Page 15 of Fangs, Frost, and Folios
“Indeed.” Giovanni smiled. “Yes, that was Penny. She loved having a full house for a party.”
Nick’s smile was bemused. “It’s so odd to speak with someone my age who knew Penny. Most of her friends were much older.”
Giovanni often forgot that while he was over five hundred years old, he appeared to be no more than a man in his early thirties. “I was fortunate to know Lady Penelope through a dear friend who was her contemporary. He was often a guest at her home in Kent when they were young people. I’ve enjoyed many of his stories.”
Nick stood and walked to the massive range that dominated one wall. “When I was younger, you know, I used to sneak in here for cakes. The cook who worked here when I was young was a soft touch, and she always made extra when the children visited.”
“They never had children of their own,” Giovanni said. “But they clearly enjoyed your company.”
“I think they did want children, but I know Great-Uncle Mort was quite a bit older when they married. And of course he’d been in the war. That may have been a factor.” Nick shrugged. “I was closer to Aunt Penny than I was to my grandmothers to be honest. She had a marvelous sense of humor. A passion for the arts. She was always interested in what we had to say even when we were very young.”
“An ideal aunt.”
“I couldn’t imagine one better.”
“How old were you when she started telling you rude vicar jokes?”
Nick broke into a smile. “Dear Lord, maybe eleven or twelve? She had a million of them, didn’t she? What’s worse than the First World War?”
“The vicar’s garden party,” Giovanni said.
Nick laughed. “Not the most devout woman, was she?”
“I imagine the Almighty is enjoying her vicar jokes in person right now.” Giovanni sat at the kitchen table and pictured Penny’s bright smile. “She was a light.”
“She was. And according to my uncle, the best thing that ever happened to this place. The Mortimers are all a bit crusty as a family, aren’t we? Not a very good history all in all. Lots of empire building and political machinations.” Nick grimaced. “It will be good to put all that money to good use.”
Giovanni perked up. “Do you have a cause of some kind you’re supporting?”
“Oh right! I didn’t tell you.” Nick turned with the kettle and poured boiling water into two large mugs. “Elise and I—Elise Lambert, my fiancée—have a music school planned. Combine my interests and my aunt’s.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. I’m glad your fiancée is supportive. That’s very important in a marriage.”
“She’s a wonderful girl.” The man’s cheeks turned a little rosy. “I’m a lucky man.”
“I’m sure she feels the same.”
“Ah… about the school though. I’m hoping that we can focus on areas of the county where music lessons and education might be a luxury that some families can’t afford.” He dunked tea bags in the mugs. “I think music is a universal right, don’t you? It can lift anyone from any situation. Even if they’re only listening to music, if they love it, it’s…”
“Transporting.” Giovanni nodded. “I do know what you mean.” He remembered his own childhood. He would often run to church when the choir began to sing. The sound of the mass being sung was the sound of heaven to his childhood ears. “A music school is a wonderful idea, Nick. Your Aunt Penny would be proud.”
“Uncle Mort was a fan of the idea too.” Nick raised his mug. “He wasn’t a musician, but he was a big supporter of education. I believe there’s even a school in Pakistan named after him or something like that. He gave quite a large amount to a community there to modernize their facilities.”
“Is that so?” Giovanni kept his face carefully blank.
Pakistan.
The Khyber Pass was in northern Pakistan.
Lord Mortimer absconded with it in some very English expedition over the Khyber Pass just prior to Partition.
“Oh yes. He was quite selfless about it too. I don’t know that he ever visited, though the head of school sent him updates every term.”
“Your uncle,” Giovanni began, “did he spend time in Pakistan?”
Nick nodded. “After the war. Some geological expedition, I believe. Something to do with the roads. He was a cartographer as a hobby. So many men of his station had hobbies like that in those years.” Nick sipped his tea. “He and my father were quite at odds about it, as a matter of fact. My mother was certain I was wasting my time studying education, but Penny and Mort approved. They said I wouldn’t need the money, but I’d turn into a useless fool if I didn’t have a focus in life.”
“They sound like exceptional people.”
