The Secret Generations Read Free Page B

had gone through his baptism of fire, first at a preparatory school, and finally within the disciplined life of Wellington College – the family school.
    John ’s life was politics, and from the year after Beatrice’s death he had been Member of Parliament for Central Berkshire, unusually hard-working for a politician, devoted to his country, with a vain ambition to attain Cabinet rank, or more.
    Unlike his brother Charles, John had never been thought of as much of a ladies ’ man. It was, therefore, with a sense almost of shock that the family had heard, just under three years before, that John William Arthur Railton MP had announced his engagement to Miss Sara Champney-Owen – a girl twenty-five years his junior. Within a year they were married, and, since then, John had seen more of London society life than ever before.
    Whatever was thought privately of Sara, she appeared to care deeply for John, and made such a hit with the true powers within the government that her husband ’s career stood every chance of distinct advancement.
    But now with The General dead, the prospect of John Railton being able to continue in politics at all hung in the balance – and that was a matter of property and duty.
    Apart from several small financial bequests, and an important two thousand pounds a year to Charles, the basis of The General ’s Last Will and Testament lay in the whole question of family property.
    Because of their position, the Railton family had, over the years, amassed both wealth and lands. By 1910, as well as Redhill Manor, with its estates, home farm, and a large income from rents in the town of Haversage itself, the family owned four further properties in London: the excellent house in Cheyne Walk, in which John lived with his bride; the house just off South Audley Street, comfortable enough for Charles, Mildred and Mary Anne; and a tall, terraced home in King Street, where Andrew lived with his family during the periods of his service in the Royal Navy when he was in England.
    The Eccleston Square house – the finest of all – had been designated as a family property until Giles’, and The General’s, father had bequeathed it, for all time, to Giles, with the proviso that it should not be sold, or passed out of the family.
    Now, The General had obviously considered it was time to leave the various London properties to individual members of the family. The King Street house was to go to John ’s son, James, when he came of age, or was married; South Audley Street was left to Andrew; Charles was to have Cheyne Walk, while John Railton became the principal beneficiary, receiving Redhill Manor, the farm and estate, together with all existing moneys and revenues, which meant a considerable income from the people of Haversage and the surrounding district.
    Nobody had to be over-a stute to see the dilemma presented by what, to most people, would be an incredible boon.
    Redhill Manor was a full-time occupation, its owner being required to remain in residence for at least six months of the year. John was a professional politician – at this very moment engaged in fighting the general election, called by Prime Minister Asquith just before Christmas. Could he, in all conscience, now continue in politics and run the Manor? It would all depend on Sara.
    *
    During the late afternoon on the day following the death of The General, Giles Railton spent an hour, in The General’s study, explaining the will to the dead man’s sons, John and Charles.
    Charles was gleeful, for the bequest gave him a freedom he had long sought. But John Railton MP climbed the great staircase, which curved to the round gallery overlooking the main hall, with his mind in torment.
    The fact of his inheritance came as no surprise. Yet he was confused, being a busy and dedicated man, engrossed in two things only – his vocation and Sara. Now his mind centred on how best to soften what would undoubtedly be twin blows to his young wife.
    They were