Could Cook have known it, at that very minute, Mr Pembroke was standing outside his wife’s bedroom door plucking up the courage to do just that. He had no doubt she would hit the roof but it had to be done, so after taking a deep breath he tapped on the door and strode into the room.

He found Lydia still in her peignoir having just eaten every single thing on her breakfast tray. He stifled a smirk. It seemed that no matter the upset, nothing made his wife lose her appetite – unlike himself who had been unable to even face a cup of tea this morning.

‘Oh, Oscar!’ She gave him a simpering smile. ‘Are you in a happier mood this morning, darling?’

‘Not particularly,’ he informed her shortly as he crossed to the window to stare down into the street below with his arms folded behind his back.

‘Why? Is the girl worse?’

‘No, she isn’t, and she has a name. It’s Ruby.’

Lydia twisted her pudgy fingers together, the gemstones on them sending rainbows of colour about the room as the early morning sunshine peeped through the curtains and reflected in them.

He turned back to face her. ‘But unfortunately, another problem has been highlighted.’

When she raised a finely plucked eyebrow, he went on, ‘While the doctor was examining her, he discovered that Ruby is . . . is going to have a baby.’

‘What!’ Lydia’s eyes were bulging out of her head and angry colour seeped into her cheeks. ‘Why, the dirty little slut! Didn’t I try to tell you she was trouble? And you are prepared to send our daughter away for chastising a little trollop like that! I want her out! Do you hear me? I won’t have her bring shame on our home.’

‘Oh shut up, Lydia,’ he snapped, his patience stretched to the limit, and she was so shocked at being spoken to in such a way that for now she did as she was told.

‘I’m fairly sure that there’s more to this than meets the eye,’ Oscar went on. ‘The staff all assure me that Ruby is an innocent. Let’s face it, she’s little more than a child herself.’

‘Even so, think of the gossip it will cause if it gets out,’ she answered, finding her voice again. ‘Why, I couldn’t bear the shame of it.’

‘I’m afraid you have no choice till her leg is mended, at least,’ he told her, his eyes flashing. ‘Think of the gossip if it gets out what our daughter has done to her!’

Lydia looked distraught. She hadn’t thought of that; she had high hopes for Miranda making a good marriage one day and this could affect it if word got out. ‘But you’re surely not meaning to go through with your threat to send Miranda away?’ She was standing now and walking up and down like a caged animal.