‘The child by rights would live with me following our separation, as I am sure you are aware. You must be thankful that I will let him go with you. Now, let us go about our day and speak again when we have had the time to reflect. Decisions will need to be made.’

‘And what good will that do?’ said Alice, her blood now up. ‘It is clear that nothing will make you alter your course. When you propose that we each reflect, what you mean is that I must be quiet. You intend to ruin me and, not incidentally, the reputation of Dr Nolan, who is entirely blameless.’

Alice recalled the doctor’s letter and was greatly relieved, now, by the intelligence it brought. At least he was assured of a fresh beginning overseas.

‘You say you did not wish to visit this upon your late father, but you show no such compunction, it seems, on bringing it upon your little son. How will it be for him, to have had his mother’s good name so compromised?’

At this he made no answer, but only inclined his head slightly in her direction, as if she were a half-remembered housemaid spied across a crowded street.

She could not stay. To be under the same roof as William was now a kind of torture. It was impossible that they should eat at the same table with their accustomed civility, or discuss estate affairs, the health of tenants, the little antics of their son. To see this dear familiar face – so longed for, in his absence – now set in this ruinous course against her was more than she could bear. She could not go to Caroline. Her sister was presently taking the sea air at Lythe, close to Whitby, where her husband had relations. Alice must go, for the interim, to her aunt.

Felicity listened to her niece’s account with a grave countenance. At length she suggested that Alice must now make two visits: the first to the kind doctor, the second to Mrs Lockwood. The older lady proposed to accompany her to the latter interview, for which Alice was heartily grateful.

The doctor received her with his usual warmth and called for lemonade to be brought, for the afternoon was warm. But before the maid had come up with the tray, in the midst of outlining to him the events of recent days, a torrent of tears came on.

‘I am so ashamed to have brought this upon you, who have never been anything but honourable to me. My only consolation is that your impending departure may save you from the worst of the slander which this action will surely occasion.’

‘It is true. I do not think the residents of Montpellier and The Park would seek a physician whose name had been in the papers as an adulterer,’ said the doctor.