‘What did yer say?’ Mrs Turner snapped, rounding on him. ‘Shut yer gob right now, mister, or I’ll make sure yer don’t work here after today.’

He laughed at her, and then glanced at Emma eating with Blackie. ‘She should be working, not stuffing her gob—’

‘Murgatroyd, I give you one second to shut up. And leave my domain. And I warn yer, if yer attempt ter make any trouble I will go ter the Squire. I’ve worked here for thirty years, since I was a girl, and Squire Fairley listens ter me. And he’ll take my advice. Understood? So don’t try ter play top dog with me. It won’t get yer anywhere except outside on yer backside.’

Swinging around, Murgatroyd stomped out, banging the kitchen door behind him so hard the copper pots on the rail rattled.

‘Good riddance ter bad rubbish,’ Mrs Turner said, and took the pie out of the oven. As she carried it over to the big table, she remembered Kip. She hadn’t seen the boot boy for quite a while. Now where was he?

Looking over at Blackie, she said, ‘Can yer nip downstairs ter the top basement? I haven’t seen young Kip for a bit. He must be hungry by now. Bring him to the kitchen, please?’

‘Right away,’ Blackie answered and jumped up. ‘Back in a minute, Cook.’

Emma said, ‘Kip’s such a nice little boy, but why doesn’t he live with Delphinium all the time?’

‘She teaches at the little kindergarten in the village, and she also does a lot of sewing for the ladies in this area. Busy she is. But she has him at weekends.’ Dropping her voice, Cook said, ‘And the Squire gives him money for cleaning all the riding boots and shoes. Right kind, that’s Adam Fairley. Allus helping others less privileged.’

‘I see,’ Emma murmured, her voice flat, and then smiled warmly at Kip as he walked in holding Blackie’s hand. The blond boy grinned at her; they liked each other.

‘There yer are, Kip. Whyever didn’t yer come up ter eat something before, my lad?’ Cook asked, her voice warm.

‘I wanted ter finish the boots. And I just have. And here I am,’ Kip answered.

Mrs Turner laughed, and said, ‘Go to the sink and wash yer hands. Then come and sit by me. I’ve got a big bowl of soup on the ready for yer.’

‘Thank yer, Cook,’ Kip said and ran over to the sink.

Blackie leaned closer to Cook, and asked, ‘What happened to his parents, his family?’

‘His father was in the army and was killed in the Boer War. His mother died, a while ago, of rheumatic fever. Young she was, too. No brothers or sisters, no grandparents, so I took him in. He lives with me daughter at weekends.’

‘And he’s here during the week? In the servants’ quarters, I suppose.’