Page 156 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
Now there was a name I hadn’t heard for a long time. But I had not forgotten the poor woman’s difficult circumstances. ‘I do indeed. She was a Land Girl.’
Rupert looked pleased. ‘Perfectly correct, old sport.’
I took a moment to sip some tea and recall her in my mind. ‘As a matter of fact, Tessie was pretty friendly with Elle.’
Rupert nodded sagely. ‘I thought that may have been the case.’ He inhaled deeply. ‘Now, prepare yourself. I’m in possession of a bit of a Vaughan family bombshell here. Basically, there’s no delicate way to put this, but—’
‘Tessie fell pregnant with Teddy’s baby, and was paid offby Flora,’ I replied, coldly defusing his bombshell. Rupert looked a little crestfallen.
‘Righto, so it was common knowledge amongst the staff...’ I gave a small laugh at his indignant response. He looked mortified. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you...’
I put a hand up to reassure him. ‘You didn’t at all,’ I replied honestly. ‘In answer to your question, yes, it was, I’m afraid. We all knew. Tessie hardly kept it a secret.’
Rupert put his head in his hands and managed a chuckle. ‘Dear, dear. That Teddy, eh? What a wild soul.’ He regathered his thoughts. ‘To bring you up to date, Tessie died five years ago now, in 1975.’
‘I’m sorry to learn that. Do you know if she went on to birth Teddy’s child?’
‘She did indeed. Her name is Patricia Brown.’
‘Brown?’
‘The surname of her eventual husband. Also now deceased.’
‘I see.’ It was a little difficult to keep up, but I was doing my best.
‘Now, to be absolutely clear, I knew nothing of the situation I am describing until the last few weeks. Apparently, Louise was fairly clued up on it all, but never thought to tell me, as it was Tessie’s private business.’
I smiled at Louise’s loyalty. Her mother would be proud. ‘Why are you telling me all this, Rupert?’
He looked around the empty bookshop, as if to check for any unwelcome ears. I do not doubt that this was a habit he had picked up from his years of service. ‘A few days ago now, I received a telephone call from Buckingham Palace.’
‘Buckingham Palace? As in the British royal family?’ I asked, stunned.
Rupert looked satisfied at my response. ‘Correct... although it was not Her Majesty herself making the call! Itwas a member of the royal intelligence team.’ He paused for a moment, and it was difficult not to attribute it to dramatic effect. ‘Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have a little piece of news of which I dare say you werenotaware.’
I was on tenterhooks. ‘And what is that?’
‘Louise’s mother, Lady Flora Vaughan – née MacNichol – was the lovechild of King Edward VII.’
To be fair to Rupert, his dramatic pause had been earned. I shook my head in disbelief. ‘What on earth?’
Rupert grinned widely. He was enjoying this. ‘I know. It’s the truth, so I am assured.’
I gave a shocked guffaw. ‘How incredible. Did Louise knowthatpart of the story?’
‘Most emphatically not, dear chap, and it must remain that way.’ Rupert suddenly looked stern.
‘Shestilldoesn’t know?’
‘No. As a member of the British intelligence family, I am trusted, nayduty-bound, to keep such sensitive information to myself, as the palace are aware.’
I put my arms out and looked around the bookshop. ‘Well, Rupert, it’s a good job I’m not working for the Soviets then, isn’t it? Considering you haven’t even shared this information with your wife, why on earth are you telling me?’
‘I’ll get to that in a minute.’ He took a moment to formulate his next sentence. ‘If you are the direct descendant of a British monarch, it transpires that the royal family... keep tabs on things.’ He shuffled awkwardly in his chair. ‘To, you know, avoid anyembarrassmentdown the line which might...’
‘Damage the brand?’ I suggested.
‘That’s right,’ Rupert confirmed. ‘To that end, the palace have followed the MacNichol dynasty with interest. And so, they observed Tessie Smith, who by all accounts led a quiet and largely uninteresting life.’
