‘Oh, that won’t be a problem,’ he assured her. ‘I’m just off to find a hotel to stay in, so I’ll be close at hand.’

Alice looked slightly uncomfortable. He had put himself out to bring them after all, and it seemed churlish not to ask him to stay there.

‘We, er . . . do have a spare room, if you’d like to stay here,’ she said tentatively.

Barnaby frowned. ‘I wouldn’t wish to put you to any trouble.’

‘It wouldn’t be,’ she assured him. ‘And I’m sure you’d like to see Charlotte all dressed up tomorrow.’

He wavered. ‘Well . . . yes, I would, actually, if you’re quite sure. But what about my horse?’

‘There’s a farrier in the next road that would stable him for a small fee.’

‘In that case, I’d be very grateful to accept your kind invitation.’ He tipped his hat again and after hopping back into the driver’s seat he set off to get the horse settled, leaving Alice to go back inside and tell Amber what she’d done.

‘What did you have to go an’ do that for?’ Amber snapped.

‘Because it would have been bad manners not to invite him to stay after he’s brought you all this way!’ Alice retorted. ‘And he thinks the world o’ Charlotte an’ seems to me he’s doin’ his best to make up for the way he treated you.’

Amber scowled as she glanced across at her uncle and his wife-to-be who were making a great fuss of Charlotte. It was clear they were delighted to see her again. ‘Then I dare say I’ll have to make the best of it,’ she said sulkily.

At dinner that evening Barnaby got on famously with her uncle as they discussed politics and world events in general, so after the meal, while the women saw to the washing-up, the men settled in Uncle Jeremiah’s study with a glass of port and a cigar.

Once the washing-up was finished, Alice and Martha took Amber upstairs to see the outfit they had bought for her.

‘Your mother chose it,’ Martha said nervously as Amber stared at the beautiful pale-green taffeta gown hanging on the wardrobe in her room. ‘I do hope you like it and that it fits because we won’t have time to change it now.’