“Ah.” James coughed, summoning his wits in readiness to tell the story. “You gave me the letter and I took it for posting.” Philomena waited, but the footman appeared to have come to a halt.

She saw he could not continue without encouragement. “That’s right.” Her voice was level, like the one she used with John.

“Ah,” James said again.

Philomena wondered if he would ever get to the point. She nodded, helpfully.

“It had your uncle’s address on it,” James continued with a rush, beaming at the progress of the story.

Philomena nodded again, fearful of interrupting the sudden flow.

“I gave it to that old friend of yours who came yesterday while you were away.” James delivered the blow with a smile, quite unaware of its devastating effect on Philomena.

“My friend?” she gasped. “Here?”

James nodded. “Short little fellow, said he was a friend of yours. Can’t recall the name. Jacob, was it? Joshua? Something of that nature?”

“Joseph?”

“That was it.” James slapped the table with the palm of his hand, triumphant. “Joseph, that was the name, by Jove. Said he’d come to visit you.”

James leaned towards Philomena and winked. “But I had his measure. You never mentioned no friend, and so when he asked if you was here, I thought to myself, James, I thought, don’t you go giving Miss Philomena away. Maybe she don’t like this chap. Weaselly kind of fellow, he was. Not good enough for our Miss Philomena. So I said as how you’d already gone west.” James beamed.

Philomena reached up on tiptoe and threw her arms around him, weak with relief. “James, you are an absolute treasure. Tell me again.”

Slowly, pausing now and then to make sure he got it right, James told the full story. Joseph had appeared at the kitchen door asking for Philomena by name and had given a good description. He asked James where she was and James, thinking astonishingly fast, pretended she had left the Hall. Philomena was astonished at the footman’s display of quick wits. She was tempted to kiss his cheek. With one masterstroke, he had safeguarded her deception and sent Joseph off on a wild goose chase.

Philomena ran her hand affectionately along the old stone of the kitchen wall, as the pounding of her heart slowly died down. How ridiculous she had been to worry. All the danger of discovery had passed, thanks to James. She could stay here.

Today she had a rare afternoon to herself. The Dowager and Selena wished to take John to visit some of their acquaintance. Daisy, the housemaid, had a sister in service with that family and had asked to accompany him.

Ivy, the scullery maid, brought the nursery tea up on a tray. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and her hand shook, rattling the cups as she set down the tray. What could be the matter with the girl?