‘We must see to it that they don’t. I wonder if it would not be better to send you out of London before they return.’ He rang the bell and asked a footman to fetch Matthew. When the secretary arrived, Harry asked, ‘Can you think of anywhere to send Lady Rose which is far from London?’

Matthew stood for what seemed a long time, his brow furrowed. Then his face cleared. ‘There is your Aunt Elizabeth.’

‘She is not really my aunt,’ said Rose. ‘She is a distant cousin of my father’s.’

‘Where does she live?’ asked Harry.

‘In Drumdorn Castle, somewhere in Argyll on the coast.’

‘Sounds ideal. When did you last see her?’

‘Several years ago,’ said Rose. ‘Aunt Elizabeth came on a visit to Stacey Court. I remember her as being amiable but eccentric’

‘Would you send her a telegram?’ asked Harry. ‘And suggest that Lady Rose goes on a long visit.’

‘What will Lord Hadshire say?’

‘I will deal with him.’

Aunt Elizabeth sent a telegram the following day to say she would be delighted to entertain Rose. The day passed in packing and hurried preparations. Rose was to travel north with Madame Bailloux and Hunter, the maid, for company. Harry said he would also send Becket and Daisy up to join her as soon as they had returned from their honeymoon. Rose could only be amazed at how placidly Madame Bailloux accepted all the rush.

It was a long and exhausting journey. First the train to Glasgow and then the hire of a car and chauffeur to take them into the wilds of Argyll over a twisting nightmare road called The Rest and Be Thankful.

Drumdorn Castle was perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. It was an old castle with smoky stone-flagged rooms downstairs and small cold bedrooms upstairs. Aunt Elizabeth, Lady Carrick, was a widow who greeted them effusively. She was a tall, thin, spare woman, dressed in the clothes of the last century and wearing a white lace cap over grey hair. Her face was wrinkled and she had very heavy, shaggy eyebrows.

‘So delighted to see you, my dear,’ she said. ‘I do not often have company apart from the servants.’

‘It is very kind of you to invite us. I feel I should tell you why we have come here.’

Aunt Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled. ‘You mean it wasn’t for the delights of my company?’

‘I am delighted to have a chance to get to know you better,’ said Rose, ‘but the fact is, my life is considered to be in danger.’

‘We do get the newspapers even in as remote a part as this,’ said Aunt Elizabeth. ‘I have been following your adventures. You will be safe here. There is a sort of bush telegraph operating in this area. Any stranger within miles of the castle will be spotted. I received a telegram from Captain Cathcart and I gather he is to join us shortly. I find it all very exciting. Do change for dinner and we will talk further.’