‘Well, as I have already told you, I have had one doctor from Harley Street come out to examine her,’ Barnaby replied, trying hard to keep his temper. His in-laws had done nothing but interfere and criticise since they had got there and he could hardly wait for them to leave, although they showed no signs of going as yet. Like his wife, they had shown little interest in their grandchildren, even though they would be the only ones they were ever likely to get, and he was fast losing patience with them. Robert had also pored over the books – it was as if he didn’t trust Barnaby to run the businesses properly, so it was no wonder that he was feeling annoyed. Still, he consoled himself, hopefully once the doctor had been and gone, they would leave too and then the house could return to some sort of normality.

He dabbed at his lips and pushing his chair back, rose from the table saying, ‘If you’ll excuse me, I usually go up to see the children after dinner. Would either of you care to accompany me?’

They both immediately shook their heads as though he had suggested they walk barefoot in the snow, and so with a sigh he left the room.

Upstairs in the nursery the atmosphere wasn’t much better. The nanny had come down with a cold and she looked flushed and ill.

‘I’m sorry, sir, but I think you’re going to have to get someone in to take over until I’m over this; I’m afraid of passing it on to the babies,’ she croaked when he entered.

Barnaby sucked in his breath, wondering if things could get much worse. They had recently dispensed with the services of the wet nurse as the babies were being weaned and could take milk from a bottle, which meant that the nanny was in sole charge of them.

His mind worked overtime as he wondered who he could get to temporarily take the woman’s place but then she dropped yet another bombshell when she admitted quietly, ‘To be honest, I’ve been finding two babies a little taxing so I’ve been thinking of going to retire and live with my sister in Gloucester. She is widowed like me and I think we would rub along very well together. Of course, I was going to give you time to find a replacement once I gave you notice, but now I’ve come down with this . . . Well, I may as well give you notice now.’