Janos shook his head. ‘Yes. I give to charity. But this would be different.’
His frown darkening, Laszlo began pacing the room. ‘Different?’ He gave a short laugh. ‘It would definitely be different. And disruptive—and intrusive. Have you really thought what it would be like to have a bunch of people wandering about in our home?’ Stopping in front of his grandfather, he stubbed the carpet with the toe of his shoe. ‘I just don’t understand why you would want to do this. And why now?’
He shot Prudence a questioning glance.
‘Is this something to do with you? What did you say to him?’
She stared at him, confused. ‘I—I don’t know—’ she stammered.
Reaching out, Janos patted the chair beside him. ‘Laszlo! Laszlo! Sit down. Prudence and I were talking about her life in England and she mentioned the Soane’s Museum. That’s all.’
Prudence watched as Laszlo allowed his grandfather to pull him into the chair.
Janos frowned. ‘I’m so sorry.’ He glanced at Prudence apologetically. ‘I should have waited until tomorrow. We’re probably too tired and emotional after the party to be having this sort of conversation.’ His voice trembled. ‘It was thoughtless of me. I suppose I’ve just had this idea buzzing around my head for so long now that I forgot it would be new and shocking to you.’ He sighed. ‘And I just wanted to share it with you both.’
Taking his grandfather’s hand, Laszlo squeezed it hard. He looked so young and troubled that Prudence turned away.
‘I’m sorry, Papi,’ she heard him say softly. ‘Of course I want to share your idea. I just wasn’t expecting it.’ He smiled weakly. ‘But I want to hear all about it. So—how will it all work?’
Janos smiled back at him. ‘It’s not going to happen overnight. Someone from the Museums Committee is coming over in a couple of weeks, to take a look at what we’ve got here, and then I think there will be a lot of long but necessary meetings. Quite possibly the castle will be ready for visitors by the end of next year.’
Laszlo nodded slowly. ‘And how will that work? I mean having visitors. You’re not expecting me to give guided tours or anything?’ He spoke lightly but his face had tightened.
Laughing, Janos shook his head. ‘No, Laszlo. You won’t be giving tours around the castle. We won’t have much to do with the visitors at all.’
Laszlo frowned. ‘Given that they’ll be wandering around our home, I think we will.’
There was a long, strained pause and then Janos coughed. ‘The castle won’t be our home when it’s a museum, Laszlo. By the time it opens to the public we’ll have moved out.’
‘Moved out?’ Laszlo said slowly. ‘Moved out of the castle?’ He shook his head. ‘Papi... What are you talking about? This is your home. Our home. It’s been in our family for hundreds of years!’
‘I know—and I love this castle. It’s been an enormous privilege to own such an incredible building. But, my darling boy, it’s not a home any more.’ He put his hands on his grandson’s shoulders and said roughly, ‘This castle is a museum in everything but name. And we both need to accept that and move on.’
For a moment the room hummed with a silence that was broken only by the spitting of the fire, and then finally Laszlo nodded.
‘I know,’ he said quietly. ‘I suppose it’s just that it’s taken me a long time to think of it as home and now—’ He cleared his throat. ‘But you’re right. It’s ridiculous, the two of us rattling around here like this.’ He managed a small smile. ‘Have you told Rosa yet?’
Shaking his head, Janos frowned. ‘Not yet. I wanted to speak to you first.’ He screwed up his face. ‘I must admit I’m a little worried about telling her.’
Laszlo pursed his lips. ‘She’ll be fine once she gets used to the idea.’ He smiled. ‘And as long as she gets to fuss around you she’ll be happy wherever she lives.’ Looking up at his grandfather, he hesitated. ‘Which sort of brings me to my next question... Where exactly are you planning on us living?’
Janos let out a breath. ‘That would rather depend on Prudence.’
Prudence felt her fingers curl painfully around her glass as both men turned to stare at her. ‘M-me? Why does it depend on me?’ she stammered.
‘Because I was rather hoping that after the cataloguing is complete you might consider staying on,’ Janos said gently. ‘That’s why I want you to be here now. So I can ask you if you would like to be the museum’s curator.’
Prudence stared at him speechlessly. Stay on? In Hungary? With Laszlo?
Finally, she found her voice. ‘I—I’m not... I don’t know what to say...’ she faltered.
Janos laughed. ‘Of course you don’t. How could you? Please don’t look so worried, Prudence. I’m not expecting you to give me an answer right now,’ he said hastily. ‘I’m just hoping you might think about it over the next few days. Or weeks. Take as long as you like.’
Heart pounding, Prudence gave a weak smile. ‘Thank you. And thank you for thinking of me,’ she said slowly.
Janos laughed. ‘My dear, I didn’t think of anyone else.’ He frowned. ‘I must confess before you came I was quite worried about how everything would work. You know—having a stranger in our home. But you coming here has been a blessing.’ He glanced across to Laszlo, his lined face creasing into a smile. ‘And you’re part of our family now—isn’t she, Laszlo?’
Almost intoxicated by hope and longing, Prudence glanced across at Laszlo—and her bubbling happiness began to ebb away. For, meeting his gaze, she saw from his face that he shared none of her pleasure or excitement.