Beneath the Dover Sky (42 page)

Dover Sky

Lord Preston jingled coins in his pants pocket as he held the phone to his ear and patiently repeated his words. “No, Longbottom. No shipyard worker in Liverpool or Belfast will be asked to pick up and go home, ending his employment with us.”

“But, my lord, the economic crisis in America has touched us all. You are losing profits. If you wish to ensure a fairly high cash flow despite international circumstances, you must trim expenditures.”

“Out of the question. The pound has already lost buying power for my workers.”

“And for you.”

“Nevertheless, we shall weather the storm without putting anyone out of work. The most I will agree to is a ten percent wage cut across the board for office workers as well as those on the docks. They must be told this is to ensure Danforth Shipyards and Shipping continues to stay in business so they can keep their jobs. We’ve taken the same steps at the textile mills in Preston. Baxter and I tried to ease the sting of this by initiating the provision of hot lunches for employees. This
will keep more food on the table at home. I should like you to set up the same sort of thing in Liverpool and Belfast.”

“Such an arrangement cannot be brought about cheaply, my lord.”

“I know that.”

“Some will see it as charity and refuse it.”

Lord Preston jingled the loose change in his pocket again. “I can do nothing about that, Longbottom. They will have to look to themselves and to God as far as that is concerned. The hot meals will be available for all employees of Danforth Shipyards and Shipping if the workers wish to enjoy them and bring some relief to their economic hardships. Have you seen what the price for a loaf of bread is now? Heaven knows the farmer and the miller feel the pinch as well as the grocer, but still it is outrageous. My people in my companies must keep their wages at home and take care of their sons and daughters.”

“Very good, my lord. I see your mind is set.”

“It is indeed.” Lord Preston smiled as he watched Caroline walk past the parlor door with a baby wrapped in white blankets in her arms. His voice changed completely. “Ah, Longbottom, if only you were down Dover way this weekend. My son Kipp—you remember Kipp the pilot—Kipp and his lovely wife, Lord and Lady Scarborough’s daughter Caroline, have had themselves a child—a girl as beautiful as a sunrise, I swear it. Well, you know how we grandfathers are. I shall send a photograph up to you.”

“Pray convey my best wishes, my lord. That is marvelous news. May I ask after your granddaughter’s name?”

“Cecilia. Cecila Printemp. A bit of poetry in that, eh?”

“It’s wonderful, my lord. Isn’t ‘printemp’ French for spring?”

“It is. There is a story behind that. My son’s first wife, Christelle, was from France, you will recall…”

“Of course.”

“Well, she was great friends with Caroline. Before her death, she asked if my son and Caroline might not marry and create a family. It took a while, but that is precisely what came about, and it has turned out splendidly.”

“Ah.”

“Cecilia has the fairest hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, Longbottom. The black-and-white photographs don’t do her justice, really not, I say. Someone should go about looking into manufacturing color film.”

“I believe there are projects afoot, my lord, even in these hard times, in Europe and in the United States. Should I look into an investment on your behalf?”

“Do that, yes! Do that. It may be shares can be had at a reasonable price at this time in the development. Certainly color photography is something I would like a hand in bringing to the world. Even if it is only to help grandfathers show off the God-given beauty of their grandchildren.”

“Not a small thing, surely.”

“Indeed not! Most certainly not.”

My dearest Catherine,

Your father and I congratulate you and Albrecht on your announcement. A child is due to arrive! What a fine way to cheer up a dreary February of rain and clouds. How God has blessed us with grandchildren of late—Patricia Claire to Robbie and Shannon in Jerusalem in September in ’28, Colm Alexander to Edward and Charlotte in January of ’29, beautiful Cecilia to Kipp and Caroline just this past October, and now you tell us we are to have yet another grandchild in August 1930! A grand way to start the decade off.

I haven’t been to Germany since that tour of the Rhine several summers ago when you and Albrecht wed at Hartmann Castle much to everyone’s surprise and delight. It is time for another visit, especially now that you are with child. I shall certainly not wait until August. I want to see you as soon as possible. It has been far too long. Naturally I look forward to seeing Sean Albert. He’s seven years old this Easter, imagine
that! And I look forward to seeing dear Libby as well. It really has been ages.

Father cannot come. He and Edward are both on the Opposition benches now and challenging the Labor government for every inch of ground. Lord Buchanan baits them without mercy. What a to-do whenever Edward and that man lock horns. How long the present situation shall last is anyone’s guess, but for now the two Danforths are sequestered at Westminster and sharing their flat in London. It does make me smile to think of that—as if they were a pair of bachelors.

I shall arrive at Tubingen by rail just before Easter then. Skitt will accompany me. Yes, Skitt. Old Harrison can play the butler and see to Dover Sky’s needs. A maid from Ashton Park will come too. Do you remember Margaret? I hope I shall not put you out too much, but it is past time I saw the Teutonic side of the family (as your father calls you all).

God bless. I am counting the days.

Mum

Tubingen, Germany

“Ah! There you all are!” Lady Preston smiled as brightly as she could as she took first Catherine and then Libby into her arms on the platform at the train station. “My girls! How I have missed you!”

“And we you, Mother,” said Catherine, hugging her back.

“You are coming along quite nicely, I see,” Elizabeth said, looking at Catherine’s bulging abdomen.

Catherine rubbed her hand over her stomach. “I am. Plenty of kicks too.”

“Wonderful.”

“Hullo, Skitt,” said Catherine. “It’s been a few years, hasn’t it?”

He bowed his head as he held Lady Preston’s luggage. “You look well, m’lady.”

“Thank you. Do you remember Jane’s maid, Montgomery?”

A short slender woman with flashing black eyes dressed in a long, dark coat smiled at him. “Hullo, Skitt. How have things been at Dover Sky?”

“Never a dull moment, Lucy.”

“Please. No one uses that name. I like it when people call me Montgomery. I think it sounds very distinguished.”

“Montgomery it is then. This is Margaret, maid to Lady Preston.”

Montgomery extended her hand to the orange-haired young woman. “How do you do, Margaret?”

Margaret took the hand. “Very well, thanks, Miss Montgomery. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Lady Preston spotted Sean standing back a ways looking a bit awkward in his dark suit and tie. “Sean Albert Hartmann! How handsome you are! Come, give your grandmother from England a hug and a kiss, my dear!” Sean smiled and came forward, dutifully putting his arms around Lady Preston.

“
Willkommen
,” he greeted.

“Why, thank you.
Danke schön
, isn’t it?” She hugged him again. “You are getting so tall. What are they feeding you?”

“Schnitzel.” He grinned. “And beer.”

“Beer? I should hope not!” She looked over his shoulder at two tall girls. “And who do we have here?”

Jane stepped up and kissed Lady Preston on the cheek. “Hullo, Grandmother. It’s so nice to see you again. I hope your journey was pleasant.”

“Thank you.” Lady Preston put a hand on each of Jane’s shoulders and pecked her on the cheek. “Except for the waves in the Channel, everything was splendid. Who is this beautiful girl with you?”

“Grandmother Elizabeth, this is my very good friend, Eva.”

“Eva. Such a lovely name.”

“She is Baron von Isenburg’s daughter, Grandmother.”

“The baron’s? Of course! Eva, your father is an old and dear friend of the family. Come, let me give you a hug.” Eva dutifully let the older woman put her arms around her. Lady Preston held the girl at arm’s length after the hug and gazed at her. “Eva von Isenburg. How tall and
straight you are—as straight as your father. And how becoming your blonde hair and blue eyes are.”

“Thank you.”

“I must take you shopping. There are so many things I should like to buy the daughter of Baron von Isenburg.” She glanced at Jane. “And you too. I must take the pair of you Easter shopping tomorrow or the day after. What do you say to that?”

Jane smiled. “I’d like that, Grandmother Elizabeth.”

Eva nodded. “Jane and I know the best shops, Lady Preston. It would be a delight.”

“Oh no, no Lady Preston, Eva. Grandmother Elizabeth will do for you as well. All right?”

Eva bowed her head. Even under the dark tone of her skin everyone could see the blush spreading over her face. “As you wish. It is an honor.”

“I’m sorry, Libby.”

“For what?”

“She doesn’t mean anything by it. Mum is just set in her ways.”

“Is that what it is? Suppose she had snubbed Sean like that? Would you still be so forgiving?”

Catherine sighed and placed her hands on Libby’s shoulders from behind. “Perhaps not.”

Libby bit on her thumbnail and looked down through the window in her bedroom to the street rippling with cars and trucks and wagons. “Oh, Eva, how beautiful you are! Oh, Eva, how tall and straight you are! Oh, Eva, how I’d love to take you Easter shopping. Oh, Eva, you must call me Grandmother Elizabeth.”

“I know.”

“The old bat.”

“Hush.”

“I wish she would turn around and go back to England. I’d pay for the cab to the train station out of my own pocket.”

“I think she’s settling in for several weeks, Lib. She loves being with the baron.”

“And with your husband, the German prince.”

“Shh.”

“And with your son, and with the baron’s daughter, and even with Montgomery, Jane’s maid, for heaven’s sake. But Jane? Ah, well…Jane, you can come shopping with Eva and I…if you wish, Jane.”