Mrs Hart turned to Lou and smiled. ‘I have been an aunt for so long that I seem to slip naturally into the role of confessor and comforter. An aunt should never judge, but always love and try to understand her nieces and nephews.’

They walked in comfortable silence for a while until Lou, remembering the earlier gathering, said, ‘I saw Sally at the church. She was with a little boy.’

‘Sally? Oh, you mean Morrison. That would have been Albert. He’s an adorable little creature, isn’t he?’

‘Is he her brother?’

‘Why, no.’ Mrs Hart’s laugh rang around the frozen landscape. ‘Albert is Morrison’s son.’

‘Her son!’

‘It is unconventional, I know, to have a mother as an employee, but one thing you should know about my brother’s family, Louisa, is that they have a sentimental streak as wide as the Atlantic.’

‘Sally isn’t married?’

Mrs Hart laughed again. ‘Oh, my dear, they are sentimental, not revolutionaries. Morrison is married to William, my brother’s footman.’

Lou put two and two together. Bingo! So, that was Sally’s situation; she had been allowed to marry and keep her job. ‘I had no idea.’

‘And why ever would you? Charlotte could tell you their story better than I, but as I understand it, the Morrisons both entered my brother’s service as young people. They fought to hide their feelings for each other – neither of them could afford to lose their good positions – but it’s impossible to keep such things secret for long. Love will always find its way in the end. And when Lady Mandeville became aware of the relationship, rather than have them dismissed, she convinced my brother to allow them to marry. Sir Charles is not foolish. He understands the benefits of keeping good staff. And he has indeed been proven correct. The Morrisons are a content little family, living down in one of the workers’ cottages by the church.’

‘But that’s so … so …’ Lou searched for the right word.

‘Modern,’ Mrs Hart said. ‘Indeed, it is. My brother may not be able to exhibit his liberalism in his professional life, but he can at least exercise it for the benefit of his household.’ She leant in closer to Lou, as though sharing a confidence. ‘Anyone with sense can see that these are changing times, Louisa. People like us can no longer expect those in our employ to deny themselves the freedoms we enjoy ourselves.’

People like us. Did Mrs Hart think she was one of them? She was doing a good job of fooling everyone.

They arrived at the house as Lady Mandeville stepped from her car. Somehow, the staff had made it back before them and had even managed to change their clothes. William held the front door open. Lou fell into place beside Mrs Hart to go inside when a noise like the buzz of a bee in the distance made Lady Mandeville spin around.

‘He wouldn’t,’ Lady Mandeville said, straining to see down the drive, a look of alarm crossing her features. ‘He knows my feelings on that contraption.’