After letting Sally dress her, Lou waited for her to leave before slumping into the chair beside the hearth. She took up a brass poker and prodded the fire, jabbing at a lump of coal. It cracked and spat a shower of sparks up the chimney. She had behaved so foolishly and in front of Mrs Hart. She had let her guard down and revealed a stupid crush on Tom. It was hardly a surprise. He was handsome, kind, funny, and she wasn’t made of stone. Who was she trying to fool? Herself or this house? Whoever it was, she was doing a terrible job of it.

Outside the dining room, Lou paused to ready herself. She entered and was surprised to find Edward sitting alone.

‘Good morning, Miss Arnold,’ he said, looking up from his newspaper. ‘Are you feeling better this morning?’

‘Yes, thank you.’ She took the chair opposite him.

‘Aunt Leonora said you had been taken ill. You didn’t miss much last night. Same old faces, same old conversations. Apart from this.’ He tapped his newspaper. ‘The political situation in Europe made for some jolly heated debate over the port and cigars. Would you like me to call for some breakfast? The staff were in a rush to clear away to get on with preparations for this evening. Shall I ring for some bacon, or kidneys, perhaps?’

‘Thank you, but this is all I need.’ Lou poured a cup of tea. How easily Edward moved from the subject of impending war to breakfast. If he knew what was coming in less than a year, he would not find it so easy to speak of war and offal in the same breath.

He folded the newspaper and pushed it aside. ‘If you’re looking for Mother, she’s squirreled away in the ballroom with Mrs Moriarty, preparing for the big reveal this evening. The other women have gone into town to buy her a gift. It’s meant to be a surprise, to thank her for her troubles. Not much of a surprise when they do it every year. The men have ridden out to Caxton Hall – another annual tradition.’

At least she wouldn’t have to face Tom. Not yet, anyway. ‘You didn’t want to go with them?’

‘And miss the chance of a spot of peace and quiet before the onslaught of this evening?’

Lou sipped her tea. She might not get another chance to talk to Edward alone again. And while she may not have come up with a way to deal with George yet, she couldn’t miss the opportunity to try and help the Mandevilles in any way possible. Preparing her words carefully, she said, ‘I overheard Lord Caxton compliment you on your achievements yesterday. I was surprised since you said you didn’t care for shooting.’

Edward made a spider of his hand and placed it over the newspaper. Moving it from side to side, he said, ‘You must think me a terrible hypocrite. I suppose I am. But even I know that sometimes it makes sense to conform. In any case, I split my haul between the beaters so at least half a dozen families will eat handsomely this Christmas. Those birds did not give up their lives in vain.’