‘He’d be all over them,’ Rosie continued. ‘Removing their coats, which was our job to do as servants,’ she added indignantly. ‘Serving them one too many drinks, leading them into dinner, all in front of Lady Veronica, who just rose above it all, like the lady of quality that she is.’

‘Maybe that was the only way the poor woman could survive,’ Sybil mused. ‘Rather than arguing in public, she turned a blind eye to her husband’s sordid excesses and got on with raising her young daughter and looking after the country estate – that’s enough to keep anyone busy.’

‘Indeed, her ladyship spent a lot of time at Stowupland, especially during Marigold’s holidays. She always took me with her – I loved it.’ Rosie positively glowed at the happy memory. ‘I would pack up the car, then we’d set off for their country seat, where the staff would be awaiting our arrival. Oh, the food they prepared for us, all fresh from the estate, fish, meat, cheese, fruit.’ Rosie licked her lips as if she were tasting the food afresh.

Hoping Rosie wouldn’t dwell too long on food, Sybil quickly asked, ‘Did you always attend Lady Veronica on her trips?’

‘I did when I became her lady’s maid, but before that I used to stay in the London house along with the rest of the staff.’

‘You must have missed your mistress when she was absent?’

‘We all did, for sure, especially because that’s when the Brigadier came into his own,’ Rosie replied darkly. ‘Him and his cronies, eating and drinking till late into the night, playing cards and billiards till dawn.’ Rosie gave a contemptuous sniff. ‘There were always ladies present too, not all of them the respectable type, I can tell you,’ she ended contemptuously.

‘While the cat’s away the mice will play,’ Sybil joked, but Rosie didn’t laugh.

‘It was a humiliating spectacle,’ she grumbled. ‘The things the Brigadier’s valet told us after serving the master breakfast in bed.’ She quickly looked around to check that nobody was listening. ‘Some of the servants thought it amusing, hearing about tripping over knickers and suspender belts, but us maids were embarrassed. I had no time for the Brigadier’s debauchery – it was always a marvel to me that her ladyship didn’t walk out on the brute,’ Rosie said crossly.

‘It’s a wonder she married him in the first place!’ Sybil exclaimed. ‘A beautiful young woman like her must have been overrun with proposals of marriage when she came out into society.’

‘I wasn’t working for her at the time, but I know she was Deb of the Year. I saw some smashing photos of her ladyship in a photo album one of the little kitchen maids kept.’ Rosie gave a proud sigh. ‘She looked like proper royalty. She was better looking and better dressed than the royal princesses, and that’s saying something.’