On Saturday evening the avenue leading up to the manor house was lit by flaming torches, giving the old place a fairy-tale appearance, but to Daisy it seemed like the residence of an ogre, who was waiting to devour them. Such fancies belonged to childhood, but it took all her courage to make her climb down from the luxurious vehicle and cross the paved area to the front entrance. A liveried footman held the door open but she waited dutifully for her aunt and uncle and followed them into the house.

The oak-panelled entrance hall was lit by dozens of expensive wax candles and a blaze roared up the chimney in the huge and ornate fireplace. Stern faced as before, Molesworth showed them to the drawing room, which in daylight must have had a view of the deer park, but this evening the heavy velvet curtains were drawn against the cold night.

Esmond Tattersall was standing with his back to the fire. He approached Eleanora with his hands outstretched and a smile on his face.

‘My dear Mrs Marshall, how elegant you look. It’s so kind of you to grace my humble abode.’

Eleanora blushed and fluttered her eyelashes. ‘How kind of you to invite us, Squire Tattersall.’

‘Esmond, please. We don’t stand on ceremony here.’ He bowed over her hand before turning to Sidney.

‘It’s good of you to come, sir.’

Sidney harrumphed and cleared his throat. ‘Er – thank you. This is a very fine house, Squire.’

‘Yes, it is rather. Please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable.’ He moved to the sofa and sat down. ‘Sit here, Miss Marshall, and we can converse without shouting across the room.’ He patted the space beside him, but to Daisy’s intense relief her aunt chose to sit next to the squire.

‘You have a beautiful home,’ Eleanora said, smiling. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen a finer house.’

Squire Tattersall signalled to his butler. ‘We’ll have a glass of sherry wine before dinner, and afterwards we’ll play a hand or two of cards. I take it that you can all play whist?’

Eleanora glanced anxiously at her husband. ‘I’m not very good at card games.’

‘My wife speaks the truth,’ Sidney said apologetically. ‘I prefer poker myself, but that’s neither here nor there.’

‘I don’t play cards,’ Daisy said firmly.

‘A pity, but perhaps we can remedy that in time.’ Esmond moved closer to Eleanora, leaving a small space at his other side. ‘Come and sit by me, Miss Marshall. I will be a thorn between two roses.’

Daisy was tempted to refuse, but it would have been bad manners to snub their host so she went to sit beside him.

‘Er, you mentioned fishing, Squire,’ Sidney said casually. ‘You said you have a lake in the grounds.’

‘Indeed I have and it’s well stocked. You are welcome to try your hand at fishing there whenever you wish. My gamekeeper will be pleased to accompany you and show you the best places to cast your line.’