Nanny Diaries 3 - Pride and Prejudice

The Dinner From Hell

"However, I thought it would be nice to get together on neutral territory, as it were." Richard Ellesmere continued, addressing the room as if he was the host, rather than Colin Hughes. I did not know him of course, other than by his reputation. I had seen him at church, visited his home and met his wife and daughter, but I had never heard him speak before. He was a tall man, with a cut glass accent, impossibly black hair and a slightly crooked nose. I would have put him in his forties, probably his late forties, and he seemed to be a very cultured man, with manicured fingernails, a close shave and an air of authority. I was used to strong, smart men, because my father was a reasonably successful corporate executive, and Colin Hughes was a big noise in the City of London with his bank, but there was something about Richard Ellesmere that was on another level. He seemed imperious. "Not that anyone around this table has really taken sides, as it were...it has been more of a moral dilemma for some...but I think it is safe to say that there are those who have found our return to a more traditional doctrinal approach within the community a real struggle at times. But we are now in full agreement, I believe...and so I wanted to get everyone together around one friendly table and celebrate the future...therefore a toast...to the glory of God and the success of the new Deepdene!"

"God and Deepdene." Everyone responded, including me, all raising our glasses. All of the gentlemen had wine, as did Edwina, I noticed, but the rest of us had apple juice. I found that a little surprising too. I had not been allowed to drink alcohol, or coffee, since my maidenhood started, although I was never a big drinker and did not miss it, but Helen certainly liked a glass of wine with dinner, and I had seen Sheila partake of the odd glass as well, but none of us were given the choice. Formal, as Papa had said, of course. Formal and traditional.

"And I should also personally congratulate Colin on his promotion to the main board of the bank...a thoroughly deserved elevation that will see us working so much closer together in the coming years...to Colin!" Richard Ellesmere continued, announcing some more astonishing news, although on the face of it, I took it as good news. Papa was not sure of his position with the bank, after Nicola blackened the family name and pressure was put on him to take positive action and move his family back to Meadvale. Pressure which I now assumed had largely come from Ellesmere. And ever since dear Karen had been transformed into Camilla, and we were expected to look after her, Colin had seemed increasingly uncomfortable. He did not seem to like Richard Ellesmere, and certainly did not agree with his severe, fundamentalist, traditional interpretation of the doctrine. He was certainly a Reformist, and I knew that whilst he had been coerced into moving back to Meadvale, both by his family and the bank, he had reconciled to the decision and thought that his family were better off in the community. But he was not any sort of conservative, by Meadvale standards at any rate, and he did not much like the ongoing purge. And yet, despite his concerns, and he had been genuinely concerned about his future at the bank, he was suddenly being promoted to the main board.

"To Colin." Everyone except me said, as I said Papa.

"It's very good news, Colin...and richly deserved, I am sure." My real father said, speaking to my guardian, with whom he was on decidedly friendly terms. It was a strange situation, of course. Having Mama and Papa and my birth parents so close at hand, I mean, but it all seemed to work quite well as far as they were concerned. And for the first time, I realised that dad was very well in with his new peers. Obviously, as a maiden, I did not spend much time with any of the gentlemen. In fact, I only really saw Papa at dinner, as he commuted to London during the week, and I only saw my father at weekends, whereas I saw mum most days. I knew she was deliriously happy in Meadvale, making new friends all over the village and also getting heavily involved with the church and the community in general, but I was not aware that dad had been making such strong links with such important men. He was sitting near Mr Ellesmere and they were clearly on friendly terms.