‘I wonder too,’ she said honestly. ‘I truly enjoy cooking. There are so many receipts I would like to try.’ She had not enjoyed her time at Rosemere, not with so many strangers staring at her veil, but she had enjoyed the kitchens, wandering around there after the servants had gone to bed, asking Flora if perhaps Cook might make a soufflé or cheese puffs so that she might know if they had worked when she tried the receipt back home.

‘I truly enjoy eating.’ He reached for her hand. ‘We are well matched, don’t you think?’

No man had held her hand before, except her brother. She flushed. Swindler, she thought. Conman, weaving his way into my affections so we will let him stay, eat at our table for no work.

She could not believe that, though she knew Clancy and Ezekiel did. But how could he smile like this at a woman with her deformity without an ulterior motive?

Perhaps he hoped she’d show him a new plant that would make his name in botanical circles.

‘I want to ask you a question, Miss Clancy,’ he said lightly.

Ah, here it comes, she thought. ‘What is it, Mr Fitzharris?’

‘Your father has sent an enquiry to Drinkwater, I believe.’ He was still smiling at her, still keeping his gaze upon her face. ‘I will ask you when your man gets back.’

Taylor arrived that night, with a letter from Mr Drinkwater, and the kind of hangover it takes two days to earn.

Ezekiel read it, then brought it in to the dining room to read to the three of them, for Mr Fitzharris now dined with them too, stuffed shoulder of mutton tonight and an attempt at the Potatoes Anna she had not even tried for Flora. They had worked quite well, even if Ezekiel had poked at them wordlessly and with contempt.

He sat now, the letter in his hand. ‘Dear Ezekiel, I hope you are as well as this leaves me. The news from Sydney continues good. My new son thrives, as does his mother, and I am sure your daughter-in-law would send her good wishes if she knew that I wrote this. I am looking forward to my next visit to Sydney.’ Ezekiel muttered something unprintable and continued. ‘Mr Fitzharris is indeed known to me, and to Margaret’s brother, who it seems was at school with him in England. His parentage may be regrettable, but Sydney society has forgiven that, thanks both to his connection to aristocracy and to his income. I can assure you his claim to that is well founded, as we share the same man of business in Sydney.

‘Please give him my regrets for his ill treatment, and apologies for not sending an escort with him. Tell him there will be a warm welcome here as soon as he is well enough to return. Yours respectfully, Cecil Drinkwater.’