Well we did go to Chatsworth.
After a 50 mile roof-down drive in 80 degree sunshine through some of the most majestic countryside, we arrived in a valley that had been designed, manicured and beautified in the 1680s. 16 generations of the Cavendish family (the Dukes of Devonshire) have made it their life's work to enhance the architecture, artefacts and scenery.
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In 1985 I had been leading a fund-raising campaign for a charity of which the late Duke of Devonshire was patron. To my surprise, he responded by my invitation to accept the cheque, not only with a hand-written acceptance, but an invitation to Chatsworth to discuss the arrangements. It was an unusual experience to pass the public car park and be usherd to the private entrance. The Duke himself was business-like and affable, but the highlight for me was when his wife dropped in, made some expletive comment about an errant gardener and lit up the room with a smile. She muttered something about dragging dirt into the room on her wellington boots, then thrust out a hand and said something like "Hello. Debo. Not Debbie, and
never Debs."
Afterwards, a little research told me that Deborah Devonshire was born Deborah Mitford - a close friend of JFK (his sister 'Kick' is buried near Chatsworth), and one of the famous/infamous Mitford sisters.
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So 25 years later we trundled through the lusciously furnished rooms and the perfectly manicured grounds. My gurly had a paddle in the water staircase and cooled off under the willow tree fountain (A weirdly engineered replica of a willow tree that has spouted water from its branches since it was installed in 1696). As we passed through the souvenir shop, I recognised an elegant old lady wandering anonymously between the milling tourists. I walked to a table containing books of anecdotes and musings by the dowager duchess. Picking one up, I asked the lady if she would sign a copy for me. She smiled, drew a fountain pen from her purse and signed the flyleaf.
***** didn't recognise me
Still, I now have a signed Mitford book
(Eat it, Samira!)