“Then I think you’d better put the brandy decanter in His Grace’s study,” Huxstep said. “He will be exceedingly wet and cold by the time he returns. He will need reviving.”

I walked with the sisters and the butler to the breakfast room. Cedric was not there. Mr. Huxstep left again but the two sisters resumed their meal immediately. I poured myself a cup of coffee, but I was too upset to think about food. I came out into the hall again, wondering what I should do with myself. I wanted to be of use, but I’d been banished from Irene’s bedroom. I wondered if I should go up and speak to her children, but decided that was the prerogative of their grandmother. There was also no sign of Jack, so I went through to the morning room, expecting to find the two sisters there. But it was deserted. A lovely fire was burning in the hearth, and I sat in one of the armchairs. Outside the tall, arched window, great squalls of rain were now sweeping across the forecourt. It was certainly a day for a book beside the fire, and I was rather glad that the obnoxious Cedric was getting soaked as he planned to evict his tenants.

I picked up a copy of The Lady and was about to start reading when I heard the sound of tires on gravel. I looked up to see a sporty Armstrong Sidley come up the driveway. This had to be the doctor arriving. I watched one of the footmen run out with a large umbrella and escort a small, chubby man up to the front door. A few seconds later our door was opened and the footman came in.

“Begging your pardon, my lady, but a gentleman has arrived to see His Grace. A Mr. Smedley—apparently His Grace is expecting him. Would you happen to know where His Grace might be?”

“I gather he went out to take a look at the site he is considering for his theater project,” I said. “This man must be the architect he was expecting.”

“That’s right, my lady. He did mention that he was from a firm of architects. So His Grace is out on the estate?”

“I think so. He doesn’t appear to be in the house.”

He looked dubiously out of the window. “So someone should take this gentleman down to find His Grace.”

I read in his face that he didn’t fancy that someone being himself. I got up. “I’ll take him if you like. I’m used to rain like this up in Scotland.”

I saw the relief flood across his face. “Would you, my lady? That would be most kind of you. It seems that—” He broke off. “That would be the doctor’s car now. I’d better go and escort him into the house, if you’d excuse me.”