‘Is Papa not joining us for breakfast?’ Abigail asked the next morning as she helped herself to another slice of bacon from the covered silver salvers on the sideboard in the dining room.

‘I have no idea.’ Emmy glanced towards the door. It was usual for her mother to take breakfast in bed but it was very rare that her father didn’t eat with them. ‘Perhaps he had to be in work early?’

‘Mmm.’ Abigail bit into a thick juicy sausage with relish. ‘Well, I intend to make a complete pig of myself until I have to go back to school after Easter. As you will remember, the food there is so unappetising.’ She sighed dramatically. ‘In fact, it’s a wonder I haven’t already wasted away.’

Emmy laughed and they enjoyed the rest of their breakfast in companionable silence.

Later that morning their mother ordered the carriage and went visiting friends, leaving the two girls to their own devices.

Emmy opted to go for a long walk in the countryside that surrounded their beautiful home while Abigail chose to stay in and read a book.

When their mother returned, they all gathered in the dining room for lunch and they were just finishing it when Hetty appeared. ‘Mr Pembroke is here asking to see the master, ma’am. What shall I tell him?’

Dorcas rose from the table. ‘But my husband should be at the works,’ she said with a frown. ‘Show him into the drawing room.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Hetty bobbed her knee and rushed off to do as she was told, while Dorcas swept after her.

She found Mr Pembroke, the bookkeeper at the brickworks, standing in front of the marble fireplace she had had shipped from France, nervously rolling the brim of his hat around.

‘Mr Pembroke. I’m a little confused. Hetty tells me that you wish to see my husband but I believed he was already at the works?’

He shook his head, his face grave. ‘He hasn’t been there at all today, ma’am,’ he answered respectfully. ‘And I don’t know what to do. He promised me that he would give me the money to pay the suppliers this morning and I’m afraid they are not prepared to wait any longer. Without fresh supplies I shall have no choice but to shut the business down until the outstanding debts are settled.’

‘Outstanding debts?’ Dorcas looked horrified. ‘What are you talking about, man? Ours is a thriving business!’

‘It was a thriving business,’ he gulped. ‘But I’m afraid it hasn’t been classed as such for some time now and people are baying for the money they are owed.’

Dorcas tutted with annoyance. This man clearly didn’t know what he was talking about. And where was Gerald? Blast the man.

‘Tell me how much you need and I shall go to the bank and get the money for you immediately,’ she told him imperiously.