He turned his attention to the condensation inching down the window. There was such sadness in Edward’s expression, and not just for the pheasant. Lou wanted to ask what troubled him, what had made him weep the other evening.

‘Sorry, I’m afraid I’m not much company.’ He eased his long, slim limbs up from the chair with the effort it would take a man three times his age. ‘The fog’s lifting. I think I’ll go for a walk.’

Remembering another lost boy, Lou said, ‘If you ever want to talk ... about anything, then I’m a good listener.’

‘Thank you, but I’m beyond talking. If you’ll excuse me.’

He opened the door to the outside and closed it behind him. Crossing the snow-covered garden, he shrugged his shoulders to his ears and wrapped his arms around his body, heading in the direction of the woods.

14

Following afternoon tea, Lou sat on the stairs, threading red ribbons around evergreens. Lady Mandeville had set her the task of making an arrangement for the mantelshelf in the hall. Along with the other women, she listened to Emma’s tale of a rebellious debutante in London.

‘It’s scandalous!’ Emma said as she tied one of her precious old baubles to a branch of the Christmas tree. ‘And do you know, her mother had her on the boat to her godmother in Switzerland before she could say “cow bell”!’

Charlotte collapsed in a fit of giggles, and Mrs Hart smiled as she draped a small parcel over a branch.

‘If Charlotte dares to behave in such a shameful way when she is presented next year, I will have no hesitation in sending her up to my sister in the Highlands,’ Lady Mandeville said. ‘She would have plenty of time there to reflect on the disgrace she had brought on her family.’

‘I shouldn’t worry, Mama,’ Charlotte said. ‘I may just save you the trouble and continue my education. Imagine how much money I could save Father. Three years at university is surely cheaper than a trousseau of new dresses.’

‘And much better value,’ Mrs Hart added.

Lady Mandeville threw her arms in the air. ‘Do you see what I have to stand, Emma? You were never this much trouble to Lady Caxton, were you? As I remember, you were always such a good girl.’

Obscured by the tree, Emma winked at Charlotte. ‘That’s right, Aunt. I was the very model of daughterly obedience.’ Lowering her voice so that only Charlotte – and Lou – could hear, she added, ‘But Mother could only keep her beady eye on me some of the time.’ She nudged Charlotte, and they both sniggered like two naughty schoolgirls at the back of the class.

Taking up another length of ribbon, Lou had just tied two stems of holly together when she became aware of someone watching her.

‘Fiddly job.’ Emma said, pointing to the ribbon and the holly. She had left the decorating party and now stood beside the stairs.