“That will never work with him,” Aunt Oona said. “You need to show him who is master.” She grabbed the animal by the scruff of its neck, hoisted it in the air and held it up in front of her face. “Remember who feeds you and show gratitude,” she said before putting it down quite gently. The cat turned its back on her and licked itself as if it hadn’t a care in the world. The dogs settled around our feet, wisely ignoring the cat.

“Tea or coffee?” Oona asked. “Or would you prefer something stronger? Whiskey? Sherry?” She went over and tugged on a bellpull. Somewhere far off a bell jangled. “I don’t know where he’s got to,” she said. “Probably out digging up carrots.”

“Your gardener serves the drinks around here?”

“No, you silly boy. The butler digs up the carrots. You have to be a jack-of-all-trades in this establishment. We’re down to a skeleton crew here, you know. Can’t afford a proper staff anymore. Treadwell does most of it and we muck in.”

“Treadwell? You have Treadwell working for you? I didn’t know that.”

“Well, you haven’t been to see us for ages, have you?” she replied. “Your father didn’t need him and the new American didn’t want him so we invited him to come to Mountjoy. It’s not exactly what he’s used to but it’s better than the workhouse.”

Darcy looked down to me. “Treadwell was our butler at Kilhenny. He was old even when I was a child. Frightfully old-school and correct.”

“Yes, well, he’s had to learn to turn a blind eye to a lot of things here,” Oona said. “When he first came he thought he could whip us into shape, but now I rather think he’s given up.” She rang the bell again. “I suppose I’d better go and make the coffee myself,” she said. “I’ve become quite a dab hand at domestic chores since we had to let Cook go.”

Darcy and I exchanged a look of amusement as she swept out of the room.

“I told you they were quite batty,” Darcy whispered to me.

However, she had only been gone for an instant when she returned.

“I met Treadwell coming in with the carrots and he’ll bring us coffee right away. But knowing Treadwell, he’ll have to go and put on his frock coat first. So silly in a place like this.”

She sat where the cat had been. “So the young lady needs a place to stay, does she? Well, why not stay here? We’ve got more empty rooms than I can count. And you too, Darcy. You’re welcome here as well. Make a change for us dreary old folk to have some bright young people around.”