‘Let me fetch you a tray of tea,’ she suggested. ‘You could perhaps put a drop of brandy in it to soothe your nerves.’

Lydia stared at her scornfully. ‘Forget the tea but I will have the brandy. Fetch me the decanter and the glass now!’

Within an hour it was apparent that Mrs Pembroke was very drunk indeed and in the kitchen Cook shook her head. ‘It’s disgraceful behaviour,’ she said in disgust. ‘And she calls herself a lady. Huh!’

The rest of the staff nodded in agreement as they tried to carry on with their chores but it was very hard with the mistress raging about the place. Every now and again they heard a crash and they would glance at each other. It sounded as if she was smashing the house up, not that they much cared. Everything in the house was hers to smash after all, although they did feel sorry for the master.

‘There’ll be nowt left worth havin’ by the time he gets back if she carries on at this rate,’ Cook commented as she kneaded the dough on the table. But after an hour or so everything went quiet and they guessed that she had probably drunk herself into a stupor.

The following morning, Lydia summoned Bill to the drawing room. She was stone-cold sober by then and her eyes were as hard as marbles as he removed his cap and asked, ‘What can I do for you, ma’am?’

‘You can go up into the attics and bring me some trunks down,’ she told him coldly. ‘And you can tell Miss Wood to come and help Susie pack. I have decided to return to my parents after all. You can drive me and what luggage I am taking to the train station. My father will send for the rest of my things at a later date.’ She secretly very much doubted there would ever be any need for that. Oscar was sure to see sense when he got home and found her gone. He’d no doubt be on the first train to fetch her back with his tail between his legs for treating her so abominably, but it would serve him right as far as she was concerned.

‘Very well, ma’am.’ Bill left the room and soon returned with the first of the trunks and Miss Wood.

‘Just one more should do for now,’ Lydia told him, and when he had gone she pointed to the pile of gowns she had tossed carelessly onto the bed. ‘And you can start to pack those and any underwear and footwear you think I shall need. You can get out my green travelling suit too.’

‘As you wish,’ Miss Wood said calmly, as she started to help Susie do as she’d asked.

As she swept out of the room, Lydia was a little peeved that the woman didn’t plead with her to stay.