‘Perhaps she had a point, my dear. After all, all you have done is sit there and moan, and we are trying to get us moved into Windfell before the evening,’ Isabelle said curtly. Her thoughts were both on the move and on where she should really be: making her mark as the new owner of Atkinson’s. And she hadn’t time for her husband’s relaxed ways; he might just as well have gone to Skipton and supported Jane, by coping with some of the backlog of orders that had occurred because of her mother’s passing.

‘I object to you saying that. I did help Archie with his belongings this morning – not that he took a lot with him. He seems to have turned his back on his old life, now that your mother has gone. I only hope he and Harriet see eye-to-eye, as we both know Archie does things his own way and doesn’t think of the consequences.’ James rose from his seat and looked out of the window of Ingfield’s drawing room onto the busy street in Settle. ‘I’m going to miss seeing the people going past our window. At Windfell, all I’ll be able to do is see that row of beech trees and listen to the gossip of the staff.’

‘Well, there will be enough of that, especially at the moment. I don’t think I’ll be very popular with Jethro and Mazy, as I’ve told them Ethan’s services will be no longer needed. There’s just no need for two in the stables, especially now that Archie is going to live at Crummock.’ Isabelle joined her husband at the window and looked out onto the bustling street, full of people going about their business.

‘You didn’t tell me! Do you not think that decision was a bit hard, after he saved our Luke’s life? ‘James was shocked.

‘I didn’t tell you because I knew how you’d react. I know he saved Luke, but I’ve seen the way he looks at Jane; and he’s always creeping about the place, poaching the odd fish and catching the occasional rabbit. Believe me, I’m not often wrong: if he stays at Windfell, Ethan will bring trouble. He doesn’t seem to know his place in society – unlike his parents.’ Isabelle straightened a cover and turned her back on her husband. She knew her decision would not be popular with him, and she had already felt the coolness of Mazy’s reaction to it.

‘Have you made any other decisions behind my back?’ James waited.

‘No, not yet, although we are going to have two lady’s maids at Windfell, and I think I might have to let Lily go. After all, she’s not getting any younger, and my Dorothy looks after my needs so well.’

‘But Lily was your mother’s favourite!’ James looked horrified.