“I really don’t know,” I said. “You’d better get downstairs. And someone is coming up for your sister. Is she in her room?”

“Yes, she’s reading Dickens.” Nick made a face. “She actually likes Dickens. Can you imagine? I mean, Sherlock Holmes I can understand. That is fun. But Dickens? So boring. Come on, Kat,” Nicholas said. “We’d better bugger off.”

“Nicholas. Where did you hear such language?” Mr. Carter demanded.

Katherine grinned. “From Uncle Cedric’s strange followers. We’ve increased our vocabulary by leaps and bounds.”

“And you’d be amazed what we’ve learned of anatomy from the pictures drying in Uncle Cedric’s darkroom,” Nick said.

“Shut up, Nick.” Kat gave him a dig in the ribs. “You’ll get us in trouble. You know it’s off-limits.”

“So are lots of places, but that hasn’t stopped us yet.” He gave a final wicked grin as they ran off.

Mr. Carter gave me an apologetic smile and shook his head. “Those children have too much time on their hands and no real direction. It’s not healthy.”

“I think they just delight in shocking adults,” I said. “They seem rather fun to me.”

“But not what their grandmother wants. Has she heard them using language like that? Is this what the summons is about? In which case, I’ll probably be on the carpet too.”

“No, it’s nothing like that,” I said. “But Her Grace wishes to address the staff in half an hour or so. I know you don’t count as staff but I suspect you should hear what she says as well.”

“I see.” He was frowning. “You really don’t know what this is about?”

“I’m not at liberty to say, Mr. Carter, only that it shouldn’t affect you in any way.”

“That’s a relief.” He paused. “I heard there was a rumpus last night, and that the children’s mother was threatening to walk out or be kicked out. I thought I might be out of a job.”

“It’s nothing to do with that. I can reassure you there.”

He managed a smile. “Thank you. I’ll go down in a little while then, shall I?”

“In half an hour, so I understand.”

I went across and tapped on Sissy’s door. Two people looked up as I entered. I was surprised to see Jack sitting beside Sissy, their heads close together over a book.

“Oh, there you are, Jack,” I said. “They’ve been looking for you.”

“Sissy is helping me with my reading,” Jack said guiltily. “I’m not so hot at big words.”

“How very nice of her,” I said and watched her blush. “You’re going to be taken downstairs, Sissy,” I said. “Your grandmother wants to speak to the family, including you.”

“How exciting.” Sissy’s face lit up. “I haven’t been down for ages. Are they sending servants up for me?”