The doctor inclined his head and once he had left, Mrs Petty hurried upstairs to check on Miss Wood who was still sitting beside Ruby’s bed.

‘You’d best go an’ tell the master what’s happened,’ she suggested.

Miss Wood went to do as she was told and when she found Oscar in his office, she was shocked to see that he seemed to have aged overnight and his face was grey.

‘Ah, Serena.’ He wearily ran his hand through his hair. ‘How is she?’

‘She’s lost the baby,’ she told him. ‘It transpires that the child was her adopted father’s. He raped her.’

He momentarily closed his eyes and shuddered. ‘Then perhaps it’s for the best,’ he said quietly. ‘She’s so very young . . . it’s so sad. Oh, and I should tell you, Lydia wants you to go and help her pack. She is returning to her parents’ home later today. For good . . .’

‘I’m so sorry, sir.’

He smiled ruefully. ‘Don’t be. I’m sure I have no need to tell you that we have lived separate lives for a very long time. I think Lydia will be happier back with her parents.’

‘And Miss Miranda?’

‘She will be staying here until I can escort her to France where she will be schooled until she is eighteen,’ he informed her. ‘You may as well tell the staff what’s happening. They’ll find out soon enough anyway. But tell them not to worry. Their positions are secure and everything will go on as before.’

‘But what will happen to Ruby when she recovers?’ she questioned. ‘She will no longer have a job to do if Miranda isn’t here.’

‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, shall we? Let’s just concentrate on getting her well again first.’

Seeing that the poor man looked at the end of his tether, she quickly left the room, closing the door softly behind her. It had certainly been a very eventful couple of days one way or another, she thought as she hurried towards her mistress’s room.

Pushing open the door, she found Mrs Pembroke pacing the room. The woman glanced up hopefully as she entered and then promptly burst into tears. She had clearly expected it to be her husband coming to apologise.

‘Oh . . . it’s you, Miss Wood. Have you seen my husband?’

‘Yes, ma’am. I believe he is in his study. He asked me to come and assist Susie with your packing.’