But the new Earl did not see them.
"Nothing whatsoever to do with you," snapped the new Earl.
Blood flecked the iron grey of the old man's beard and he smiled at the new Earl.
The new Earl also inherited a 2.25 million bill for death duties as well as 80,000 a year running costs.
And a new Earl - a child not two years.
The new Earl once described his childhood memory of the house as being a dark, gloomy place.
After falling into ruin it was rebuilt by the new Earl of the hundred in 1352.
Clearly, the new Earl has not visited his wife's bedroom for a long time.
The new Earl eventually received £123,000 (£4.7 million in today's terms) compensation for the damage to the family seat, which remains a ruin.
After all we're already on excellent terms with the new Earl of Hanth.