiffon with several strands of amethysts around her neck; Daphne wore white silk and her sapphires, whilst Diedre was in her borrowed black dress and the fake Marmaduke pearls. They were elegant, stylish and carried themselves well.

Even when he was much younger, just twelve, he had been well aware that the Inghams en masse caused quite a stir, just by their very presence, and he knew the same thing would happen when they arrived at the embassy.

A few seconds later they went through the front door of the hotel and out on to Unter den Linden. They immediately swung right on to Wilhelmstrasse, where the British Embassy was located at number seventy. Diedre had mentioned to him earlier that the Reich Chancellery was only a few doors away. Miles suddenly shuddered at the thought of Hitler and those other gangsters sitting plotting their heinous schemes. Ruthlessly, and with enormous German thoroughness, he had no doubt.

Unexpectedly, Diedre fell into step with him, and slipped her arm through his. ‘I’ve warned everyone that it’s going to be a mixed bunch, and they shouldn’t be alarmed by the number of Nazi officers present. They’ll be dressed in their best field-grey uniforms, smiling, smartly clicking their heels, bowing and scraping like dummies. To no avail with us, of course. And you’ll recognize the Gestapo from their sinister expressions and cheap suits.’

Miles couldn’t help laughing. ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that Dulcie inherited your colourful use of the language, and that you, in turn, inherited it from Great-Aunt Gwendolyn.’ He tucked her arm tighter against his. ‘I can’t wait, and neither can young Charlie. Mind you, Daphne’s still a reluctant guest, in my opinion. Let’s keep an eye on her tonight, shall we?’

‘She’ll be fine, Miles. Well, here we are at the embassy and about to enter a bit of our own land in a foreign country where we know we are truly safe. And there’s the Union Jack fluttering right above us.’

Glancing up, Miles nodded, and then smiled knowingly at his sister; he swung around, beckoned to the rest of the family, indicating he wanted them to hurry.

Together they went into the embassy, and within moments they were being greeted by His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to Berlin, Sir Nevile Henderson.

The ambassador stood on the central landing at the top of the wide staircase. There was a genial smile on his face as he greeted everyone with his usual charm and graciousness.

Diedre ushered Daphne, Hugo and Charlie towards the ambassador first, followed by Cecily and Miles. She herself finally stood in front of him as the last member of the family.

After shaking her hand, he spoke to her for a moment, saying quietly that they would speak later and longer at the small dinner after the reception. His expression was welcoming, his voice full of affection for her. She walked on, knowing there were other guests behind her.

Diedre joined the family and led them forward to one of the two reception rooms, where Tony Jenkins was waiting in the entrance. He hurried towards her, a huge smile on his face.

After kissing Diedre on the cheek, welcoming her, she introduced him to Daphne, and realized at once that he was stunned by her sister’s great beauty; actually rendered speechless. It took him a second to greet Daphne.

Immediately taking charge, Diedre introduced Cecily, Miles, her brother-in-law Hugo and then Charlie.

Once the introductions were over, Tony said, ‘Let’s go in and partake of a glass of champagne. Only the best served in this territory, and then I’ll present you to a few interesting people.’ His smile was wry.

‘The world and his wife are here tonight … it’s quite a throng,’ Tony added. ‘There are a lot of diplomatic parties in Berlin these days, at the different foreign embassies, but everyone says ours are the best. There’s even a waiting list now!’ He chuckled when he said this, looking rather pleased about the success of their parties.

They stepped inside and stood in the entrance momentarily, surveying the scene. Diedre at once noticed how full the room was, packed with people. The women were elegantly dressed, all rather chic, and the men were in black tie or uniforms.

It was a large space, with windows at one end, and two huge crystal chandeliers dropped from the ceiling. Masses of flowers were placed everywhere, and it struck her that there was a feeling of real glamour here tonight. A quartet played in one corner; white-gloved waiters in tails moved deftly between the guests, their silver trays filled with flutes of champagne and an assortment of canapés.

Glancing about, Diedre noticed the life-sized portrait in oils of King George VI hanging on one wall. He had stepped into the breach when his brother Edward had abdicated, and was now their King. Thank God Edward was never crowned, she thought. There would have been an even bigger mess.

Instinctively, she had always felt George VI would be a good King. He was brave, the way he managed and dealt with his speech impediment, that awful stutter. He had a lovely wife, who was now their most graceful Queen, and two little girls, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. He was very much a family man, and always referred to them as ‘us four’, as if they were united against the world. Perhaps they were.

Tony, Miles and Charlie were taking flutes of champagne from the passing waiters, and handing them around. Once everyone had a glass in their hands, the group moved farther into the room.